NAPSNet Daily Report 18 January, 2002

Recommended Citation

"NAPSNet Daily Report 18 January, 2002", NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, 2002, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-18-january-2002/

 
CONTENTS

I. United States

1. US-Philippines Anti-Terrorism
2. NATO’s Role in Anti-terrorism
3. DPRK-US Relations
4. Cross-Straits Relations
II. Republic of Korea 1. ROK-US Relations
2. ROK–DPRK Red Cross Talks
3. ROK–Japan Naval Cooperation
4. ROK-US Military Base Relocation
III. People’s Republic of China 1. DPRK View of US Missile Defense
2. PRC-ROK Relations
3. PRC-US Relations
4. PRC-DPRK Views of Japan’s Military Development
5. Cross-Straits Relations
IV. Japan 1. Japan-ASEAN Relations
2. Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction

I. United States

1. US-Philippines Anti-Terrorism

The Washington Times (Adam Brown, “U.S. HELPING MANILA FIGHT REBELS,” Manila, 01/18/02) and Agence France-Presse (“US TROOPS VISIT PHILIPPINE HOSTAGE ISLAND BUT ACTION ON HOLD,” 01/18/02) reported that US troops deployed to help the Philippines combat Muslim rebels linked to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network have arrived in the southern island Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan for talks with Philippine officers. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield said that some 250 US troops were already in the Philippines at several locations and several hundred more would arrive in the next few weeks. Philippine officials played down expectations of imminent joint action against the Abu Sayyaf group, stating that US troops would not participate in combat missions before April, if at all. Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao stated, “The agreement as of now does not envisage any American military personnel beyond the company level. (For such a move), there will have to be a political decision,” Tiglao said. The US has branded the Abu Sayyaf as a terrorist group and has pledged to support the Philippines’s efforts to eradicate it as part of the global war on terrorism launched in response to the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Tiglao dismissed fears that the pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf would lead to a larger US intervention, “We are not an illegitimate government or unstable government or a questionable government like Afghanistan or Somalia. We are recognized by the world community and we have our own sovereignty. Just because American troops are there, it doesn’t mean that we go all the way, (on) whatever they want.”

2. NATO’s Role in Anti-terrorism

The US State Department Washington File (“SEN. LUGAR CALLS WAR ON TERRORISM ‘MOST CRITICAL ISSUE’ FACING NATO,” Brussels, 01/18/02) carried a transcript of US Senator and senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees Richard R. Lugar’s speech on “NATO’S Role in the War on Terrorism” that was given on January 18 at the US-NATO Missions Annual Conference in Brussels. Lugar stated that the most critical security challenge facing the US and the NATO alliance is the intersection of terrorism with weapons of mass destruction. Lugar warned, “Al-Qaida-like terrorists will use NBC [nuclear, biological and chemical] weapons if they can obtain them. Our task can be succinctly stated: together, we must keep the world’s most dangerous technologies out of the hands of the world’s most dangerous people.” Lugar also said, “The current war effort in Afghanistan is destroying the Afghan-based al-Qaeda network and the Taliban regime. But as individual NATO countries prosecute this war, NATO must pay much more attention to the other side of the equation – that is, making certain that all weapons and materials of mass destruction are identified, continuously guarded, and systematically destroyed.” In conclusion, Lugar declared, “America is at war and feels more vulnerable than at any time since the end of the Cold War and perhaps since World War II. The threat we face is global and existential… If NATO is not up to the challenge of becoming effective in the new war against terrorism, then our political leaders may be inclined to search for something else that will answer this need.” The full transcript of his speech can be found at:

http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi- bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/topic/intrel&f=02011801.ppo &t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

3. DPRK-US Relations

Reuters (“N. KOREA CLAIMS FRESH EVIDENCE OF U.S. ATROCITIES,” United Nations, 01/17/02) reported that the DPRK told the UN on Thursday that it had found fresh evidence of what it said were extensive atrocities committed by US troops on its people during the Korean War more than half a century ago. DPRK’s UN Ambassador Pak Gil-yon wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council that the remains of 59 people who had been “massacred by United States troops” were discovered in shallow graves last November 14 in Shinchon County, South Hwanghae Province. According to Pak, the remains indicated that some of the bodies had been buried alive. Some skulls also bore bullet holes while others bore larger holes “showing that they were hit by a mass of iron or heavy stone,” axes, spades or rifle butts, he said. Pak also accused the UN of bearing part of the blame for the atrocities by allowing US forces in the Korean War “under the cover of United Nations forces.”

The Associated Press (“U.S. REJECTS N. KOREA’S WAR CLAIMS,” Washington, 01/18/02) reported that the US State Department on Friday rejected DPRK accusations that US soldiers committed more atrocities during the Korean war than Adolf Hitler did in World War II. A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday that similar to claims in the past, the recent DPRK allegations are groundless. The US rejects the charges, the official said.

