NAPSNet Daily Report 3 July, 2008

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"NAPSNet Daily Report 3 July, 2008", NAPSNet Daily Report, July 03, 2008, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-3-july-2008/

NAPSNet Daily Report 3 July, 2008

NAPSNet Daily Report 3 July, 2008


Contents in this Issue:

Preceding NAPSNet Report

I. NAPSNet

1. US on DPRK Nuclear Program

Agence France-Presse (P. Parameswaran, “US SAYS IT CANNOT ACCEPT NKOREA AS NUCLEAR ARMS STATE”, Washington, 2008/07/02) reported that the US emphasized it would not accept the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, saying that disbanding the state’s atomic arms program was critical. “I must say, without denuclearization, it’s tough to move ahead on anything with North Korea,” top US envoy Christopher Hill said. “I mean, we’re not going to accept North Korea as a nuclear state. I mean, we’re going to have to get that part done,” Hill said.

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2. DPRK Nuclear Declaration

Washington Post (Glenn Kessler, “MESSAGE TO U.S. PRECEDED NUCLEAR DECLARATION BY NORTH KOREA”, 2008/07/02) reported that just days before the DPRK delivered to the PRC last week its long-awaited declaration on its plutonium-based nuclear programs, Pyongyang privately acknowledged the US’ long-standing concerns about alleged uranium-enrichment activities and possible proliferation to Syria, US and Asian officials said. “The declaration does reference the discussions that the United States had with North Korea on uranium enrichment and proliferation, but it is not appropriate for me to discuss the details at this time,” said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

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3. Six Party Talks

The Associated Press (Anne Gearan, “NKOREA NUKE PARTNERS COULD TAKE ON OTHER ISSUES “, Washington, 2008/07/02) reported that the DPRK and the nations bargaining to rid it of nuclear weapons could widen their talks to energy and Asian regional security issues, the top US nuclear negotiator said. The six-nation disarmament talks have improved relations among Asian neighbors and could be a template for a wider Asian security organization, said Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. He suggested the group could be expanded to include other nations and would outlive the current, unresolved effort to take the DPRK out of the nuclear weapons business.

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4. UN-DPRK Relations

Chosun Ilbo (“UN CHIEF CONSIDERS VISIT TO N.KOREA”, 2008/07/02) reported that the DPRK could get a visit from the head of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during a press conference in Japan that he is willing to visit the DPRK to ensure the stability and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Ban said that while no date has been set he has discussed a possible visit with DPRK officials, adding that the DPRK welcomes his visit.

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5. Abductee Issue

Kyodo (“SCHIEFFER CALLS N. KOREA MOVE A STEP TOWARD RESOLVING ABDUCTIONS “, Tokyo, 2008/07/02) reported that US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said that the DPRK’s recent promise to conduct a reinvestigation into the abductions of Japanese nationals is a ”small step” toward resolving the issue. Schieffer said while meeting with families of Japanese abduction victims at his official residence in Tokyo that the issue remains important for the US regardless of whether it removes Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Kyodo (“U.S. TO CONTINUE PRESSING N. KOREA ON ABDUCTION ISSUE: BUSH”, Washington, 2008/07/02) reported that US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that the United States will continue to press the DPRK to resolve a dispute with Japan over its past abductions of Japanese citizens at six-party talks. ”I view the six-party talks as a framework to convince the North Korean government to deal with these serious issues,” he said. Bush went as far as to say that unless the DPRK deals squarely with the nuclear and abduction issues, the United States is willing to impose sanctions on Pyongyang with Japan and other six-way partners.

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6. US-ROK Relations

Joongang Ilbo (Ser Myo-ja, “BUSH TO VISIT SEOUL ON HIS WAY TO SEE GAMES”, 2008/07/02) reported that US President George W. Bush will visit the ROK on Aug. 5 and 6 on his way to the Beijing Olympics, the White House said. In a press briefing, Dennis Wilder, National Security Council senior director for Asian affairs, told reporters: “Let me also note that the meeting with President Lee will be an opportunity to lay the groundwork for the visit that President Bush will make to South Korea, which is now scheduled for Aug. 5 and 6. That is just prior to the president going to Beijing for the Olympics.”

