United States
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1. US Nuclear Posture Review
The Bush administration, in its Nuclear Posture Review completed early this year, has ordered the Pentagon to draft contingency plans for the use of nuclear weapons against at least seven countries: PRC, Russia, Iraq, DPRK, Iran, Libya and Syria, as well as to build smaller nuclear weapons for use in certain battlefield situations. In addition, the US Defense Department has been told to prepare for the possibility that nuclear weapons may be required in some future Arab-Israeli crisis. US Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “We think it is best for any potential adversary out there to have uncertainty in his calculus.”
“US Nuclear Posture Review” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, US)
“US Nuclear Posture” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US)
“US Nuclear Scenarios” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, ROK) |
2. US Missile Defense
The US prepared on March 15 to make its sixth and most challenging attempt to shoot down a mock nuclear warhead in space over the Pacific Ocean in its missile defense test program. The test is costing more than US$100 million and will deploy three inflated balloons in space to see if a test weapon trying to track and collide with the warhead can be diverted from its mission. Previous tests have used only one speeding balloon near the warhead.
“US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US) |
3. Russia-US Nuclear Pact
US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said March 13 the US and Russia are likely to come up with a legally binding document outlining their mutual pledge to cut long-range nuclear weapons by two-thirds. US President George W. Bush expressed optimism on Wednesday that the US and Russia would reach formal agreement on joint nuclear arms cuts in time for a May summit meeting.
“Russia-US Nuclear Pact” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
4. Philippines-US Anti-terror War
US Special Forces units are to join Filipino troops in patrols in the southern Philippines island stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Muslim guerrilla group next week, Philippines military officials said Friday. But the officials insisted the US units would only be joining “field training exercises” on Basilan island and would not engage in actual combat.
“Philippines-US Anti-terror War” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US) |
Korean Peninsula
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1. DPRK-US Relations
The DPRK has said it is re-examining agreements it has with the US. On March 13, the DPRK official news agency KCNA reacted strongly to the US Nuclear Posture Review by issuing a statement saying that the US nuclear review was “a daydream of reckless persons. Under the present situation where nuclear lunatics have taken office in the White House, we are compelled to examine all the agreements with the US.”
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US)
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, ROK) |
2. DPRK Nuclear Program
The DPRK threatened Wednesday to abandon a 1994 promise to freeze its nuclear laboratories. The DPRK’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement reading, “under the present situation where nuclear lunatics have taken office in the White House, we are compelled to examine all the agreements with the US. The DPRK will not remain a passive onlooker to the Bush administration’s inclusion of the DPRK in the seven countries, targets of US nuclear attack, but take a strong countermeasure against it.”
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, ROK)
“DPRK Nuclear Program” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
3. DPRK Asylum Seekers
Twenty-five DPRK asylum seekers left the Spanish embassy compound in Beijing on Friday bound for Manila, a little more than 24 hours after they sought refuge. Affairs Secretary Teofisto Guingona stated that he had no communications with the DPRK government about this issue. The ROK has said it would accept the 25 once it verified that they wanted to come to the ROK.
“DPRK Asylum Seekers” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US)
“DPRK Asylum Seekers” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, ROK)
“ROK Response to DPRK Asylum Seekers” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15,ROK)
“DPRK Refugees in PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, USA) |
4. ROK Air Force Project
Dassault Aviation SA of France said on Thursday that it had suspended ties with a commercial agent implicated in a money-for-favors scandal in the ROK during the final stages of bidding for a new fighter jet deal. A senior air force officer arrested by military authorities last week has said an agent working on Dassault’s behalf had given him 11 million won (US$8,393), defense ministry officials said.
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, USA)
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, ROK)
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US)
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, US)
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US)
“ROK Air Force Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, ROK) |
5. ROK-Japan Relations
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit the ROK on March 21 for talks with ROK President Kim Dae-jung. During the summit, Kim and Koizumi will discuss their countries’ co-hosting of the upcoming World Cup soccer games and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders will also exchange views on the implementation of the agreements they made during a meeting at the annual summit of Asian and Pacific leaders in Shanghai last October.
