UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' DECEMBER 9, 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 003312

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y//subject LINE CHANGE//

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2029
TAGS: OVIP BURNS WILLIAM PREL MNUC SENV PARM CASC
PHUM, ETRD, MASS, IR, AF, PAK, IN, TW, CH
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' DECEMBER 9, 2009
CONVERSATION WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER YANG JIECHI

BEIJING 00003312 001.2 OF 004


Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.4
(b,d).


1. (SBU) December 9, 2009; 3:45 p.m.; Ministry of Foreign
Affairs; Beijing


2. (SBU) Participants:

U.S.
--------------
Under Secretary Burns
Amb. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Embassy Beijing
David Shear, EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Laura Rosenberger, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary
Eric Barboriak, Embassy Beijing Political Officer
Meredith Sumpter, Embassy Beijing Political Officer
Ryan Hass, Embassy Beijing Political Officer (notetaker)
James Brown, Interpreter

CHINA
--------------

Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cheng Jingye, Director General, Department of Arms Control
and Disarmament, MFA
Zheng Zeguang, Director General, Department of North American
and Oceanian Affairs, MFA
Shen Yongxiang, Deputy Director General, Department of
International Organizations and Conferences, MFA
Liu Yongfeng, Counselor, Department of West Asian and North
African Affairs, MFA
Shen Jian, Director, Nuclear Division, Department of Arms
Control and Disarmament, MFA
Wu Jianjian, Second Secretary, Department of Arms Control and
Disarmament, MFA
Qian Xinyi, Interpreter


3. (C) SUMMARY: In a December 9 meeting with Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi, Under Secretary Burns stressed the
importance of coordinated actions on the Iran nuclear issue.
U/S Burns urged China to demonstrate leadership at climate
talks in Copenhagen, and encouraged greater bilateral
coordination to further shared interests in stability and
development in Afghanistan and Pakistan. U/S Burns
highlighted the importance of human rights in U.S.-PRC
relations, and called for the release of AmCit Feng Xue on
humanitarian grounds. Foreign Minister Yang hoped the U.S.
would show more support for China's climate change position
at Copenhagen, asked for help to press India to show more
flexibility toward Pakistan, and stressed the need to prepare
thoroughly for any upcoming meetings between Presidents Obama
and Hu. FM Yang expressed concern over possible arms sales
to Taiwan, particularly of F-16s, China's opposition to a
potential meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama,
and China's concern about tit-for-tat trade remedies.
Foreign Minister Yang expressed interest in a quick
resumption of the Six-Party Talks and the importance of the
bilateral consultation on the G-20 to ensure that it becomes
a successful institution. End Summary.

U.S Interested in Results at Copenhagen
--------------


4. (C) In a meeting with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi
December 9, U/S Burns expressed hope that China would
demonstrate leadership at U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen,
particularly by listing actions that China planned to take in
the conference's politically-binding document and by
demonstrating transparency in the implementation process that
followed. FM Yang responded that China hoped that the United
States would show more support for China's climate change
position at Copenhagen, bearing in mind that China was a
developing country, it was doing its best, and that "quite a
few countries" were sympathetic to China's position.

Shared Interest in Stability in South Asia
--------------


5. (C) U/S Burns stated that the U.S. looked forward to
working closely with China to further our shared interests in
a stable Afghanistan and Pakistan. FM Yang responded that
Chinese leaders used Pakistani leaders' frequent visits to

BEIJING 00003312 002.2 OF 004


encourage the Pakistanis to understand that stability and
development were important elements in countering terrorism.
Pakistan had paid a heavy price in the fight against
terrorism and deserved the international community's support,
FM Yang stated. Pakistan's neighboring countries,
particularly India, should show more understanding for
Pakistan's security needs. Pakistani President Zardari was
"very interested" in improving Pakistan-India relations, and
China hoped that as a much larger country, India would adopt
a more forward-looking, flexible attitude toward Pakistan, FM
Yang stated. U/S Burns responded that Indian Prime Minister
Singh had just been in Washington, and that the U.S. would
continue to encourage both India and Pakistan to improve
their bilateral relationship.

