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OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHTRO RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2718/01 1931257
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111257Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8557
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0152
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2036
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002718 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2028 
TAGS: UNSC PREL PHUM ZI XA ZU CH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES PRC SUPPORT FOR ZIMBABWE 
RESOLUTION 
 
REF: STATE 74375 
 
Classified By: Acting Minister Counselor Ben Moeling.  Reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Assistant Foreign Minister 
Liu Jieyi the Ambassador pushed strongly for China to support 
bringing a resolution on Zimbabwe to a vote in the UN 
Security Council and to vote for that resolution.  AFM Liu 
said China opposes the draft resolution and claimed that the 
real obstacle to a negotiated solution in Zimbabwe is Morgan 
Tsvangirai, whose position has changed from conciliatory to 
hard line because he perceives Mugabe to be under pressure 
from the International Community.  Liu stressed China's 
position that the situation in Zimbabwe does not warrant 
reference to Chapter VII, and said "China sincerely hopes our 
votes are not divided on this issue."  He said China has 
information that Mugabe would accept a power sharing 
agreement with Tsvangirai, possibly with Mugabe as president 
and Tsvangirai in an "executive position" such as Premier. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) In the absence of Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui, 
the Ambassador met with Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi 
July 11 at the Foreign Ministry, accompanied by Acting POL 
MinCouns.  AFM Liu was accompanied by a full lineup of staff 
from the North American and Oceanian Affairs Department, 
including Director General Zheng Zeguang, Deputy Director 
General Deng Hongbo, USA Division Director An Gang and USA 
Division Deputy Director Jing Quan. 
 
¶3. (C) Drawing on reftel points, the Ambassador stressed the 
seriousness of the situation in Zimbabwe and noted that it 
had been a topic of discussion between President Bush and 
President Hu at their meeting at the G-8 Summit in Japan. He 
noted that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan 
Tsvangirai had denied the reports that negotiations are 
taking place in South Africa between the MDC and the 
Government of Zimbabwe. 
 
¶4. (C) The situation in Zimbabwe remains dire, the Ambassador 
continued.  The Security Council must act to tell the Mugabe 
regime to end the violence and begin serious negotiations 
with the opposition leading to a solution that respects the 
will of the Zimbabwean people.  The Ambassador stated that 
the draft resolution will empower regional and international 
mediators by strengthening the incentives for Mugabe to 
negotiate seriously.  He urged AFM Liu to instruct China's 
Permanent Representative to support bringing the draft 
resolution to an immediate vote and to vote "yes." 
 
¶5. (C) AFM Liu said that China is also concerned about the 
situation in Zimbabwe and has been discussing the issue of 
the draft UNSC resolution with the other members of the 
Security Council in recent days.  Liu said that China is 
squarely behind an African solution to the Zimbabwe problem, 
to be reached through consultation and negotiation.  Liu said 
the African Union has adopted a resolution calling for 
dialogue and calling on the International Community not to 
undertake any acts that would harm the atmosphere for 
negotiations.  The South African Development Community (SADC) 
is actively involved in mediation, as is South African 
President Thabo Mbeki. 
 
¶6. (C) The problem is not Mugabe, Liu asserted, but instead 
is actually Tsvangirai.  Tsvangirai has changed his position 
from conciliatory to "hard line."  Liu blamed this change of 
position on the draft UNSCR and the International Community's 
statements, which have "put a lot of pressure on Mugabe" and 
given Tsvangirai an incentive to "wait things out" rather 
than engage in substantive negotiations.  According to 
information from South Africa, Liu said, three groups are 
actually negotiating: Tsvangirai's group, another faction 
from MDC and ZANU-PR.  If the conditions are right, and if 
the International Community and the UN Security Council work 
in the same direction and move things forward, there is the 
possibility of reaching an agreement on power sharing and a 
government of national unity, Liu declared.  This is the best 
solution for Zimbabwe's people, and offers the greatest 
chance of "returning Zimbabwe to normalcy." 
 
¶7. (C) The International Community must give President Mbeki 
and the African countries the time they need to work out a 
solution that will allow a united government and power 
sharing in Zimbabwe, Liu continued.  He strongly urged the 
United States, as well as the UK, not to press to submit the 
draft resolution for a vote.  "We have serious problems with 
the content," he said, arguing that the situation in Zimbabwe 
 
BEIJING 00002718  002 OF 002 
 
 
does not constitute a threat to international peace and 
security according to the UN Charter and therefore there is 
no basis for a reference to Chapter VII. 
 
¶8. (C) The draft resolution "is not a basis for moving to a 
negotiated solution and will complicate the situation and 
move us farther away from a power-sharing solution," Liu 
said.  The United States and China share the same goal for 
Zimbabwe: peace and stability.  We differ only on the means 
for achieving that goal.  China believes that not submitting 
the resolution will do much to encourage a solution in 
Zimbabwe. 
 
¶9. (C) South Africa, Russia and China all have very strong 
views on this resolution.  In light of the "extraordinary 
cooperation on a range of issues" between the United States 
and China, Liu said, "China sincerely hopes our votes are not 
divided on this issue."  He noted that a vote could move 
Zimbabwe towards "complication and chaos," observing that 
Mugabe "has armed forces." 
 
¶10. (C) The Ambassador asked Liu if China truly believes that 
Mugabe is willing to countenance a power sharing arrangement. 
 AFM Liu said that China has "an authoritative, reliable 
source" who states that Mugabe is willing to consider sharing 
power, perhaps with himself as president and Tsvangirai in an 
"executive position" such as premier.  "Mugabe is even 
considering retirement, maybe in one or two years," Liu said. 
 He noted that the "authoritative, reliable source" was at 
the G-8 summit in Japan.  (Note: Liu did not say so 
explicitly, but was strongly hinting that his source was 
President Mbeki.) 
 
¶11. (C) The parties involved can come to a solution, Liu 
said, if the UNSC resolution does not provide Tsvangirai 
another reason not to consider negotiation.  "Mugabe is 
trying to reach a solution, and has the backing of many 
African countries.  We should give him a chance," Liu urged. 
The Ambassador noted that Zimbabwe is in terrible shape as a 
result of Mugabe. 
 
¶12. (C) Liu stated that Zimbabwe must "find a new state 
apparatus" that will prevent the country from "falling into 
chaos."  We must work to increase the possibility that our 
common objective will be successful, which means "relaxing a 
bit" in the UN Security Council, Liu concluded. 
RANDT 
 
RANDT