4. Cross-Straits Relations

Agence France-Presse (“CHINA SLAMS ‘DANGEROUS’ TAIWANESE IDENTITY CHANGES,” 01/19/02) reported that the PRC’s Xinhua news agency issued a statement responding to a series of recent moves by Taiwan which the PRC views as “dangerous” attempts to gain independence. The criticism cited Taiwan’s decision to place the name “Taiwan” on passport covers, and a change in a government department logo. “Obviously, these alterations are neither for the interest of the Taiwan people, nor a simple administrative decision. They constitute a meaningful political strategy — a strong movement towards Taiwan Independence,” the official Xinhua news agency said.

II. Republic of Korea

1. ROK-US Relations

Joongang Ilbo (“PRESIDENT KIM MEETS WITH U.S. CONGRESSMEN,” Seoul, 01/18/02) reported that president Kim Dae-jung held a luncheon meeting with four US congressmen who recently arrived in Seoul under the invitation of National Assembly speaker Lee Man-sup. President Kim expressed, “Despite the deadlock in dialogue with Pyongyang we hope the US Congress will show support for both the US and the ROK to jointly push ahead with the engagement policies.”

2. ROK–DPRK Red Cross Talks

Joongang Ilbo (“RED CROSS WOULD PROPOSE ON TALKS AROUND NEW YEAR,” Seoul, 01/18/02) reported that the Korean National Red Cross on Friday decided to propose the reopening of dialogue with its DPRK counterpart after the Lunar New Year holidays (February 11-13). A ranking ROK Red Cross official stated, “We plan to propose implementing the suspended exchanges of separated families and the opening of the fourth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks. Agreement was reached earlier, but there was a failure to carry it out. With the North already preoccupied with preparations for lunar New Year celebration and birthday festival for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il we decided it would be better to wait till mid-February.”

3. ROK–Japan Naval Cooperation

The Korea Herald (Hwang Jang-jin, “KOREA, JAPAN TO RESUME JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES,” Seoul, 01/18/02) reported that the ROK and Japan are planning a series of military exchanges and joint exercises that were suspended last year amid a diplomatic row over Japanese history textbooks. The two nations will resume a joint maritime search and rescue drill in the seas off the ROK’s southern island of Jeju and hold exchange visits by high-level defense officials and military ships this year. In addition, the ROK will participate in a multinational submarine rescue drill around April and an international fleet review in October, both of which will be hosted by Japan. The decision to resume defense cooperation came as ties have improved since Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s visit to the ROK in October.

4. ROK-US Military Base Relocation

The Korea Times (Sohn Suk-joo, “ROK, USFK MAKE PROGRESS IN TALKS OVER RELOCATION,” Seoul, 01/18/02) reported that the ROK and the US have made significant progress in their talks on where to relocate the US military base in Yongsan. An ROK ministry official said that the ministry and US Forces Korea are seriously considering moving the Yongsan base to the outskirts of Seoul. Osan and Pyongtaek in Kyonggi Province and Kunsan in North Cholla Province are excluded as potential relocation sites due to strong local protests.

III. People’s Republic of China

1. DPRK View of US Missile Defense

People’s Daily (Zhao Jiaming, “DPRK: US TO DESTROY PENINSULA’S STABILITY,” Pyongyang, 01/13/02, P3) reported that the DPRK’s Korean Central News Agency published a commentary saying that a US Missile Defense Shield will destroy the strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The DPRK commentary pointed out that it is the US itself that poses the real missile threat to the world because the US has the largest number of missiles. It warned that this US action vainly attempts to block reunification of the Korean Peninsula and further complicates ROK-DPRK relations.

2. PRC-ROK Relations

People’s Daily (Wang Linchang, “KIM DAE-JUNG: TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING ROK-CHINESE FRIENDSHIP,” Seoul, 01/15/02, P3) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung said on January 14 that the ROK will further make efforts to develop ROK-PRC relations. Kim stated that ROK-PRC relations has achieved great progress in recent years. Kim hopes that by the time of the 10th anniversary of ROK-PRC normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations, ROK-PRC ties will have attained a new and bigger development.

China Daily (“BETTER CHINA-ROK TIES PLEDGED,” Beijing, 01/12-13/02, P2) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin said that the PRC is ready to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of PRC-ROK normalization to push their bilateral cooperative partnership in various fields to a new high. Jiang also said that safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is of fundamental interest to the Korean nation and all parties concerned.

3. PRC-US Relations

People’s Daily (“ADVOCACY OF ‘CHINA THREAT’ FRUITLESS: FM SPOKESMAN,” Beijing, 01/17/02, P4) reported that in response to commander-in-chief of the Pacific Command of the US Armed Forces Dennis Blair’s comments regarding the PRC’s “aggressive” military development and targeting of Taiwan, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sun Yuxi stated that advocacy of the so-called “China Threat” is groundless and fruitless. Sun reiterated that it has been acknowledged as a fact that the PRC is an important nation in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Moreover, the PRC government holds a consistent stance on the Taiwan issue from first to last, Sun said.

