NAPSNet Daily Report 19 July, 2000

Recommended Citation

"NAPSNet Daily Report 19 July, 2000", NAPSNet Daily Report, July 19, 2000, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-19-july-2000/

 
CONTENTS

I. United States

1. Russia-DPRK Talks
2. DPRK Missile Program
3. ROK-DPRK Talks
4. Korean War Massacre
5. Cross-Straits Relations
6. Russian Military Sales to PRC
7. Russian View of Missile Defense
II. Republic of Korea 1. DPRK-Russia Relations
2. DPRK-US Talks
3. Reunion of Separated Families
4. Korean War Massacre
III. People’s Republic of China 1. ROK-DPRK Relations
2. DPRK-PRC Relations
3. Russian Position on the Korean Issue
4. PRC-Russian Relations
5. PRC-Russian Joint Statement on ABM Treaty
6. US Defense Secretary’s Visit to PRC
7. Japan-US Relations
8. The Taiwan Issue

I. United States

1. Russia-DPRK Talks

Associated Press (Paul Shin, “PUTIN VISITS NORTH KOREA,” Seoul, 7/19/00) and the Associated Press (“PUTIN RAISE QUESTION OF NORTH KOREAN MISSILES WITH KIM JONG IL,” Seoul, 7/19/00) reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin began a two-day visit to the DPRK on Wednesday. Putin was scheduled to hold two rounds of talks with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, focusing on economic cooperation and the DPRK’s missile capability. Chon Hong-san, a political science professor at Pusan University said, “If Putin can persuade North Korea to make gestures or express in any form its intentions to stop or not to pursue further missile developments, that would greatly strengthen his voice at the G-8 meeting. Putin will do all he can do to persuade North Korea, because it considers the U.S. anti- missile system a direct threat to its security.” Putin is also scheduled to talk about rebuilding economic ties with the DPRK, many of whose major industrial plants were built with Soviet technology. Most of those plants are reportedly outdated and need renovation. Putin is expected to offer to refurbish those idle plants with Russian experts and technology if the ROK provides financing.

2. DPRK Missile Program

Agence France Presse (“N.KOREA PLEDGES TO GIVE UP MISSILE PROGRAM IN LANDMARK PUTIN VISIT,” Seoul, 7/19/00) reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that after talks with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, the DPRK vowed to shut down its missile program if other nations provide it with rocket boosters for space exploration. The Interfax news agency in Moscow quoted Putin in Pyongyang as saying, “North Korea on the whole is ready to use exclusively other nations’ rocket technologies, if it receives rocket boosters for peaceful space exploration.” Putin stressed that other nations, besides Russia, would be responsible for making sure that the DPRK received rocket boosters that could be put to peaceful space use. Putin said, “We think that Russia’s efforts in this alone are not enough. Everyone, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, South Korea, as well as the United States, China and Japan should support this process.” Russia and the DPRK also signed a friendship treaty on Wednesday. Putin said that the treaty allowed the “reinforcement of bilateral relations.” Putin also invited his DPRK counterpart to visit Russia. DPRK’s official media welcomed Putin’s visit, describing it as being of “great significance” in the development of relations between the two countries.

3. ROK-DPRK Talks

The Associated Press (“S. KOREA SEEKS MEETING WITH NORTH,” Seoul, 7/19/00) reported that ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-dong wrote a letter to DPRK counterpart, Hong Song-nam, which proposed that the two governments open a dialogue in Seoul on July 27-29. The letter suggested that each delegation have five members and be headed by a Cabinet-level minister. There was no immediate response from the DPRK. Most ROK newspapers, quoting a source they did not identify, said that both sides had already agreed on the venue and date for the meeting through unofficial contacts. Kim Hyong-ki, a chief policy coordinator at the ROK Unification Ministry, said that the proposed ministerial-level talks “will have broad discussions on how to implement the historic summit agreements.” He said that he expected the talks would lead to a series of lower-level working dialogues to discuss military, economic and sports exchanges.

