United States
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1. Afghanistan Reconstruction
Afghanistan’s interim government is seeking US$22 billion over 10 years from international donors meeting in Japan next week. Charge d’Affaires Haron Amin said that his government had estimated needs of US$45 billion over 20 years but was asking for $22 billion for the first decade.
“Afghanistan Reconstruction” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, US)
Response to Afghanistan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
2. NATO’s Role in Anti-terrorism
US Senator and senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees Richard R. Lugar gave a speech on “NATO’S Role in the War on Terrorism” on January 18 at the US-NATO Missions Annual Conference in Brussels. Lugar stated that the most critical security challenge facing the US and the NATO alliance is the intersection of terrorism with weapons of mass destruction.
“NATO’s Role in Anti-terrorism” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, US) |
3. US-Philippines Anti-Terrorism
US troops deployed to help the Philippines combat Muslim rebels linked to Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network have arrived in the southern island Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Basilan for talks with Philippine officers. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield said that some 250 US troops were already in the Philippines at several locations and several hundred more would arrive in the next few weeks.
“US-Philippines Anti-Terrorism” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, US) |
Korean Peninsula
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1. DPRK View of US Missile Defense
The DPRK’s Korean Central News Agency published a commentary saying that a US Missile Defense Shield will destroy the strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The DPRK warned that there would be “grave and complicated” consequences if the ROK military joins in the US missile defense plan.
“DPRK View of US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, PRC)
“DPRK Response to Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, ROK) |
2. DPRK-PRC Views of Japan’s Military Development
The DPRK’s Rodong Sinmun published a long commentary on January 13 saying that Japan is using the US-led war on terrorism to justify the overseas dispatch of its own “self-defense forces.” The commentary pointed out that by making laws related to overseas dispatch, Japan has opened the door to legally engage in aggressive wars.
“PRC-DPRK Views of Japan’s Military Development” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, PRC)
“ROK-Japan, PRC-Japan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, Japan) |
3. ROK’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction
Joongang Ilbo (Ser Myo-ja, “SEOUL MULLS $200 MILLION ON AFGHAN AID,” Seoul, 01/16/02) reported that the ROK is considering a donation of about US$200 million to support reconstruction in Afghanistan over the next five years.
“ROK’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, ROK) |
4. US-ROK Relations
Terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in the DPRK will be issues discussed when US President George W. Bush visits the ROK next month. White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer announced that Bush is to arrive on February 19 for a two-day visit following a trip to Tokyo.
“US-ROK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
5. DPRK-US Relations
The US envoy for the DPRK met the country’s new UN representative in New York last week but the contact brought no response to a long-standing US invitation back to talks aimed at ending the DPRK’s missile program.
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US) |
6. DPRK-US Relations
The DPRK told the UN on January 17 that it had found fresh evidence of what it said were extensive atrocities committed by US troops on its people during the Korean War more than half a century ago.
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, US) |
7. ROK’s View of DPRK-US Relations
ROK President Kim Dae-jung Monday called for the US to change its policy on the DPRK to help resume bilateral talks. “I think the United States needs to allow North Korea to save face,” Kim said.
“ROK’s View of DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, ROK) |
8. ROK President New Year’s Address
In his new year’s address president Kim Dae-jung pledged to do all he can to revive the economy and successfully host the World Cup Finals during his remaining term in office. President Kim also said that he hoped to break the current deadlock in inter-Korean relations and US-DPRK relations. Kim commented that he thought the US should allow the DPRK to “save face
“ROK President New Year’s Address” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, ROK) |
9. ROK Domestic Politics
ROK opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang stated that, if elected, he would abandon President Kim Dae-Jung’s “sunshine policy” toward the DPRK. Lee said he believed that the DPRK has not changed despite Kim’s efforts and that he supported the tougher stance taken by US President George W. Bush.
