UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' FEBRUARY 25 MEETING WITH

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 022047 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2033 TAGS: BM CH ECON ENRG IR PGOV PREL XD SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' FEBRUARY 25 MEETING WITH ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER HE YAFEI Classified By: EAP DAS TCHRISTENSEN, REASONS: 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Summary. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister (AFM) He Yafei and Under Secretary Burns met February 25 immediately prior to the P5 1 Political Directors, meeting on Iran. AFM He highlighted U.S.-Chinese agreement on the strategic importance of diplomatic approaches to North Korea and Iran. In response to AFM He,s concerns over possible U.S. sanctions on Sinopec for its recent investments in Iran, U/S Burns said the matter was still under review and urged China to provide additional information. The conversation also touched upon the Olympics, Pakistan, India, Burma, and Kosovo/Serbia. AFM He raised Taiwan, reiterating Chinese calls for "stronger and clearer" U.S. statements opposing the referendum on UN membership. End Summary. -------------- Sinopec -------------- ¶2. (S) AFM He said that China was concerned about possible U.S. sanctions on Sinopec. Based on Foreign Minister Yang,s meeting with the Secretary in Berlin, China believed that the United States acknowledged Chinese interest in pursuing economic relations with Iran. He said if Sinopec were sanctioned, it would be a huge problem for China, and affect U.S.-China cooperation, not just on Iran. China continued to seek clear indication, and assurances from the United States that it would not apply any sanctions on Sinopec. He furthered that this is an emotional issue that would upset the people and government of China. He argued that this was sensitive political period with the National People,s Congress soon to convene; any actions taken by the United States during this period would be closely scrutinized. ¶3. (S) U/S Burns noted that we were still in an investigative phase and continued to seek more information from Sinopec and the Chinese government as we reviewed the deal in the context of the Iran Sanctions Act, which required the USG to sanction any company whose investment in Iran exceeded $20 million. However, no decision had been made yet. AFM He characterized that position as "disappointing" and argued that China had already given the United States all of the information it needed. If more was needed, The United States must be more specific in its information requests. China needed a quick decision and did not want this to turn into a political issue. ¶4. (S) U/S Burns promised to handle this issue in "a way to accentuate speed" but put the matter in the wider context of Iran,s pursuit of nuclear capability and how the international community needed to respond. The United States did not believe it was consistent for China to invest in Iran at the same time the UNSC was deliberating on a sanctions resolution. The United States wonders why Iran was spending billions to defy the international community. Iran had huge oil and natural gas reserves; why does it claim to need nuclear energy? The United States urges China to recalibrate its investments. The AFM countered that China,s actions in no way violates the Security Council resolution. -------------- Olympics and Taiwan -------------- ¶5. (C) AFM He characterized 2008 as an important year in bilateral relations, including U.S. elections, Taiwan elections and UN referendum, the Olympics, and the economic impact of the worst snowstorms in a generation. He thanked the United States for its support in coping with this natural disaster. AFM He characterized our bilateral relationship as strong, and he expected the Secretary,s visit to be beneficial. The AFM said that the Olympics will be a great success; over 100 heads of government would attend. China looked forward to President Bush,s visit in August and appreciated the President,s statements supporting the Games. ¶6. (C) On Taiwan, He said that there was a strong push from the "Chen Shui-bian authorities" to push for a UN resolution STATE 00022047 002 OF 002 on Taiwan membership. China appreciated the strong statements made by the USG including the Secretary, opposing such a resolution and noted that it was important to keep the pressure on. China did not want the "Taiwan authorities" to make further "reckless" moves that could be disastrous for both sides. He asked that the United States refrain from selling advanced weapons to Taiwan. U/S Burns said that we have made clear statements on Taiwan that the Secretary would reiterate; there was no confusion whatsoever on our position. -------------- South Asia: Pakistan, India -------------- ¶7. (C) On Pakistan, He stressed China and the United States shared mutual goals for a peaceful, strong, united, and moderate Pakistan. He wondered how much longer Musharraf would be in power. U/S Burns agreed that we needed to consult more closely on this issue. Musharraf is a good friend of the United States. Whatever government emerged would need to focus on Al Qaeda and the Taliban, help Afghanistan succeed, be a stable partner for India, and work to resolve Kashmir. ¶8. (C) AFM He said he would go to India after his trip to the United States to meet with Foreign Secretary Menon. U/S Burns said that he hoped the U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation agreement would go forward. Senator Biden, during his recent visit to Delhi, stated that Congress would support the agreement, but needed India to take the steps with the IAEA and NSG for the deal to make it to the Senate by May or June. U/S Burns referenced the resistance of the leftist parties in the governing coalition to the deal, noted that these parties were friendly with China, and asked AFM He to "put in a good word" with them. A surprised AFM He said that China had already discussed the nuclear agreement with PM Singh during his recent visit to China. -------------- Burma -------------- ¶9. (C) On Burma, AFM He characterized UN Special Envoy Gambari,s return in March as a positive sign. The international community needed to be realistic when dealing with the regime; the seven point road map and constitutional referendum should be seen as positive steps, and dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) was moving ahead. U/S Burns expressed appreciation for China,s efforts but noted that we had two key problems in Burma. ASSK remains under house arrest and has been very negative about her discussions with Labor Minister noting that it has not been a meaningful dialogue. It was also hard to believe a dictatorship will ensure a free and fair election process; ASSK had made enormous personal sacrifices for her country, yet the regime will not allow her to run. -------------- Kosovo and Serbia -------------- ¶10. (C) In closing, U/S Burns raised the situation in Kosovo and Serbia. It was deeply troubling that the new Russian Ambassador to NATO said "brute force" might be needed to deal with the matter. The United States has strong views on this issue; the UN already advocated for a supervised Kosovo independence. AFM He said that China did not support violence, wanted a negotiated resolution to this situation, but doubted that independence would be wholly peaceful or come without problems. The Under Secretary said that radical Serbs had caused four wars in the 1990s and were causing problems now. The great powers should use their influence to help resolve this issue. U/S Burns concluded that China often asked the United States to use its influence to help China; we would ask China in return to use its influence to help the United States on Iran, Burma, and India. RICE