The Los Angeles Times (Sonni Efron, “KOREAS TO INCREASE TIES, SOUTH’S PRESIDENT SAYS,” Seoul, 7/19/00) reported that ROK President Kim Dae Jung revealed on July 18 that the DPRK and ROK officials will meet later this month to discuss establishment of a military hotline and the first exchanges between the two nations’ armed forces. Kim said he expects reunions of families separated by the Korean War to continue beyond the first round of visits in August. Kim stressed that he will pursue reconciliation in a gradual and prudent manner. Kim said, “I don’t think there are too many people who are so naive as to believe that things will progress relatively easily from this point on, because we have had 55 years of very difficult relations with the North. Peaceful coexistence and exchanges may go on for 20 or 30 years. We must not make haste. But in the process, we will be working towards ultimate unification.” However, Kim warned, “We must be careful not to give people the illusion that this is now the time for us to be talking seriously about unification. This is not.” Kim said that during the summit, he told Kim Jong-il that he believes that US troops must stay even after reunification to preserve stability and the balance of power in Northeast Asia. He also said that he insisted that the DPRK abide by its pledges to the US to freeze its nuclear weapons program and to not test-fire its long-range missiles. He urged the DPRK to reach a deal with the US on the issue. Kim said, “Chairman Kim did not give an explicit answer to these positions of ours, but he did not display opposition or displeasure at our stance. So I am not pessimistic…. The negotiations may be very difficult, but in the end, they will reach a successful conclusion.”

4. Korean War Massacre

The Korea Herald (Kang Seok-jae, “S. KOREAN TEAM LAUNCHES NOGUN-RI FORENSIC PROBE,” 7/19/00) reported that the ROK Defense Ministry said that a 12-member ROK forensic team on July 18 started on-site forensic work to secure concrete evidence on the alleged massacre of ROK civilians by US troops in Nogun-ri during the Korean War. The team will conduct the investigation until July 25 and some Nogun-ri residents will be on hand during the on-site survey. ROK Army Colonel Kim Yong-kil, who is in charge of the probe, said, “The purpose of the forensic work is to secure bullets and other pieces of hard evidence at the scene and identify them, thereby matching them with the interim results of South Korean and U.S. investigations of the incident.” Kim said that the team will remove some bullets from concrete structures on the site before determining who fired them. He said, “Through forensic tests of bullet residue or marks and the path of the bullets, we will be able to locate the exact positions where the machine guns were placed.” He said that the work may take longer than originally scheduled. When the investigation is completed, the ROK ministry will hand the results over to the US.

5. Cross-Straits Relations

Reuters (“TAIWAN WON’T OFFER MORE ON ‘ONE CHINA’,” Taipei, 7/19/00) reported that a local newspaper on Wednesday quoted Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian as saying that he has gone far enough to meet the PRC’s demands on defining Taiwan’s political status and that the ball was now in the PRC’s court. Chen told lawmakers from his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that there was no room to offer more after saying he was willing to discuss the “one China” concept with the PRC. The United Daily News quoted Chen saying, “He said the ball is in communist China’s court, he cannot give in more. If communist China still wants us to talk about the ‘one China’ principle, it will be like pinching Taiwan to death.”

6. Russian Military Sales to PRC

Jane’s Defence Weekly (Yihong Zhang, “CHINA IN TALKS WITH RUSSIA TO PRODUCE TOR-M1 SAM,” 7/19/00) reported that the PRC is negotiating with Russia for the possible license production of the Antey Tor-M1 (NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet) low-to-medium altitude self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The PRC’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has already purchased 35 Tor-M1s. A Russian industry source told Jane’s Defence Weekly that the PRC is negotiating the license production of 160 launchers which would be used to equip 10 regiments assigned to the PLA’s group armies. An agreement could partially offset Russia’s outstanding debt payment to the PRC. [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for July 19, 2000.]