Human Rights as Element of Bilateral Relationship
-------------- --------------


6. (C) FM Yang declared President Obama's November visit to
China a success and stated that the joint statement issued at
the conclusion of the visit provided a comprehensive
guideline for the development of bilateral relations in the
21st century. Our task, FM Yang said, was to implement our
two Presidents' vision. Presidents Obama and Hu would have
many opportunities to meet in 2010, including at two G-20
summits, other summits, and President Hu's visit to the
United States. FM Yang stressed the need for both sides to
make good preparations for these upcoming meetings. FM Yang
noted that the second round of the Strategic and Economic
Dialogue would provide an additional chance to open up areas
of cooperation.


7. (C) U/S Burns responded that the busy bilateral agenda was
a positive sign, and noted the importance of dialogue even on
issues where both sides did not share a common view, such as
human rights, which made the resumption of the Human Rights
Dialogue in 2010 of such importance. U/S Burns requested
that China consider the release of AmCit Feng Xue on
humanitarian grounds, and noted the President and the
Secretary's interest in this case. FM Yang responded that
Dr. Xue's case would be decided by an independent judiciary.
FM Yang expressed hope for a good human rights dialogue, and
commented that he would tell his colleagues to be
well-prepared.

Need for Common Efforts on Iran
--------------


8. (C) U/S Burns stated that China and the U.S. had important
shared interests in the stability of the Middle East, and
noted that no U.S. president in the last 30 years had gone to
as much effort as President Obama to engage Iran. The United
States was frustrated that the agreements that the P5-plus-1
had reached with Iran in Geneva had been walked back by the
Iranians. U/S Burns explained that the U.S. had sought
creative solutions to build confidence with Iran, including
on the Tehran Research Reactor proposal, but that Iran's
failure to follow through on the understandings reached in
Geneva, including on its commitment to meet with P5-plus-1
countries for talks on its nuclear program, had been
disappointing. At the end of 2009, U/S Burns explained, the
U.S. would have to ask what more we could do to push forward
the diplomatic track, and how we should begin to make clear
to Iran the consequences of Iran's failure to follow through
on its commitments. U/S Burns underscored that U.S-PRC
cooperation on Iran and P5-plus-1 unity had been
instrumental, and the adoption of the resolution on Iran at
the IAEA Board of Governors had been a very positive step.


9. (C) FM Yang agreed that the unified P5-plus-1 vote at the
IAEA had sent a firm, clear message to Iran. China hoped the
P5-plus-1 could continue to find ways to bring about peaceful
settlement of the Iran nuclear issue. FM Yang welcomed the
close coordination among the P5-plus-1 Political Directors
and emphasized the value of U/S Burns' continuing close
contact with Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. FM Yang
stressed that it was very important to maintain stability in
the Middle East, while acknowledging that Gulf states were
nervous about the possibility of Iran developing nuclear
weapons. China welcomed U.S. engagement. While commenting
that Iran was currently very unhappy with China, FM Yang
emphasized that China would stand its ground.

BEIJING 00003312 003.2 OF 004




10. (C) U/S Burns noted that a key risk of Iran's nuclear
program was that other actors would draw independent
conclusions about how to respond. If the Saudis concluded
that Iran was close to acquiring nuclear weapons, they would
pursue their own nuclear program. The Israelis were deeply
concerned, U/S Burns explained, adding that we could not
underestimate the possibility that Israel would reach the
conclusion that it could not afford to sit still. FM Yang
responded that his last trip to Israel and his meeting with
Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman had left the same
impression.

PRC Bilateral Sensitivities: Arms Sales, Dalai Lama, Trade
-------------- --------------


11. (C) FM Yang flagged Chinese opposition to any arms sales
to Taiwan, particularly of F-16s, and strongly urged the U.S.
not to proceed with any F-16 sale. FM Yang explained that
China had demonstrated patience and goodwill in seeking to
develop peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan
was pushing on some issues that were irritating, FM Yang
stated, including joining the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC),which the PRC opposed. In spite of
occasional differences, the cross-Strait atmosphere was
improving, and the PRC hoped the United States would be a
positive force in this development. FM Yang added that a
non-sale of F-16s would be constructive for further
cultivation of cross-Strait ties.


