CHINA ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003461 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/RHS - REBECCA JOVIN, DRL/MLGA - LYNN SICADE AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN CH SUBJECT: CHINA ON UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE ISSUES REF: STATE 93981 (NOTAL) Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons 1.4 (B/D). ¶1. (C) POLOFF on September 5 delivered to MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department Human Rights Division Deputy Director Xu Jing reftel points urging China not to support "no action" motions on country-specific resolutions in the UN General Assembly; to support planned resolutions on Iran, Burma and the DPRK; and to oppose or abstain on an Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) resolution on "defamation of religions." Xu said that China has "traditionally" opposed country-specific resolutions in the Third Committee and that position will not change this year. She said that China will decide whether to support a thematic resolution on "defamation of religions" after seeing the proposed text, but noted that in 2007 China supported the OIC. She added that China will most likely not change its Qition on other "traditional" thematic resolutions this year. RANDT