Yonhap News (Yoo Cheong-mo, “BREACH OF DIPLOMATIC ETIQUETTE SHADOWS KOREA-U.S. ALLIANCE”, Seoul, 2008/07/02) reported that Seoul and Washington displayed disharmony in bilateral diplomatic communications before officially announcing US President George W. Bush’s plan to visit the ROK.  The report immediately embarrassed the ROK’s presidential office as the two governments were gauging the timing for the formal announcement of Bush’s trip following US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s talks with ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan in Seoul last week. The US government belatedly expressed regrets through diplomatic channels for unilaterally disclosing Bush’s planned ROK trip to the media, but some officials at Cheong Wa Dae suspect the White House official’s disclosure to be an “intentional mistake.”

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7. Sino-Japanese Military Relations

Xinhua (“CMC VICE CHAIRMAN: CHINA-JAPAN POLITICAL FOUNDATION BEING CONSOLIDATED”, 2008/07/02) reported that Xu Caihou, vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said Wednesday that the PRC-Japan relations are developing smoothly and their political foundation is consolidating continuously. Meeting with a delegation from the Sasakawa Japan-PRC Friendship Fund, Xu said the PRC is grateful for the disaster relief and reconstruction aid from Japan in the wake of the May 12 Sichuan earthquake. “The Chinese military is ready to work with its Japanese counterpart to enhance cooperation in all areas to boost strategic trust between the two states and safeguard the good momentum in Sino-Japanese relations,” he said.

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8. Sino-US Relations

Xinhua (“HU SAYS CHINA’S U.S. POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED AS RELATIONS AT “CRUCIAL STAGE””, Beijing, 2008/07/02) reported that President Hu Jintao told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday that relations between PRC and the US were at a “crucial stage” linking the past to the future. He pledged to work with the United States to enhance dialogue and exchange based on mutual respect, equality, reciprocity and prosperity to promote trust and cooperation and push forward the healthy development of Sino-US relations.

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9. PRC Role in Africa

The Financial Times (“CHINA DEFENDS AFRICA AID STANCE”, Harvey Morris, 2008/07/02) reported that a senior PRC official defended his country’s aid to African states such as Zimbabwe and Sudan, underscoring Beijing’s resistance to imposing international sanctions in response to Harare’s alleged violations of human rights. Liu Guijin, the PRC’s special envoy for African affairs, said: “We don’t attach political conditions [to aid]. We have to realise the political and economic environments are not ideal. But we don’t have to wait for everything to be satisfactory or human rights to be perfect.”

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10. Tibet Unrest

Reuters (Ben Blanchard , “CHINA ATTACKS DALAI LAMA AS TALKS CONTINUE”, Beijing, 2008/07/02) reported that the PRC launched another attack on exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday even as his envoys and PRC officials had a second day of secretive fence-mending talks. Zhang Qingli, Tibet’s hardline Communist Party boss, repeated government claims that riots in Tibet in March were instigated by the “Dalai clique” — Communist jargon for his supporters — who were intent on causing a bloodbath. The Dalai Lama has denied the charge.

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11. PRC Military

The New York Times (Jake Hooker, “QUAKE REVEALED DEFICIENCIES OF CHINA’S MILITARY “, Beijing, 2008/07/02) reported that after the May earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province, the PRC sent about 130,000 troops from the army, navy, air force and the Second Artillery Corps scrambling into the mountains in the PRC’s broadest deployment of its armed forces since it fought a border war with Vietnam in 1979. James C. Mulvenon, a specialist on the PRC military at the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis, said the earthquake showed the army’s best and worst sides. It mobilized quickly, but the troops were unprepared to save lives in the first 72 hours, when thousands were buried under toppled masonry and every minute mattered.

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12. PRC Civil Society

Caijing Magazine (“QUAKE SHAKES ‘OFFICIAL’ CHARITIES IN CHINA”, 2008/06/30) reported that even before the May 12 disaster, rapid changes in PRC society and rising tide of civilian involvement were having an impact on charity operations. But since the quake, the government-run system has been put under a public microscope. One challenge that’s come into focus involves accountability. Official explanations are not always convincing for an increasingly skeptical public. “Rules on charity organization information disclosure are not detailed,” Jia Xijin, an associate professor at Tsinghua University’s Public Management School, said. “Besides, there are no true, independent audits, and they lack public supervision.”

