Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIJING243
2010-01-29 10:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

S/P DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S MEETING WITH MFA COUNTERPART

Tags:  PREL PGOV ECON SENV CH AF PK UNSC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291023Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7838
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 7055
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0729
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2289
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000243 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2030
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SENV CH AF PK UNSC
SUBJECT: S/P DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S MEETING WITH MFA COUNTERPART
ON U.S.-PRC RELATIONS, ASIA, S.ASIA, G20, AND UNSC REFORM

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000243

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2030
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SENV CH AF PK UNSC
SUBJECT: S/P DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S MEETING WITH MFA COUNTERPART
ON U.S.-PRC RELATIONS, ASIA, S.ASIA, G20, AND UNSC REFORM

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The United States and China are both aware
of the "strategic importance" of their relationship,
notwithstanding recent "troubles" and "differences," said MFA
Policy and Planning Department DDG Zhao Jianhua in a January
26 meeting with S/P Deputy Director Chollet. The Strategic
and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) provides an important platform
for the United States and China to exchange views, and China
looks forward to another successful dialogue this year.
China would like to see the United States play a
"constructive role" in Asia, and it is not the objective of
the PRC to push the United States out of the region. China
is concerned with the domestic political stability of
Pakistan and the larger implications instability would have
for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
While the G20 proved useful during the recent global economic
crisis, questions now need to be answered about the G20's
ongoing responsibilities, its membership and its
institutional status. China supports UN Security Council
reform; however the process is complicated, without an easy
way forward. END SUMMARY.

U.S.-China Relations
--------------

2. (C) DDG Zhao commented that the United States and China
were currently going through "troubles," pointing to the
Dalai Lama and Taiwan arm sales as examples, but both
countries should keep the "strategic importance" of the
relationship in mind and handle "sensitive issues" properly.
Zhao stressed that the United States and China were in the
same "village," with common interests exceeding differences,
though those differences were important and should be treated
carefully. Zhao believed that the S&ED provided an important
platform for the United States and China to exchange views
and focus on the "bigger issues," and China looked forward to
another successful dialogue.

Regional Architecture and Cooperation

--------------

3. (C) Reviewing recent Japanese and Australian proposals to
create a new mechanism to address Asia-Pacific issues, Zhao
observed that the primary objective of Asian regional
architecture was to create a "friendly" and "cooperative"
neighborhood. China was open to new initiates in this area
so long as they were conducive to stability and development.
China welcomed a constructive U.S. role in Asia. It was not
the objective of the PRC to push the United States out of the
region, as that was both "impossible" and "impractical," Zhao
added.


4. (C) Zhao remarked that China's takeaway from the
Secretary's January 12 speech in Honolulu was that the United
States was interested in multilateral cooperation in the
region. It was in China's interest to cooperate in building
a regional architecture. Some of China's neighbors were
concerned, he claimed, that they would be forced to choose
sides between the U.S. and China.


5. (C) In the past, regional multilateral cooperation did not
hold much interest for China, but this position had shifted
with China's reform and opening policy, said Zhao. That
change in policy had not just been a tactical move but had
reflected a strategic recognition that China was increasingly
dependent on the international community. China was eager to
play a constructive role in the regional and global
community, to be a part of it, to benefit from it, and to
contribute to its successful development. Zhao refuted some
U.S. academics' questioning of China's strategic intentions.
On the contrary, he said, China and the U.S. were more
interdependent than ever. The common interests of the United
States and China were the mutual interests of the region and
the world, Zhao concluded.

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

6. (C) DDG Zhao asked about the timeline of U.S. troop
withdrawals from Afghanistan and the U.S. strategy toward the
Taliban. Zhao expressed concern over increasing Taliban
popularity in Afghanistan. Military efforts in the region
would not achieve comprehensive success without the support
of the local populace. Increased efforts were needed to
improve the livelihoods of the Afghan people, he noted.


7. (C) Zhao remarked that China was concerned about the
overall regional structure and stability in the region. He
referred to Afghanistan and Pakistan as being situated in
China's "neighborhood" and said that China welcomed any

BEIJING 00000243 002 OF 002


effort to bring stability to the two countries. As a close
"friend" and neighbor to Pakistan, China was apprehensive
about Pakistan's domestic political stability and the impact
instability would have on Afghanistan and the region.
Pakistan being a nuclear power state, there was increased
urgency for China to help the government in Pakistan
stabilize and prevent a takeover by radicals, Zhao concluded.

G20
---

8. (C) While China acknowledged the important role that the
G20 had played in policy coordination during the global
economic crisis in 2009, DDG Zhao questioned the future of
the organization now that the worst of the financial crisis
was over. He wondered whether the USG believed the G20
should remain a platform merely for financial and economic
issues, or if it should tackle other global topics like the
environment and climate change. Zhao suggested that other
issues, including G20 membership and institutional structure,
should be addressed soon. He expressed concerns that the
grouping's current membership structure was not fully
reflective of the international community. He floated the
possibility of including representatives from regional
organizations and mentioned that ASEAN and the African Union
had already posed such questions to the PRC. Zhao maintained
that he did not think it was necessary to transform the G20
into a formal institution like the UN.

UN Security Council Reform
--------------

9. (C) Zhao noted that UN Security Council (UNSC) reform was
a complicated process "without an easy way forward." While
Zhao reaffirmed previous PRC statements that UNSC reform
should be based on consensus, he acknowledged that different
"blocs" with different interests and agendas existed within
the UN. The United States was clear on China's position, he
said, and shared common objectives to make the UN more
effective.
HUNTSMAN