7. Russian View of Missile Defense

Agence France Presse (“US UNFAZED BY PUTIN COMMENTS ON MISSILE DEFENSE,” Thurmont, 7/19/00) reported that US officials on July 18 expressed a lack of concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning that Russia and the PRC will respond if the US goes ahead with a proposed national missile shield. US White House spokesman Joe Lockhart stated, “President Putin has made his views well-known on this issue. He’s discussed it with the president while we were in Russia. I expect we’ll have a further discussion in the context of the G7, G8 meetings. I think for our part, the president is still awaiting a recommendation from the secretary of defense.” Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher reiterated the US stance that missile defense is directed neither against Russia nor the PRC, and sought to counter speculation that the Putin comments unnerved the US. He said, “We don’t really have any fundamental problem or any problem with close relations between Russia and China. These are two big countries that have borders and some common interests as well as an interest in the broader world and we talk to these countries and they should talk to each other as well.”

II. Republic of Korea

1. DPRK-Russia Relations

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, “PUTIN’S VISIT TO PYONGYANG AIMED AT CEMENTING TIES WITH N.K., EXPANDING INFLUENCE ON PENINSULA,” Seoul, 07/19/00) reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the DPRK Wednesday for talks with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il. ROK analysts said that the talks are aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in the face of new developments springing from the June inter-Korean summit. Putin is scheduled to hold two rounds of summit talks with Kim during his two-day visit to the DPRK, the first trip by a Russian president to the country’s former Cold War ally. The two leaders are expected to announce a joint declaration pledging economic cooperation and efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. ROK officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that Putin’s visit to the DPRK means that relations between the two countries have normalized. Analysts said that Putin’s visit falls in line with Russia’s desire to increase its influence on the Korean Peninsula following the inter-Korean summit. The Russian president is also expected to mention DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs. An unnamed expert said, “Putin will likely request the North to abstain from pushing the programs over worries they may give the United States an excuse to push ahead with the National Missile Defense (NMD) plan.”

2. DPRK-US Talks

The Korea Herald (Shin Young-bae, “ALBRIGHT-PAEK MEETING TO GIVE MOMENTUM TO NORMALIZATION,” Seoul, 07/19/00) reported that ROK analysts said on July 18 that the agreement between the US and the DPRK to hold a meeting of foreign ministers later this month will give crucial momentum to their move toward normalization of bilateral relations. Professor Yu Suk-ryul of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) said, “The talks are expected to help both sides speed up their moves to establish diplomatic ties.” Yu said that the meeting will likely result in the realization of a visit by a high-level DPRK official to the US. Senior officials from the US and the DPRK are scheduled to meet in Germany on Wednesday to prepare for the meeting of their foreign ministers. Other diplomatic observers predicted that US Secretary of State Madeline Albright and Paek would focus on creating a favorable atmosphere for improving bilateral relations, rather than engage in negotiations over pending issues.

3. Reunion of Separated Families

The Korea Times (Lee Soo-jeong, “NORTH SELECTS CANDIDATES FOR REUNION ON BASIS OF IDEOLOGY, STATUS,” Seoul, 07/19/00) and The Korea Times (Park Yoon-bae, “MOST FAMILIES CONFIRM NORTH KOREAN CANDIDATES FOR REUNION,” Seoul, 07/19/00) reported that ROK officials said on July 18 that in contrast to the ROK method which selected candidates hoping to be reunited with their relatives next month randomly through a computerized draw, the DPRK seemed to have picked its candidates on the basis of their social standing and ideology. An anonymous ROK Unification Ministry official said, “If you look at the North’s list, you can see a considerable number of prominent people, which shows that the North has made the list out of careful consideration. They appear to have selected the well-off who are unlikely to be shaken or influenced by their visit to South Korea.” Among the 200 DPRK candidates are many prominent academics and artists, including Professor Jo Ju-gyong of Kim Il Sung University and Jong Chang-mo from Mansudae Art Studio. The ROK National Red Cross revealed that out of 200 DPRK citizens seeking to find their relatives in the ROK, more than 170 were confirmed to still have living relatives in the country.

