DOWNSIDE LEGACY AT TWO DEGREES OF PRESIDENT CLINTON
SECTION: ASIA
SUBSECTION: JAPAN & GENERAL
Revised 8/20/99

 

JAPAN & GENERAL

Anti-Missile Defense

Pyongyang, July 5 (KCNA) "Papers here today describe the recent "South Korea-Japan Consultative Meeting on Security Policy" in Seoul as a dangerous war confab. The meeting had discussions on matters of "building confidence" in security and "guaranteeing transparency" in military field and of the participation of South Korea in consultations for carrying into practice "guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defence Cooperation". This is a dangerous move to tighten the U.S.-Japan-South Korea triangular military alliance, says Rodong Sinmun."

Associated Press 1/12/99 Laura Myers ".A top Chinese diplomat warned the Clinton administration Tuesday against working with Japan or Taiwan on anti-missile defense systems, suggesting that Beijing might build more powerful missiles in response. "This would have a negative impact on regional and global stability,'' said Sha Zukang, director general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's arms control and disarmament division..While the Clinton administration sells conventional arms to Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province, the United States is not helping the island develop a missile defense system. Some members of Congress have long favored the idea, however. .."

Wall Street Journal 2/17/99 Freeper Stand Watch Listen ".Former Defense Secretary William Perry, brought back into saddle to come up with a solution to the long-neglected North Korea problem, is supposed to make his report soon to the Administration. There aren't many simple answers, but one that ought to be easy is missile defense. Japan wants it. South Korea wants it. Taiwan wants it. And they all want it fast..Of course, any system that could stop a North Korean missile could stop a Chinese one too, and therein lies the rub for Beijing. Last week it issued its sternest warning yet about a regional anti-missile system, most particularly one that includes protection for Taiwan.. Taiwan for its part has just announced that Beijing recently increased by 100 the number of missiles aimed at the island. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is pledged to defend Taiwan, but the Clinton Administration already is hemming and hawing about whether Taiwan would fall under the American missile defense umbrella. Depends on the meaning of "defend," no doubt. In the meantime, the Administration is also hemming and hawing about a national missile defense, which it claimed last month it now supports after years of saying that any threat of ballistic missile attack was way off in the future. Though it hasn't been brought to the attention of most Americans, the North Korean missiles that Seoul and Tokyo are so worried about can reach Alaska, Hawaii and maybe other parts of the U.S..The latest sign that there's no real interest here is the Administration's opposition to a bipartisan bill that should come before the Senate shortly. This is the third try for the bill, whose main sponsors are Republican Thad Cochran and Democrat Daniel Inouye. This time it has an excellent chance of passing. The co-sponsors include three more Democrats (Senators Akaka, Hollings and Lieberman), and other Democrats have indicated they might vote yes. The unanimous conclusions of the bipartisan Rumsfeld Commission, which last summer warned that the threat of ballistic missile attack is imminent, apparently are sinking in...President Clinton has said he won't make a decision on whether to deploy a national missile defense until the year 2000. In other words, he doesn't want to talk about it.."

STRATFOR: Global Intelligence Update 2/25/99 Freeper Brian Mosely "...With revised guidelines for Japan-U.S. defense cooperation under consideration and Japan's continuing concern over North Korean missile tests, the future role of the Japanese Self Defense Forces is being hotly debated. Interestingly, all major Japanese factions, from the ruling LDP-LP coalition to the opposition Minshuto, while not exactly in harmony, are at least agreed on a general policy direction - that the SDF should have an expanded set of missions, particularly abroad. Yet while the Japanese are paving the way for a more active SDF, much to the consternation of China and North Korea, Russia has focused its criticism on the SDF's cooperation with the U.S. military, tacitly linking settlement of the Kuriles islands sovereignty dispute to Japan- U.S. military cooperation...."

Asian Wall Street Journal 3/8/99 "…Since the end of World War II, Japan has sought to maintain the lowest-possible military profile; not only to assuage the fears of its neighbors but also because the atomic ending of the war turned many Japanese into bona fide peaceniks. The passive defense posture mandated by Japan's constitution was further abetted by the presence of an American security umbrella. The upshot has been that, apart from an occasional outburst from the die-hard brigade, Japan usually appears on the world stage in the role of conscientious conciliator, a champion of peace at any price. So when talk about pre-emptive strikes against North Korea starts emanating from Tokyo, you know that something serious is going on. According to a Japanese newspaper report, Defense Agency chief Hosei Norota believes the threat of missile attack from North Korea is now so great that Tokyo ought to consider that a pre-emptive strike could be a constitutionally permitted form of self defense….. To the average Japanese citizen, however, the U.S. shield may be looking rather thin and tarnished these days. Washington and Seoul appear less concerned about Pyongyang's missiles than they do about befriending the regime there…."