“ROK-Japan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, ROK) |
6. DPRK Military Preparation
Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of DPRK watched the military train of 319 army units on March 11. During the inspection, Kim stressed that the armed forces of the DPRK have made political and military preparation to defeat any enemy. The armed forces are capable of shattering any enemy invasion and safeguarding the socialist homeland, said Kim.
“DPRK Military Preparation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC) |
7. DPRK-PRC Relations
PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen met with visiting DPRK deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-Il in Beijing on March 12. During the meeting, Qian said PRC President Jiang Zemin’s visit to DPRK last September was a success. The high-level mutual visits between the PRC and the DPRK and the exchanges between the departments of the two countries pushed forward bilateral relations, said Qian. Kim expressed during the meeting that the DPRK attaches great importance to the development of the traditional friendship with the DPRK.
“DPRK-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC)
“DPRK-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
8. ROK-Japan Relations
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will make a three-day visit to the ROK next week to hold talks with President Kim Dae-Jung about the DPRK and other issues. The Japanese premier is due to leave for Seoul on March 21 and will hold a summit meeting with Kim on March 22, foreign ministry officials said. Koizumi and Kim “will exchange views over cooperation for development of our bilateral relations as well as North Korean policies,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a news conference. It will be the prime minister’s second official visit to the ROK. Koizumi visited Seoul in October last year and apologized for Tokyo’s wartime aggression on the Korean peninsula.
“ROK-Japan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
9. ROK Navy Exercises
The ROK launched a massive three-day navy drill against possible DPRK intrusions, mobilizing destroyers, surveillance aircraft and submarines. The operation, off the east coast, involved 20 navy ships led by a 3,800-tonne destroyer, surveillance planes and submarines, the ROK defense ministry said on Wednesday. “This is the first of our regular navy drills this year,” a ministry official stated. The drill was aimed at testing the navy’s capability against enemy attacks ahead of this year’s World Cup finals to be staged in the ROK and Japan from May 31 to June 30.
“ROK Navy Exercises” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
10. ROK-Japan Investment Treaty
The ROK’s Cabinet approved a treaty Tuesday aimed at attracting more investment from Japan. The ROK plans to sign the treaty during a visit here by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi later this month. The treaty requires the two countries to treat each other’s investors equally with local businesses, give “most-favored” treatment to investors and allow them to transfer funds back home more freely. It will be the first such treaty to be signed by the ROK with a foreign country.
“ROK-Japan Investment Treaty” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, US) |
11. ROK World Cup Security
The ROK military will deploy two French-made, portable land-to-air missiles to stadiums during World Cup soccer matches in South Korea to prevent possible terror attacks, officials said Monday. Air force jets also will patrol the skies over the stadiums during the tournament, said 1st Lieutenant Kim Ki-ho, an air force spokesperson.
“ROK World Cup Security” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US) |
12. US-DPRK Relations
What little trade existed between the US and DPRK has decreased significantly since the start of the Bush administration. Statistics released by the US Department of Commerce showed that trade between the two countries fell to US$676,537 in 2001 from US$2,888,000 in 2000, the last year of the Clinton administration. Of the 2001 figure, US$650,340 was in US exports to the DPRK, while the DPRK exported only US$26,197 to the US. While most of the US exports to the DPRK consisted of medicine and relief goods, the DPRK also imported US$30,000 worth of golf balls.
“US-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, ROK) |
People’s Republic of China
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1. PRC View of Nuclear Posture Review
PRC newspaper the China Daily carried an editorial that stated that the US nuclear policy review is a pretext for the US to resume nuclear tests and develop new nuclear arms to extend its military dominance in the world. Zhu Qiangguo, a top PRC defense analyst, also expressed that the US would be more likely to use nuclear weapons in combat after it deploys a missile defense system. Zhu went on to say, “The proclaimed transition from a threats-based to a capabilities-based strategy is nothing more than a pretext for further arms build-up.
