NAPSNet Daily Report 21 April, 1999

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"NAPSNet Daily Report 21 April, 1999", NAPSNet Daily Report, April 21, 1999, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-21-april-1999/

IN TODAY’S REPORT:

I. United States

II. Republic of Korea

III. People’s Republic of China

I. United States

1. Four-Party Peace Talks

Reuters (“KOREA PEACE TALKS AIM FOR TENSION-REDUCTION STEPS,” Seoul, 04/20/99) reported that an unnamed senior US State Department official said on Tuesday that the US will “try to push the ball forward” on tension-reduction measures when the four-party peace talks resume in Geneva on Friday. The official said that such measures would include a “hot line” between the ROK and the DPRK, exchange visits by military officers, and notification of exercises. The official cautioned, however, “I don’t think North Korea has fully decided they want to replace the armistice and reduce tensions. They say the goal should be withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Korean peninsula. We don’t accept that…. There’s been no change of nuance in these talks.” The official also said that delegates to the talks are expected to discuss arrangements for a US visit in May to an underground construction site in Kumchangri. The DPRK’s official Rodong Shinmun newspaper said in an editorial on Tuesday, “The purpose of the ‘four-party talks’ is to ensure peace on the Korean peninsula. Accordingly, the withdrawal of the U.S. troops should be taken as a top agenda item at the talks, and if not, the talks will be unnecessary.”

2. DPRK Missile Development

Reuters (“G-8 SUMMIT TO TAKE UP N.KOREA MISSILE ISSUE – KYODO,” Tokyo, 04/20/99) reported that Japan’s Kyodo news agency on Tuesday quoted Japanese government sources as saying that leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations will take up the issue of DPRK missile development at their summit later on June 18 to 20. The sources said that Japan had strongly urged the G-8 members to include the issue on the agenda and they had agreed. They added that Japan wanted to use the summit to reaffirm the importance of deterring the DPRK weapons development in line with Japan’s policy of pursuing “dialogue and deterrence.” Kyodo said that the G-8 leaders are expected to mention the DPRK in a section on weapons nonproliferation in a joint declaration to be issued after the summit.

3. Alleged ROK Weapons of Mass Destruction

Agence France-Presse (“N. KOREA COUNTERS NUCLEAR PRESSURE WITH WEAPONS CHARGE AGAINST SEOUL,” Seoul, 04/21/99) reported that the DPRK’s Korean National Peace Committee issued a statement on Wednesday accusing the ROK of making “frantic moves” to develop and store weapons of mass destruction “in collusion” with the US. The statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said that the ROK was devoting “exorbitant” amounts of money to “increase their own strong capabilities of bio-chemical warfare.” It added that the ROK has asked the US to transfer technology for producing “new types of bacteriological and poisonous agents.” The statement said, “In this way they seek to inflict upon the fellow countrymen dreadful disasters of bio-chemical warfare as well as calamities of thermonuclear war, banking on the US imperialists’ anti-North Korea war moves.” It said that the ROK was the “world’s biggest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction where not only various kinds of nuclear shells and bombs including neutron bombs but also biological and chemical weapons are massively stockpiled.” It also accused the US of “stifling” the DPRK with “groundless” accusations of chemical and biological weapons development.

4. DPRK War Warnings

Reuters (“N KOREA SAYS U.S. MAY ATTACK IT AFTER YUGOSLAVIA,” Tokyo, 04/19/99) reported that the DPRK’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Monday that the US was likely to attack the DPRK next. The newspaper said, “The United States, which is now attacking Yugoslavia after military strikes at Iraq, singles out the Korean peninsula as its next target.” It pointed to recent joint military exercises conducted by the US and the ROK as evidence for a “US scheme to provoke a war of aggression to stifle the DPRK by force.” It added, however, that the US “is mistaken. Its doctrine of strength applied against Iraq and Yugoslavia does not work on us at all.” It warned, “Strength is not the exclusive possession of the US. If the U.S. provokes a war of aggression on the DPRK, considering its strength to be almighty, it will face a fate of a tiger moth.”