Wall St. Journal 3/11/99 Editorial "…North Korea always talks tough. Japan does not. With the missile issue, it's as if the entire island has awakened to the fact that there is nothing between them and destruction--except what? It was supposed to be the United States, working with allies, that would be the shield against North Korea. And the U.S. presence in Asia that would also protect Japan from China, if it came to that. To the average Japanese citizen, however, the U.S. shield may be looking rather thin and tarnished these days. Washington and Seoul appear less concerned about Pyongyang's missiles than they do about befriending the regime there. When Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was in Beijing recently, Chinese officials again blasted the idea of an American-backed theater missile defense system to help protect its Asian allies, including Japan. Did Ms. Albright fire back that as long as China and North Korea target them, America and its friends need a missile defense system to protect themselves? In private, maybe. In public, Ms. Albright told China not to worry about "a decision that has not been made to deploy defensive technologies that do not yet exist." With shields like that, no wonder Japan is thinking about what it can do to protect itself.


…"

Reuters 3/23/99 "….Japanese patrol boats chased and fired warning shots at two suspected North Korean ships Tuesday, the country's first naval engagement since 1953. Maritime officials said nine patrol boats, three aircraft and three destroyers were pursuing the ships in international waters late Tuesday, about 300 km (190 miles) northwest of Tokyo…."

STRATFOR's Global Intelligence Update 3/19/99 "…In a surprisingly blunt speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan on March 16, outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kunihiko Saito warned the U.S. to reduce its criticism of Japan, or risk reviving militant nationalist sentiment in Japan. Saito said that Japan appreciates the frank advice that the U.S. has offered, and is carrying out many of the reforms that Washington has advocated. However, Saito insisted that the U.S. frankness, and particularly the public manner in which U.S. views are expressed, "may cause some unintended emotional reactions." "We naturally resent such criticism, even when the content of such criticism is totally justified," he said….Saito singled out the U.S. Trade Representative's Office as a major source of the unwelcome criticism. He also warned of rising protectionist sentiment among U.S. companies and in Congress. "Tensions surrounding trade between our two countries have... increased in recent months," he said. "Our trade surplus with the United States has been increasing rather sharply and has become a political issue, at least in Washington," said Saito. He added, "If the United States economy starts to have problems, the issue of trade imbalance will surely become a very serious political issue between our two countries." …"

 

Economic

IMF/Asia

US Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers is making a surprise visit to Japan. A Japanese government source reacted to the question of whether the visit indicated U.S.-Japan cooperation, or whether Summers was coming to lecture Tokyo, the source said: "Consider which side released the information on the visit." The visit was first reported out of Washington by the financial newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun, quoting a U.S. government source.

Amp, Inc. is announcing that the company will lay off its entire 22,000 US work force but none of its Asian and Foreign work force. US Taxpayers will pay the associated increased Unemployment Compensation due to the AMP, Inc. lay off. Taxpayer funded $18 billion IMF bailout would assist the foreign employees. Meanwhile, cheaper Asian labor appears to be keeping stock prices steady for the company.

7/21/98 White House Affairs Reuters "A Senate committee said Tuesday it would hold back U.S. funding for the World Bank until Congressional experts review allegations of corruption in bank lending operations. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation by Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell that included $800 million for the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) credit program for poor nations. But under the measure, funds for the World Bank would not be released until the General Accounting Office (GAO) completes an audit of the bank. ``The committee is concerned by recent reports of corruption,'' a statement from the panel said. The World Bank said last week it had hired outside auditors to investigate possible embezzlement and kickbacks involving its own officials.The GAO has already launched a review of the World Bank's sister institution, the International Monetary Fund. The Clinton administration wants Congress to provide $18 billion to the IMF to replenish reserves drained by multibillion-dollar rescue deals for Indonesia, Russia, South Korea and Thailand."

Conservative Current 8/14/98 Pat Buchanan "As the talking heads of the cable channels chatter on about what Bill Clinton should tell the grand jury -- the truth is among the options being discussed -- an event of epochal significance is taking place beyond our shores. The Global Economy is careening toward disaster, and the Clintonites seem clueless about how to stop it.."

Reuters 8/25/98 "As U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin enjoys a last week of summer vacation, a nightmare scenario is threatening to unfold for the global economy that could be beyond the reach of U.S. policymakers. The financial crisis that started in Asia last year once looked manageable, but analysts warned Monday it may turn into a global epidemic. Billions of dollars in international emergency aid have failed to contain the turmoil. There is hardly an emerging market left that has been spared. Russia's economy is crumbling fast, and now Latin America threatens to become the next victim.."

