CONTENTS
1. ROK 1948 Massacre
2. PRC Missile Deployment
3. US-Taiwan Relations
4. Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation
II. Republic of Korea 1. UN Nutrition Survey in DPRK
2. Kim Jong-il’s Field Inspection
3. DPRK Relations with US
III. People’s Republic of China 1. PRC-DPRK Relations
2. PRC-Russian Relations
3. US Port Visit to Hong Kong
4. PRC-US Counter-proliferation Talks
5. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
6. US Preparations on NMD
I. United States
1. ROK 1948 Massacre
The Associated Press (“SOUTH KOREA REVIEWS 1948 KILLINGS,” Seoul, 08/28/01) reported that the ROK government is reviewing the cases of 14,000 people who were reportedly killed on Cheju Island during a crackdown in 1948. A government panel will verify victims and offer medical and other benefits to survivors and families of the slain. On Tuesday, the committee completed the first year of its investigation and plans to wrap up the probe by February 2003 and build a large memorial for the victims.
2. PRC Missile Deployment
The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, “CHINA INCREASES MISSILE THREAT,” 08/28/01) reported that the PRC has stepped up deployments of short- range missiles opposite Taiwan and now has more than 350 rockets within range of the island. The article quoted unnamed US intelligence and military officials as saying that new missile deployments were discovered by US intelligence agencies at Yongan, in Fujian province, and at Jiangshan. An unnamed senior Defense Department official stated, “They are on track with adding 50 new missiles a year.” US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said that the missile buildup is destabilizing. He stated, “They have been doing that steadily for a number of years now.” Wolfowitz added, “And I don’t see that building up your missiles is part of a fundamental policy of peaceful resolution.” He warned that any attempt by the PRC to intimidate Taiwan will not work because the US is firmly resolved to prevent forcible reunification. A senior White House official said that the PRC military will deploy a total of around 600 missiles by 2005. Richard Fisher, a specialist on the PRC military with the Jamestown Foundation, stated, “China is increasing the missile threat against Taiwan and now with this northern deployment it has the option of threatening U.S. forces that may come to Taiwan’s defense. I think that’s significant.” [Ed. Note: This article was one of the top stories in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for August 28].
3. US-Taiwan Relations
The Associated Press (William Foreman, “US OFFICIAL SIDES WITH TAIWAN LEADER,” Taipei, 08/28/01) reported that Raymond Burghardt, Director of the American Institute on Taiwan (AIT), told the American Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that he backed Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian’s views on the so-called “92 consensus.” The PRC maintains that an agreement in 1992 to set up talks between PRC and Taiwanese negotiators was possible because both sides agreed that Taiwan is part of China. Chen, on the other hand, has argued that there was no consensus in 1992, just a “spirit” to agree to disagree about one China. Burghardt said that before the 1992 talks began, each side exchanged faxes, which had common language in some areas and differing views in others. He stated, “Then they agreed they would take this exchange of faxes and it would constitute an agreement to hold talks. That’s what happened. Nothing more, nothing less. To me, I’m not sure why you could call that a consensus. I call it an agreement.” Philip Yang, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, said that Burghardt’s outspokenness was unusual for an AIT director, and would help Chen resist pressure from the opposition. Yang added, “It might also help him to get Washington to advise Beijing to separate economics and politics.”
4. Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation
The Associated Press (Annie Huang, “TAIWAN, CHINA MAY SIGN OIL EXPLORATION DEAL,” Taipei, 08/28/01) reported that Liao Tsang-lung, a section chief at Taiwan’s state-run Chinese Petroleum Corporation, said Tuesday that Taiwan and the PRC may be close to signing a contract for joint oil exploration in the Taiwan Strait. Liao said that the company is expected to finalize a feasibility study on the exploration project soon and submit it to the Cabinet for approval. Xiao Weidong, a spokesman for China National Offshore Oil Company, the PRC’s third- largest oil producer, also confirmed that a deal was being discussed. Xiao said that Taiwan was supposed to pay for the exploration, since the potential reserves of oil and gas were owned by the PRC.
