VZCZCXRO5164
OO RUEHBC RUEHCN RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHGH RUEHKUK RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #6938/01 3050958
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010958Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3198
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006938 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2027 
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC ETRD CH IR IS
SUBJECT: PRC-ISRAEL: FM LIVNI PRESSES BEIJING TO SUPPORT 
ACTION ON IRAN 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. 
Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  According to an Israeli Embassy readout, 
visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stressed to 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi 
that efforts to achieve international consensus on the way 
forward with Iran have weakened existing sanctions against 
the regime.  FM Livni described a "regional domino effect" of 
emboldened extremism among Iran's Arab neighbors and 
emphasized China's key role in international efforts to deal 
with the crisis.  According to the readout, Premier Wen in 
response indicated that China feels caught in the middle and 
believes that China's entreaties to Iran to show flexibility 
must be matched with the abandonment of attempts to impose 
"arbitrary" sanctions.  Premier Wen said that Iran should be 
allowed to have nuclear energy technology.  FM Yang told FM 
Livni that China is not opposed to "appropriate pressure" and 
that Beijing is waiting for the results of the upcoming IAEA 
report, although he did not say what should be done if the 
IAEA report fails to show progress.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Israeli DCM DJ Schneeweiss gave Poloff a readout on 
the exchanges Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had with Premier 
Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang during her visit to 
Beijing October 29-30.  Other issues were discussed, 
Schneeweiss said, but the primary purpose of Livni's visit 
was to urge Chinese support for tougher actions on Iran in 
light of its ongoing nuclear activities. 
 
Livni: China Must Help Deal with the Iranian "Bully" 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶3. (C) According the Schneeweiss, FM Livni stressed to 
Premier Wen and FM Yang that efforts to achieve international 
consensus on the way forward with Iran have weakened existing 
sanctions against the regime.  FM Livni described for Wen and 
Yang a "regional domino effect" of emboldened extremism among 
Iran's Arab neighbors because of the inability of the 
international community to constrain Iran's nuclear 
ambitions.  She told her Chinese interlocutors that Arab 
countries are watching the attitude of China and the 
international community toward Iran very closely and that if 
they conclude Iran will be allowed to continue to be a 
regional "bully," they may feel the need to "stand up to the 
bully."  The resulting regional instability would not be in 
China's interest. 
 
¶4. (C) FM Livni stressed in her meetings that the critical 
point in Iran's nuclear program will not be actually creating 
a nuclear weapon, but only mastering the technology to do so, 
and noted that this could happen before the end of the year. 
In what Schneeweiss called "taking the 'responsible 
stakeholder' argument one step further," Livni emphasized 
that China has an obligation to act because of its central 
role in international efforts to deal with the crisis.  She 
noted that UNSC Resolutions 1737 and 1747 are working and 
there is evidence of the beginnings of internal debate within 
Iran's leadership.  FM Livni stressed that Iran is sensitive 
to world opinion and, "unlike the DPRK," takes seriously its 
legitimacy in the world. 
 
FM Yang: PRC Not Opposed to "Appropriate Pressure" 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶5. (C) FM Yang reportedly replied with familiar talking 
points:  China believes in the need to maintain the integrity 
of the international nonproliferation regime and is opposed 
to Iran developing nuclear weapons.  He said that China has 
called on Iran to fulfill its obligations under existing 
resolutions and is not opposed to "appropriate pressure."  He 
said that China does not want to see further turmoil in the 
Middle East, suggesting that tougher actions against Iran 
could themselves be destabilizing.  China, FM Yang said, is 
engaging in its own way.  He added that President Hu Jintao 
implored President Ahmadinejad at the Shanghai Cooperation 
Organization summit in Bishkek in August to "correctly 
evaluate" the position of the international community, 
display flexibility, fulfill Iran's obligations and "promote 
the matter in an appropriate way," adding that FM Yang and 
State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan echoed this message to Iranian 
envoy Mostafa Pur-Mohammadi in September. 
 
PRC Will Play a "Serious Role" 
------------------------------ 
 
 
BEIJING 00006938  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (C) Per the readout, FM Yang called the path forward 
"difficult" but stressed that existing sanctions are having 
an effect.  FM Livni replied that any progress we have seen 
so far is the result of the dual-track approach, with 
pressure from the UN Security Council working in concert with 
IAEA actions.  FM Yang replied that if this month's IAEA 
report shows progress, then the international community 
should decide the next steps forward.  FM Yang said China 
will play a "serious role in that discussion," Schneeweiss 
noted, but neglected to say what the international community 
should do if the IAEA report fails to show progress. 
 
Premier Wen: China Stuck in the Middle 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) In his meeting with FM Livni, Premier Wen reiterated 
the Chinese position of opposing an Iran armed with nuclear 
weapons, maintaining the international nonproliferation 
regime, and ensuring a stable and peaceful Middle East. 
Premier Wen reportedly told Livni that China feels caught in 
the middle, saying that China's on-going efforts to convince 
Iran to stop its enrichment activities and negotiate in good 
faith must be balanced by the United States and EU abandoning 
their push for "arbitrary" sanctions.  Schneeweiss reported 
that Premier Wen added, "If Iran feels cornered, it may lash 
out." 
 
Iranian Nuclear Power OK; Use Peaceful Means 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Premier Wen told F Livni that Iran has the right to 
develop nuclear energy in accordance with international law 
and under IAEA supervision, adding that the focus of the 
international community should be on returning to 
negotiations.  Livni replied that dialogue can only help if 
Iran is willing to work with the international community in 
good faith, which Israel believes is not the case; rather, 
Iran's current goal is to "fool" the international community 
to buy time to master nuclear weapons technology.  Both 
Premier Wen and FM Yang reportedly underscored the need to 
resolve the situation through "peaceful means" and stressed 
the limited role of sanctions.  FM Livni rejoined that 
sanctions are a peaceful means for dealing with Iran. 
Premier Wen said that he understands Israel's concern on the 
Iran nuclear issue and acknowledged that Ahmadinejad's 
statements denying Israel's right to exist are "ridiculous." 
 
Aborted Berlin Meeting 
---------------------- 
 
¶9. (C) Meeting with FM Livni, FM Yang described the attempted 
October 17 meeting on the Iran nuclear issue of the P5-plus-1 
Political Directors in Berlin as an "American proposal," and 
that sometimes "scheduling difficulties are natural."  FM 
Yang noted that China would be represented at the next 
meeting (November 2 in London) at the Director General level. 
 FM Livni stressed that during the back-and-forth over 
attendance at the Berlin meeting, Iran has continued to 
pursue its nuclear development. 
 
Positive Exchange, but No Movement on Sanctions 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶10. (C) Despite the frankness of the exchange, Schneeweiss 
noted, the atmosphere in FM Livni's meetings was positive. 
The scheduled 25-minute meeting with Premier Wen lasted 
almost an hour.  Still, he said, China did not show any new 
flexibility in its opposition to additional sanctions. 
Randt