Cablegate: S/Crs Works with China On a Reconstruction And

VZCZCXRO1587
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #6872 3020548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 290548Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3109
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS BEIJING 006872

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH KCRS
SUBJECT: S/CRS WORKS WITH CHINA ON A RECONSTRUCTION AND
STABILIZATION WORKSHOP

1. (SBU) Summary: Visiting officials from S/CRS participated
in a successful Reconstruction and Stabilization Workshop in
Beijing on October 24-25. The MFA organized the workshop,
with attendance by representatives of several Chinese
ministries. Each side briefed on its international emergency
response policies. In separate meetings with the MFA, S/CRS
outlined two proposals for future bilateral cooperation. The
MFA expressed concern that S/CRS' proposals are ambitious for
China at the moment, but voiced enthusiasm for continued
bilateral exchanges of some kind on this issue. End
Summary.

2. (SBU) S/CRS officers participated in an October 24-25
Reconstruction and Stabilization Workshop organized by the
MFA in Beijing. S/CRS officials noted shared interest in
creating a stable global environment in the face of new
security challenges and the need to expand international
partnerships. S/CRS outlined the S/CRS mission for Chinese
Government officials attending the workshop, explained how
S/CRS handles planning for reconstruction and stabilization
and responded to Chinese questions during a question and
answer session. The second day of the workshop was devoted
to a Chinese presentation on Chinese peacekeeping and
humanitarian efforts abroad. The Chinese emphasized the
importance to China of operating under a United Nations
umbrella and noted that China has yet to engage in larger
reconstruction and stabilization efforts. The following
ministries and entities all presented at the Workshop: MFA,
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of
Civil Affairs, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of
Commerce, Ministry of Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
China Meteorological Administration and the Red Cross Society
of China.

3. (SBU) In meetings with MFA officials following the
workshop, S/CRS proposed two possible next steps to build on
this new channel of exchange and cooperation. S/CRS offered
to host a case-study exercise in which the United States and
China would work together on a reconstruction and
stabilization scenario. MFA International Organizations
Department Deputy Director Yao Shaojun said that in his
personal view China should first act as an observer to such
an exercise before being an actual participant, but stressed
that China hopes to continue developing bilateral exchanges
on stabilization and reconstruction and emergency response.
S/CRS presented a second proposal to bring reconstruction and
stabilization onto the agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF). Yao deferred to his MFA colleagues working in the
Asia Department but again noted his personal opinion that
this was perhaps a "bridge too far." He said he thinks China
and the United States should initially work together
bilaterally to build mutual confidence and trust. S/CRS
agreed to consult with EAP to prepare a paper for the MFA on
the U.S. idea of bringing reconstruction and stabilization
into the ARF to better clarify this idea.

4. (SBU) The delegation cleared this cable.
Randt

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