II. Republic of Korea
1. UN Nutrition Survey in DPRK
The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, “U.N. TO CONDUCT NUTRITION SURVEY ON N. K. CHILDREN IN 2002,” Seoul, 08/27/01) reported that the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will conduct a joint nationwide nutrition survey of DPRK children next year, the visiting head of WFP said in Seoul Monday. Catherine Bertini said that she reached an agreement with senior DPRK officials on the survey plan during her visit to the DPRK August 18-21. “We agreed to formalize the survey process,” Bertini said in a news conference. Bertini met the DPRK’s nominal head of state Kim Yong-nam and Foreign Minister Baek Nam- sun in Pyongyang. The aim of the survey is to assess the health of the children in the DPRK, she said. “We also agreed to improve our monitoring system (of food distribution) to have access to more counties,” Bertini said.
2. Kim Jong-il’s Field Inspection
Joongang Ilbo (“KIM JONG-IL MAKES FIELD INSPECTION TO RYONGPO HISTORICAL SITE,” Seoul, 08/27/01) reported that DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-il conducted an on-the-spot-guidance, or field inspection, of Ryongsong Revolutionary historical site and Ullim (Vibrating) Waterfall in Bobdong County of Kangwon Province on Sunday, according to the DPRK Central Television News on Monday. The Chairman’s aides included deputy chief of General Political Bureau Ri Myong-su, Hyon Chol-hae and Pak Jae- gyong, Party Secretary Kim Kuk-thae and Kim Ki-nam, first deputy chiefs of the Party Central Committee Jang Song-thaek, Ju Kyu-chang, Kim Hi- thaek and many other members. After inspecting the site, Chairman Kim highly praised the efforts of museum people in charge of lecture and management of the facility and called on them to further boost their efforts to educate people.
3. DPRK Relations with US
Joongang Ilbo (Joo Yong-joong, “U.S. ENDING HOSTILITY BENEFITS BILATERAL INTERESTS, N.K. CLAIMS,” Seoul, 08/27/01) reported that clearing away the hostility and opening diplomatic relations not only suit the interest of the DPRK and the US, but is also needed for establishing the peace and stability of the world, the DPRK pointed out Sunday. “It all goes down to how the U.S. would rectify its hostile policy toward our nation,” the Central Television News said, asserting that the US attitude would be the determining factor in future turn of events. “It is our unwavering stance that we repay goodwill with goodwill and counter hostility with hostility,” the News stressed. “If the U.S. acknowledges our sovereign rights and show goodwill we would start developing relations with Washington under the term of fairness and reciprocity.” “If the U.S. is truly seeking for peace and stability of Korean Peninsula and wish to improve ties with our nation it would first have to give up its overall scheme to isolate and crush down our nation as well as being a threat with its troops,” the News continued. The News said however that the US is causing the situation to deteriorate with its talk about DPRK missile threats, US-ROK military cooperation, and branding the DPRK as the main enemy.
III. People’s Republic of China
1. PRC-DPRK Relations
People’s Daily (Zhang Jinyu, “PRC LEADER WILL VISIT DPRK,” Beijing, 08/28/01, P1) reported that the PRC Foreign Liaison Department spokesperson declared on August 27 that at the invitation of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, PRC President Jiang Zemin will pay a friendly visit to the DPRK from September 3-5.
2. PRC-Russian Relations
People Daily (Sun Yongjun, “RUSSIA SPEAKS HIGHLY OF CURRENT SINO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS,” Moscow, 08/28/01, P3) reported that on August 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia-PRC relations have entered the historically best and most fruitful period. Putin made the remarks when receiving credentials in the Kremlin from the PRC Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Deguang. Putin said that he cherished very much his friendly working relations with PRC President Jiang Zemin. He said that the Russia-PRC Good Neighboring and Friendly Cooperation Treaty has paved a reliable legal basis for bilateral relations in 21st century, adding that this treaty is of great guiding significance to long-term bilateral cooperation. Ambassador Zhang echoed Putin’s view on bilateral relations, noting that it is consistent with the peoples’ wish and the fundamental interests of both countries to strengthen friendly neighboring ties and strategic cooperation. Zhang mentioned PRC Premier Zhu Rongji’s Russia visit in September. Putin said he pays high attention to this visit and expect to meet with Premier Zhu in Moscow.
