GR 530
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
нки
02012
FM PEKING 170001Z APR 82
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 227 OF 17 APRIL
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS NEW YORK
AND INFO SAVING HONG KONG.
сче
No
CHINESE POSITION ON FALKLAND ISLANDS
2/6/4 Pay 2614
1. A COMMENTARY IN THE PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 15 APRIL STATES THAT CHINA HOPES THE FALKLANDS DISPUTE CAN BE SOLVED PEACEFULLY, BUT THAT THE DANGER OF A MILITARY CONFLICT EXISTS, AND CAUSES CONCERN TO ALL COUNTRIES ALONG THE SOUTH ATLANTIC AND IS A FRESH BLOW TO WORLD
PEACE AND SECURITY.
2. THE COMMENTARY GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE 'MALVINAS ISLANDS** QUESTION IS ESSENTIALLY A HISTORICAL PROBLEM LEFT OVER FROM COLONIALISM. HAVING BRIEFLY REFERRED TO THE FAILURE OF EARLIER TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, THE COMMENTARY STATES THAT ''AS EVERYONE KNOWS, CHINA HAS CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED HEGEMONISM AND COLONIALISM, UPHELD THE STRUGGLE OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES TO GUARD THEIR COVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, AND RESPECTED THE RELEVANT DECISIONS OF THE NON-ALIGNED CONFERENCE. ONE CAN UNDERSTAND THE NATIONAL FEELINGS OF THE ARGENTINIAN PEOPLE IN TAKING AND PROTECTING THEIR SOVEREIGNTY. THE SOVEREIGNTY CLAIM OF ARGENTINA TO THE MALVINAS ISLANDS SHOULD RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND RESPECT OF THE
UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES."
3. THE COMMENTARY ENDS BY HOPING THAT BLOODSHED CAN BE AVOIDED AND THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE PEACEFULLY RESOLVED IN A REASONABLE AND JUST MANNER. IT MAKES NO CONDENATION OF ARGENTINIAN MILITARY ACTION NOR IS THERE ANY MENTION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
4. THE CHINESE MEDIA HAVE GIVEN FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE FACTUAL COVERAGE OF THE FALKLANDS CRISIS. THIS COMMENTARY IS THE CLEAREST INDICATION TO DATE OF WHERE THEIR SYMPATHIES LIE, AND IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM THE NEUTRALITY IN THE CONFLICT WHICH CHINESE LEADERS
CLAIMED WHEN SPEAKING TO MR HEATH.
5. 1 RECOMMEND THAT I SPEAK TO THE MFA AGAIN. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE ARGENTINIAN
WITHDRAWAL THAT TO IGNORE THIS RESOLUTION IS TO CONDONE AGGRESSION,
AND THAT IF THE PEOPLE'S DAILY COMMENTARY REPRESENTS THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IT IS DIFFICULT TO SQUARE WITH VICE-
CHAIRMAN DENG XIAOPING'S COMMENT TO MR HEATH THAT CHINA HAD
ABSTAINED AT THE UN BECAUSE SHE WAS A FRIEND OF BOTH BRITAIN AND
ARGENTINA.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.
да