4. PRC-DPRK Views of Japan’s Military Development

China Daily (Yang Yunzhong, “JAPAN’S NEW DEFENSE PLANS ALARMING,” 01/11/02, P4) carried an analytical article by Professor Yang Yunzhong of Jinan Army Academy in Shandong Province saying that Japan has frequently and dramatically restructured its security and defense strategies in the first year of the new millennium. However, Yang warned that the recent development sent a strong signal that Japan intends to be a military superpower. Yang said in his article that the height of the restructuring occurred in late October of 2001 when the Upper House of Japan’s Parliament approved anti-terrorism legislation authorizing its military to support the US-led war on terrorism. By ignoring many provisions in its former security and defense policies Japan paved the way to dispatch troops overseas, Yang said. In addition, Yang said, Japan moved up its previous 2005 target date for establishing a new defense outline to 2003. Yang predicts that Japan will re-deploy its military force and divert its focus to the southwest areas of the nation, keeping the PRC and the DPRK alert.

People’s Daily (Zhao Jiaming, “JAPAN HIT FOR THE JUSTIFICATION OF OVERSEAS DISPATCH,” Pyongyang, 01/14/02, P3) reported that the DPRK’s Rodong Sinmun published a long commentary on January 13 saying that Japan is using the US-led war on terrorism to justify the overseas dispatch of its own “self-defense forces.” The commentary pointed out that by making laws related to overseas dispatch, Japan has opened the door to legally engage in aggressive wars. It also said that Japan’s recent activities indicated that the military policy of Japan has changed fundamentally. Japan is accelerating its pace to become a military power, it said and warned that if Japan takes the road of a war for re-conquest, ignoring the lesson of history and the changed realities, it will suffer a more miserable defeat than in the past.

5. Cross-Straits Relations

People’s Daily (Wu Yaming, “GRADUAL TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE ACTIVITIES CONDEMNED,” Beijing, 01/16/02, P4) reported that a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese Communist Party and of the State Council of China said that if Taiwan authorities make a wrong judgment on the situation and go their own way in advancing “gradual Taiwan independence,” they will do nothing but increase cross-Straits tension and shall be responsible for any negative results. The spokesman stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the PRC and that “Taiwan independence” in any form is absolutely unacceptable. “We are always on high alert and are seriously concerned about all ‘gradual Taiwan independence’ activities, as well as their vicious development,” the spokesperson said.

IV. Japan

1. Japan-ASEAN Relations

The Yomiuri Shinbun (Yukihisa Nakatsu and Yuichi Suzuki “KOIZUMI NOTES CHINA’S REACH,” 01/15/02) reported that Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi proposed a closer, more comprehensive relationship between the nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during his official visit to five ASEAN members. Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong who said that Koizumi’s initiative is of major strategic significance. Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that Japan exerted a great influence on the prosperity of ASEAN nations. Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said that the manner in which Japan and the US commit themselves to Southeast Asia was important to the future.

2. Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction

The Yomiuri Shinbun (“BAKER EYE JAPAN AFGHAN ROLE,” 01/18/02) reported that US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker said that he expected Japan to play a leading role in the reconstruction of post-Taliban Afghanistan. Baker stated, “Japan, as cohost and cochair, has a major opportunity to play a pivotal role in organizing reconstruction efforts. Afghanistan is your (Japan’s) backyard. You have expertise in economic development and enjoy credibility as a regional power, as a leader who can help move forward in the process of reconciliation that will be necessary to spur the recovery.”

The Asahi Shinbun (“COST OF AFGHAN REBUILDING PUT AT 4.9 BILLION DOLLARS,” 01/17/02) reported that the 60-odd countries and international organizations that are sending representatives will use the Tokyo gathering to announce their policies on helping Afghanistan. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Afghan interim government leader Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State Colin Powell are among those who will make keynote speeches at the Tokyo forum. The two-day conference will be chaired by Sadako Ogata, Japan’s special envoy on Afghan affairs. A news conference targeted for a world audience will be held Jan. 22 to announce the results of the Tokyo initiative.

The Asahi Shinbun (“KOIZUMI’S PRIORITY: CLEARING LANDMINES,” 01/18/02) reported that Japanese prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi will announce a 4-point initiative at the international conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo on Monday. The government has prioritized four areas in demining- related assistance as part of Japan’s contribution to the rebuilding of Afghanistan. Koizumi will outline these efforts to clear landmines as the key task in his keynote speech at the conference. The measures to be announced are as follows: providing mine clearing equipment, such as detectors and vehicles; funding the activities of local non-governmental organizations; supporting mine victims and educational efforts to protect the populace from mines; and arranging the demining structures within Japan.

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Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:
BK21 The Education and Research Corps for East Asian Studies
Department of Political Science Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
International Peace Research Institute (PRIME),
Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Monash Asia Institute,
Monash University, Clayton, Australia

Brandon Yu: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Kim Young-soo: yskim328@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hibiki Yamaguchi: hibikiy@dh.mbn.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Saiko Iwata: saiko@akira.ne.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Hiroya Takagi: hiroya_takagi@hotmail.com
Tokyo, Japan

Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation

Wu Chunsi: cswu@fudan.ac.cn
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< /a>
Clayton, Australia

 


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