Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING3335
2008-08-28 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
RUSSIAN EMBOFFS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH CHINA'S
how-toVZCZCXRO0423 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #3335 2410917 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280917Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9595 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 9084 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE 0111 RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2061
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003335
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR UNGA RS CH GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN EMBOFFS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH CHINA'S
RESPONSE TO RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT
Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003335
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR UNGA RS CH GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN EMBOFFS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH CHINA'S
RESPONSE TO RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT
Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) In separate meetings August 27 and August 28 with
PolOff, two Russian Embassy Officers said they are "quite
satisfied" with China's response to the Russia-Georgia
conflict. Russian Embassy Officers Andrey Chernyshov and
Denis Agafonov both expressed satisfaction with China's
unwillingness to support publicly Georgia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity.
2. (C) Agafonov argued that, given the importance that China
places on the principles of sovereignty and territorial
integrity, China's lack of public support for Georgia is a
significant sign of support for the Russian position.
Agafonov claimed that President Hu Jintao's statement of
support for Russia's hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics is
the "Chinese way" of showing support for Russia's actions in
Georgia. Agafonov, acknowledging that China is in a
difficult position on this issue and wants to maintain good
relations with the United States, said he does not expect
China to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, he
expressed belief that China's position on this issue is
closer to the Russian position than it is to the U.S.
position. He also claimed that in response to Russian
Embassy representations to the MFA, Chinese officials'
"private expressions" of support have gone "beyond their
public statements."
3. (C) Chernyshov expressed appreciation for China's cautious
approach to dealing with the conflict and takes China's
relative silence on the issue as a sign of Chinese support
for Russia. In discussing the EU's position on the conflict,
Chernyshov mentioned the importance of Russian energy
supplies to Europe and suggested that certain European
countries should "wait for winter."
RANDT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2028
TAGS: PREL MARR UNGA RS CH GG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN EMBOFFS EXPRESS SATISFACTION WITH CHINA'S
RESPONSE TO RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT
Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) In separate meetings August 27 and August 28 with
PolOff, two Russian Embassy Officers said they are "quite
satisfied" with China's response to the Russia-Georgia
conflict. Russian Embassy Officers Andrey Chernyshov and
Denis Agafonov both expressed satisfaction with China's
unwillingness to support publicly Georgia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity.
2. (C) Agafonov argued that, given the importance that China
places on the principles of sovereignty and territorial
integrity, China's lack of public support for Georgia is a
significant sign of support for the Russian position.
Agafonov claimed that President Hu Jintao's statement of
support for Russia's hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics is
the "Chinese way" of showing support for Russia's actions in
Georgia. Agafonov, acknowledging that China is in a
difficult position on this issue and wants to maintain good
relations with the United States, said he does not expect
China to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, he
expressed belief that China's position on this issue is
closer to the Russian position than it is to the U.S.
position. He also claimed that in response to Russian
Embassy representations to the MFA, Chinese officials'
"private expressions" of support have gone "beyond their
public statements."
3. (C) Chernyshov expressed appreciation for China's cautious
approach to dealing with the conflict and takes China's
relative silence on the issue as a sign of Chinese support
for Russia. In discussing the EU's position on the conflict,
Chernyshov mentioned the importance of Russian energy
supplies to Europe and suggested that certain European
countries should "wait for winter."
RANDT