CONFIDENTIAL
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2876
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 020126
9990
CAMENDED DISTRIBUTION 29/1)
OF 282358Z NOVEMBER 90
W
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS NEW YORK, PEKING, ACTOR
7
YOUR TELNO 2067: CHINA/US/GULF
(96,
143504
MDHIAN 1830
IRAQ | Kuwa
1830
M.291/11
1. STATE HAVE TOLD US THAT BAKER OFFERED QIAN A VISIT TO WASHINGTON AS AN INDUCEMENT TO OBTAIN HIS AGREEMENT TO ATTEND THE UN SCR DEBATE. THE EXPECTATION, OBVIOUSLY, WAS THAT CHINA WOULD SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION, BUT NO/NO DEAL WAS STRUCK ON HOW CHINA WOULD VOTE, NOR ON THE WIDER ISSUE OF US/CHINA RELATIONS. STATE CAND NSC) HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW CHINA WOULD VOTE: QIAN'S REMARKS ON DEPARTURE FROM PEKING INDICATED THAT HE MIGHT ABSTAIN.
2.
BAKER AND QIAN HAVE MET ON FOUR OCCASIONS SINCE TIANANMEN. ACCORDING TO STATE, BAKER WILL USE THE WASHINGTON MEETING TO POINT OUT THAT THE GULF CRISIS HAS UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF US/CHINA COOPERATION. HE WILL WANT TO EXPLORE HOW THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP COULD BE IMPROVED, BUT WILL EMPHASISE THAT CONTINUED CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA'S ATTITUDE TO HUMAN RIGHTS CONSTITUTE AN OBVIOUS OBSTACLE. HE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE GULF, CAMBODIA, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION, THE ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA, AND KOREA.
3.
ACCORDING TO STATE, GU YONGJIANG'S VISIT WAS PLANNED SIX WEEKS AGO TO DISCUSS US CHINA TRADE ISSUES. STATE TOLD US THAT THEY REGARDED THIS AS A ROUTINE VISIT IN LINE WITH THAT OF QUOTE FOUR OR FIVE UNQUOTE OTHER SENIOR TRADE OFFICIALS WHO HAD VISITED WASHINGTON SINCE TIANANMEN. BUT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND THE PRESS - HAD DECIDED TO PORTRAY THIS VISIT AS A BREAKTHROUGH IN RELATIONS.
COMMENT
4.
THE ADMINISTRATION ARE CLEARLY AWARE THAT THE GULF CRISIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP US/CHINA COOPERATION AND IMPROVE THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. BUT THEY HAVE NOT LOST SIGHT OF THE OUTSTANDING OBSTACLES (PARTICULARLY CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD), AND THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THEM ON THE HILL. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL WISH TO TAKE CAREFUL ACCOUNT OF HOW THE
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