5. ROK-DPRK Economic Cooperation

Kyodo News International (“KIM AIDE HOPES FOR INTER-KOREAN JOINT VENTURE,” Tokyo, 04/21/99) reported that Lim Dong-won, ROK President Kim Dae-jung’s senior secretary for foreign affairs and national security, expressed hope Wednesday that the DPRK and the ROK can launch more joint-venture projects. Lim said that economic cooperation should no longer be limited to manufacturing on contract, but extended to joint ventures and equal partnerships. He added that “remarkable progress” has been achieved, with the ROK government having approved 15 ROK firms for business deals in the DPRK worth about US$170 million. Lim also said that close to US$80 million worth of ROK products are being processed in the DPRK, up from US$25 million in 1995.

6. ROK Policy toward DPRK

The Los Angeles Times (Tom Plate, “DIM HOPE FOR SUNSHINE IN SOUTH KOREA,” Seoul, 04/21/99) carried an interview with ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hong Soon-young. Hong said that DPRK leader Kim Jong- il is more reclusive than his father, Kim Il-sung, adding, “The son is certainly no North Korean version of Deng Xiaoping.” Hong’s also expressed worry that the ROK people are losing patience with Kim Dae-jung’s “sunshine policy” toward the DPRK. He added that he tells his friends in the US Congress, “We have to be very careful in talking about war and North Korea. If you make snap judgments and overreact to any one provocation from the North, you are playing with fire.” He noted, however, “North Korea’s brinksmanship diplomacy is playing dangerously with the pride and prestige of the world’s superpower. They had better not do that for too long or too much.” Hong said that the PRC’s “rather open-minded and pragmatic” leaders consider the DPRK an annoyance. He added, “Still, China is starting to do its share to stop North Korea from firing any more missiles.” Hong also accepted the suggestion that Japan and Russia be included in peace talks for the Korean peninsula. He stated, “Moscow’s influence with North Korea is great. That’s why, the sooner Kosovo is over, the better,” as he said that Russia would not help control the DPRK as long as NATO is bombing Yugoslavia. Hong also stated, “I am so worried about the coming debate in Washington, over China as well as North Korea. It can get so very emotionalized. And sometimes these debates paralyze the foreign policy of the United States. Then it’s hard to get any coordinated execution of policy. It’s a vacuum period.” He warned, “It would be difficult for everyone if the U.S. pulled back from sunshine.” Hong concluded, “What North Korea must understand is this: Until and unless we are attacked by a full-scale war, there will be no war on the Korean peninsula.” [Ed note: The full text of this interview is available on the web page of the Asia Pacific Media Network at: http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu ]

7. DPRK Participation in ARF

Agence France-Presse (“COMMUNIST NKOREA SEEKS TIES WITH PHILIPPINES AND ARF MEMBERSHIP,” Seoul, 04/12/99) reported that ROK officials said Monday that the DPRK is seeking to normalize diplomatic ties with the Philippines in the hope of joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum. An unnamed ROK government official said that the Philippines is the only ASEAN member nation with which the DPRK has no diplomatic relations. He stated, “We are aware that the two countries have held meetings to discuss normalizing ties,” adding that the ROK had no objections.

8. Food Aid for DPRK

The Associated Press (“U.S. TO OFFER N. KOREA DIRECT AID,” United Nations, 04/21/99) reported that Abby Spring, spokeswoman for the UN World Food Program, said Wednesday that the US will offer its first direct aid to the DPRK as part of the agreement on access to the DPRK’s underground construction site. Spring said that the US will provide about 100,000 tons of food aid, primarily wheat, and about 1,000 tons of potato seeds through US non- governmental organizations. The first direct shipment of potato seeds is expected to take place in May. UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said that a small portion of the food aid will be borrowed from WFP food stocks.

Bridge News (Mark Tarallo, “NEXT FOOD APPEAL FOR MOSTLY GRAINS, AIDE SAYS,” Washington, 04/20/99) reported that an unnamed UN World Food Program (WFP) aide said Tuesday that the WFP will ask for mostly grains in its next food aid appeal for the DPRK. The appeal is expected to be announced Thursday. The aide added that the amount of the appeal could change from the earlier announced 584,000 tons due to last minute changes.

