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---"Focused Coverage Informed Perspectives"--- Wed, Sep 24, 1997 editionBusy Day of Diplomacy
China & US hash out preparations for summit, while US & Japan announce new security pact and Li Peng inks deal for Kazakh oilAlso in this edition . . .
1: Wego Chiang to be buried in Taiwan
2: insightful essays and poll on Hong Kong
3: ISP's in Hong Kong
4: Yunnan and Qinghai coverage
5: a short history of Chinese history
DIPLOMACY
Today was an especially active day for diplomatic trips, as Chinese leaders met with their counterparts from the US, Central Asia, and the Ukraine. Issues ranged on topics from Japan and Taiwan to petroleum and military alliances.Summit: ( Albright, Qian Upbeat on Summit Planning ) Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and Secretary of State Madeline Albright met yesterday in preparation for this month's summit between President Jiang Zemin and President Clinton. As quoted in Inside China, Mr Qian said Mr Jiang's 'strong showing' at the recently concluded National Congress will improve the prospect for a successful summit. "I believe this will facilitate preparations for the visit and facilitate implementation of Chinese foreign policy," Mr Qian said.
See also Qian paves the way for Jiang's US visit in today's China Daily.
US-Japan security pact: China's response highlights more immediate subject of their attention: upcoming summit
( U.S. And Japan Agree to Bolster Military Ties for Regional Crises ) The United States and Japan announced new security guidelines, runder which Japan would provide support for US military missions in the region and in times of emergency open its bases for the US. The New York Times writes:"The guidelines also called for Japan to take part in minesweeping efforts in international waters, to enforce economic blockades and to help evacuate civilians trapped in unstable countries. In addition, the two countries agreed to step up their efforts to coordinate their 'defense policies and military postures' and to share covert intelligence."
In a joint statement they made no mention of Taiwan, and the paper notes they went to great lengths to emphasize their commitment to cooperating with China which has publicly expressed its concerns over the ambiguity of the security pact and its fear that it could draw Japan and the United States together in support of the province. When asked about the security pact, Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, who had met earlier with Ms Albright Secretary of State Madeline Albright, simply said, "The position of the Chinese side has been made clear again and again." Mr Qian and Ms Albright are preparing for the Jiang-Clinton summit next week.
( Beijing in firm line on defence accord ) In Beijing, however, the government stated its position using the strongest language yet, reports the South China Morning Post. As the paper reports,
"Everyone knows Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. No matter if the Taiwan Strait is placed in the scope of the Japan-US defence cooperation directly or indirectly, it infringes on and interferes in China's sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang said.
"This is something the Chinese Government and people cannot accept."
By law the United States is obligated to defend Taiwan, but Beijing cautioned against any attempt to use the security pact for more than bilateral ties would destabilize the region. Meanwhile, the paper reports that "Army Chief of Staff Dennis Reimer began a tour of Chinese military regions yesterday."
( Taipei cautiously welcomes US-Japan defence plan ) In Taipei the government cautiously welcomed the security pact, reports the South China Morning Post. And while government officials noted that the pact was designed to ensure stability in the region, Premier Vincent Siew warned, " "Our national security must rely on our own military strength," reports the paper.
UN Dues: ( Hong Kong Standard China ) As the United States moves to decreases its annual dues to the United Nations, Secretary Albright has formally asked China to increase its contribution to a rate more fitting of its size and power. With the issue now on the table for discussion China has said it is not adverse to such a suggestion but maintains that its dues, like that of any nation, should be in line with its ability to pay. ``China will not accept any demand to increase its UN contribution share that goes against that principle,'' a foreign ministry spokesman said. According to the Hong Kong Standard, the spokesman also said that consideration to the question would be given only when the time was right, and now was not the right time.
Kazakhstan ( Premier visits Kazakhstan; Progress pledged in trade relations ) Chinese Premier Li Peng and Kazakh President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev met in Alma-ata today, reaffirming their nations' close relationship and agreeing that it had moved into a "brand new period," reports the China Daily. Kazakhstan and China established ties five years ago, and China has a rather vigorous foreign policy vis-a-vis it and other states in the region. China has put in place treaties with its neighbors, including Russia, to ensure security along its Western border. The paper provides more information:
"Li and Nazarbayev signed a supplementary border agreement between the two countries. The two leaders inked the agreement after talks at the president's complex. "
"China National Petroleum Corp and the Kazakh Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources signed a general contract concerning the project that enables the two countries to carry out joint exploration for petroleum in western Kazakstan and lay pipelines to pump oil to China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region."
"Li said the success of China National Petroleum Corp in the bid for two petroleum projects in Kazakhstan marks the start of major economic and trade co-operation between the two countries."
( Li presides over oil 'deal of the century' ) The South China Morning Post provides additional coverage, noting President Nursultan's exclamation, "This is indeed the deal of the century." As the paper writes:
"The pipeline would be built over five years at a cost of US$3.5 billion (HK$27.1 billion) and create many jobs in the Central Asian nation, he said, with construction expected to start next year."
"The agreement also includes the construction of a 250-kilometre oil pipeline from western Kazakhstan through Turkmenistan to Iran and the exploration of the large Uzen oil and gas field, bringing the total cost for China to US$9.5 billion."
Ukraine: ( Minister stresses army links with Ukraine ) The Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Zatynayiko Olexander met with Defense minister Chi Haotian in Beijing.
