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Mon, Mar 31, 1997
Regional Ties: PRC, Thai and Vietnam Relations
also: Australia's Howard pushes trade relations; Taiwan to prosecute spy; and more . . .Please read the statement of purpose.
Regional: we get a feel of how territorial disputes between two nations, namely Vietnam and China, send ripples through the waters of South East Asia and upset 'conflict-resolution' or 'problem-solving' efforts in the region. Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and his team intended yesterday to use their trip to Hanoi as an opportunity to address long-standing disputes between the two countries over fishing rights in the Gulf of Tonkin. Seven rounds of talks have been held since 1992, but this time Vietnam would hear none of it, reports the Bangkok Post.
"Some sources close to the issue added that Hanoi seemed preoccupied with energy-related issues involving China. Gen Chavalit and his host, Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, were expected to come up with a new initiative, but instead simply decided to have experts continue discussions, the sources said," writes the paper.
The PRC has agreed to hold discussions with Vietnam this week to resolve their territorial disputes, reports the South China Morning Post.Responding to this new development, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry reiterated the government's position
"Our demand is that the Chinese must withdraw the . . . drilling platform from the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf of Vietnam."
Another expert quoted by the paper said: "Don't expect any shifts and roll-backs on our side. Our position on this is absolutely fixed. The rig has to go and we think China knows that."
In the mean time: "Defence high on agenda Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh leaves for China tomorrow together with the military's senior-most brass" is the Bangkok Post's informative look into Sino-Thai relations and how China has become a major arms dealer in the region and how the Thai Prime Minister Gen Chavalit has extensive links, personal and professional, with the PRC's military and political apparatus; Chavalit is also Thailand's Defense Minister.
As the South China Morning Post explains, "It was widely known that Chavalit was the one who shifted from Western dominated weapons to Chinese weapons 10 years ago, and he has personal relationships with Chinese leaders," the paper quotes a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University. Indeed,
"The Chinese Government has given us a great honour by scheduling the Thai premier to meet four of its supreme leaders," the Thai Government said.
Scheduled to last from April 2-4 the 120-person delegation will engage its hosts on various political, economic and military levels. The Bangkok Post writes, the delegation will move quickly through a tight schedule, visiting Thai-invested firms as well as ordnance and munitions factories. They will meet with China's leaders and sign trade agreements. "The visit by the Thai leader is expected to generate enormous bilateral interests and will be significant for China since Thailand plays an important role in Asean and Indochina. Negotiations on expanding trade with cities in southern China will also resume," reports the paper.
Chevalit will engage China on investing together in a "merchant fleet to help reduce Thailand's rising current account deficit," reports the paper. Chevalit also wants Thai military attaches to attend China's national defense college in order to become experts on China affairs.
The paper notes, talk over sensitive matters, particularly China's military and political support for Burma, will not be raised. But in an interesting aside, the paper writes: " "China says its support for Burma is largely on an economic basis with the aim of opening a trade route to the Indian Ocean." This has been the speculation of China watchers and other experts for a long time, but never have I seen China make such an admission about its Burma policy before. According to the paper, Beijing provides both Burma and Thailand with sources of military hardware at attractive prices and terms of credit. In some cases it will provide some weapons free for 10 years.
As neighbours, both Burma and Thailand have fought many wars with each other throughout their history, and a certain level of distrust and animosity exists. It is the Chinese weapons which have allowed Burma's very large army to fight ethnic groups on its border. As of late, Burma's fight against Karens living on the Thai border have seen these people streaming into Thailand for asylum, much to the displeasure of Thai government and military officials.
For more information on other aspects of Sino-Burma relations see the Tue, Mar 18, 1997 issue.
Australia: Australian Prime Minister John Howard met with Li Peng yesterday. He aid, Australia would like to develop close relations with the PRC but said differences on human rights would inevitably crop up, reports the South China Morning Post.
"I said inevitably in the area of human rights there would be differences. I don't think it's realistic to imagine that human rights issues are not going to crop up. I raised specifically the issue of James Peng. I said the Chinese Government should release him on compassionate grounds. I said it was a matter that should be resolved because Peng is an Australian resident and it would have beneficial effects," said Mr Howard.
Peng is a mainland-born businessmen currently serving out a sentence in a Dongguan, Guandong jail. "Peng was jailed for 18 years in September 1995 after being convicted of embezzlement against his company, Champaign Industrial, in Shenzhen. Peng has insisted the charges were trumped up in an effort by powerful business rivals to gain hold of his company," explains the paper.
But as the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Mr Howard's agenda did not call for a tough-line on Human rights during talks with China's top leaders. Australia's economic progress and trade-links with the mainland were the focus, and he looked forward to decades of cooperation.
- Before his visit Mr Howard said:
"I will propose to China's leaders during my visit that we take the opportunity of the 25th anniversary of our relationship to look creatively at the strategic partnership that I believe our economies constitute. We can establish a partnership in growth that will bring great benefit to both our peoples."
- "Australia has a track record as a reliable supplier of commodities that are important to China's economic growth
, including iron ore, wool and wheat. Australia is also well placed to provide China with steaming coal and with liquid natural gas for power generation and domestic consumption.
- "We offer the technological know-how to make the most productive and
environmentally sound use of our commodities."
- "If we focus on the goals that we have in common, if we recognise that we complement each other in so many ways, then we can have a truly effective partnership in growth over the next 25 years and beyond."
Taiwan: Ho Poh-ching, arrested for espionage, will be prosecuted for violating the country's National Security Law, reports the South China Morning Post. Ho apparently approached representatives of China's Association For Relations Across the Taiwan Strait in March 1995, reports the paper, and was told to procure lists of military personal. Ho's wife worked in the conscription department of a local government office.