(C) CHINA: KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON UNREST IN

S E C R E T STATE 085629

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV SOCI CH
SUBJECT: (C) CHINA: KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON UNREST IN
URUMQI (C-AL9-01772)

REF: A. BEIJING 001868

B. BEIJING 001876

C. BEIJING 001955

D. BEIJING 002183

E. BEIJING 001909

F. BEIJING 001929

G. BEIJING 001878

H. BEIJING 001928

I. BEIJING 001967

J. BEIJING 001956

K. BEIJING 001970

L. BEIJING 002005

M. BEIJING 002022

N. BEIJING 002041

O. BEIJING 002065

P. BEIJING 002084

Q. BEIJING 001954

R. BEIJING 001972

S. BEIJING 001990

T. BEIJING 002004

U. BEIJING 002023

V. BEIJING 002038

W. BEIJING 002066

X. BEIJING 002083

Y. BEIJING 002097

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATED THE
EXCELLENT REPORTING IN REFTELS ON UNREST IN URUMQI. REFTELS
PROVED VITAL FOR THE DRAFTING OF FINISHED INTELLIGENCE
PRODUCTS, WHICH WERE RECEIVED WITH GREAT INTEREST BY
POLICYMAKERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. REF A PROVIDED DETAILS
NOT AVAILABLE IN THE OPEN PRESS, GIVING US VALUABLE
INFORMATION AND INSIGHTS INTO THE STILL UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
REF B WAS THE EARLIEST LOOK AT THE CHINESE TIMELINE OF
EVENTS AND CONTAINED THE OFFICIAL FIRST CLAIM THAT VIOLENCE
ON THE NIGHT OF 5 JULY WAS PRIMARILY DIRECTED AT HAN CHINESE,
WHICH DID NOT APPEAR IN CHINESE OFFICIAL PRESS UNTIL DAYS
LATER, AND ALLOWED US TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM KEY
CUSTOMERS. REF C WAS NOTEWORTHY FOR ITS WIDE RANGE OF
INSIGHTS INTO THE LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS, POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE, AND UNDERLYING DYNAMICS OF THE UNREST. REF D
PRESENTED A CLEAR AND REASONED RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS AND
WAS OF TREMENDOUS VALUE. OTHER NOTABLE REPORTS INCLUDE REF
E, WHICH DETAILED THE JULY 7 HAN COUNTER PROTESTS, AND REF
F, WHICH PROVIDED THE VIEWS OF URUMQI RESIDENTS ON THE RIOTS
AND LOCAL PROPAGANDA EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT. REFS Q TO Y
DURING THE JULY 10-22 PERIOD WERE ALSO EXTREMELY USEFUL. ALL
REFERENCED REPORTING DESCRIBED SOURCES OF INFORMATION CLEARLY
AND CAREFULLY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE REPORTING ON
POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE INCIDENT.
MANY THANKS.
CLINTON