TAIWAN
General Wego Chiang General Wego Chiang will be buried in Taiwan, although he had hoped to be interred in Suzhou on the mainland. The South China Morning Post article also discusses the matter and some of his preparations for dying.Cross strait relations: ( HK success 'the key to Taiwan solution' ) Speaking before the UN General Assembly last night, China's Foreign Minister Qian Qichen predicted that the success of the 'one country two systems' formula, by which Hong Kong was reunited with the mainland, will succeed in resolving the Taiwan question, reports the South China Morning Post. He said:
"Firmly adhering to this concept, we will keep up the peaceful reunification of our motherland by ensuring a smooth return of Macau and eventually resolving the Taiwan question. . . . "
"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory and the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China. Any country that attempts to use the Taiwan question to put pressure on China has acted in
contravention of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions."
HONG KONG
Hong Kong transition essays and poll flesh out the issues and perspectives . . .
It has been nearly three months since the handover of sovereignty, but the essays and other information on the Asia Society's Transition Project are highly relevant and informative. The first two articles touch on history of Chinese relations with the 'West' and economic issues facing Hong Kong and on the minds of its citizens.
( A CULTURAL-POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON HONG KONG ) Greg Gong, the director of the Asian Studies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., puts the Hong Kong transition into its historical perspective, drawing out a 'Chinese' and a 'Western' point of view. An excerpt from his essay follows: Whatever the cultural-political intents or perceptions, the gap between the Western ideal of establishing equal relations through treaties with China and the reality of increasing Western dominance of China through unequal treaties steadily widened. Thus when Beijing today expresses skepticism of the international system, it is doubting a system that, while espousing principles of equality and free trade, once forced China to agree to repugnant terms (certainly England would never have ceded the Isle of Wight) and eventually helped (albeit inadvertently) bring down the last dynasty. For the West imperialism is something that was practiced a long time ago. For China it is only now ending-- an important symbolic moment to celebrate.
But China must also recognize that the world has moved on. Empires around the globe have given way to nation-states. Nineteenth-century ideologies and practices have been revised or abandoned in light of more recent history. The world is an ever-smaller place, linked by issues of trade, technology, environment, and security. China's long-term interests will not be served by playing the victim or exploiting powerful historic symbols to fan nationalist flames that may ultimately foster xenophobia and isolation. Similarly, the West must realize that, as an emerging China moves into the institutions of international society, Beijing can and should play a commensurate role.
( REAL TIME, REAL ISSUES: NONPOLITICAL HONG KONG ) Lian Yi-zheng writes a thoughtful and very interesting analysis of the economic issues facing Hong Kong after the transition. From the introduction:
The business of Hong Kong is mostly business. Political issues tend to capture Western headlines and the attention of foreign governments; but no less important are the many social and economic problems that will need to be tackled as a result of the handover. If these problems are not dealt with properly, the economic well-being of Hong Kong will be impaired, an effect no less grave than the curtailment of civic freedoms. This essay aims to shed light on such problems.
It must be clearly understood that most Hong Kong residents do not regard politics as their most important concern. "Hell, if foreigners are rushing to Shanghai and Guangzhou with their investment money, why wouldn't they come to Hong Kong even if we change into another Singapore?" observed a taxi driver. "Besides, what's so bad about Singapore? They have stable house prices and a cleaner city." He has a good point. The ultimate, though certainly not the sole, concern of people and governments outside Hong Kong is economic, and politics will be deemed important insofar as it impacts on the economic well-being of Hong Kong.
( SLIDE ) This is a June, 1997 poll of 1,000 Hong Kongers and Americans. Investigating 'attitudes toward the transition of Hong Kong', the poll reveals much about where we see things differently. The results are interesting and worth considering as we in the 'West' devise strategies for understanding and engaging the 'East.' internet Hong Kong ISP's
( INTERNET USE AND ITS UNCERTAIN FUTURE IN HONG KONG ) The July issue of Boardwatch magazine published an article on internet service providers in Hong Kong. Note: although free to access, you must sign in and assign yourself a username/password combo. . . .
REGIONAL
Yunnan: with its future facing the golden south, Yunnan is becoming an entrepot to Southeast Asia
( ECONOMIES: Yunnan Rising ) The Far Eastern Economic Review published an article about Yunnan in its September 11 issue where in it discusses how Yunnan has set its future on fostering economic ties with southern neighbours. Business ventures in Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam are mentioned, as are infrastructure projects which promise to help stitch together the region's economies. . . .I'm glad to read that the ride to Ruili is still a 24 hour 'ride from hell.' . . .
Qinghai: third of four reports on hinterland province
( Qinghai girding up against disasters ) China Daily reporter Xie Liangjun continues on to Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai where animal husbandry and severe weather do not combine well.
Qinghai's name often figures prominently in news stories of the natural disasters which strike China each year.
Alarmed provincial government officials are working on effective preventive measures, and have made a vow that they will make greater efforts to change the situation.
They hope that herdsmen can gradually give up their traditional nomadic herding and turn to modern production methods.
Mr Xie also explains, Qinghai is one of five bases of animal husbandry in the nation. Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Tibet and Ningxia are the others. "The province's total meat output in 1996 reached 187,200 tons, 3,500 tons more than in 1995." Total population in 1996 was 4.83 million. "The average net per-capita income for Qinghai's herdsmen and farmers is 1,174 yuan ($141), which means 573,000 impoverished farming and herding people in the province face each new year without enough to eat or wear," he explains.
MEDIA AND SOURCES
History: ( Condensed China: Chinese History for Beginners ) Paul Frankenstein's "CONDENSED CHINA; CHINESE HISTORY FOR BEGINNERS" provides sketches of Chinese history from the Xia to the present.
"Condensed China is an introduction to Chinese history. It exists to inform, enlighten, and attract netizens interested in China. It is not a complete history of China; I deliberately skipped over and left out a lot of information. This is more like 'Chinese History: the Cliff Notes version' or 'Chinese History's Greatest Hits' than a full-fledged history. If I left out something you feel is important, please email me and I will put it in the next time I revise the text."