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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 016165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2026 
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH XD
SUBJECT: WU DAWEI AND BOUCHER TALK NEPAL AND (NO) 
CIVIL-NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH PAKISTAN 
 
BEIJING 00016165  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Classified by Political Minister Counselor Daniel 
Shields.  Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei told Assistant 
Secretary Richard Boucher the purpose of Wu's visit to 
 
SIPDIS 
Nepal was to show China's support for Nepal's new 
government.  China believes the United Nations can 
play a positive role in the process of stabilizing 
Nepal's political situation.  Wu asked why the United 
States has taken different positions on civil nuclear 
assistance to India and Pakistan.  Boucher responded 
by highlighting the very different track records of 
the two countries on proliferation.  Pakistan must 
significantly improve its record on nonproliferation 
before any civil nuclear assistance could be 
considered.  Wu said that following the U.S. agreement 
with India, Pakistan approached China requesting the 
same kind of package.  Wu suggested that the United 
States seriously consider cooperating with Pakistan on 
civil nuclear issues in order to help Islamabad feel 
more secure.  End Summary. 
 
Wu Discusses Trip to Nepal 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Visiting Assistant Secretary for South and 
Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher met with Vice 
Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on August 1 to discuss South 
Asian issues.  Wu said the purpose of his recent trip 
to Nepal was to show China's support for the new 
government.  The seven political parties have not been 
able to successfully rule the country so far, said Wu, 
noting that this may be due to Nepalese tradition and 
culture.  Boucher asked whether the political parties 
would be able to remain united and choose a new Prime 
Minister if the Prime Minister were incapacitated.  Wu 
responded that the political situation is more likely 
to stabilize if the seven parties stay united, adding 
that the United States and China should work together 
to support the parties. 
 
¶3. (C) Wu observed that there are now three political 
forces operating in Nepal.  The first is the King and 
pro-monarchy forces that use their traditional power 
to influence the political situation.  The seven 
political parties that emerged from the democratic 
movement but appear to be returning to their previous 
positions constitute the second major force.  Wu 
commented that the military has now declared its 
loyalty to the democratic movement, though it was once 
the King's main support.  "Anti-government forces" 
that embarked on a path of armed struggle against the 
government after failing to merge with the political 
parties comprise the final major force, according to 
Wu.  They are now trying to reintegrate themselves 
into the political process, Wu stated, though it is 
unclear whether the "anti-government forces" will be 
able to secure their position.  The seven parties are 
confident that the "anti-government forces" can be 
reintegrated into the political process, but there are 
many unknowns about the political future of Nepal, Wu 
said, stressing that no one can predict the result of 
the struggle between the three forces. 
 
Disarming the Maoists 
--------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Wu said that during his visit he had met with 
the United Nations Special Representative in Nepal. 
China believes the United Nations can play a positive 
role in the process of stabilizing Nepal's political 
situation.  Boucher stated that the United States has 
not supported the United Nations' taking on a 
mediating role in Nepal but thinks it could be 
effective in assisting with disarming and demobilizing 
the Maoists.  The Maoists must give up guns and 
violence if they are to enter the political process, 
 
BEIJING 00016165  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Boucher said, stressing that Nepal's political parties 
and outside countries should be firm with the Maoists 
on this point.  Wu assessed that the Maoists are not 
opposed to giving up their arms, but the group likely 
believes keeping weapons increases the likelihood of 
taking power.  It is important for the political 
parties to have more contact with the Maoists and 
convey the message that giving up their arms is part 
of the political process, Wu said. 
 
China Sees India as More Influential in Nepal 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Boucher asked if Wu had coordinated with India 
on his trip to Nepal.  Wu said that the he had not, 
though China is in close communication with India in 
general on the topic of Nepal's political situation. 
India has much greater influence with Nepal than 
China, Wu said.  Both countries agree on the 
importance of having stability in Nepal, he stressed. 
 
Pakistan Seeks Civil Nuclear Assistance 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Wu asked why the United States has taken 
different positions with India and Pakistan regarding 
civil nuclear assistance.  Boucher responded that 
India and Pakistan have different situations, 
different histories and different nonproliferation 
records.  India has a strong nonproliferation record 
and has made efforts to further improve its controls. 
Pakistan does not have the same record, Boucher 
stated.  Wu responded that after the United States 
signed the civil nuclear agreement with India, 
Pakistan approached China asking for such assistance. 
A troublesome pattern has emerged in which the United 
States is assisting India and China is assisting 
Pakistan, Wu said.  He added that "if we continue in 
this direction there will be stability problems." 
 
¶7. (C) Asked to clarify the nature of China's 
assistance to Pakistan, Wu stated that he was 
referring to past energy agreements with Pakistan that 
have not yet been completed and would not require 
Nuclear Suppliers Group consensus.  The United States 
recognizes that Pakistan has an energy problem, 
Boucher stated.  The United States is providing non- 
nuclear energy assistance and hopes that hopes China 
and other countries will help in similar ways with 
Pakistan's energy problem.  A civil-nuclear agreement 
with Pakistan, by China or others, would find no 
support in the U.S. Congress or in the international 
community, Boucher noted.  We are already having 
difficulty getting many European donors to give to 
Pakistan now, as a military-led state.  A nuclear deal 
would make this even more difficult. He pointed out 
that the Pakistani people will be happy to have 
electricity, regardless whether it came from a 
hydropower plant or a nuclear power plant.  Wu 
countered by asking how the United States can ask 
Pakistan to be satisfied with a hydropower plant from 
China after India signed a civil nuclear agreement 
with the United States.  Boucher responded that 
Pakistan receives eight or nine times more U.S. 
assistance than India and special initiatives in the 
areas of education, energy and trade, even though the 
Pakistani population is only one fifth of India's. 
The United States can develop an appropriate 
relationship with both countries, Boucher stated.  Wu 
asked whether U.S. nuclear assistance to India 
includes India's military programs.  Boucher responded 
that the agreement only applies to India's civil 
nuclear program. 
 
China Suggests U.S. Civil Nuclear Assistance to 
Pakistan 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶8. (C) Wu requested that the U.S. consider certain 
circumstances under which it might cooperate with 
 
BEIJING 00016165  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Pakistan on the nuclear side.  The U.S. needs to do 
this, Wu said, to make Islamabad feel more safe and 
equal.  Boucher reiterated that Pakistan's 
nonproliferation record is not of the same caliber as 
India's.  The United States has made clear to Pakistan 
that we could only consider providing assistance if 
Pakistan improves its track record on 
nonproliferation. 
 
¶9.  (U) Assistant Secretary Boucher cleared this 
cable. 
RANDT