HUMAN RIGHTS: MFA VIEWS ON RESUMING HUMAN RIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000717 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM, DRL NSC FOR WILDER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2033 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV CH SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: MFA VIEWS ON RESUMING HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE REF: USDEL SECRETARY ASIA 002 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) MFA IO Human Rights Division Deputy Director Zhao Xing told PolOffs February 28 that he was pleased by prospects to resume formal human rights dialogue. China proposes holding the next dialogue meeting in Beijing, at the DRL A/S and IO DG level, which Zhao said follows the pattern set before dialogue was suspended. The Chinese side is open to meeting at any time, including before the Olympics in August and is prepared for dialogue based on principles of "equality and mutual respect" but would not welcome "naming and shaming." End Summary. MFA Official Pleased Dialogue May Resume -------------- ¶2. (C) During a February 28 meeting to explore Foreign Minister Yang's February 26 offer in principle to resume formal bilateral human rights dialogue (reftel),MFA IO Department Human Rights Division Deputy Director Zhao Xing said that he was pleased to hear about the possibility of resuming the dialogue. Zhao said the United States and China should first agree on the level at which dialogue should take place, before discussing timing and other issues. China proposes dialogue led by the DRL Assistant Secretary and te MFA IO Director General, currently Wu Hailog. Zhao acknowledged that DRL Assistant Secretary Lowenkron saw AFM Cui Tiankai in 2006 but claimed that this was merely a meeting, whereas the IO DG had actually led China's participation in dialogue rounds prior to the suspension of dialogue in 2003. ¶3. (C) Until there is agreement on the level of dialogue, Zhao said, it is "too early to fix a time for dialogue," but China is open to hearing a U.S. proposal. Dialogue might proceed at any time up through June, Zhao said, after which time the August Olympics could impact scheduling. Given the obligations of senior Chinese officials in the lead-up to the Olympics and in connection with ASEAN summit meetings in October, Zhao said China would want to host the next round of dialogue in Beijing. China Prepared for Dialogue Based on "Equality and Mutual Respect" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Zhao said China is ready to engage in dialogue based on principles of "equality and mutual respect" and without preconditions. The opportunity is ripe for "open, frank and fruitful dialogue" on issues, including rule of law and legal reform. Zhao expressed a desire to follow the dialogue format used in PRC dialogues with Australia, Norway and the EU, wherein discussion focuses on larger issues and the sharing of "relevant experience." U.S.-China human rights dialogue should cover traditional bilateral human rights issues but could also focus on matters such as cooperation between the two countries in U.N. fora, activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, potentially, Darfur. Zhao said he hopes the United States will take a seat on the UNHRC and work with China in that forum. ¶5. (C) Zhao said "we will know if the resumption in dialogue is successful" when the United States and China decide whether to continue with dialogue after the next round. Zhao said he hopes that dialogue, if restored, will avoid the practice of past dialogue rounds, where the United States conditioned participation in successive rounds on China's fulfillment of U.S. requests in prior rounds. "Our suggestion," he said, is that dialogue move forward without "preconditions." Dialogue will be of little use if the focus is on "naming and shaming" or trading accusations, Zhao said. Zhao conceded that the raising of cases necessarily would be part of the dialogue, but said he hopes this will not be "the main focus" of discussion. ¶6. (C) China has "no special reason" for resuming bilateral dialogue at the current time, Zhao said. Instead, China has "always been quite positive" about dialogue, but U.S. "behavior" prevented resumption. The atmosphere for resuming dialogue was not positive, for example, after President Bush's June 2007 meeting with Rebiya Kadeer, the June 2007 BEIJING 00000717 002 OF 002 Victims of Communism Memorial dedication ceremony and the President's October 2007 meeting with the Dalai Lama. MFA IO Human Rights Division Personnel Changes -------------- - ¶7. (C) Zhao said he will leave the MFA IO Human Rights Division within days to take a position in the political section at China's Embassy to the Netherlands. Zhao, who said he has been working on human rights issues since 1998, said he is "very happy" to take on a new line of work. MFA IO Human Rights official Xu Jing will be promoted to Deputy Director of the Division. Zhao said the new MFA IO Human Rights Division Director set to replace Dong Zhihua will arrive in "two or three days." Zhao would not name Dong's successor but said he or she will certainly "be a person who has experience with human rights work." (Note: Duihua Foundation head John Kamm -- please protect -- recently told PolOff that Li Baodong protege and former MFA IO Human Rights official Yan Jiarong is slated to become Human Rights Division Director.) RANDT