CONTENTS
1. Inter-Korean Talks
2. Sino-Russian Talks
3. US-PRC Spy Plane Incident
II. People’s Republic of China 1. ROK-DPRK Relations
2. PRC-US Relations
3. PRC-Russian Relations
4. Across-Taiwan Straits Relations
5. PRC Position on Afghanistan Issue
6. No Anthrax Cases in PRC
I. United States
1. Inter-Korean Talks
Reuters (“N.KOREA SPURNS SOUTH’S COMPROMISE VENUE FOR TALKS SLIDESHOWS,” Seoul, 10/25/01) reported that on Thursday the DPRK rebuffed an ROK compromise suggestion for a venue for high-level talks, throwing the meeting in doubt three days before ministers from the two countries are slated to meet. The DPRK said the ROK had “no reason to object” to its plan. In a telephone message to ROK Unification Minister Hong Soon-young, DPRK cabinet official Kim Ryong-song reiterated its demand that talks slated for October 28 to 31 be held in the Northern resort of Mount Kumgang, and not Pyongyang as agreed in Seoul last month. Kim said the DPRK would wait until the ROK accepted its plan for talks at the remote Mount Kumgang. Some ROK analysts have suggested that the DPRK is insisting on the venue of Mount Kumgang to save money on lodging and transport and to keep the ROK delegates isolated from DPRK society. However, with ROK President Kim Dae-jung’s government accused by the conservative opposition and media of appeasing the DPRK, accepting a unilateral change in venue would only give further fuel to critics of his “sunshine policy” of engaging the DPRK.
2. Sino-Russian Talks
Agencies (“ANTI-TERROR TACTICS ON AGENDA WITH PUTIN,” 10/25/01) reported that PRC Vice-President Hu Jintao will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on October 27 at the start of a two-day visit. On October 22, Hu held talks in Beijing with Russian armed forces chief General Anatoly Kvashnin aimed at reinforcing Sino-Russian co-operation against terrorism. On October 24, Xinjiang Communist Party Secretary Wang Lequan was quoted as saying the frontier region would “step up its Strike Hard campaign” and the struggle against terrorism would “last for a few years.” Wang reportedly said the authorities would seize the initiative and strike first against separatist leaders, religious extremists and terrorists. He promised to protect citizens’ “religious rights”, but would not tolerate any “extremists who engage in separatist activities under the banner of religions.”
3. US-PRC Spy Plane Incident
Reuters (“US-CHINA PLANE INCIDENT NOT OVER, SAYS BEIJING,” Beijing, 10/25/01) and Associated Press (“CHINA SEEKS COMPENSATION FOR COLLISION,” Beijing, 10/25/01) reported that the PRC said on Thursday its dispute with the US over compensation for an April collision between a US spy plane and a PRC fighter jet was not over. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said, “We have lodged our request with the U.S. side and the amount they offered was entirely unacceptable. The issue remains unresolved.” The PRC had asked for US$1 million for plane-related expenses and lodging for the 24-member crew and had rejected a US offer of US$34,000.
II. People’s Republic of China
1. ROK-DPRK Relations
China Daily (“NEGOTIATIONS OVER TALK SITE,” Seoul, 10/24/01, P11) said that the DPRK and the ROK haggled on October 23 over where to hold talks scheduled for that weekend, reflecting the fragility of their reconciliation process. DPRK said it wanted to host a round of Cabinet-level talks at its mountain resort on the eastern coast rather than in its capital, Pyongyang, as requested by the ROK. The DPRK’s chief delegation to the talks, Kim Ryong-song, said in a telephone message to ROK, that the Diamond Mountain resort was suitable. According to the report, ROK said it was studying the proposal.
2. PRC-US Relations
People’s Daily (Wu Yingchun, “JIANG ZEMIN AND BUSH START TALKS,” 10/20/01, P1) reported that Chinese President Jiang Zemin held talks with US President George W. Bush in Shanghai on October 19. The two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on Sino-US relations, anti-terrorism, maintenance of world peace and stability and other major issues. According to the newspaper, the talks were constructive and fruitful. Bush said the US attaches great importance to the relationship with China and that China is a great country and is not an enemy of the US. He added that he regards China as a friend of the US and that the US has been working towards developing a constructive relationship of cooperation with China. Jiang said that China attaches great importance to the Sino-US relationship and hopes that China and the US develop a constructive relationship of cooperation. To this end, Jiang said that a high-level strategic dialogue mechanism can be established between the two sides, through which the two leaders, directly or via envoys, can exchange views on major issues of common concern, and communicate timely. Jiang said that the Taiwan issue has always been the most sensitive issue in the Sino-US relations. Jiang further stated that China’s basic approach to resolving the issue has always been “peaceful reunification” and “One country, Two systems.” Bush said that he takes the opportunity of coming to China this time to reaffirm that the US government pursues the One-China policy and adheres to the three Sino-US joint communiques. Jiang said that on the anti-terrorism issue, China has always been opposed to all forms of terrorism and always supports the fight against terrorism. Jiang added that the more accurate the strike against terrorists, the more effective the strike, and that the fight against terrorism should avoid harming innocent people. Jiang said that a medium- and long-term mechanism for anti-terrorism cooperation may be established between China and the US.