4. Korean War Massacre

Chosun Ilbo (Yoo Yong-won, “PROBE INTO NOGEUN-RI CASE BEGINS,” Seoul, 07/18/00) reported that the ROK Ministry of National Defense (MND) began conducting fine technology searches on the site at Nogun-ri, where surviving villagers claimed that US soldiers fired at unarmed war refugees during the early stages of the Korean War. Twelve military and civilian experts searched for concrete evidence, utilizing special detecting devices such as X-ray fluoroscopes and other ballistics equipment, which would verify whether physical evidence pointed to US involvement in the alleged massacre. The investigation team’s planning and general manager, ROK Colonel Kim Yong-kil, said that the purpose of this search is to connect previous investigative reports with remaining evidence and to reinforce the accuracy and completeness of the five previous field examinations.

III. People’s Republic of China

1. ROK-DPRK Relations

People’s Daily (Wang Linchang, “ROK ASKS FOR JOINT SOUTH-NORTH ASSEMBLY CONFERENCE,” Seoul, 7/18/00, P6) reported that ROK National Assembly Chairman Lee Man-sup officially proposed the holding of a Joint South-North National Assembly Conference in his celebration speech on July 17 to mark the 52nd Constitution Memorial Day. The Assembly is planning to organize a special committee for DPRK-ROK relations, with both a committee and a preparation team to handle the details.

2. DPRK-PRC Relations

People’s Liberation Army Daily (Li Shijia, “CHI HAOTIAN MEETS DPRK GUESTS,” Beijing, 7/18/00, P1) reported that PRC Defense Minister Chi Haotian met a delegation of the People’s Army of the DPRK led by deputy commander Han Won-hua in Beijing on July 17. Chi, vice-chairman of the PRC’s Central Military Commission and a State councilor, said that the traditional friendship between the people and the armed forces of the PRC and the DPRK is time-tested, and has been growing steadily. The two armies have maintained close contact. Chi said that the two sides are ready to work together to promote friendly relations between the countries and their armed forces.

3. Russian Position on the Korean Issue

People’s Daily (Sheng Shiliang, “PUTIN: RUSSIA TO MAINTAIN BALANCED RELATIONS WITH DPRK AND ROK,” Moscow, 7/18/00, P6) reported that before Russian President Vladimir Putin began his visit to the PRC, the DPRK and Japan, he told Japanese media that Russia would maintain balanced and good-neighborly relations with the DPRK and the ROK. Putin said that the relations with the DPRK and the ROK would exercise positive influence on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. According to Putin, Russia believes that the relaxing of confrontation on Korean Peninsula and the normalization of DPRK-ROK relations ought to be promoted. Putin said that Russia is closely concerned with the US military presence on the Korean Peninsula and that Northeast Asia area has immediate significance to Russia’s security. He also pointed out that the argument that Northeast Asian theater missile defense and national missile defense must be established on the excuse of the “DPRK’s missile threat” is groundless. He said that Russia thinks that any country that wants to implement missile defense programs should abide by international laws. Putin suggested providing a concrete security guarantee to the DPRK in order to strengthen the regime of non- proliferating missile technology in the Korean Peninsula.

4. PRC-Russian Relations

People’s Daily (Xu Baokang, “JIANG ZEMIN HOLDS TALKS WITH PUTIN,” Beijing, 7/19/00, P1) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin said on July 18 that the PRC will work with Russia to bring bilateral relations to a new stage where the two countries will always be “good friends, good neighbors and good partners.” Jiang said that it is a correct and historical choice for the PRC and Russia to establish and develop a strategic partnership of cooperation that serves the strategic interests of the two countries and the needs of safeguarding world peace and stability. The two heads of state also exchanged views on international issues of common concern, and concluded that PRC-Russia cooperation has been especially effective in a series of important international and regional matters including human rights, anti-ballistic missiles, military control, regional security, and the reform of the UN. After the talks, five major documents were signed between the two countries, including the Beijing Declaration of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation and the Joint Statement of the PRC President and the Russian Federation President on the Anti-Ballistic Missile Issue.

