CONTENTS
1. Japanese Textbook Issue
2. Cross-Straits Unification Proposal
3. Beijing Olympics
4. PRC-Russian Talks
5. US-PRC Relations
II. Republic of Korea 1. G-8 on Inter-Korean Relations
2. DPRK-US Talks
3. DPRK Missile Capabilities
4. DPRK Policy Against Defectors
I. United States
1. Japanese Textbook Issue
Agence France Presse (“SOUTH KOREA SEEKS BOOKS REVENGE BY SHAMING JAPAN,” Seoul, 7/13/01) reported that analysts said the ROK may not be able to force Japan to change its history books but it is determined to exact revenge by shaming Japan on the international stage. The ROK plans to broadcast accusations that Japan is “distorting” its history at every international forum possible. The ROK Foreign Ministry also said that it would start the campaign at a UN-organized world conference against racism to be held in South Africa from August 31. It will also publicize the Japanese books at the UN General Assembly in New York in September, where ROK Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo will be the assembly president, and at a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization conference in October. While the ROK said that the dispute would not affect the organization of next year’s football World Cup finals, Chung Mong-joon, chairman of the ROK organizing committee, said Friday the dispute would “inevitably undermine the image of the World Cup.”
2. Cross-Straits Unification Proposal
Agence France Presse (“CHINA MAKES FRESH OFFER OF ‘ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS’ TO TAIWAN,” Taipei, 7/13/01) reported that according to press reports in Taiwan on Friday, the PRC made a new seven-point offer to Taiwan to reunify under the “one country, two systems” policy. The United Daily News said that high-ranking PRC officials made the offer during talks in Beijing with members of Taiwan’s pro-reunification New Party. The paper quoted PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen as saying that under the plan, Taiwan would be allowed to keep its own military troops, continue using its own currency and keep its current government structure. Taiwan would also be allowed to run its own customs operation, the PRC would not appoint any officials to the island or take any revenue, and people and businessmen in Taiwan could keep their property. Qian did not rule out the option of using force to reunify with Taiwan, but he stressed that the PRC wanted a peaceful reunification.
Agence France Presse (“TAIWAN PRESIDENT REJECTS BEIJING’S FRESH REUNIFICATION OFFER,” Taipei, 7/13/01) reported that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Friday rejected the PRC’s new seven-point offer to reunify under the “one country, two systems” policy. Chen said, “The so-called ‘one country, two systems’ offer on Beijing’s terms means our systems, our freedom and our human rights can exist only after approval of the Chinese communists. Not only A-bian (Chen’s nickname), but also the majority of the Taiwanese people, can not accept such an offer.” He added that some people on the island had harbored illusions of the “one country, two systems” mechanism since they failed to understand its true nature. He also said less than 15 percent of people on the island were in favor of the policy, quoting a recent survey by the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). Chen described the offer as “unthinkable,” saying that it proved that PRC authorities were ignorant of the thinking of Taiwanese people.
3. Beijing Olympics
The Associated Press (Larry Siddons, “BEIJING IS AWARDED THE 2008 OLYMPICS,” Moscow, 7/13/01) reported that the PRC was awarded the 2008 Olympics on Friday. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) picked Beijing over rival bids from Toronto, Canada; Paris, France; Istanbul, Turkey; and Osaka, Japan. Beijing won on the second round of a secret ballot by receiving 56 votes, three more than a majority. Henry Kissinger, former US secretary of state who is now a ceremonial member of the IOC, said, “It means a lot to China. It will have a positive impact.”
Reuters (Benjamin Kang Lim, “OLYMPICS: TAIWAN URGES CHINA TO ‘ABANDON USE OF FORCE’,” Taipei, 7/13/01) reported that Taiwan congratulated the PRC on Friday on winning its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, voicing hope that the PRC would renounce the possible use of military force to achieve goals. Taiwan government spokesman Su Tzen-ping said, “Our government expresses its sincere congratulations. Taiwan hopes communist China can abandon the use of force in both the Taiwan Strait and the Asia Pacific region in the pursuit of world peace. Only by maintaining regional peace and stability can the Olympic spirit be truly realized.” There was no immediate comment from Taiwan’s Office of the President.
4. PRC-Russian Talks
Agence France Presse (“CRACKS EMERGE IN CHINA-RUSSIA FRONT AGAINST US MISSILE PLAN,” Moscow, 7/13/01) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin is due in Moscow on July 15 for talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two leaders will sign a broad cooperation declaration replacing an outdated Soviet-era version. However, Russian diplomats admit that Russia and the PRC have increasingly divergent foreign policy views, including support for the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said, “A strategic partnership with China is not a union–neither a civilian, nor a military one. Russia and China are very firmly following a ‘free-hands’ principle, and this includes international affairs. It is absolutely wrong to say that the partnership between Russia and China is aimed against anyone in the West. The West must understand that there is a certain line that neither we nor the Chinese are willing to cross.” Some experts saw the comments as a clear sign of division and a signal that the PRC was upset with Russia’s proposal to build a limited missile shield for Europe and even India. One of Russia’s main concerns was the PRC’s March 14 foreign ministry declaration stating that the PRC is far less concerned with the US missile shield than with regional air defense mechanisms of the type proposed by Russia. Andrei Piontkovsky of Moscow’s Center for Strategic Studies stated, “This is an incredibly serious statement because it means that China has abandoned the theory of mutually assured destruction. This divergence in position is linked to China’s own agenda. China and the US have 60 billion dollars in annual trade. When there is such trade, who wants to count nuclear missiles?”
