Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING177
2009-01-21 09:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

EU'S TAKE ON THE SINO-EU STRATEGIC DIALOGUE:

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM ECON KIRF XG EZ TW CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1199
OO RUEHAG RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #0177/01 0210914
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 210914Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1953
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 9180
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0477
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 6808
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 0353
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 2114
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 0687
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000177 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON KIRF XG EZ TW CH
SUBJECT: EU'S TAKE ON THE SINO-EU STRATEGIC DIALOGUE:
"SURPRISINGLY PRODUCTIVE"

REF: 08 BEIJING 4272

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling
, Reasons 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000177

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON KIRF XG EZ TW CH
SUBJECT: EU'S TAKE ON THE SINO-EU STRATEGIC DIALOGUE:
"SURPRISINGLY PRODUCTIVE"

REF: 08 BEIJING 4272

Classified By: Classified by Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling
, Reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary: In contrast to previous years, the January
19 Sino-EU Strategic Dialogue was surprisingly productive,
according to the Czech Embassy. After an initial Chinese
diatribe on Tibet, the remainder of the dialogue was open,
friendly, and "more than just talking points." Though the
formal agenda did not include discussion of Russia, the
Chinese side noted that China seeks influence in Central
Asia, Russia remains the primary player in the region, and
therefore Sino-Russian cooperation in the region must
continue. The EU urged China to provide additional "on the
ground" cooperation in Afghanistan, while China in turn urged
the EU to put pressure on India to recognize Pakistan's
actions responding to last year's Mumbai terrorist attacks.
For the first time in the history of the Sino-EU Strategic
Dialogue, China did not raise Taiwan. End Summary.

Atmospherics: Productive, Upbeat, Positive
--------------


2. (C) The China-EU Strategic Dialogue was "surprisingly
productive," particularly when compared to previous
dialogues, Czech Embassy Second Secretary Veronika Musilova
told PolOff January 21. (Note: The Czech Republic currently
holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU.) Chinese
Vice Foreign Minister (VFM) Li Hui and Czech Deputy Foreign
Minister Tomas Pojar participated in the January 19 dialogue
held in Beijing. With the exception of a Chinese set-piece
opening statement that focused largely on Tibet and the Dalai
Lama, the dialogue "went beyond talking points" and was
generally upbeat and friendly in tone, Musilova said.

Unpleasantness First: Tibet in Opening Remarks
-------------- -


3. (C) VFM Li's prepared opening statement on Tibet was
"friendly and proper, but very strong," Musilova said. EU
Commission Political Counselor Alex McLachlan characterized

the Tibet speech as a "thirty- minute diatribe" rehashing
well-known talking points. In response to Pojar's statements
that the cancellation of the EU-China summit last year
(reftel) was due to a misunderstanding, VFM Li responded
"harshly," according to McLachlan, that Europe's policy on
Tibet was the root of the problem.

Russia to the Forefront
--------------


4. (C) The two sides discussed Russia at length, partly
because of the personal backgrounds of the two interlocutors.
VFM Li is a Russia expert with experience at the Chinese
Embassies in Moscow and Kazakhstan, while Pojar has done
extensive work on democracy building, rule of law and human
rights in post-Soviet states in Eastern Europe. Musilova
recounted that Pojar said he was a great supporter of the
"color revolutions," while VFM Li jokingly suggested that
"counter-color revolutions" may be the best way to promote
stability in the region. VFM Li conceded that although China
seeks influence in Central Asia, for now Russia remains the
primary player in the region. Therefore, Li concluded,
Sino-Russian cooperation in the region must continue.

Pakistan and Afghanistan
--------------


5. (C) Regarding the current situation in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and India, VFM Li said that stability in the region
was the ultimate goal. He warned Pojar that lingering
tension over the Mumbai terrorist attacks still had the
potential to destabilize South Asia. He noted the progress
that Pakistan had made in pursuing the terrorists, and urged
the EU to pressure India to cooperate more with Pakistan. In
a discussion of Afghanistan, VFM Li highlighted China's
investment in the Aynak copper mine, a large mining operation
in Logar Province. The Czech Government runs the Provincial
Reconstruction Team in Logar Province, Pojar stated. He
urged cooperation and open lines of communication between
Chinese and Czech officials on the ground in Afghanistan, for
the safety and benefit of all parties involved.

BEIJING 00000177 002 OF 002



Iran
--------------


6. (C) Noting that stability in the Middle East is in
China's best interests, given China's considerable commercial
and energy investments in Iran, the EU stressed that Iran's
continued nuclear ambitions are destabilizing the region and
may at some point lead to a military confrontation. The
Chinese side responded noncommittally, according to EU
Political Counselor McLachlan, and indicated that China would
wait until the change in U.S. administrations before
committing to any policies on Iran.

Other Topics: Somalia, Gaza
--------------


7. (C) Discussions on Gaza during the dialogue were "nothing
new," according to Musilova, with China stressing the
importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1860. The EU
thanked China for its support in combating piracy off the
Horn of Africa.

Courtesy Call with Dai Tense
--------------


8. (C) Following meetings with VFM Li, Pojar paid a courtesy
call on State Councilor Dai Bingguo, which swelled from a
scheduled 20 minutes into an almost two-hour recap of the
dialogue. Dai stressed the importance of cooperation and
urged the EU to continue working with China on trade and
other projects. He noted the "great opportunities" for
cooperation between China and Europe and, using a tone that
Musilova characterized as "slightly threatening," warned that
"others may capitalize" if those opportunities are not
realized.

Significant Topics Not Discussed: Taiwan, Uighurs
-------------- --------------


9. (C) In notable contrast to previous dialogues, the Chinese
side did not raise Taiwan, whereas previous EU-China
strategic dialogues covered the topic at length, Musilova
said. She expressed hope the China and Europe have finally
"moved past" the Taiwan question. The post-Tiananmen EU arms
embargo and the potential resettlement of Chinese citizen
Uighurs currently detained at Guantanamo to a European
country were other "watch out for" items that did not come
up, Musilova said.
PICCUTA