People’s Daily (“CHINA, RUSSIA ISSUE BEIJING DECLARATION,” Beijing, 7/19/00, P1) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 18 signed a joint declaration pledging that the two countries will continue to develop their friendly relationship and promote all-round cooperation. One of the agreements included the PRC and Russia support of peace, stability, development and cooperation, to defy hegemony, power politics and group politics, and oppose attempts to amend the basic principles of international law, to threaten others by force or to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. The declaration also included a reaffirmation of the joint statement on the anti-ballistic missile treaty signed during this summit. They agreed that the statement was aimed at consolidating global and regional strategic stability, to safeguard the existing system of arms control and disarmament treaties, to accelerate the non-proliferation process of weapons of mass destruction and their carrier vehicles, and to ensure the security of all countries, without exception. Putin also invited Jiang to pay a state visit to Russia at Jiang’s convenience in 2001. Jiang thanked him for the invitation and accepted it. The schedule for the visit will be settled through diplomatic channels.

People’s Daily (Li Shijia, “CHI HAOTIAN MEETS WITH RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER,” Beijing, 7/19/00, P4) reported that PRC Defense Minister Chi Haotian told Russian Defense Minister Igor Dmitriyevich Sergeyev during meetings on July 18 that the development of Sino-Russian military ties were based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit which conforms to the fundamental interests of the two sides and contributes to regional and world security and stability. Chi, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor , said, “It is of great significance to implement the agreements reached by the five countries and to undertake military cooperation among them.” He also spoke highly of the cooperation between the PRC and Russia concerning anti-ballistic missiles. He expressed appreciation for Russia’s stance in safeguarding global strategic stability and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Sergeyev said that the talks between the two heads of state this morning will boost cooperation between the two countries in political, economic and other fields.

China Daily (Shao Zongwei, Hu Qihua and Jin Zeqing, “JIANG, PUTIN PROTEST NMD,” 7/19/00, P1) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao denied a report on July 18 that Russia would replace Israel to sell an early-warning system to the PRC. The rumor arose after Israel withdrew a plan to sell the PRC a US$250 million early-warning system, reportedly under pressure from the US Government.

5. PRC-Russian Joint Statement on ABM Treaty

People’s Daily (“CHINA, RUSSIA PRESIDENTS SIGN JOINT STATEMENT ON ABM ISSUES,” Beijing, 7/19/00, P1) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 18 signed a joint statement on the anti-ballistic missile issue. The statement said that the development of the international situation fully proves the correctness of three documents: the joint statement on the Sino-Russian Relations at the Turn of the Century signed on November 23, 1998; The joint Press Communique on Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) signed on April 14, 1999; and the conclusion and the comments on ABM made in the Sino-Russian Joint Statement on December 10, 1999, during the Sino-Russian summit. It said that the 1972 ABM Treaty remains the cornerstone of global strategic stability and international security. The statement said the Treaty “forms the basis of key international agreements on reduction and limitation of offensive strategic weaponry and prevention of proliferation of massive destructive weaponry,” adding that it is “of vital importance to maintain and strictly observe ABM.” The statement says that the establishment of the National Missile Defense system (NMD) as planned by the US makes people “deeply worried.” The PRC and Russia believe that the nature of NMD “is to seek unilateral military and security advantages [which will] pose the most grave adverse consequences not only to the national security of Russia, China and other countries, but also to the security and international strategic stability of the United States itself.” The statement added that the PRC and Russia are “firmly opposed to such a system.” It also said that a non-strategic missile defense program and international cooperation in such areas, which are not prohibited by ABM, should not undermine the security interests of other countries, not lead to the establishment of any closed military or political bloc, or threaten global and regional stability and security. The statement said that the PRC and Russia are deeply concerned that a certain country in the Asia-Pacific region might deploy any such non-strategic missile defense system, and steadfastly oppose this. It stressed, “The incorporation of Taiwan into any foreign missile defense system is unacceptable and will seriously undermine regional stability.”