“PRC View of Nuclear Posture Review” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
2. Taiwan-US Defense Conference
US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly spoke about his meeting with Taiwan defense minister Tang Yao-ming this week, saying the subject of US arms sales to the island did not come up. Kelly stated, “I had a brief courtesy meeting with the minister, Tang Yao-ming, we were both attending a private business meeting. We not only didn’t discuss atomic weapons, we didn’t discuss any other weapons systems.”
“Taiwan-US Defense Conference” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US)
“Taiwan-US Defense Summit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US)
“Taiwan US Visits” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US) |
3. PRC View of Taiwan-US Defense Meeting
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue stated that “The Chinese government and people express strong dissatisfaction and indignation over the US side allowing Tang Yiau-ming to visit and arranging high- ranking officials to meet him. Such a move will bring about negative effects on Sino-US relations.”
“PRC View of Taiwan-US Defense Meeting” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, USA)
“PRC-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US) |
4. PRC-US Relations
PRC Ambassador to the US Yang Jiechi on March 12 lodged a strong protest with the US government over the way the US handled the visit of Taiwan “defense chief” Tang Yiau-ming. Yang stressed the PRC’s stance on its firm opposition to any official contacts and military exchanges between the US and Taiwan. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on March 12 that the PRC is waiting for an official and more clear-cut explanation from the US on the possible use of nuclear weapons against the PRC and six other countries. The Information Office of the State Council of the PRC will issue on March 11 the human rights record of the United States in 2001. The article, about 10,000 Chinese words, consists of six parts, including the “lack of safeguard for life freedom and personal safety,” “serious rights violations by law enforcement departments” and the “plight of the poor, hungry and homeless.” The report cites lots of facts and examples to show the serious human rights violations in the US, urging the US Government to give up its double standards and unilateralism on such issues as human right.
“PRC-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC) |
5. Taiwan-US Relations
US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly reaffirmed in a speech at the US-Taiwan Defense Summit 2002 the Bush administration’s commitment to abiding by its “six assurances” to Taiwan. This was the first time in recent memory that a senior US official has made a public reaffirmation of the “six assurances” pledged by the Reagan administration in 1982 after it signed the “August 17 joint communique” with the PRC. The “six assurances” include that the US will neither set a deadline for stopping arms sales to Taiwan nor discuss its arms sales packages with the PRC.
“Taiwan-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, USA) |
6. PRC Military Development
PRC President Jiang Zemin in meetings with military delegates at the National People’s Congress has called for the PRC’s military to remain loyal during upcoming leadership changes and to use the country’s entry to the WTO to help modernize the armed forces. Jiang stated, “On matters of politics and ideology (the army) must maintain complete consensus with the party’s central committee.” Jiang also stressed the need for an upgraded military to safeguard the country’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and urged the PRC armed forces to make solid preparations for military struggles and include anti-terrorism in the military’s duties.
“PRC Military Development” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC)
“PRC Military Politics” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, US) |
7. Taiwan’s View of PRC Military Budget
Taiwan said that the PRC’s expansion in military spending would only cause more instability across the Taiwan Strait. Chen Ming-tung, vice chairperson of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) stated, “We are aware of the double-digit growths in military spending annually in the mainland during 1990-2002. We also see a continuous deployment of missiles along the coast of Fujian province facing Taiwan. Having the missiles aimed at Taiwan will not win the heart of people on Taiwan,” he added.
“Taiwan’s View of PRC Military Budget” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11,US) |
8. PRC View on Mystery Ship
PRC Foreign Minister, Tang Jiaxuan, objected against the salvage of the mystery ship, sunken in the South China Sea on March 6, saying that Japan should respect the PRC’s right and should refrain from taking the action which would cause the situation to worsen and complicate matters further. Tang also criticized Japan for sinking the ship with weapons carelessly.