12. (C) FM Yang noted China's clear opposition to a potential
meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama. China
was also very concerned about trade remedy measures, and
hoped to avoid tit-for-tat retaliatory actions. FM Yang
declared that U.S.-PRC relations had matured beyond the
tit-for-tat stage, and then recounted that in the first ten
years of bilateral relations, PRC leaders had thought about
China's strategic security vis-a-vis Russia, in the second
ten years the focus had been on trade relations, and now the
bilateral relationship was anchored in a common effort to
jointly address regional and global challenges. FM Yang
urged that bilateral issues be discussed quietly in order to
maintain for the world the image that the U.S. and China
could do business together.

PRC Supports U.S. Engagement with DPRK
--------------


13. (C) Asked his assessment of North Korea, FM Yang said his
involvement in Premier Wen Jiabao's October 5 meeting with
Kim Jong-Il had left an impression that Kim Jong-Il paid a
great deal of attention to North Korea's relationship with
the United States. Kim Jong-Il understood that a brighter
future for North Korea depended upon a reasonably stable
relationship with the United States. Dialogue with North
Korea was never smooth in part because North Koreans were
very accomplished negotiators. In spite of this, China hoped
for positive results from U.S. engagement with North Korea.
China stood ready to explore all options for the resumption
of the Six-Party Talks, but first the U.S. needed to bring
North Korea back to the Talks. China would do its best to
re-start the Six-Party Talks under appropriate conditions, FM
Yang concluded.

U.S. Request for PRC Support in Af/Pak
--------------


14. (C) Asked for details on the status of an international
conference on Afghanistan in London in late January 2010, U/S
Burns explained that the broad purpose would be for the
newly-formed Afghan government to lay out its plan for the
future and for the international community to make clear its
support for the Afghan government. At the same time, it
would be stressed that the Afghan government had to live up
to its commitments.


15. (C) Asked about the situation on the ground in
Afghanistan, U/S Burns stated that conditions were difficult
and that the United States understood that adding troops
would not on its own solve all of the problems. That was
why, U/S Burns explained, the United States had a
comprehensive strategy that emphasized security, economic

BEIJING 00003312 004.2 OF 004


development and good governance. China's investment in the
Aynak copper mine and its infrastructure projects were very
important, U/S Burns stated. FM Yang responded that China's
assistance to Afghanistan was intended to serve both Chinese
and Afghan interests. The Chinese government urged Chinese
companies doing business in Afghanistan to engage with the
local population, including through the building of schools,
hospitals and power plants in the vicinity of investments,
according to FM Yang.


16. (C) U/S Burns urged China to use its influence to
encourage Pakistan to confront domestic extremists. FM Yang
recounted that Pakistan's President visited China every three
months. Pakistan's reservoir of goodwill among the Chinese
people made it easy for China to provide assistance, since
"the people" ultimately decided what type of assistance China
could provide to recipient countries, according to FM Yang.
U/S Burns responded that the U.S. was providing support for
Pakistan's efforts to confront internal extremists, including
in Swat, while at the same time providing increased economic
assistance as a demonstration of a long-term commitment to
Pakistan's development. FM Yang noted that although there
was some opposition to the U.S. within Pakistan, U.S. acts of
sincerity would win more and more support over time. U/S
Burns noted that the Secretary had recently engaged directly
with Pakistanis of all viewpoints, which prompted FM Yang to
note that the Secretary's visit appeared to have been very
successful.

PRC Call for Consultation on G-20
--------------


17. (C) FM Yang stressed that it was important to ensure the
success of the G-20, and suggested that the U.S. and China
consult regularly on the mechanisms and purpose of the
institution, particularly in the run-up to the next summit
meeting in Canada. FM Yang indicated that the Secretary had
interesting ideas about the G-20.
HUNTSMAN