“ROK Domestic Politics” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, US) |
10. ROK-US Military Relations
The ROK and the US have made significant progress in their talks on where to relocate the US military base in Yongsan. An ROK ministry official said that the ministry and US Forces Korea are seriously considering moving the Yongsan base to the outskirts of Seoul. Former US congressman Stephen Solarz commented that moving the US military garrison in Yongsan to somewhere further south on the peninsula would not weaken the US ability to deter a DPRK attack. Solarz stated that it is the US military troops stationed north of Seoul that are crucial to US deterrence.
“ROK-US Military Base Relocation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, ROK)
“ROK-US Military Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, ROK) |
11. ROK-US Relations
US State Department will encourage the ROK to allow Hwang Jang-yop, the highest-ranking DPRK official to defect to the ROK, to testify before Congress. The ROK government has opposed his travel. An official ROK spokesperson stated, “Hwang’s trip is a matter to be entirely decided by our government which means he’ll leave only if the government believes it would be a benefit to us.”
“Republic of Korea” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, ROK) |
12. Inter-Korean Relations
The DPRK is building tank traps and establishing anti-tank positions on the eastern and western fronts of the de-militarized zone (DMZ). An unnamed ROK government source said that more than 50 new defense bunkers have been spotted on flat land and roads which could be used by tanks and other armored vehicles.
“Inter-Korean Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
13. Inter-Korean Railroad
The DPRK has been showing some signs of resuming the construction of the railway that would connect the two Koreas. ROK President Kim Dae-jung commented, “It seems even North Korea is finally getting the hint, seeing the need to attract foreign tourists themselves for their upcoming Arirang festival slated from April to June this year.”
“Inter-Korean Railroad” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, ROK)
14. ROK Aid To DPRK in 2001
The ROK Unification Ministry announced on January 17 that the ROK provided US$135.39 million worth of aid to DPRK in 2001, up 19% from a year ago. The figure broke down to $70.45 million from the government and $64.94 million from civic organizations. State-level aid included 200,000 metric tons of fertilizer, 1.5 million articles of clothing for children, 100,000 metric tons of corn and special chemicals for malaria prevention.
“ROK Aid To DPRK in 2001” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, ROK) |
15. ROK-DPRK Red Cross Talks
The Korean National Red Cross on January 18 decided to propose the reopening of dialogue with its DPRK counterpart after the Lunar New Year holidays (February 11-13). A ranking ROK Red Cross official stated, “We plan to propose implementing the suspended exchanges of separated families and the opening of the fourth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks.
“ROK-DPRK Red Cross Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, ROK) |
16. DPRK-ASEAN Relations
The DPRK’s number two leader, Kim Yong-nam, will visit Thailand in late February in an attempt to seek investment cooperation between the two countries.
“DPRK-ASEAN Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
17. ROK-Japan Naval Cooperation
The ROK and Japan are planning a series of military exchanges and joint exercises that were suspended last year amid a diplomatic row over Japanese history textbooks. The two nations will resume a joint maritime search and rescue drill in the seas off the ROK’s southern island of Jeju and hold exchange visits by high-level defense officials and military ships this year.
“ROK-Japan Naval Cooperation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, ROK) |
People’s Republic of China
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1. Cross-Straits Relations
The PRC warned Taiwan on January 15 against using a decision to print “Taiwan” on its passports as a step toward formal independence from the PRC. However, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sun Yuxi did not explicitly say that the PRC objected to the addition of “Issued in Taiwan” to passport covers. Nor did Sun express the outrage that many in Taiwan had feared. Sun stated, “This attempt, should it develop in the direction of Taiwan’s independence, is doomed to failure. Any attempt to separate Taiwan from the Chinese motherland, in any form, will be strongly objected to by the whole Chinese people.”
“Cross-Straits Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US)
“Cross-Straits Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
2. PRC-India-Pakistan Relations
PRC Premier Zhu Rongji began talks with Indian leaders on January 14 in which he was expected to try to reassure India of a more even-handed approach in the future. PRC President Jiang Zemin met Pakistan’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mohammad Aziz Khan on January 16. The PRC and India called for a new era of understanding during the highest-level PRC visit to India in a decade.
