FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN DEMARCHE; NO NEW INFORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 004192 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2033 TAGS: PREL PTER PARM ENRG ECON EAID CH PK SUBJECT: FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN DEMARCHE; NO NEW INFORMATION ON CHINA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR COOPERATION REF: A. STATE 119783 (NOTAL) ¶B. BEIJING 4147 Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (B/D). ¶1. (SBU) Chinese MFA Asian Affairs Department Afghanistan and Pakistan Division Deputy Director Cao Jing offered no substantive response to U.S. views on the objectives and functions of the Friends of Pakistan (FOP) group (ref A). Cao said China will be represented at the next FOP meeting in Abu Dhabi on November 17 at either the Director-General or Deputy Director-General level. ¶2. (C) In response to questions on China's diplomatic initiatives, development assistance or other actions taken regarding security in Pakistan's Tribal Belt, Deputy Director Cao stated that because China has no military assets in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it views its role as different from that of the United States. The Chinese Government has encouraged both Afghanistan and Pakistan to "concentrate their strength on national development" to foster stability and serve the interests of the people, Cao said. She added that she is not aware of any Chinese development assistance projects in the Tribal Belt region. ¶3. (C) In response to follow-up questions conveying U.S. concerns regarding China-Pakistan nuclear cooperation (ref B),Deputy Director Cao offered no new information but emphasized that inquiries on China-Pakistan nuclear cooperation should be addressed to the MFA Arms Control Department. (Note: since the October 3 USG announcement of arms sales to Taiwan, the Arms Control and Disarmament Department has not agreed to our requests to meet.) Deputy Director Cao also offered no further information on possible Chinese budgetary assistance to Pakistan, though she added that "relevant departments" from both governments continue to discuss the issue. RANDT