TNAG-2243-FCO40-3224-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-impact-on-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 226

RESTRICTED

001122

MDLIAN 9111

WITH TONG ZHIGUANG (MY TELNO 648).

VIETNAM/CAMBODIA.

9. KEYSER SAID THAT NOTHING NEW EMERGED FROM A LONG DISCUSSION ON

THIS TOPIC.

NEW WORLD ORDER (NWO).

10.

KIMMITT STRESSED THAT THE US WAS NOT SEEKING HEGEMONY OR A

MONO-POLAR WORLD. IT WANTED A MULTI-POLAR WORLD FOUNDED ON PEACEFUL COOPERATION WITHIN THE UN SYSTEM. IT HAD, AS YET, NO CLEAR IDEA JUST WHAT FORM THE NWO WOULD TAKE.

COMMENT.

11. KEYSER DID WARN AGAINST THE PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE VISIT. NONETHELESS LITTLE SEEMS TO HAVE EMERGED FROM THE VISIT THAT WILL HELP THE PRESIDENT REVIEW MFN. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON WHAT ACTIONS

THE CHINESE NOW TAKE ON THE AREAS OF MAJOR CONCERN. IT IS

STRIKING THAT THE BARTHOLOMEW VISIT WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN

UNTIL AFTER THE PRESIDENT HAS TO ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION ON MFN. PARTICULARLY AS KEYSER SAID THAT HE THOUGHT PROLIFERATION (CONVENTIONAL AND NUCLEAR) WOULD BECOME THE MAJOR POINT OF

FRICTION IN THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. HE DREW OUR ATTENTION TO THE PRECISE NATURE OF THE CHINESE DENIALS AND TO THEIR DENIAL OF MISSILE SALES TO LIBYA ABOUT WHICH THEY HAD NOT BEEN ASKED. HE DREW OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE CHINESE DID NOT MENTION

SALES OF CHEMICAL PRECURSORS TO LIBYA.

12. KEYSER SAID THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE HIS SUPPORT FOR RENEWAL PUBLIC BUT KIMMITT LEFT THE CHINESE IN NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD BE A TOUGH BATTLE. KEYSER SAID BOTH LIU AND QIAN HAD SEEMED VERY SOMBRE WHEN DISCUSSING MFN. NEITHER MADE ANY COMMITMENT TO ACT TO MEET US CONCERNS BUT NEITHER DID THEY MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO KEEP HUMAN RIGHTS OFF THE AGENDA. CAPPARENTLY PELOSI, PORTER AND LANTOS

J

THE THREE MOST VOCAL CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

ACTIVISTS ARE DUE TO VISIT CHINA IN SEPTEMBER).

13. KEYSER SAID NO-ONE KNEW HOW THE VOTING WOULD GO SHOULD THE PRESIDENT ATTEMPT TO VETO ANY CONGRESSIONAL CONDITIONS. THE IMPRESSION HE GAVE WAS THAT KIMMITT HAD LEFT THE CHINESE WITH THE CLEAR MESSAGE THAT, WHATEVER THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THE RENEWAL OF MFN LAY WITHIN CHINA'S GIFT. IT HAD TO GO SOME WAY TO MEET CONGRESSIONAL CONCERNS OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

3

PAGE RESTRICTED