“PRC View on Mystery Ship” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, Japan) |
9. PRC Domestic Security
PRC President Jiang Zemin has ordered his nation’s security services to shoot members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual group caught hanging banners and posting signs on behalf of the organization, a spokesman for the group said. “Recently, Jiang Zemin issued orders that if the Falungong practitioners are posting flyers or signs, they (the security services) can shoot,” Erping Zhang told reporters Friday at a gathering here in front of the PRC consulate protesting the move.
“PRC Domestic Security” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 11, US) |
10. PRC Domestic Assessment
PRC Premier Zhu Rongji defended his legacy on Friday at the closing of the annual two-week session of the National People’s Congress by saying, “I think this government has made good its promise. We have a clear conscience, but still there is big room for improvement and we must continue to work hard,” Zhu said. Zhu did express that his biggest challenge was trying to improve the livelihoods of 800 million farmers following the PRC’s entry to the World Trade Organization in December.
“PRC Domestic Assessment” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 15, US) |
11. PRC-Russian Relations
PRC Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister G. Mamedov held consultations in Beijing on March 6 on strategic stability. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the current situation in world security, and major issues relating to international arms control and disarmament. Both sides reiterated that with the current global situation, continuing the international arms control and disarmament system and maintaining global strategic stability are of vital importance to world peace and security.
“PRC-Russian Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC) |
12. Cross-Straits Relations
Two Taiwan-based commercial banks have been officially given the green- light to open offices in the PRC making them the first Taiwan-based banking companies to be set up in the PRC. The United World Chinese Commercial Bank will be allowed to establish an office in Shanghai, while the Changhwa Bank will be allowed to set up an office in the nearby city of Kunshan, said the PRC’s central bank governor Dai Xianglong on March 11.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, PRC) |
Japan
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1. Japan-PRC Relations
PRC Vice Premier Wen Jiabao, viewed as the likely successor to Premier Zhu Rongji, plans to visit Japan in May, diplomatic sources said. Wen is expected to visit Japan around May 7 and make a trip to the ROK around the same time. Diplomatic sources also said that Japan and the PRC are likely to resume bilateral security talks on March 18 in Tokyo. Li Peng, chairman of PRC’s National People’s Congress, is also to visit Japan in April.
“Japan-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, Japan) |
2. US View of Mystery Ship
US government officials have repeatedly asked Japan to recover a suspected spy ship that sank in the East China Sea in December. The request was first raised when US president Gorge W. Bush visited Japan in February. US intelligence services believe there is a possibility that the unidentified vessel, believed to be a DPRK spy ship, was loaded with materials that could be used in chemical and biological weapons.
“US View of Mystery Ship” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 12, Japan) |
3. Anti-terrorism Measure
The Japanese Cabinet approved a set of bills Tuesday to bar the financing of terrorists, government officials said. The bills include one drafted by the Financial Services Agency (FSA) that would require identity confirmation of people making large-lot financial transactions. The FSA is trying to make it compulsory for financial institutions to confirm the identities of people making transactions of more than 2 million yen.
“Anti-terrorism Measure” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, Japan) |
4. Japanese Logistical Support for US
The US hopes Japan will extend the six-month time limit it set on Self- Defense Forces’ (SDF) support of US warships in in Afghanistan, an SDF officer said March 11. “The Japanese government should decide whether to extend the period of support. I strongly expect that Japan will continue its participation,” Colonel Hiroyoshi Asano, a liaison officer at the US Pacific Command in Hawaii, told reporters at the Pentagon.
“Japanese Logistical Support for US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, Japan) |
5. Comfort Women Issue
Eight women who say they were victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II, known as “comfort women,” held their 500th protest rally Wednesday demanding that the Japanese government officially acknowledge their existence. Every Wednesday since January 8, 1992, members of various civic groups led by the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan have gathered in front of the Japanese Embassy. Their demand for an apology has gone unanswered. All the windows of the Japanese Embassy had their blinds down during the rally.
“Comfort Women Issue” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 14, ROK)
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