3. US Port Visit to Hong Kong
PLA Daily (Wang Yan, “US CARRIER FORCE IS APPROVED TO ANCHOR IN HONG KONG,” 08/27/01, P12) reported that with the approval of the PRC Government, the US Carrier Force “Constellation” visited Hong Kong from August 20-25. Analysts said that it signals that US-PRC military relations have been back on track. Since the bombing of the PRC Embassy in Belgrade, the PRC Government stopped the anchoring requests in Hong Kong from the US fleet for four months. In April 2001, due to the mid- air collision incident, the PRC Government again informed the US Consulate in Hong Kong to turn down its June and July anchoring requests from the US warships. After the settlement of the mid-air collision incident, the PRC Government for another time lifted the sanction.
4. PRC-US Counter-proliferation Talks
PLA Daily (Xinhua News Agency, “PRC COMMENTS ON BILATERAL TALKS,” Beijing, 08/25/01, P4) reported that on August 24, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao made remarks at a press conference on a non- proliferation experts’ consultation between the US and the PRC, saying that it was beneficial and constructive. Zhu said that during the bilateral consultations on August 23 in Beijing, the counter- proliferation experts from the US and PRC exchanged views on the issues of counter-proliferation and space launching cooperation and made necessary declarations on issues of common concern. The PRC side stressed that the PRC Government has always adopted the serious and responsible positions on nonproliferation issues, and has strictly abided by relevant policies. He said, that the PRC Government urged the US to implement its policy declared in November last year, and take actions as soon as possible to facilitate the space-launching cooperation between the US and PRC.
5. US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Wenhui Daily (Yang Lei, “WHY MYERS,” 08/26/01, P2) said that at a press conference in Texas on August 24, US President Bush named Air Force General Richard B. Myers, who was Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When explaining this nomination, Bush said that he needs a man who has different thinking for the position of the nation’s highest-ranking uniformed officer to meet technology development and future challenges. While Myers, Bush added, is the best candidate who can not only maintain the fine traditions of the US military, but also cope with the future challenges. The article concluded three reasons according to the media’s reports. Firstly, he is an expert on missile defense system. He had been Commander-in-Chief of the US Space Command for 19 months, and accumulated rich experience in space military technology and the proposed missile defense system. Second reason is that Myers is one of the major designers of the “Moving Eastward” strategy. Myers was once the head of US Pacific Air Force. His knowledge on Asia-Pacific affairs will help to realize the “moving eastward” strategy. Besides, since he was appointed the vice Chairman in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has been in charge of defense strategy layout and defense reassessing. Thirdly, he is a representative of high-tech Air Forces. The last Chairman to come from the Air Forces was in 1982. There are two considerations for Bush to appoint Myers, one is future strategic need, the other is power balancing. More importantly, the Air Force is regarded as the one that can most represent future high technology.
6. US Preparations on NMD
People Daily (Xinhua News Agency, Tang Shuifu, “CONSTRUCTION WORK OF US NMD TESTING BASE WILL START IN THIS MONTH,” Washington, 08/23/01, P3) reported that on August 21, the US Department of Defense Ballistic Missile Defense Office spokeswoman said that the US will start to construct its National Missile Defense testing base in Alaska within this month. The spokeswoman said that the Department signed a contract worth of US$9 million with an Alaskan construction company, asking the company to be responsible for clearing woods, build roads and well- drilling. The clearing work is first step of the NMD testing base construction, she said, and “we wish the work would be started in a month and so we can finish the clearing work before mid-December.” US Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld expressed last month that the US will carry out about 20 missile-interception technology tests in the next 5 years.
People Daily (Xinhua News Agency, Sun Zhanlin, “US TRIES TO QUIT THE ABM BEFORE NOVEMBER,” Moscow, 08/23/01, P3) reported that when visiting Russia, US Deputy Secretary of State John Bolton expressed on August 21 that the US is seeking solutions for its quitting from the ABM treaty before November. Bolton made the remarks when interviewed by a Moscow Broadcasting Station. Bolton started from August 21 the third round of negotiation with Russia on strategic stability issues. He said that if the US quits the treaty it does not mean that the US will undermine this treaty. The US does not want to sabotage the ABM treaty, and does not want to bring criticisms because of testing missile defense system, he added. He pointed out that if the US cannot reach consensus with Russia, it would exercise its right regulated in the treaty to quit the ABM treaty.
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