CHINA POSTPONES SUMMIT WITH EU OVER DALAI LAMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 004372 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KIRF FR XG CH SUBJECT: CHINA POSTPONES SUMMIT WITH EU OVER DALAI LAMA MEETINGS Classified By: Acting Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4 (B/D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) China has postponed the EU-China Summit slated for December 1 in Lyon, France indefinitely, the EU announced November 27. An EU spokesman said that China blames European heads of state meetings with the Dalai Lama for the decision, while the Chinese specifically blame the French leadership's announcement of plans to meet the Dalai Lama. A French contact said that China's postponement of the summit came as a surprise, and that Chinese anger over French President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to meet the Dalai Lama "was an overreaction." Other contacts expressed frustration at France's willingness to sacrifice EU interests for French political purposes. Press reports on the delay in the finalization of the sale of 150 Airbus aircraft are not true, the French Embassy reported. End Summary. Indefinite Postponement -------------- ¶2. (C) China has indefinitely postponed the 11th EU-China Summit previously scheduled to take place December 1 in Lyon, France, the EU announced November 27. PRC MFA Spokesman Qin Gang on November 27 publicly confirmed the EU's public statement that China canceled the summit because several European leaders plan to meet the Dalai Lama in the next two weeks. French Embassy Political Counselor Erkki Maillard said December 1 that China's decision to postpone the summit was unexpected. French officials had anticipated that China would cancel or postpone only the Sino-French bilateral meetings slated to take place after the EU Summit. Maillard described China's postponement as an "overreaction," and seconded the EU's expression of regret. He noted that France and the EU both greatly value relations with China, particularly at this time of global financial crisis. The EU announcement stated that the EU intends to continue to improve its relations and strategic partnership with China. China's Statement: It's Sarkozy's Fault -------------- ¶3. (C) MFA Spokesman Qin Gang put the blame for the postponement squarely on France. French leaders had "greatly aroused the dissatisfaction of the Chinese Government and people" by announcing their intention to meet with the Dalai Lama just before the EU-China Summit, Qin Gang said on November 27. In a longer statement November 28, Qin said that Tibet is a matter of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and expressed regret that France had not responded to China's concerns on the matter. Qin's statement specifically singled out "France's leaders'" announcements of their plans to meet the Dalai Lama, and noted that the dialogue will be held once France "creates the necessary conditions and atmosphere." An officer at the PRC MFA European Affairs Department confirmed that no new date has been set for the summit. EU Frustration -------------- ¶4. (C) Other EU embassies also expressed frustration over the Chinese move, though some said France should have anticipated China's reaction. German Embassy Second Secretary Dirk Lechelt predicted on November 26 that the Dalai Lama meeting would be "too much for China to take." After the announcement of the postponement of the summit, Lechelt blamed China, saying "this isn't how 'strategic partners' are supposed to act." Dutch Political Officer Rob Anderson told PolOff December 1 that France should have anticipated China's reaction and that his personal opinion is that France was willing to sacrifice EU interests for its own political agenda. China is in a strong position, he said, and the EU will find it difficult to retaliate. French Claim No Airbus Sale Delays -------------- ¶5. (C) Press reports that China postponed finalizing the purchase of 150 new Airbus passenger airplanes following the collapse of the summit are incorrect, Maillard said. No contracts were slated to be signed during the summit and the postponement should not have affected aircraft sales, he added. RANDT