5. US-PRC Relations
Agence France Presse (“U.S.-CHINESE RELATIONS “IMPROVING” GREATLY AFTER SPY PLANE INCIDENT, RICE SAYS,” Washington, 7/13/01) reported that US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on July 12 that relations between the US and the PRC have improved tremendously since the spy plane incident earlier this year. In remarks after a foreign-policy speech at the National Press Club, she said, “I’m happy to report that I think U.S.-China relations are improving tremendously.” Rice also said the US recognizes the positive economic and political changes in the PRC despite differences over security issues, human rights and the arrest of US scholars. Rice said, “If China emerges as a stronger economic power, but with a more liberalized political system, that will be very, very good for the world.” Rice defended the administration’s desire to quickly return to normal relations with the PRC, saying: “There are going to be difficult issues. But this has to be put in a larger context.” However, she said, US President George W. Bush would continue to raise with the PRC issues such as the fate of five US scholars held in the PRC.
II. Republic of Korea
1. G-8 on Inter-Korean Relations
The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, “G-8 SET TO CALL FOR 2ND INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT,” Seoul, 07/13/01) reported that the Group of Eight leaders are expected to issue a statement in Italy next week to urge the leaders of the two Koreas to hold their second summit talks, ROK officials said Thursday. Through their ministers’ talks scheduled for July 18-19 in Rome and summit meeting set for July 20-22 in Genoa, the eight nations will likely adopt a statement supporting the ROK’s reconciliation policy toward the DPRK and calling for an early opening of the second inter- Korean summit, the officials said. The G-8 leaders, however, are unlikely to take issue with the DPRK’s nuclear and missile development programs in the statement.
2. DPRK-US Talks
The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, “THE BALL’S AT NORTH KOREA’S COURT, CONDOLEEZA RICE SAYS,” Seoul, 07/13/01) reported that Condoleeza Rice, US National Security Advisor to the White House, said Thursday that the ball is in the DPRK’s court now that the US has completed its review policy and has already proposed a wide-ranging agenda for negotiation. In a luncheon meeting in Washington at the invitation of the foreign correspondents club, Rice pointed out that the US is ready for dialogue with the DPRK but hinted that the administration still has to determine on what level the bilateral talks would take place. Asserting that the DPRK’s missile export and development plans as well as its nuclear program must definitely be addressed in the upcoming negotiations, she continued that the issue of peace and security in Peninsula also needs to be included in the talks.
3. DPRK Missile Capabilities
Joongang Ilbo (Joo Yong-joong, “WOLFOWITZ WARNS AGAINST N.K.’S MISSILE CAPABILITY,” Seoul, 07/13/01) reported that the DPRK currently possesses hundreds of conventional ballistic missiles that would pose immense threats to the US and the ROK if the war breaks out in the Korean Peninsula, claimed US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz on Thursday July 12. At the National Defense Authorization Bill meeting for Fiscal Year 2002, he said that if a war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula, one of the dreadful consequences the US would face would be the DPRK’s ballistic missiles. Pointing out that the US is somewhat vulnerable to the DPRK’s conventional missiles, Wolfowitz called for awareness of the possibility of the DPRK’s theater missile threats. The importance of the US Missile Defense system was also underscored as he referred to the DPRK’s new Taepodong-II missile.
4. DPRK Policy Against Defectors
Chosun Ilbo (Park Min-seon, “NK TRAINS TEENS TO SPY ON REFUGEES,” Seoul, 07/11/01) reported that the DPRK is reportedly training teenage boys and girls, who were forcefully returned after escaping to the PRC, for special duty as spies and is sending them to find other DPRK defectors, an ROK missionary group claimed Thursday. A spokesperson for Good Friends, a group supporting DPRK defectors, said that it was his knowledge that spies were sent from 1998 when a great number of refugees poured across the border area, and that as a result, the number of deportees rose sharply. The source added that there were rumors from last year that deported young boys and girls were used as watchers of DPRK refugees or their supporters.
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Gee Gee Wong: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Robert Brown: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Kim Hee-sun: khs688@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan
Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation
Yunxia Cao: yule111@sina.com
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
John McKay: John.McKay@adm.monash.edu.au
Clayton, Australia