9. DPRK Famine

The Los Angeles Times carried an analytical article (Don Kirk, “STORIES OF NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES TURN MORE MACABRE,” Seoul, 04/18/99) which said that the DPRK famine is likely eventually to provoke a violent, unpredictable response among the populace. The article maintained that from the testimony of DPRK refugees, “it is possible to construct a picture of a government increasingly isolated from most of its people and adopting ever more repressive measures to survive.” It claimed that Kim Jong-il began “a campaign of executions” in 1995. It added, “Virtually every refugee has heard a story about cannibalism, which doesn’t necessarily mean that such acts are widespread in the North.” The article also pointed to the lack of economic activity in the DPRK, saying, “Industry in the country has simply shut down. Normal daily human activity is slowing as well. Korean Chinese who do business in the North say most people don’t have the energy to go outside their habitats, much less to work.” The author argued, “One sign of the regime’s growing desperation is that Kim Jong Il now largely draws on his authority as chairman of the defense commission, rather than as general secretary of the Workers’ Party, to rule the country. He increasingly counts on a military apparatus of about 2 million to provide his security.” He added, “But in retreating behind the power of his armed forces, Kim Jong Il can play a couple of cards that may enable him to survive at the expense of his people. By threatening to build nuclear warheads, the North Korean leader has been able to extract promises of considerable aid from the West…. The second card the North can play is to exploit the sincere desire of South Korea’s president, Kim Dae Jung, for reconciliation.” The article concluded, “Diplomacy and commerce may seem constructive alternatives to confrontation. The trouble is, they only serve to prolong the life of a regime that has shown no signs of spreading the largess of Western aid to anyone beyond the armed forces, the party and the government.”

10. ROK Plane Crash

The Associated Press (“BOMB RULED OUT IN KOREAN AIR CRASH,” Shanghai, 04/21/99) reported that Cao Yi, spokeswoman for the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office, said Wednesday that air safety investigators have ruled out an explosion as the cause of a Korean Air crash last week near Shanghai. Cao stated, “Public security investigators have ruled out the possibility of a mid-air explosion after checking the crash site.” She said that fragments of tape from the plane’s flight-data recorder were found Tuesday, indicating the device was “completely destroyed.” She added that investigators have reviewed the plane’s communications with the Shanghai control tower and radar records without finding anything unusual.

11. ROK-Japan Military Exercises

The Associated Press (“JAPAN, ROK TO HOLD FIRST JOINT MILITARY DRILL,” Tokyo, 04/21/99, 4) reported that Japanese Defense Agency spokesman Kazuji Tanaka said Wednesday that Japan and the ROK will hold a joint naval exercise in August as a first step in increasing bilateral military cooperation. The drill would be the first joint military exercise between the two countries. Tanaka said that, over seven days, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force and the ROK Navy will perform a mock rescue of a wrecked civilian vessel. He added that the exercise would involve ships and helicopters from both sides and would be similar to a joint drill Japan held with Russia in July. The drill will be held in the East China Sea between Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu and the ROK’s Cheju Island. [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for April 21.]

12. Japanese Military Posture

Reuters (“JAPAN EDGES TOWARD REGIONAL SECURITY ROLE,” Tokyo, 04/20/99) carried an analytical article which said that experts see little risk that an expansion of Japan’s military role will lead to a rightward political shift or abandonment of the US-Japan alliance. One unnamed political analyst stated, “The extreme left sees any change in the security tie with the United States as a step toward greater militarism, while the extreme right wants to move to limit the U.S. relationship so Japan can be stronger on its own. Neither position represents many people. The (Liberal Democratic Party) LDP and the Democrats are trying to find a middle ground.” He added, “To change the constitution you need two-thirds in the Lower and the Upper House (of parliament) and a plebiscite, and the chances of that happening are about zero. The key issue will be reinterpretation.” An unnamed Western diplomat stated, “Leaving aside the Communists and the Socialists, everyone has bought into the idea of Japan playing a regional role in conjunction with the United States.” He added, “There is a perception that going it alone wouldn’t necessarily buy them more defense, because moves by Japan to develop unilateral capability would invite a competitive response from China, Russia, perhaps even Korea.” Another diplomat pointed out that the DPRK rocket launch last August “made a large number of Japanese worry about national security and they didn’t think that way before.” Satoshi Morimoto, a senior researcher on security affairs at Nomura Research Institute, argued, “To do more, we must discuss the constitutional issue. The guidelines [for US-Japan defense cooperation] will be an important incentive to encourage ordinary people to think about the interpretation of the constitution more seriously than before.”

