Cablegate: Prc/India: Despite China's Ambassador's Press

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 023849

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV IN PK CH
SUBJECT: PRC/INDIA: DESPITE CHINA'S AMBASSADOR'S PRESS
STATEMENTS, TWO SIDES LOOK FORWARD TO FRUITFUL SUMMIT

REF: A) FEA20061114029815 B) NEW DELHI 07764

Classified By: External Unit Chief Edgard Kagan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

1. (C) China and India are working closely together to ensure
that Preident Hu Jintao's November 20 ) 23 trip to India is
a success, according to a Chinese MFA official and an Indian
Embassy officer. In separae meetings, both officers
confirmed that recent press statements made by China's
Ambassador to India on the border dispute and resulting press
stories suggesting a cooling off in relations are not
reflective of the true state of the bilateral relationship.
The MFA official stated that the "visit will speak for
itself," while the Indian officer pointed out that China's
Ambassador has embarrassed both New Delhi and Beijing in the
past by speaking out of turn. Both officers asserted that
border talks between China and India are ongoing and that an
announcement on the consultations will be made during
President Hu's visit. India is briefed on all aspects of
Sino-Pakistan cooperation, according to the MFA official, who
added that no new developments in nuclear cooperation between
Islamabad and Beijing will be announced during Hu's November
23-26 visit to Pakistan. End Summary.

Media Stirring the Pot or . . .
-------------------------------

2. (C) The Indian media is trying to "make trouble" before
President Hu Jintao's Nov. 20 ) 23 visit to India, stated
MFA Asian Department Division Director for India, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Bhutan Huang Xilian, stressing that China's
Ambassador Sun Yuxi's remarks on the boundary dispute during
a Indian television interview (reftel A) were "taken out of
context." Huang said that Beijing was not aware of Sun's
remarks at the time Sun made them and that he had to call Sun
to get details on the media interview. China and India are
working "around the clock" to create a good atmosphere for
the visit, Huang told poloffs during a November 16 meeting.
Beijing does not allow the outstanding boundary issue effects
the development of bilateral relations. Huang stressed that
"the visit will speak for itself."

. . . China's Ambassador Talking Without Beijing's Guidance
--------------------------------------------- -------

3. (C) PRC Foreign Ministry officials emphatically told their
Indian Embassy counterparts in Beijing that China had not
instructed Ambassador Sun to speak on the border issue and
had no advance notice that Sun was going to give a television
interview, according Indian Embassy officer Madhusudhanan
Sridharan. Sridharan told poloff November 17 that he
believed the MFA was embarrassed by Sun's statement and his
"bizarre behavior" before a very important high-level
exchange. New Delhi is not attributing any ulterior motives
to Sun's "outburst," Sridharan said. This is not the first
time Ambassador Sun's press interviews have embarrassed both
China and India, he stated. Most recently, the two sides had
agreed to jointly announce the visit of Hu Jintao but Sun
beat everyone to the punch and unilaterally announced the
visit, Sridharan said.

Border Consultations Not Stalled
---------------------------------

4. (C) Consultations between Beijing and New Delhi are
on-going, according to MFA Director Huang Xilian, who
stressed that the border talks have never been "cancelled."
Huang said the idea that the two sides cancelled talks was a
media "fabrication." At the conclusion of the eighth round
of border talks in September, the two sides agreed to hold
the next round of talks within a year but never fixed a date.
Huang said that China and India have agreed to make an
announcement on the border issue during Hu Jintao's visit.
Sridharan stated that the next round of border talks are
likely to start "soon" after Hu's visit, adding that the two
sides "may announce" the dates of the next round during the
summit.

Transparent Visit to Pakistan?
------------------------------

5. (C) Huang stated that India is "very clear" about China's
cooperation with Pakistan in all fields and that the two
countries frequently exchange views. Huang said that no new
developments in Sino-Pakistan nuclear cooperation would be

BEIJING 00023849 002 OF 002

announced during President Hu Jintao's November 23-26 trip to
Pakistan.

6. (C) New Delhi is not aware of any Chinese plans to expand
nuclear cooperation with Islamabad, stated Sridharan.
However, India welcomes and expects the possible signing of a
Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and China during Hu's
visit, according to Sridharan. New Delhi hopes that a FTA
would promote the development of Pakistan's economy and
thereby improve stability in the country.
Randt

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