Only the Chinese know how to make sure their messages are delivered, they [anonymous US Embassy contacts] explained. The Chinese send their messages in writing and insist on reading them in Burmese only to the Senior General himself. It is the only way to make sure a message is truly delivered to Than Shwe, they stressed.

– Extracted from “Burma: Than Shwe is the problem”, US Embassy Rangoon, 8 May 2008.

This is an extract from a United States Embassy cable that has been published (from Wikileaks) by aftenposten.no. They have a range of cables that have not, as far as I can discern, become available elsewhere. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you will find a list of them. My thanks to a regular commentator for pointing out this new tranche of materials.