

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07SANJOSE1783, COSTA RICA AND CHINA: IS TRADE THE TIE THAT BINDS?
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07SANJOSE1783.
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #1783/01 2701733
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271733Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8956
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0136
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0059
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 0078
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 001783
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN, EAP/CM; SOUTHCOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2017
TAGS: CS CVIS ETRD PGOV PINR PREL XK
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA AND CHINA: IS TRADE THE TIE THAT BINDS?
REF: A. SAN JOSE 1488 AND PREVIOUS
¶B. BEIJING 5819 AND PREVIOUS (ALL NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM Peter Brennan per 1.4 (d)
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Sino-Costa Rican relations have gotten off
to a splashy start, with trade as the centerpiece. The new
Chinese Embassy in San Jose opened on August 24, in
conjunction with a trade fair which reportedly netted USD 12
million in sales or commitments for the Chinese and USD 140
million for the Costa Ricans. The two countries also created
a commercial forum, and the GOCR eased visa restrictions for
Chinese businessmen and travelers. Minister of Foreign
Commerce Ruiz participated in an investment and trade fair in
China September 8-11. President Arias will visit China
October 22-28, as part of a broader trip including some
Middle East states (to burnish newly-established relations),
Singapore (to open a new embassy) and Chile (for the
Ibero-American Summit). Costa Rica views China as its
gateway to Asia and an important ally for its UNSC
aspirations. China is using Costa Rica primarily as a "base"
to expand relations throughout Central America. Both sides
seem satisfied with that arrangement at this point. END
SUMMARY
NEW HOME, NICE NEIGHBORHOOD
==========================
¶2. (SBU) A heavy rain did not dampen spirits for the opening
of the Chinese Embassy, which featured three GOCR ministers
(2nd VP Kevin Casas, FM Bruno Stagno and FinMin Guillermo
Zuniga); PRC Assistant FM He Yafei, VM of Commerce Ma Xiuhong
and other senior officials; the 120-plus members of the
visiting Chinese trade delegation; a wall-to-wall crowd of
other guests; and heavy media coverage. The tight security
(including blocked streets, a rarity for San Jose) and the
prime location of the chancery (a large house a short walk
from President Arias,s residence) generated comment. But,
Ambassador Wang Xiaoyuan was quick to explain to PolCouns
that he had selected the site simply because it was available
and (more or less) affordable. Wang added that the Chinese
consulate was located in another house nearby while he and
his wife were still searching for a suitable residence. (PRC
Emboffs confirmed this to us on September 26.) He expressed
the hope that other countries in the region would make the
same "correct decision" as had Arias (to recognize China).
(COMMENT: Not only are the PRC consulate and embassy close to
Arias's house, but the consulate is directly across the
street, with the PRC flag in full view from his residence.
END COMMENT.)
SHOW US THE MONEY
===============
¶3. (SBU) The three-day Chinese trade exposition that ran
concurrently with the embassy opening featured a broad range
of products, from industrial, to telecommunications to
cosmetic jewelry. The expo was sponsored by the Chinese
Council for Promotion of International Commerce (CCPIT) and
the Chinese Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC). The
breadth of products spanned 32 vendor displays, prompting one
Costa Rican visitor to remark, "There is everything here!"
Econoff also observed Wang Jinzhen, CCPIT Executive Vice
President, guide the GOCR,s Zuniga on a personal tour of the
expo. The Chinese clearly "came to play." Wang told
PolCouns that the CCPIT had been planning for this trade fair
and new ties with Costa Rica for over a year.
¶4. (U) Chinese vendors signed contracts worth USD two
million and secured letters of intent valued at over USD 10
million for the sale and distribution of Chinese products.
On the Costa Rican side, growers from the Terrazu region were
especially pleased by the Chinese purchase of 37,000 lbs of
high-end coffee beans, and by the visit of some Chinese
businessmen to tour Terrazu first hand. The GOCR hopes that
gourmet coffee will be a major export to China. Some 30,000
visitors toured the show, according to media reports, as
Chinese VM Ma optimistically predicted that two-way trade
could total USD 3 billion by the end of 2007. (According to
figures released by the Casa Presidencial, two-way trade
between Costa Rica and China totaled USD 1.7 billion in 2006,
with nearly USD 870 million alone in microprocessing chips
exported by Intel to China.) Separate from the San Jose
exhibit, the PRC and GOCR launched a bilateral Economic and
Commercial Forum, which facilitated the commitment to
purchase USD 140 million of Costa Rican products, led by
coffee.
OF VISAS AND VISITS
==============
¶5. (SBU) The commercial opening with China was accompanied
(as expected) by easier visa restrictions (Ref C). On
September 19, Immigration officials privately reconfirmed to
us what Director Mario Zamora had announced publicly last
month. Chinese travelers technically remain in Class 4, the
toughest category which requires a visa and special approval
(from the MFA and Immigration) before entering the country.
