Cablegate: China Carefully Considering the Nuclear Suppliers

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBJ #3102 2260617
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 130617Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9147
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4597
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1337

UNCLAS BEIJING 003102

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, SCA, ISN
DEPT PLEASE PASS DOE/NNSA (SCHEINMAN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AORC IN CH
SUBJECT: CHINA CAREFULLY CONSIDERING THE NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS
GROUP DRAFT EXCEPTION FOR INDIA

REF: A. STATE 85948
B. UNVIE VIENNA 443

1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly.

2. (SBU) PolOff delivered ref A demarche urging China to
support the circulated draft exception for India at the
August 21-22 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary to MFA
Arms Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division
Deputy Director Dai Huaicheng on August 13. (Note: More
senior Chinese Government officials were not available to
meet to discuss this issue.) PolOff stressed the critical
importance to the United States of completing the U.S.-India
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative this year. Completion
of the Initiative would bring significant gains to the global
nonproliferation regime.

3. (SBU) Dai responded that China fully understands the
importance of the Initiative to the United States, and said
China is considering the NSG exception for India "very
carefully." China will consult with "appropriate parties if
any questions arise." Dai said China expects to be
represented at the NSG Plenary by MFA Arms Control and
Disarmament Department Director General Cheng Jingye.
RANDT

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