CHAD RESPONSE: CHINA'S ENGAGEMENT IN AFRICA

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000238 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C; LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS; ACCRA FOR GEOFFREY HUNT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN ENRG PREL CD SUBJECT: CHAD RESPONSE: CHINA'S ENGAGEMENT IN AFRICA REF: A. STATE 41697 ¶B. 07 N'DJAMENA 676 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Since reopening its embassy in N'djamena in 2006, China's engagement with Chad has focused on responding to a variety of needs expressed by the Chadian government. Among the focus areas of Sino-Chadian cooperation are social services, energy, infrastructure, and military assistance. The U.S. has regular contacts with Chinese officials (the Ambassador has bi-weekly meetings with the four Permfive Ambassadors resident in N'djamena on regional security, humanitarian affairs, and political development),but we have no cooperation on specific projects. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Chinese engagement in Chad, as discussed in ref B, is very active in several key sectors: -- Infrastructure: Chinese engineering firms have begun construction of six roads covering ten kilometers in N'djamena to build Chad's decrepit road network. The events in February have stopped construction, but Chinese officials tell us that it will begin again after the rainy season ends (around October/November). -- Energy: Chinese companies are investing in exploration of new oil fields (Chinese National Petroleum Corporation -- CNPC -- is undertaking seismic studies) and continues to consider a small-scale joint-venture oil refinery project with the Chadian National Oil Company. According to Esso (the ExxonMobil-led oil consortium that exports Chadian petroleum through Cameroon),talks continue with CNPC about shipping CNPC's eventual crude oil via the Chad-Cameroon pipeline that Esso operates. -- Social Services: China currently provides doctors, nurses, and medical technicians, pharmaceuticals, and equipment in the health sector. The Chinese government has sent nine doctors to work at one of the two main hospitals in N'djamena and has shipped hospital equipment, including x-ray machines, to Chadian hospitals. The Chinese government also provides scholarships to around 30 Chadians to study at Chinese universities each year. China will build three schools in N'djamena and in rural areas. -- Military: In the absence of greater transparency in terms of activities and assistance, it is difficult to ascertain exactly how the Chinese government is militarily engaging in Chad. Nonetheless, the Chinese tell us that the Chinese government has targeted Chadian staff military training (similar to U.S. IMET programs). We also understand that the Chinese have sold weapons to the Chadians but we are unaware to what extent or what agreements exist between the Chadian and Chinese militaries. The Chinese do not admit to having a resident defense attache in N'djamena. -------------- Cooperation - Now and in the Future -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Mission engages with the Chinese on various issues, but particularly on policies and activities related to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, regional security, and political development. The Ambassador has bi-weekly meetings with the four Permfive Ambassadors resident in Chad to discuss regional security, political development, and humanitarian issues, which the Chinese Ambassador attends. As the Chinese appear to be already heavily involved in those areas where the U.S. is most active, the likely areas of future bilateral cooperation continue to be energy, regional security, political development, and healthcare development. NIGRO