CHINESE EMBASSY SEEKS IMPROVED EXCHANGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000179

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PK
SUBJECT: CHINESE EMBASSY SEEKS IMPROVED EXCHANGES


Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (C) Following up on a phone conversation between U/S
Burns and China's Assistant Foreign Minister, the Chinese DCM
in Islamabad shared China's views on the political situation
in Islamabad. China's primary foreign policy goals are to
promote stability, fight terrorism, increase economic
exchanges and support China's growing community of workers in
Pakistan. They have a policy of non-interference in
Pakistan's domestic affairs, but fully support President
Musharraf and are concerned about possible "chaos" that could
emerge after the February elections. End Summary.


2. (C) Chinese DCM Yao Jing, accompanied by his secretary
Li Ming, met with Polcouns January 11. Jing said he had been
instructed to follow up on the December 28 phone call between
U/S Burns and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hu in
which the two pledged their respective embassies would have
closer ties.

Musharraf "Vital"
--------------


3. (C) Jing volunteered the Chinese agenda and their
analysis of the political situation. He noted that China had
sent a Special Envoy to Pakistan in mid-December who had then
shared his views with our Embassy in Beijing. Before
Bhutto's assassination, the Chinese believed that Musharraf
was completely in control but was facing challenges. They
continue to support Musharraf; Jing described him as being
"vital" to Pakistan and having the Army's full support.
China also believes Musharraf's priorities--which Jing
identified as being stability, a smooth transition to
democracy, the fight against terror, promotion of moderate
Islam, and economic develoment--are good for Pakistan and
good for the international community.


4. (C) Although Bhutto's assassination has weakened
Musharraf's party, Jing said the Pakistan Muslim League (PML)
party was pleased with the election delay and that the
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has not created problems by
fighting the postponement. However, Jing worried about
possible "chaos" after the election because the populace
appears split between the PML and the PPP.


5. (C) Jing asked for the USG position on the proposed UN
investigation into Bhutto's assassination and for our views
on Asif Zardari's leadership. Polcouns said that we did not
believe the GOP supported making a formal request to the UN
for this investigation. We were pleased that Zardari had
appealed for calm following the post-assassination violence
and were carefully following how the PPP would hold together
following the shock of losing Benazir Bhutto.

Security Concerns
--------------


6. (C) Jing said that China has 5,000 laborers, 3,500
engineers and approximately 1,000 business people in
Pakistan. Ensuring their security has become his biggest
challenge given the growing incidence of violence and suicide
bombings. On big development projects like the Gwadar port,
the GOP is providing 7,000 security (nfi) to protect sites
and workers. But individual Chinese workers are soft targets
who are easily exploited by militants and those who wish to
embarrass the GOP. Jing is trying to register Chinese
citizens in Pakistan and has a established a working group
with the Ministry of Interior to increase security.

Frustrations
--------------


7. (C) Jing rather candidly described his frustration with
trying to expand Pakistan-China development projects when his
superiors in Beijing consistently held back. China had
withdrawn 500 workers on the Karakoram Highway project but
were constrained from issuing travel warnings because of the
GOP's sensitivity on this issue. The latest Beijing concerns
continue to be security-related; he lamented the effect of
media coverage that left the mistaken impression that all of
Pakistan was in flames.
BODDE