6. US Defense Secretary’s Visit to PRC

People’s Daily (Zhang Jingyu, “JIANG ZEMIN MEETS WITH COHEN,” Beijing, 7/14/00, P1) reported that during his meeting with US Secretary of Defense William Cohen, PRC President Jiang Zemin urged the US Government to honor the three Sino-US joint communiques and relevant commitments concerning the Taiwan question, and make wise decisions in handling the Taiwan question. Jiang said the Taiwan question is an internal issue of the PRC, and the one-China principle is the basis and prerequisite for peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question as well as the touchstone to test Taiwan authorities’ sincerity to conduct dialogues. He also said that the cross-Straits negotiations can be resumed and anything can be discussed as long as the new leaders of Taiwan accept the one-China principle. Cohen said that his visit was aiming at further improving bilateral military ties. He reiterated that the US will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

China Daily (Lu Chang, “COHEN SEES NEED FOR EARLY TAIWAN SOLUTION,” Shanghai, 7/15/00, P1) reported that in talks on July 14 with Wang Daohan, chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, US Defense Secretary William Cohen said that he hopes the Taiwan question can be resolved peacefully as soon as possible. He acknowledged that this matter is an internal Chinese question and should be resolved by the Chinese people themselves. Wang said that the one-China principle is the basis for the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question. He also said that the mainland is watching the policy adjustments of Taiwan authorities to determine their sincerity in resolving the Taiwan question. Both Wang and Cohen said that the resolution of the Taiwan question is important to Sino-American relations and to world peace.

7. Japan-US Relations

People’s Daily (Zhang Huanli, “JAPAN, US REACH AGREEMENT ON EXPENSE SHARING,” Tokyo, 7/19/00, P7) reported that sources from the Japanese government said that Japan and the US on July 17 basically reached an agreement on sharing the expenses of US troops in Japan. According to the new agreement, the report said, Japan’s share will lessen 2.5-3 billion yens each year in the future. At present, Japan bears 180 billion yens US troops’ expenditure in Japan, the report said.

8. The Taiwan Issue

China Daily (Xing Zhigang, “‘ONE-CHINA’ KEY TO CROSS-STRAITS TALKS,” 7/18/00, P2) reported that Li Yafei, PRC secretary-general of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said that there was no so-called consensus that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits would have their own interpretation of the one-China principle when he met a 26-member delegation from Taiwan’s Kuomintang Party. Li said that his association only agreed that under the one-China principle, the political difference could be shelved and left for further discussion during routine negotiations. He reiterated the urge for the Taiwan leader to explicitly embrace the one-China principle. Li ruled out the possibility of resuming talks between ARATS and the Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) without going back to the one-China principle. Moreover, Li said, only under the principle can direct postal, commercial and shipping links between the mainland and Taiwan be realized at an early date. The Kuomintang delegation leader He Zhihui also urged Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to accept the 1992 consensus. He said that the Kuomintang Party will exert its utmost efforts to oppose any move leading to “Taiwan independence.”

People’s Daily (Chen Binhua, “VICE PREMIER QIAN MEETS TAIWAN KUOMINTANG DELEGATION,” Beijing, 7/19/00, P4) reported that PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen met on July 18 with a delegation from Taiwan’s Kuomintang party (KMT), led by He Zhihui. Qian confirmed the consensus reached by the KMT delegation during its talks with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. Qian told the Taiwan visitors that the Taiwan authorities’ avoidance of the one-China Principle is the fundamental factor in the two sides finding it difficult to resume cross- Straits talks and to improve cross-Straits ties. He said that an acceptable solution can only be reached under the one- China Principle. Qian said, “Under the one-China Principle, all Taiwan-based parties, groups and individuals are welcome to have wide-ranging contacts and talks with us to accumulate consensus and join forces for improving and developing cross-Straits relations.”

China Daily (“TAIWAN SPIES SENTENCED,” 7/15/00, P2) reported that the Beijing Number 2 Intermediate People’s Court on July 13 announced a verdict in a case involving three spies from Taiwan. According to the court, Yang Mingzhong, Yao Jiazhen, and Zhang Wei were spies hired by the military intelligence department of Taiwan. They came to Beijing and Shanghai separately, attempting to steal political, economic and military secrets in the cities. Yang was sentenced to death with two years of reprieve. Yao was sentenced to life imprisonment and stripped of lifetime political rights and all property. Zhang was given a term of 15 years in prison, deprived of political rights for three years, and her property was confiscated.

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