13. US Military in Pacific

The Associated Press (“U.S. FORCES THINNED; PACIFIC HAS NO AIRCRAFT CARRIER,” Washington, 04/20/99) reported that because of ongoing military action in Yugoslavia and Iraq, the US military currently has no aircraft carrier operating in the Pacific Ocean. The USS Kitty Hawk, which was in the Pacific, was ordered to the Persian Gulf on April 3 to allow the USS Theodore Roosevelt to join the NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia. US military officials said that the situation could continue until the fall, when the USS Constellation is scheduled to arrive. An anonymous US defense official warned that leaving the Pacific without a carrier for long could send the wrong signal to the DPRK, the PRC, or Indonesia, arguing that a visible US military presence helps maintain stability.

14. Alleged PRC Nuclear Espionage

The New York Times (James Risen and Jeff Gerth, “CHINA STOLE DATA ON ATOM WARHEAD, U.S. REPORT FINDS,” Washington, 04/21/99) reported that US government officials said that a comprehensive new analysis by US intelligence officials has concluded that the PRC stole design information for the W-88 nuclear warhead from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The officials said that the analysis includes a broad examination of the development of the PRC’s nuclear weapons capabilities over the last few decades. It also found that the PRC obtained some sensitive nuclear data from nonsecret sources, including academic exchanges and inadvertent leaks of information by scientists. The officials would not say, however, if the report addresses whether the PRC has stolen other US nuclear designs more recently. The intelligence report was expected to be presented to US President Bill Clinton and Congress on Wednesday. [Ed. note: This article was one of the top stories in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for April 21.]

II. Republic of Korea

1. DPRK’s Reaction to ROK Minister’s Remark

Korea Herald (“NORTH KOREA BLASTS MINISTER FOR ANTI-UNIFICATION REMARKS,” Seoul, 04/22/99) reported that the DPRK criticized ROK Foreign Minister Hong Soon-young for “anti-unification remarks” in an article he contributed to the recent issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. The DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), referred to Hong’s article in which he said that Korean unification would be possible only in the distant future because it would take a long time. KCNA said this was an anti-unification remark opposing the aspiration of the Korean people for an independent and peaceful unification of the fatherland. It added that Hong’s discussion of the DPRK’s possible collapse is a revelation of the hidden intention of ROK authorities to destroy and shake up the DPRK. It also shows that ROK authorities are dealing with the unification issue on the basis of the collapse of the socialist system of the DPRK, KCNA said.

2. ROK-DPRK Economic Cooperation

JoongAng Ilbo (“ONE-STOP SERVICE SPEEDS BUSINESS WITH NK,” Seoul, 04/21/99) reported that the government plans to introduce a “One-stop System” in order to enhance economic cooperation with the DPRK. A source at the Ministry of Unification said on April 21, “We are considering the one-stop service system for trade with the North, which will be operated in May at the earliest.” At present, all exports and imports to and from DPRK must be approved by many sections of the Ministry. The source said, “Operations involving social and cultural materials must get permission from several departments even though the amount of goods is very small. The one-stop service will be helpful for the smooth cooperation between the two Koreas.” The source added, “In the case of developing Kumkang Mountain, the application to export goods needed for the project, including the Jangjun port construction, was accomplished in the unusual manner.”

3. DPRK Famine

JoongAng Ilbo (“KIM JUNG-IL INTERESTED IN GROWING POTATOES IN N.K.,” Seoul, 04/21/99) reported that on April 21, the DPRK newspaper Rodong Shinmun quoted Kim Jong-il as saying, “The North Korean people might have not suffered from famine across the country if N.K. had revamped its potato raising project 10 years ago.” The newspaper reported that Kim had ordered the DPRK people to alter their eating habits, adding that because the potato is like rice, the DPRK should consider the potato not as additional food but as its main food. That is why the DPRK requested seed potatoes in return for allowing the US to inspect its suspected nuclear facilities. Thousands of people were forced to move to Yangkang province, one of the DPRK’s main potato production areas, last October, the article said. It added that DPRK agricultural scientists were recently sent to foreign countries to study potato cultivation.