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13. Mongolia Elections

BBC News (“FATAL CLASHES IN MONGOLIA CAPITAL “, 2008/07/02) reported that f ive people have died in violent protests in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator over alleged electoral fraud, says Justice Minister Tsend Munkhorgil. More than 300 people were hurt, he said, including many police. Hundreds of people have been detained. The president has declared a state of emergency and curfew, and parts of the city have been sealed off. Opposition supporters question early results from Sunday’s parliamentary poll, which the ruling party won.

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II. PRC Report

14. PRC Civil Society

Xinhua Net, www.xinhuanet.com (Xiong Jinchao, “VOLUNTEER FEDERATION SET UP IN WUHAN”, 2008/07/02) <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:??; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:”@SimSun”; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –&gt reported that by approval of the Wuhan Civil Affairs Department, the Wuhan Volunteer Federation was set up on June 30. More than one million volunteers will start the action of weekend cleaning of their houses. The general public will also take positive action to contribute to the creation of a National Civilized City. The newly formed Federation has 10 branches including the youth, the disabled, the elderly, the Red Cross, education, trade unions, community, cadres, women, and public security.

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15. PRC on US Military Exercise

People Net, http://www.people.com.cn/ (Liu Ruonan, “US-LED PACIFIC RIM EXERCISE THOUGHT TO BE AGAINST CHINA”, ) <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:??; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:”@SimSun”; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –&gt reported that according to the report of Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao”, the 2008 Pacific Rim Exercise, commanded by the U.S. Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and with the participation of many other countries, has started. Some analyzed that it was aimed at the PRC. About 160 aircrafts, 6 submarines, and nearly 20,000 personnel are involved in it, including the navies of Canada, Britain, Japan, Peru, Chile, the ROK, Singapore, Australia and other countries. An anti-submarine exercise is the grand finale show. In the live confrontation stage, submarines from Japan and the ROK will simulate a country in East Asia attacking the US fleet submarine. Analysts believes that it is self-evident that a country in East Asia refers to the PRC, and the PRC was not invited to be a military observer in this Exercise.

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16. PRC Environment

People Net, http://www.people.com.cn/ (Chen Tan, “HYBIRD ELECTRIC TAXIS APPEAR IN BEIJING”, 2008/07/02) <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:??; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:”@SimSun”; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –&g reported that recently, a small number of hybrid electric taxis appeared on Beijing streets with “Hybird Electric Vehicle” printed on the door. Experts explained that the so-called hybrid electric taxi meant oil and electric working together or separately according to different running states of the cars. This combination is to achieve the minimum fuel consumption and exhaust emission. For the “Green Olympics, Hi-tech Olympics” concept of the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, 50 hybrid electric taxis will service all competition venues, dispatched by the Olympic Organizing Committee.

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III. ROK Report

17. Inter Korean Relations

Hankook Ilbo (“INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS, WE SHOULD SOLVE IT OURSELVES”, 2008/07/03) wrote that ‘Inter Korean relations will naturally get better as the DPRK-US relations are revitalized.’, answered one government official, when asked how to deal with DPRK’s policy to isolate the ROK and get close to the US. This is totally irrelevant. The ROK government should solve its problems by itself to keep its pride as well as national interests.

Seoul Shinmun (“GENUINENESS LOST IN THE ROK POLICY TOWARD THE DPRK”, ) wrote that the ROK government does not seem to have changed at all. Why did it mention the ‘possibilities of 10.4 declaration fulfillment’ and ‘decisive steps corresponding to denuclearization’? Was it merely provocation? Genuineness, which has been repeatedly emphasized by the Lee administration, can be found nowhere. The Lee administration should aware that reaction without principle does not help revitalization of inter-Korean relations.

Kyunghyang Shinmun (“DPRK NUCLEAR ISSUE”, 2008/07/02) wrote that it is time to change, but the ROK Government is not showing any new policy. The Paju special economic zones (SEZs), the alternative policy suggested by the Grand National Party, became mere rhetoric as trust between the two Koreas collapsed and thus cooperation from the DPRK cannot be expected. The Lee administration should restore the 6.15 joint declarations and actively practice the 10.4 summit declarations, as soon as possible.