East-West Center Observer, Winter 2002
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WINTER 2002 Building an Asia PacificObserver Community Among the crucial questions in Asia is how boldly an engaged, internationalist China may act, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told delegates to the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF). “As seen at APEC in Shanghai and as WTO membership demonstrates, James there is a confident future for China as it joins the community of leading nations of the world,” he said. Kelly spoke on U.S. policy toward the Asia Pacific Kelly: region at the 10th annual meeting of the regional forum in January in Honolulu, where the U.S. Policy Toward East-West Center served as secretariat for the event. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly (L) with the Asia Pacific Region Without dispute, Congressman Douglas Bereuter (R-NE) and Senator the Sino-American Daniel Akaka (D-HI) at the APPF meeting in Honolulu. relationship has experienced ups and downs over the last year, and many inside and outside of Asia expressed “The United States and China enter 2002 looking Inside apprehension, Kelly said. “I believe these concerns were forward to a rich dialogue in many areas, including exaggerated and they were certainly not based on some difficult ones such as human rights, freedom of Ambassador Yang: statements by the President or Secretary of State. There religious practices, non-proliferation, and strategic forces, Sunshine Policy is much consensus in the United States committed to including ballistic missiles and ballistic missile defense.” Most Viable Option trading with China and to a prosperous China.” Concerning Taiwan, he said “peaceful resolution” for Korean Peninsula Chinese officials frequently describe the U.S.-China is the sine qua non of U.S. policy and the three Sino- Page 3 relationship as “cooperative and constructive,” Kelly U.S. communiques continue to guide American said, noting he would add “‘candid,’ because we can policy, as well as the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. Afghanistan: speak freely about some areas where we may disagree. continued on page 2 The View from the Ground in Kabul Page 3 Cooperation Against Terrorism Binds Asia Pacific Parliamentarians New EWC At the 10th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, the combat terrorism. The meeting called upon all members Leadership Program issue of terrorism was “the glue” that bound together to sign, ratify and implement as soon as possible for Early-Career delegates from 25 nations in the region. Parliamentarians relevant international conventions and protocols on Professionals passed 13 resolutions on topics from the Middle East terrorism, especially those relating to money-laundering. and Students peace process and global warming to gender equality Delegates called for all countries to seek solutions to Page 5 A and disaster management, but cooperation against a wide variety of political, economic and social problems, terrorism was the main focus. including poverty and regional conflicts, which terrorists Publications in Review They were unanimous in condemning terrorism in could take advantage of to justify their attacks. Page 6 all its forms — international, regional and local — and The delegates met in Honolulu from January 6 to 9, encouraging cooperation with the United Nations to with the East-West Center serving as host organization Tom Plate on and secretariat. It was the first time the annual meet- U.S. Foreign Policy Delegates to Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. ing was held in the United States. Challenges in Asia Among those who addressed the forum were Page 7 Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; Tom Daschle, U.S. Senate Majority Leader; Admiral Dennis Blair, Commander-in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; and James Kelly, Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs. continued on page 2 2 James Kelly: U.S. Policy Toward the Asia Pacific Region continued from page 1 he said. “U.S. policy has no better idea for dealing with “China should know that it needs to earn Taiwan’s North Korea than President Kim Dae-jung’s constructive allegiance and not force it,” Kelly advised. “And the engagement or Sunshine Policy. remarkable cross-strait economic interaction going on “Tension on the peninsula is essentially an issue for now may well be able to show the way.” Koreans to resolve,” he said. “We support South Korea’s He assured delegates that the United States policies of reconciliation and we are prepared to begin remains engaged and committed in Asia and thanked serious negotiations with North Korea — as Secretary the countries represented at the forum for their Powell puts it, ‘anytime, any place, without preconditions.’ support after the terrorist attacks of September 11. So far, North Korea has been unwilling to start talks, The war on terrorism is far from over, he said, although U.S. food aid continues as well as routine con- adding, “This cooperation against terrorism fits very tacts between the United States and North Korea. well with U.S. objectives toward the Asia Pacific. U.S. “We in Washington are also determined to keep the Asia Pacific policy is based overall on our tested trilateral policy coordination process going among Seoul, alliances in the region and it is enlarged by key Tokyo and Washington,” Kelly said, with four meetings friendships. Both are enhanced by our committed held last year and another expected to take place soon. Assistant Secretary engagement with multilateral institutions, especially Indonesia. The United States is “exceptionally of State James Kelly APEC, ASEAN and ASEAN’s Regional Forum.” supportive” of President Megawati and the difficult Support of ASEAN has been an important and process of democratizing Indonesia, he said. “We support reemphasized element of U.S. policy toward the the territorial integrity of Indonesia and hope to assist the region, he said. “Yet we are mindful that ASEAN is very difficult task being pursued there whenever we can.” not a country, and bilateral relationships are a priority with each of the 10 members.” The Philippines. The United States is looking to He then elaborated on U.S. policy in the region: collaborate more closely than in the past with the Philippines, he added. “Perhaps to help train Philippine Japan. “The U.S.-Japan alliance is the linchpin response in dealing with some local matters of terrorism, The East-West of U.S. security strategy in East Asia,” he said. Japan’s crime, kidnapping, that go on ...in addition to helping Center Observer response to the current campaign in Afghanistan is that country reach the economic state it so richly is a quarterly newsletter welcome, including measures passed by the Diet to deserves.” published by the facilitate cooperation and the dispatching of self- In conclusion, Kelly said, “We respect the region’s East-West Center, defense maritime forces to the Indian Ocean. vitality and we try to listen carefully to its new and old a public non-profit The United States strongly supports Prime wisdom. We believe the United States is needed in Asia institution established Minister Koizumi’s efforts to reform and strengthen and that we are welcome there. More important, in our in 1960 to foster mutual Japan’s economy. “What actions Japan needs to take are own interests, America has to be involved in this vibrant understanding and for Japan to decide,” Kelly said. “But it is our belief part of the world. cooperation among that the best way to create a basis for renewed growth in “But American policy will continue to grope with the governments and Japan is to address the parallel problems of non-per- the complexities of how economic and security issues peoples of the Asia Pacific forming loans in the banking system and non-perform- interrelate, and how to encourage three big countries — region, including the ing assets in financial, corporate and state sectors.” China, India and Russia — to reach their enormous United States. Korean Peninsula. The alliance between the potential without being tempted to abuse power.” Volume 6, Number 1 United States and the Republic of Korea remains firm, Winter 2002 Charles E. Morrison, President Karen Knudsen, Director Cooperation Against Terrorism Binds Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Office of External Affairs continued from page 1 In his address, Blair noted the importance of For information, contact: “Our parliaments and the world must continue to international cooperation to defeat terrorism and other protect the freedoms and liberties that each of our pressing problems. “The Asia Pacific region does not have The East-West Center nations hold sacred,” Hastert said, in his remarks at well-developed arrangements for regional military 1601 East-West Road the opening of the forum. “The civilized and free cooperation. Yet, regional cooperation is the key to success Honolulu, HI 96848-1601 world must do as much to embody the principles we against these threats to the security of all of our citizens.” Telephone: 808-944-7111 proclaim, as we do to protect them. Each of us who In comments to delegates, EWC President Charles Fax: 808-944-7376 serves in a parliament must rethink our level of E. Morrison observed that regional cooperation in the E-mail: defense, security and intelligence expenditures and we Asia Pacific region is still relatively new. He raised the [email protected] must strengthen collective security arrangements.” question of “how to ensure greater and more regular Daschle assured the delegates that “the United influence of politicians and parliaments in the regional World Wide Web: States of America is determined to remain a strong cooperation processes?” http://www.EastWestCenter.org partner and active participant in the family of nations. While regional cooperation is here to stay, he said, “We Editor: Susan Yim The APPF is one tool that will allow us to continue still have much to do to realize the full potential of regional Design: Kennedy & Preiss that participation.” cooperation and make it meaningful to our publics.” 3 An engagement policy is the most viable option And he elaborated on the Sunshine Policy, the for reconciliation and ultimately reunification, policy of reconciliation and cooperation initiated during observed Sung Chul Yang, South Korea’s ambassador Kim Dae-jung’s presidency.