4. ROK-Japan Fishery Talks

Korea Herald (“JAPANESE FISHERIES MINISTER PROPOSES REGULAR TALKS WITH KOREAN COUNTERPART,” Tokyo, 04/22/99) reported that Shoichi Nakagawa, Japanese minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, proposed on Tuesday that he and his ROK counterpart meet regularly to discuss bilateral issues. Meeting with visiting ROK journalists, Nakagawa said, “It is necessary for us to hold such regular meetings to address some concrete fisheries issues through technical talks and deepen the bilateral relationship.” Nakagawa said that Japanese fishermen still express complaints about the new ROK-Japan fisheries accord just as their ROK counterparts do. “We are experiencing difficulties in persuading our fishermen, too,” he said. He stressed that the fisheries accord is beneficial to both countries from a long-term perspective, saying it would help manage the limited marine resources through joint efforts. Nakagawa then added that he expects that the ROK-Japan joint fisheries committee in Seoul next month will discuss how to manage the joint fishing area between the two countries.

III. People’s Republic of China

1. ROK Missile Test

According to People’s Daily (“ROK TESTS SHORT-RANGE MISSILE,” Seoul, 4/20/99, A6), an ROK newspaper reported on April 19 that an ROK institute of national defense sciences successfully tested a missile with a range of 300 kilometers at the country’s west coast early in April. It was reported that the real flying distance of the missile during the test was 50 kilometers. However, US analysis based on satellite data pointed out that the missile’s flying distance reached at least 296 kilometers, which violated an agreement reached by the ROK and the US in 1979 that the ROK should not develop missiles with a range over 180 kilometers.

2. ROK-British Relations

China Daily (“SOUTH KOREA WELCOMES QUEEN’S VISIT,” Seoul, 04/20/99, A11) reported that Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth met ROK President Kim Dae-jung and watched a demonstration of Korean martial arts on April 19, on the first visit to the country by a British monarch to Korea since ties were established in 1883. Britain is the largest European Union (EU) market for ROK goods and the recipient of most of the ROK’s investment in the EU. During their stay, the queen and Prince Philip are scheduled to visit industrial and business sites, including an animation studio, an electronics firm and the construction site for a new international airport. The queen will also meet business leaders and attend an ROK-Britain business conference. Some 50 British businessmen have traveled with the Queen for the visit.

3. Taiwan Issue in PRC-US Relations

China Daily (“US BILLS CONCERNING TAIWAN ISSUE FALLACIOUS,” 4/17/99, A4) carried an article saying that the US Congress has recently passed a number of bills concerning Taiwan. According to the author Li Xing, the special US concern over Taiwan is not an altruist act for the well being of the Chinese people living on the island; it is derived from the US need as the only superpower in the world. Taiwan has been regarded as a pawn in the US global strategies for more than half a century, the author said. The author cited scholarly research carried out by Professor Su Ge, a leading Chinese expert on Sino-US relations, published in his 815-page book, “American China Policy and the Taiwan Issue.” The article argued that the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits will eventually be able to find a way acceptable to both to resolve the problems. It quoted Professor Su Ge as saying, “achieving peace and harmony is the best alternative.” Above all, the author shared Su’s notion that the eventual peaceful solution of the Taiwan issue requires not only continued reconciliation across both sides of the Straits, but also US observance of the “one China” principles and of its non-interference in the PRC’s internal affairs.