“PRC-India-Pakistan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US)
“PRC-India Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US)
“PRC-India Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
3. Taiwan Military Development
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed his country’s commitment to defending itself Wednesday at a ceremony inaugurating its second F-16 fighter jet into its air force. “The modernization of communist China’s military poses threat to our national security. Therefore, we must constantly upgrade our weapon system,” Chen said.
“Taiwan Military Development” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
4. PRC-US Weapons Talks
A high-level delegation led by deputy director of the PRC’s Taiwan Affairs Office Zhou Mingwei arrived in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the issue of US arms sales to Taiwan.
“PRC-US Weapons Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 17, US) |
5. PRC-ROK Relations
PRC President Jiang Zemin said that the PRC is ready to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of PRC-ROK normalization to push their bilateral cooperative partnership in various fields to a new high.
“PRC-ROK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, PRC) |
6. Cross-Straits Relations
Taiwan opened its doors to more than 2,000 products from the PRC on Wednesday. The list, which includes 901 agricultural products and 1,225 industrial goods, was part of Taiwan’s commitments after it entered the World Trade Organization this year. Taiwan Premier Chang Chun-hsiung said that the opening was the latest in a string of goodwill gestures by Taiwan to improve relations with the PRC.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
Japan
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1. Japan-DPRK “Mystery Ship” Incident
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has linked the DPRK to a suspected spy ship which sank in after an exchange of gunfire with the Japanese coastguard in the East China Sea last month. Armitage, who is the first high-ranking US official to assert that the ship was from the DPRK, stated, “I believe the ship to be North Korean.”
“Japan-DPRK ‘Mystery Ship’ Incident” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
2. Japan SDF Revision
Japanese Defense Agency sources have said that they are considering revising the 1954 law governing self-defense forces to allow Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) ships to respond to emergencies without a prior request from the coast guard, as is now required. The revision of the law would include a “standby order” for the MSDF, which will authorize it to launch its ships at its own discretion so that it can respond promptly when unidentified ships intrude into Japanese waters.
“Japan SDF Revision” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
3. Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction
US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker said that he expected Japan to play a leading role in the reconstruction of post-Taliban Afghanistan. Baker stated, “Japan, as cohost and cochair, has a major opportunity to play a pivotal role in organizing reconstruction efforts. 60-odd countries and international organizations are sending representatives to the Tokyo gathering to announce their policies on helping Afghanistan. Japan may pledge as much as $500 million over the next 2 1/2 years to rebuild Afghanistan when donors gather at a conference in Tokyo next week.
“Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, Japan)
“Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US) |
4. Japan-ASEAN Relations
The Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi proposed a closer, more comprehensive relationship between the nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during his official visit through five ASEAN member nations. Koizumi called for closer economic and security ties between Japan and Southeast Asian Nations that would ultimately evolve into a new community linking other parts of East Asia and serve as a pivot of regional cooperation.
“Japan-ASEAN Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 18, Japan)
“Japan-ASEAN Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US) |
Russian Federation
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1. US-Russia ABM Treaty
The lower house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday condemned US plans to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and urged President Vladimir Putin to consult lawmakers on Russia’s response. The State Duma voted 326-3 for a non-binding resolution assailing last month’s decision by US President George W. Bush to withdraw from the ABM treaty to deploy a national missile defense.
“US-Russia ABM Treaty” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 16, US) |
2. US-Russia Nuclear Relations
US and Russian defense officials began on Tuesday a two-day planning meeting on joint nuclear arms cuts, with a spotlight on US plans to store — not destroy — many of its thousands of warheads. Russia is expected to repeat objections to US storage of perhaps hundreds of strategic warheads now on missiles and bombs.
“US-Russia Nuclear Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US)
“US-Russia Nuclear Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 14, US) |
3. Russia Missile Developments
A new Russian missile, the S-400 Triumph, can target stealth aircraft and intermediate-range ballistic missiles and will be ready for operation late this year or in early 2003. Russian military observers have said it can hit targets up to 250 miles away and engage stealth aircraft.
“Russia Missile Developments” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 15, US) |
Afghanistan War and Implications
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1. Afghanistan: Current Situation
Media reports indicate poor law and order situation in Kabul and other areas. Two World Food Program (WFP) trucks carrying emergency food supplies in northern Afghanistan were robbed at gunpoint. According to Mullah Naqibullah, a veteran Afghan guerrilla leader, Mullah Omar was offered amnesty in return for a peaceful surrender. Naqibullah maintains that Hamid Karzai, the leader of Afghanistan’s interim government, directed the deal.
“Afghanistan: Current Situation” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
2. Afghanistan: Reconstruction
According to a UN official, only $3 million of the promised $17 million for the Start Up Fund has been received so far. The fund was established following last month’s Bonn meeting. Ahmed Fawzi, a spokesman for U.N. Afghanistan envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, has appealed to the international community to “stop talking and start delivering help.”
“Afghanistan: Reconstruction” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
3. Humanitarian Crisis
Despite appeals by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan has refused to change its policy of not allowing any more new Afghan refugees into the country. There are approximately 13,000 Afghans stranded on Pakistan-Afghan border near Chaman, Pakistan. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has asked the US authorities to respect the human rights of Afghan prisoners.
“Humanitarian Crisis” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
4. Regional Developments
John Gershman’s essay in the Asia Times, and a report in the daily News, Pakistan, examines the US military’s involvement in the Philippines.
“Regional Developments” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
5. General Assessments
Indian writer and scholar Achen Vanaik writes that “what is extraordinary (about the ‘war on terrorism’) is not that the US should seek to selectively define who the terrorists are, and what terrorism is… But that this has met with so little resistance.”
“General Assessments” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
India-Pakistan Tensions
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1. News
US Secretary of State Colin Powell has asked Pakistan and India to start a dialogue to resolve outstanding issues. He, however, added that it is up to India to make the decision. Colin Powell is visiting South Asia in an attempt to diffuse border tensions between India and Pakistan. The Indian government welcomed Pakistan’s decision to suppress militant Islamic groups involved in violent activities in Kashmir. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has suggested that India would consider direct talks with Pakistan only after the Pakistan government has taken conrete actions against militant Islamic groups. Earlier in the week, Pakistani and Indian officials exchanged threats. Pakistan reportedly moved some of its short-range missiles closer to its border with India.
“News” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
2. Analysis
In a wide-ranging interview with Tehelk.com, an Indian internet magazine, historian Mushirul Hasan expressed his belief that Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is genuinely trying to “reverse the fundamentalist agenda.” Writing for the daily Dawn, Pakistan, M.H.Askari suggests that India’s ‘wait and see’ reaction to President Pervez Musharraf’s crackdown on Islamic militants is prompted by the compulsions of India’s domestic politics.
“Analysis” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
3. India and Pakistan
Essays in various newspapers and magazines argue that Pakistan’s crack down on the militants it has supported in the fight for Kashmir would not solve the Kashmir Problem. Rather, the Indian government will now have to take political steps to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue.
“India and Pakistan” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
4. Nuclear
India’s Defense Minister George Fernandes has reiterated that his country is committed to the doctrine of ‘no first use’ of nuclear weapons.
“News and Analysis” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
Pakistan
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1. Pakistan: Domestic Situation
President Pervez Musharraf announced a wide-ranging crack down on five militant Islamic groups. Political parties in Pakistan had mixed response to the President’s speech. The Pakistan police has shut down the offices and arrested the leaders of the five banned groups. Over 1,900 members of militant religious groups have been arrested so far. According to a report in the daily News, Pakistan, supporters of the five banned militant groups have moved underground.
“Pakistan: Domestic Situation” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
2. US-Pakistan Relations
The US military is reportedly trying to reduce its presence at air bases in Pakistan.
“US-Pakistan Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
India
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1. India: Domestic Situation
According to Power Minister Suresh Prabhu, the power sector in India has “reached a do or die situation and it needs to be rapidly and systematically restructured to make it commercially viable.”
“India: Domestic Situation” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3) |
2. US-India Relations
The US and India have signed an agreement under which the two countries would protect technology secrets in any weapons deal between them.
“US-India Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.3 #3)
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