US embassy cable - 05KATHMANDU2516

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002516 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
NSC FOR RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, MCAP, PGOV, PINS, CH, NP 
SUBJECT:  CHINESE AMBASSADOR DENIES COMMERCIAL WEAPONS 
SALES TO NEPAL 
 
REF: A. KATHMANDU 2379 
     B. KATHMANDU 2391 
     C. STATE 202064 
     D. KATHMANDU 2390 
     E. BEIJING 18209 
     F. BEIJING 18123 
     G. KATHMANDU 1645 
 
Classified By: Amb. James F. Moriarty, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
NO LARGE COMMERCIAL WEAPONS SALES 
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1. (C) Chinese Ambassador Sun Heping categorically stated to 
the Ambassador in a November 18 meeting that China had no 
large commercial sales to Nepal in the works.  The Ambassador 
described to Sun his comments at a press conference in Butwal 
(refs A and B) that new provisions of large amounts of 
weapons by other parties, including China, might take the 
pressure off the King to reach out to the political parties. 
The Ambassador explained that the King might calculate that 
he had sufficient external support to allow him to do 
whatever he wanted internally.  Amb. Sun replied that China 
was providing similar assistance as in the past -- roughly 
one USD million worth of equipment (ref A).  In response to 
the Ambassador's concern about rumors of large commercial 
sales of weapons worth over USD twenty million (ref C), Sun 
averred "absolutely not."  He asserted that he would know 
about such sales if they were taking place.  He added that 
the figure of USD 20 million was "laughable."  The Ambassador 
assured him that the USG would be happy to hear this. 
 
BUT WORRIED ABOUT SITUATION 
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2. (C) Amb. Sun stated that Beijing's policy toward Nepal had 
not changed.  Beijing still wanted to see "cooperation and 
understanding" between the King and the political parties. 
The Ambassador agreed that things were evolving and becoming 
more dangerous.  The political parties were desperate because 
the King continued to constrict their space, but they could 
not operate in the countryside without the approval of the 
Maoists.  The Parties could only mobilize a movement against 
the King if they had the active cooperation of the Maoists. 
The Ambassador added that because of that desperation which 
had led to dangerous initiatives on the part of some UML 
leaders, he had felt it necessary to publicly warn the 
Parties against forming an alliance with the Maoists without 
the latter forswearing violence (ref D). 
 
COMMENT 
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3. (C) Our sense remains that Beijing shares our worry about 
developments here (ref G).  Amb. Sun's strong denial of 
rumored commercial weapons sales indicates that Beijing 
understood our message of concern about China providing 
lethal weapons to Nepal (refs C, E and F).  China seems to 
recognize that it has to tell us, and presumably the Indians, 
that it appreciates that the issue of providing weapons to 
Nepal is very sensitive and that it is important not to 
dissipate pressure on the King.  We will see whether the 
Chinese Ambassador's denials are accurate. 
MORIARTY