But, bonafide business travelers from China no longer need
special approval, and can enter the country on visas issued
by the new Costa Rican embassy in Beijing, being treated in
effect as Class 3 travelers, permitted to stay in country 30
days. In addition, any Chinese traveler with a valid EU or
US visa would be placed in the lighter Class 2, permitting
them to enter Costa Rica, visa-free, and remain up to 90
days.
¶6. (C) While more Chinese may be headed for Costa Rica,
more GOCR officials are visiting China. Minister of Foreign
Commerce Marco Vinicio Ruiz participated in an investment and
trade fair in Xiamen September 8-11 and also reportedly met
with Ministers Bo Xi Lai (Trade) and Yang Jie Chi (Foreign
Relations), as well as CCPIT VP Gao Yan. President Oscar
Arias will depart Costa Rica on October 21, in order to visit
China October 22-28, a schedule changed from earlier
proposals partly because of the president,s lingering
tendonitis. According to Antonio Alarcon, FM Stagno,s COS,
the Arias trip will still be a grueling zig-zag, proceeding
from China to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, for brief
stops to shore up newly-established relations, and to
follow-up Stagno,s globetrotting tour in pursuit of UNSC
votes for Costa Rica. From the Middle East, Arias will
proceed to Singapore (to open a new embassy), with a brief
stop in Jakarta (again, UN-related). Arias will round out
his trip in Santiago, for the Ibero-American Summit in early
November. According to PRC Emboffs in charge of coordinating
the visit, Arias will visit Beijing and two other cities,
with a larger delegation than had been planned originally.
Twenty-five officials, including Ministers Stagno, Ruiz and
Zuniga (probably) will accompany the president. The Chinese
here say that a reciprocal visit by President Hu, including a
number of stops in Central America, is contemplated for 2008.
The Chinese diplomats in San Jose explain that they have
been given the bilateral lead in arranging Arias's visit,
given the small size and inexperience of the Costa Rican
embassy in Beijing.
INSIDERS' VIEW (AND CONSULS IN HANDCUFFS)
============================
¶7. (C) Alarcon, who was dispatched to Beijing to set up the
Costa Rican embassy, acknowledged to Pol/C on September 12
that trade clearly dominates the bilateral agenda with China.
The Arias administration, he added, accepts the fact that
the PRC may already have as much as it wants commercially
from Costa Rica and is really using its new ties with San
Jose as a platform to expand relations around Central
America. Alarcon explained that the GOCR wanted a "clean
divorce" from Taiwan, which rules out informal ties for the
time being, even if offered by Taiwan. The PRC has begun
picking up the slack from Taiwan, meanwhile, accepting the
fist batch of Costa Rican university students for Mandarin
language training which had previously been conducted in
Taipei.
¶8. (C) Separately, PRC diplomats candidly told us September
26 that the regional political significance of the new ties
with Costa Rica far outweighs any trade benefits for China.
Lan Hu, Second Secretary and head of the Political/Press
Section of the new embassy added that, in the end, it was the
GOCR's concerns which dictated the normalization timetable.
Although private (and in some cases, backchannel) discussions
had taken place for months with Costa Rica, the final
announcement came so suddenly that Lan was dispatched from
his previous posting in Madrid with just two day's notice.
Lan also predicted that Panama would be the next Central
American country to recognize China, with El Salvador being
the last. He made it clear the PRC was taking a (typically)
long-term view to expanding dilomatic relations around the
hemisphere.
¶9. (SBU) Of the GOCR Embassy opening in Beijing, Alarcon
described a hectic rush to locate, equip and staff a suitable
office, carefully monitored by the Chinese in the process.
To avoid even the appearance of impropriety, Alarcon was
extremely careful to spend only official GOCR funds and to
decline any special treatment by the PRC. The Embassy will
be staffed by the Ambassador (Antonio Burgues), a DCM (TBD),
two trade officers, two consuls and one or two administrative
staff. The two consuls, the only Mandarin speakers in the
Costa Rican foreign service according to Alarcon, were
stopped by confused and overzealous airport police personnel
while transiting Los Angeles on September 11. Alarcon
advised that the GOCR would protest the treatment of the two
diplomats, who were even handcuffed until their situation was
clarified. (NOTE: The Ambassador was summoned to the MFA on
September 17 to receive the protest note, which we emailed to
WHA/CEN on September 18, septel.)
COMMENT
=========
¶10. (C) Costa Rica views China as its gateway to Asia and an
important ally for its UNSC aspirations. China is using
Costa Rica as its gateway into Central America. Both sides
seem satisfied with this arrangement, for now, but there have
not been many tangible deliverables for the GOCR. The China
card will not help Costa Rica gain access to APEC, an Arias
administration goal, until the membership moratorium is
lifted in 2010. New ties to China are no guarantee that
Costa Rica will win its much-sought after UNSC seat in
elections next month, either. Recognizing China should bring
needed investment, especially for infrastructure, but the
money has not begun to flow in large quantities. On the
commercial side, although the trade shows and talk of new
opportunities in Asia are welcome, Tico commentators and
private citizens alike have expressed concerns about being
overwhelmed some day by the Chinese juggernaut. This is one
important new relationship the GOCR will have to manage
intelligently and carefully.
BRENNAN