The Nautilus Institute

Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network
DAILY REPORT
For Monday, September 28, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA

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IN TODAY'S REPORT:

I. United States

II. Announcements

I. United States


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1. US-DPRK Terrorism Talks

US State Department Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 25," USIA Transcript, 09/25/98) announced that the US and the DPRK will hold talks on terrorism on September 29 in Washington. Rubin stated, "The terrorism is the agenda -- how to stop North Korean support for terrorism."


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2. ROK Food Aid for DPRK

The Associated Press ("S.KOREA SENDS MILK COWS TO NORTH," Seoul, 09/27/98) reported that officials at the ROK Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries said Sunday that the ROK civic group Iwutsaranghoi (Neighborly Love Association) shipped 104 milk cows to the DPRK. The officials said that a 3,000-ton freighter was due to arrive in Nampo port on Monday. The group plans to send 96 more milk cows and 23 tons of stock feed next month.


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3. US Subcritical Nuclear Test

The Associated Press ("JAPAN CONDEMNS U.S. TEST," Tokyo, 09/27/98) reported that Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito and Hiroshima Mayor Takashi Hiraoka on Sunday condemned a US subcritical nuclear test held Saturday at its Nevada Test Site. Ito said that the test "trampled on the request by Nagasaki citizens and the people of the world" not to carry it out. He added, "At a time when hopes are rising for the development of nuclear disarmament, it is necessary to criticize the United States at the international level." Hiraoka said that the test "will inevitably cause a build-up in the nuclear weapons race." He added, "The failure to faithfully accomplish nuclear disarmament as dictated by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty led to nuclear tests by India and Pakistan."


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4. PRC-Taiwan Relations

The Associated Press (Sau Chan, "CHINA OFFERS TAIWAN MORE AUTONOMY," New York, 09/25/98) reported that PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, in a speech at a luncheon sponsored by the Asia Society and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations on Friday, said that the PRC will offer Taiwan more autonomy than Hong Kong or Macao if it reunifies with the mainland. He added, "At present, we are vigorously pushing for political talks between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits. We have proposed to start discussing procedural arrangements for the political talks, the promotion of personnel and economic exchanges." He also urged the US to back its efforts for reunification, saying the move would not affect the existing economic, trade and cultural relations and personnel exchanges between the US and Taiwan. He added that US policy towards Taiwan "has direct bearing on whether China-U.S. relations will grow healthily and steadily." James Reardon-Anderson, professor of Chinese studies at Georgetown University, called Tang's statement "quite a significant" one. He stated, "This might be a signal from somebody trying to say that they ought to be more flexible."

Dow Jones Newswires (Y.H. Sun, "TAIWAN COS PIN HIGH HOPES ON NEGOTIATOR'S CHINA TRIP," Taipei, 09/28/98) reported that Taiwan's Economic Affairs Minister Wang Chih-kang said Monday that the government will consider changing its policy toward investment in the PRC if hostility between the two sides eases. A meeting between top Taiwanese economic officials and business leaders is scheduled for September 30 to discuss investment in the PRC. Taiwanese businesses are hopeful that the upcoming trip by Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, will lead to a liberalization of cross-Straits trade regulations. However, Kao Charng, a research fellow at the government-supported Chang-hua Institution for Economic Research, stated, "There won't be any immediate change in Taiwan's mainland economic policy." He said that any major policy changes would have to wait until Koo and his PRC counterpart, Wang Daohan, hold formal talks and reach specific agreements. Kao added, "Whether (the policy) will be eased depends on Beijing's good will to Taipei." He said that good will means recognizing Taiwan as a political entity and halting its campaign to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.


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5. US South Asian Sanctions

US State Department Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, SEPTEMBER 25," USIA Transcript, 09/25/98) said that the US has made clear to Pakistan that substantial progress across the board on "the matters of concern to us" is necessary for the lifting of sanctions. He added, "those are laid out in the Declaration of the Five and the UN Security Council Resolution 1172, which call upon Pakistan and India to adhere to global nuclear non-proliferation norms and to settle their differences through dialogue." Specifically, Rubin stated, such progress should include "the actual signature and ratification of this CTBT [Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty] as a goal; a restraint regime covering the nuclear weapons and their means of delivery; an export control system; a moratorium on the production of fissile material; pending negotiation of the treaty and direct talks between India and Pakistan.... That is what we would regard as sufficient to consider suspension of sanctions provided we receive that kind of flexibility and authority from Congress which we now do not have." He said that US President Bill Clinton's planned trip to South Asia is still under review.


II. Announcements


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1. Verification Researcher Position Available

RESEARCHER/SENIOR RESEARCHER, VERIFICATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Verification Technology Information Centre (VERTIC) invites applications for a researcher/senior researcher to conduct policy-relevant research into the scientific and technological aspects of the verification and monitoring of international arms control, disarmament and peace agreements. Applicants should have a higher degree in science or technology, or equivalent experience, with a demonstrated interest in scientific and technological developments outside one's own area of expertise and their implications for international politics, including verification. Proficiency in English and the ability to write for a generalist audience are essential.

Salary range for a researcher is £15,000 to £21,000; for a senior researcher £21,000 to £30,000. Closing date: 30 October 1998. For job descriptions, selection criteria and application information see VERTICO's website at http://www.fhit.org/vertic or contact: The Administrator, Verification Technology Information Centre, Carrara House, 20 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6NN, Tel: +44 (0)171 925 0867; fax: +44 (0)171 925 0861 e-mail: info@vertic.org. VERTIC is an equal opportunity employer.


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Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:
The Center for Global Communications, Tokyo, Japan
Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Wade L. Huntley: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Choi Chung-moon: cily@star.elim.co.kr
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation

Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China


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