3. PRC-Russian Relations
People’s Daily (Wu Yimin, “JIANG, PUTIN HOLD TALKS,” Shanghai, 10/21/01, P1) reported that Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin had an in-depth exchange of views and reached consensus on a wide range of important issues including further development of Sino-Russian relations in the new century, anti-terrorism, maintenance of world and regional peace and stability. In a meeting between the two leaders on October 20, Putin, who arrived in Shanghai on October 18 to attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, said he is satisfied with the progress of relations between Russia and China, noting that the most important development in bilateral relations is the great extent of mutual trust that has been established between the two countries. Jiang said that Sino-Russian relations have maintained a good and vigorous momentum since entering the new century, citing the positive response from both nations and the rest of the world to the Sino-Russian good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation signed in July. Jiang added that the issue of anti-terrorism is a focus that has drawn worldwide attention, and that China and Russia have shared interests and a similar stand on the issue. Jiang stated that China unswervingly opposes terrorism in any form, whenever and wherever it occurs, and no matter who it is targets against. Jiang stressed that anti-terrorism actions should aim at specific targets and avoid innocent casualties and such actions should conform to the UN Charter and accepted international laws while giving full play to the leading role of the UN and its Security Council. Jiang said that a unanimous attitude and a sole standard should be adopted in fighting terrorism and that all forms of terrorism should be opposed and crushed. Both presidents held that Chechenian and separatist-minded “Eastern Turkistan” terrorist forces are part of the global terrorism and should be firmly opposed and smashed.
People’s Liberation Army Daily (Xu Xingtang, “HU JINTAO MEETS RUSSIAN GUESTS,” Beijing, 10/23/01, P1) reported that Chinese vice-president Hu Jintao met in Beijing on October 22 with Anatoly Vasilijevich Kvashnin, chief of general staff of Russia’s armed forces. Hu, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that President Jiang Zemin and President Vladimir Putin have held a successful meeting in Shanghai, a significant event in the history of Sino-Russian relations which will promote the development of a bilateral relationship. He pointed out that over the past years, Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership relations have been developing smoothly with prominent results. Hu stressed that China and Russia are the biggest neighbors of each other, and are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. Kvashnin said that China is a great country and the Chinese army is a great army. He said, his visit to China was fruitful, and the two sides fully exchanged views on issues of common concern, which will help promote mutual understanding. Besides, General Zhang Wannian, Chi Haotian and Fu Quanyou also had talks with Kvashnin.
Wen Hui Daily (Jiang Xin, “RUSSIAN-CHINESE COOPERATION ALWAYS HAS STRATEGIC MEANING,” Moscow, 10/24/01, P3) reported that a book titled “Russian-Chinese Relations: the Exploration at the Coming of a New Century,” will be issued in Beijing on October 27. This book collects papers written by ten Russian specialists, and has been translated into Chinese. In the book, the report said, an identical conclusion reached by most writers is that in general as long as the two nations mutually respect each other’s independence and build their relationship on the basis of equality and balance, then they certainly can live with permanent peace. They also said that it is in this sense that the cooperation between Russia and China has always been strategic. The authors also conclude that the meaning of the cooperation must be strengthened in the 21st century because it will not only promote the development of Asia-Pacific region, but also benefit the resolution of global goals related to human survival. The book is regarded by the newspaper as a reflection of the authoritative views of contemporary Russia.
4. Across-Taiwan Straits Relations
People’s Daily (Chen Binhua, “TAIPEI’S DECISION A REGRET: SPOKESPERSON,” Shanghai, 10/20/01, P4) reported that China expressed its regret on October 19 over the decision by Chinese Taipei not to send its representative to the APEC Leaders Meetings scheduled for October 20-21 in Shanghai. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in Shanghai that as the host of this year’s APEC meetings, China welcomes the participation of all APEC members and has offered corresponding protocol and conveniences to all members in accordance with the principle of equity and politeness. The spokesperson said, “China has repeatedly expressed its welcome of Chinese Taipei to participate in the APEC Leaders Meeting in Shanghai and other APEC activities and has issued invitations.” The spokesperson pointed out that APEC’s relevant memorandum of understanding has provided explicit provisions on Chinese Taipei’s candidates to the APEC Leaders Meeting and that a practice has been formed over the previous meetings. Chinese Taipei has failed to select a candidate that conforms to these provisions and practice.
5. PRC Position on Afghanistan Issue
People’s Daily (“JIANG ZEMIN TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT OVER PHONE,” Beijing, 10/14/01, P1) reported that on October 23 Chinese President Jiang Zemin and French President Jacques Chirac exchanged their views over phone on the issue of Afghanistan. Jiang stressed that the solution of this problem should be based on a set of principles, which include ensuring Afghanistan’s sovereignty independence and territorial integrity, allowing the Afghan people themselves to make decisions on solving the problem. He added that Afghanistan’s future government can represent the interests of all nationalities, and get along well with other nations, especially the neighboring ones; this would be conducive to safeguarding regional peace and stability, especially with the United Nations playing a more active role. Chirac said he completely agreed with the principles above, and is ready to maintain consultation and cooperation with China over the political solution of the issue of Afghanistan.
6. No Anthrax Cases in PRC
China Daily (Guo Nei, “SPOKESMAN: NO ANTHRAX CASES FOUND IN CHINA,” 10/24/01, P1) reported that Anthrax infection, which has stirred up public fears in the US, has thus far not been a problem in China. The reassurance came from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi on October 23 in a regular news briefing as he rebuffed reports of two “suspicious letters” found in Beijing that had caused speculation that they contained anthrax. Sun said, “You have my word, there is no outbreak in China.” Sun added that the message can be authenticated by governmental offices for public security, quarantines and other relevant departments. As Sun explained, there were only two suspicious letters. A Chinese employee of a US company in Beijing received a Falun Gong leaflet in an envelope, which contained white powder on October 9. Another company in Beijing was sent a letter containing four pills on October 16. According to Sun, police sent the letters to quarantine authorities as soon as the cases were reported, and people exposed to the letters were also tested.
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