4. PRC-Japanese Relations

People’s Daily (“CHINA EXPRESSES INDIGNATION AT SHINTARO ISHIHARA’S REMARKS,” Beijing, 4/19/99, A4) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said that “we are indignant at the fact that Shintaro Ishihara wantonly made a speech which hurts the feelings of the Chinese people and impairs Sino-Japanese ties.” Ishihara’s act of openly spreading the views of beautifying the aggression history of Japan’s militarism and the absolutely absurd anti-China views goes against the historical trend while the governments and people of China and Japan are pushing forward the development of bilateral relations in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and gearing towards the future, Sun said. He added that to pursue Sino-Japanese friendship is not only in the fundamental interests of the people’s of the two countries, but also reflects their common aspirations.

People’s Daily (“WILD REMARKS UNPOPULAR,” 4/18/99, A3) carried a signed commentary criticizing the remarks made by the newly-elected governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara. According to the article, Ishihara commented repeatedly before and after his election as Governor of Tokyo concerning the PRC’s internal affairs, including the country’s political system and the Tibet and Taiwan issue. The article said, “His statements are disgraceful for a Japanese government functionary.” The commentary said that the PRC and Japan’s devotion to a friendly and cooperative partnership conforms to modern political trends and the basic interests of the two peoples. It added that the PRC and Japan should respect each other, treat each other as equals and maintain good neighborly relations. Only by doing so can they maintain and develop their relations comprehensively.

China Daily (“NEWSPAPER LASHES OUT AT ISHIHARA,” 4/20/99, A3) reported that a Beijing newspaper on April 18 criticized new Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara for his recent remarks, saying they were rude, irresponsible and ignorant. In the course of an interview on April 12, the day Shintaro Ishihara was elected Tokyo governor, he declared, “It was my predecessors who decided to make Tokyo and Beijing sister cities. It has nothing to do with me,” according to a signed article on Beijing Daily. These words displayed plainly and clearly that Ishihara lacked the politeness of an ordinary person, let alone the rationality and grace necessary for the leaders of international metropolises, said the article. As Tokyo’s new governor, he ignored not only Tokyo people’s good wishes towards Beijing people, but also his predecessors’ efforts in promoting the two cities’ friendship. The two cities became sister cities on March 14, 1979.

Jie Fang Daily (“JAPAN ASSERTS CHINA POLICY,” Tokyo, 4/20/99, A7) reported that Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka reiterated on April 19 that Japan will not change its policy towards the PRC despite the recent remarks by newly elected Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara. The friendly relationship between Japan and China must be protected, he said at a press conference in response to a question relating to China’s recent criticism of Ishihara’s remarks.

5. Russian-Pakistani Relations

China Daily (“PAKISTAN SEEKS BETTER RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA,” Islamabad, 4/21/99, A4) reported that on the eve of his visit to Russia, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed the hope that the trip would lay the foundation for a new relationship between the two countries. Sharif hopes to seek common ground and establish “closer and sustainable” links with Moscow. Pakistan believes that there is an opportunity to build a new Pakistan- Russia relationship on a more positive basis in the new global situation. To begin the process, two agreements are expected to be signed during Sharif’s visit, one on economic and trade cooperation, and the other on cooperation of commerce and industry of the two countries. The two sides will also focus on ways to cooperate in the fields of science and technology and defense-related areas. Media reports in Islamabad suggest that Sharif is likely to ask the Russian leadership to sell Pakistan its advanced SU-27 aircraft.

6. India’s Missile Tests

People’s Daily (“POLITICAL DIALOGUES WANTED, NOT ARMS RACE,” Gu Ping, 4/15/99, A6) said that recent missile tests by India and Pakistan again concern South Asia and the whole world. The article said that the once-eased tension in the South Asian sub-continent following Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s “bus diplomacy” obviously has suffered regrettable damage. It added that what is noteworthy, however, is the Indian Government’s excuse for its missile test: the China threat. It stated, “This is a sheer re-play of an old trick. Claiming its technological superiority, certain Indian media even said that Indian missiles will include major Chinese cities in their range as a response to China’s missile deployment against India. Such complacency has exposed that the Indian Government’s explanation that the missile test was purely for ‘defensive purposes’ is nothing but a subterfuge. These remarks have not only run counter to the Indian leaders’ declaration that there is no mutual threat between China and India, but has also made India’s intention to better Sino-Indian relations seem dubious.”

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

Lee Dong-young: UNPOL@netsgo.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

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Tokyo, Japan

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

Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China


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