DAS SHEAR DISCUSSES AF/PAK WITH MFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003323

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2034
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER NATO MARR EAID CH PK AF
SUBJECT: DAS SHEAR DISCUSSES AF/PAK WITH MFA

Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor William Weinstein for reason
s 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: China welcomes a "constructive" U.S. role
in South Asia as well as continued dialogue and coordination
with the United States regarding South Asia, an MFA official
told DAS Shear December 10. Responding to DAS Shear's
suggestion of areas for possible U.S.-PRC cooperation in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, the MFA official stressed China's
bilateral channels of assistance but expressed willingness to
study more detailed U.S. proposals on agriculture,
counternarcotics, education, health, and infrastructure
projects. China urged the United States to take into
consideration China's "core interests" in Xinjiang and Tibet
and to support China's efforts to combat the East Turkistan
Islamic Movement (ETIM).

China Willing to Continue Coordinating with U.S.
-------------- -


2. (C) China would like to see the United States continue to
play a "constructive" role in promoting stability in South
Asia, MFA Department of Asian Affairs Deputy Director General
Sun Weidong told DAS Shear in a December 10 meeting. Citing
our shared interests in stability and peace in South Asia,
Sun said that China was willing to continue coordinating with
the United States. Sun noted the positive November 11
consultations with Deputy SRAP Feldman and President Obama
and President Hu's exchange of views on South Asia during
Obama's successful visit to China.

Questions about New U.S. Strategy
--------------


3. (C) Noting appreciation for receiving a preview of
President Obama's announcement on Afghanistan and Pakistan
and commenting that China had "carefully read" the speech,
Sun expressed interest in learning more about three aspects
of the new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan: 1)
how the United States would assess the effectiveness of the
troop surge; 2) whether the U.S. goal was to eliminate the
insurgents or simply prevent their coming to power; and 3)
how the United States would distinguish between radical
Taliban insurgents and more moderate Taliban followers who
would be willing to go back to legitimate political
participation. DAS Shear responded that the new U.S.
strategy would improve security in Afghanistan, strengthen
Afghanistan's capacity to promote stability and economic
development, and lure many insurgents away from the Taliban.
He stressed that U.S. efforts to eliminate the Al-Qaeda
threat, mitigate the Taliban threat and increase the Afghan
government's capacity would serve both Afghanistan and
China's interests.

Areas of Possible U.S.-PRC Cooperation
--------------


4. (C) DAS Shear suggested the United States and China agree
to an Af/Pak action plan and outlined a number of areas of
possible U.S.-PRC cooperation, including counternarcotics,
education, health, agriculture, infrastructure projects and
energy projects. He noted that the Secretary's Coordinator
for International Energy Affairs David Goldwyn may visit
Beijing in March, which would present a useful opportunity
for an exchange with Chinese energy experts on energy
projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He suggested that the
United States and China continue working-level Af/Pak
consultations and hold the South and Central Asia (SCA)
Sub-Dialogue before the second round of the Strategic and
Economic Dialogue is held in the summer of 2010.


5. (C) Sun responded that the United States and China shared
an interest in peace in Afghanistan and stability and
development in Pakistan. The United States and China each
had its own channels for bilateral assistance, and China, as
a developing country, would offer assistance "within its
capacities." He noted that there was room to strengthen
U.S.-PRC cooperation and stressed that such cooperation must
serve not only U.S. and Chinese interests but those of
Afghanistan and Pakistan as well. Regarding cooperation on
agriculture, Sun expressed willingness to study concrete U.S.
proposals and share them with relevant agencies. Noting the
positive cooperation between DEA and the Chinese Public
Security Bureau (PSB),Sun asked for more detailed proposals
regarding counternarcotics cooperation. He also welcomed
more detailed U.S. proposals on education, health and
infrastructure projects. Sun said China looked forward to
Assistant Secretary Blake's possible visit to Beijing in
early 2010 for the SCA Sub-Dialogue and expressed interest in

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learning more about U.S. views on the January 2010 London
conference on Afghanistan and possible conference in Kabul.

China Stresses Importance of Xinjiang and Tibet
-------------- -


6. (C) Sun expressed hope that efforts to strengthen U.S.-PRC
coordination in South Asia would take into consideration
China's "core interests" in Xinjiang and Tibet. Noting
China's significant security and economic interests in South
Asia, Sun said that ETIM posed a major threat to China's
security and urged U.S. support for combating ETIM.
GOLDBERG