US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU953

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000953 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2012 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, PHUM, PINR, NP, CH, Maoist Insurgency 
SUBJECT: CHINA'S AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATION TO HELP NEPAL FIGHT MAOISTS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski, Reasons 1.5(b),(d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  "International cooperation" was needed to 
deal with Nepal's Maoist insurgency, China's Ambassador to 
Nepal told Ambassador at a May 8 dinner.  China would provide 
moral support and assistance in this effort, Ambassador Wu 
Congyong said, but consistent with its policy of 
non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, China 
was confident that Nepal could solve its own problems.  Wu 
expressed concern about the spread of Maoist violence 
throughout Nepal, saw little hope for a negotiated 
settlement, and predicted a prolonged conflict.  New Delhi 
should prevent the Maoists from using Indian territory.  Wu 
explained China's official term for the insurgents: 
"anti-government forces."  On May 10 Wu spoke out publicly 
against the Maoists for the first time, repeating to the 
press the points he made to Ambassador May 8.  The Chinese 
seem shocked by the worsening crisis and have signaled that 
they want to be part of the solution to Nepal's problems. 
End Summary. 
 
China Stresses International Cooperation 
---------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) "International cooperation" was needed to address the 
problem of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, Chinese Ambassador 
to Nepal Wu Congyong has told us.  At Wu's invitation, 
Ambassador and Emboffs dined at the Chinese Embassy May 8. 
Wu emphasized that China would provide "moral support and 
assistance within its means" to help the government of Nepal 
deal with the Maoists, but did not specify what form this aid 
would take.  Social reforms would also be needed to address 
the root causes of the insurgency, Wu added.  China's goal 
was to ensure Nepal's peace, stability and security. 
Moreover, Wu continued, China's policy of non-intervention in 
other countries' internal affairs also applied to Nepal, and 
China considered that Nepal could solve its own problems. 
The same evening Ambassador briefed Wu on USG policy towards 
Nepal, plans to assist the GON, and Prime Minister Deuba's 
May 7 Oval Office meeting. 
 
Chinese See Worsening Situation, Grim Prospects 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
3. (C) Wu expressed concern that the security situation in 
Nepal has worsened and that the violence has spread from 
remote areas to the Kathmandu Valley.  Furthermore, of late 
Maoist violence has become increasingly intense.  When the 
Ambassador replied that such violence could not be tolerated, 
Wu agreed.  Wu commented that security problems have 
prevented more Chinese tourists from visiting Nepal.  (Note: 
China and Nepal recently completed a bilateral tourism 
agreement designating Nepal as an approved destination for 
Chinese tour groups.  Two Chinese construction project 
workers have been injured as a result of the conflict in 
Nepal, one in February 2001, and the other in April of this 
year, both in Sindhupalchowk district north of Kathmandu. 
Both were employees of the same project.  End Note.) 
 
4. (C) Wu judged prospects for a negotiated settlement to be 
poor.  Nepal's government called on the Maoists to lay down 
their arms, but this is unlikely.  At the same time, the 
Maoists set out three conditions for talks, but these are not 
acceptable to the GON.  The current situation will likely go 
on for a long time, Wu predicted. 
 
India Needs to Crack Down 
------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Discussing New Delhi's role in the conflict, Wu said 
that it would be good if India could prevent the Maoists from 
using Indian territory.  Wu noted that the open border 
between Nepal and India made it easy to smuggle arms and 
logistical supplies as well as to move personnel back and 
forth. 
 
Will the Real Maoists Please Stand Up 
------------------------------------- 
 
6. (C) Wu explained that as a matter of policy China did not 
refer to Nepal's insurgents as "Maoists" (Chinese: Maopai), 
but rather as "anti-government forces" (Ch: fan zhengfu 
shili).  The insurgents had "usurped" the name of Chinese 
leader Mao Zedong, Wu insisted.  (Note:  Although he took 
pains to explain his government's preference for the latter 
term, in conversation the Chinese Ambassador - a Japan hand 
who speaks little English - more often than not referred to 
the insurgents as "Maopai."  End Note.) 
 
Chinese Speak Out Against Maoists 
--------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) Two days after hosting Ambassador and Emboffs, 
Ambassador Wu for the first time spoke out publicly against 
the Maoists.  Press reports quote him as stating, "we condemn 
the violence and terrorist acts unleashed by anti-government 
forces in Nepal."  (Note:  The Chinese Ambassador was 
speaking at a May 10 event launching his Embassy's website: 
www.chinaembassy.org.np.  His public comments tracked with 
those he made at the March 8 dinner.  End Note.)  In Wu's 
public statement he also said that "the Chinese government 
consistently opposes terrorism in any form and upholds 
international cooperation to combat terrorism," and "the 
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal 
should be fully respected and maintained." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. (C) The Chinese Ambassador seemed genuinely shocked by the 
dramatic increase in the level of Maoist violence in recent 
months.  Watching as a friendly and formerly benign neighbor 
struggles to put down a brutal insurgency is evidently 
discomfiting, as is the prospect of another hot spot in South 
Asia and instability on the Tibet border.  Cognizant of 
increased coordination between the U.S., U.K. and other 
donors on the response to the insurgency, Ambassador Wu 
invited us over in order to send a clear signal that China 
wants to be part of the solution to Nepal's worsening crisis. 
 That in recent years contacts between our two embassies have 
been sparse and intermittent underlines the significance of 
Wu's overture. 
MALINOWSKI