AP Alice Ann Love 9/1/98 "Even as they seek to reassure nervous American investors, Clinton administration officials are scrambling to keep up with spreading global financial turmoil. "The world is currently working its way through a difficult period,'' said Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. "We have a wildfire in the international economy and no one really knows how to control the fire,'' said economist Sung Won Sohn of Norwest Corp. in Minneapolis. "I don't think the U.S. economy will come out unscathed.''

Freeper Leroy S Mort 2/10/99 ".Seems Ms Harkin pulled a sweetheart deal at OPIC in January of '97 that directly benefitted a United Technologies joint venture with the Russian rocket industry. Then, Voila!, in April of '97, she lands a Sr VP Chair job with United Technologies with responsibilities for overseas planning and coordination with Washington. And now it seems, UT is making some big investments in China.."

7/10/98 New York Times Fareed Zakaria "The fire raging in East Asia today jeopardizes one of the central achievements of postwar American foreign policy -- the stabilization and growth of East Asia. Even more dangerously, if it continues to fester, this crisis could undermine support for an open global economy and economic and political liberalization across the world."

7/10/98 Patrick Buchanan ""The economic fate of Asia and to a great extent the rest of the world ... rests more than ever before in the hands of Japan's political leaders and bureaucrats," writes James Baker on July 8 in The Washington Times. The "worst-case scenario," says an alarmed ex-secretary of state, is "now all too easy to see. ... If Japan does not follow up its most recent rhetoric of reform with a resolve to act, the yen is bound to sink further, taking down the Chinese yuan. That could bring the Global Economy down. Frankly, we may be even closer to the edge than Baker imagines. Writing the same day in The Wall Street Journal, Judy Shelton, a professor of international economics, claims the only thing preventing a devaluation of the Chinese yuan is a decision by the regime. When Beijing concludes that it no longer wishes to squander its $140 billion hoard of cash and gold reserves defending its currency, the game is over.

7/13/98 Hong Kong Standard "Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto signalled he was close to resigning as his party's devastating loss in Japan's key upper house elections became clear early Monday morning.."Whatever other people say I will make a decision by myself.'' ."

The Japan Times 7/13/98 Kaoruko Aita Asako Murakami ".When the opposition parties filed a no-confidence resolution against the Hashimoto Government in June, the prime minister said he would interpret Sunday's election results as the public's judgment on his administration."

7/13/98 Stratfor Intelligence Briefing ".There are increasing signs of cooperation between Japan and Russian designed to place the United States in a position where it can no longer resist pressures to underwrite a massive bailout of Asia and Russia without the compensatory trade concessions or painful social reforms. We expect this process to proceed not in spite of, but because of, political chaos in Moscow and Tokyo."

7/13/98 AP Eric Talmadge "Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto resigned Monday in reaction to his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's stunning defeat in elections dominat ed by voter anger over his failure to pull Japan out of its worst recession in decades...."

Reuters 8/31/98 "Japan's Economic Planning Agency Minister Taichi Sakaiya said on Sunday that Russia had failed to promote a Western-style market economy while lawlessness had gained force. "We hoped that Russia would achieve a market-oriented economy but it didn't. In fact, it is a mafia economy," Sakaiya said on a national TV Asahi program.."

Global Intelligence Update 9/14/98 "Late last week, the Japanese government indicated that it would oppose an IMF plan for bailing out Ukraine. The reason: Japan was tired of the West's willingness to help CIS countries when it is unwilling to bail out Indonesia and other Asian nations. Japan is certainly correct. The West is being far more helpful to the CIS than it is to Asia..The answer lies in a simple fact: Asia has structured its economies in such a way that its decline poses only a marginal threat to the West. The West worries, but it is simply not motivated to act. .Asia protected itself so effectively against non-Asian economies that the rest of the world never dramatically profited from its relationship with Asia. As a result, the collapse of Asia left the rest of the world with relatively little exposure. The United States, in particular, was left with little to lose from Asia's collapse. It therefore did little to prevent it or to help Asia recover from it. Like all tragedies, Asia's success contained the seeds of its own downfall. It also points to the fact that Asia will have to save itself. No one else is motivated to help out. This is the problem. No one in Asia wants to see a resurgent Japan. The Japanese do not want to undertake the burdens of leadership. But there is no way out for Asia except to use the yen as a new, regional reserve currency. This relatively small step will contain many unintended consequences, not least of which will be a region shaped in ways none of the players want. But Japan is the world's second largest economy and the region's largest, dwarfing China's economy. It is also the most stable country in the region. Leadership falls naturally and inevitably to Japan, particularly as we expect China to slide into disorder as its economy deteriorates. ."

Reuters 11/16/98 ".The United States and Japan offered $10 billion in aid for battered Asia Monday, but their generosity came with a blunt lecture by U.S. