Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MAPUTO339
2008-04-22 15:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Maputo
Cable title:
CHINESE MAKE SECOND APPROACH ON ARMS SHIPMENT FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO4781 PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHTO #0339 1131502 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 221502Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8770 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0225 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0054 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0148 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000339
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EWWT MASS ZI MZ
SUBJECT: CHINESE MAKE SECOND APPROACH ON ARMS SHIPMENT FOR
ZIMBABWE
REF: MAPUTO 324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman. Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MAPUTO 000339
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EWWT MASS ZI MZ
SUBJECT: CHINESE MAKE SECOND APPROACH ON ARMS SHIPMENT FOR
ZIMBABWE
REF: MAPUTO 324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman. Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Last Monday evening, April 21, Minister of the
Presidency
Antonio Sumbana called the Charge to inform him that the
Chinese
Government had again requested permission for the Chinese
ship with
arms for Zimbabwe to be given access to a Mozambican port.
The
Minister was under the mistaken impression that the ship was
in
Mozambican waters noting that, "the Chinese tricked us and
turned the boat around (from its declared destination of
Angola)."
On Tuesday morning, April 22, the Charge informed Sumbana
that the
Chinese vessel was identified off the western coast of Africa.
2. (C) The Minister explained that the Chinese Government
noted the
Mozambican Transport Minister's public statement (reftel)
that the
reason for the GRM's refusal was the lack of an official
request,
and that the proper procedures had not been followed. The
Chinese
Government instructed its Ambassador in Mozambique to make an
official request which the GRM again turned down today.
Sumbana
appeared quite annoyed with the repeated request and relieved
to
learn that the ship was far from Mozambican waters.
Chapman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL EWWT MASS ZI MZ
SUBJECT: CHINESE MAKE SECOND APPROACH ON ARMS SHIPMENT FOR
ZIMBABWE
REF: MAPUTO 324
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman. Reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Last Monday evening, April 21, Minister of the
Presidency
Antonio Sumbana called the Charge to inform him that the
Chinese
Government had again requested permission for the Chinese
ship with
arms for Zimbabwe to be given access to a Mozambican port.
The
Minister was under the mistaken impression that the ship was
in
Mozambican waters noting that, "the Chinese tricked us and
turned the boat around (from its declared destination of
Angola)."
On Tuesday morning, April 22, the Charge informed Sumbana
that the
Chinese vessel was identified off the western coast of Africa.
2. (C) The Minister explained that the Chinese Government
noted the
Mozambican Transport Minister's public statement (reftel)
that the
reason for the GRM's refusal was the lack of an official
request,
and that the proper procedures had not been followed. The
Chinese
Government instructed its Ambassador in Mozambique to make an
official request which the GRM again turned down today.
Sumbana
appeared quite annoyed with the repeated request and relieved
to
learn that the ship was far from Mozambican waters.
Chapman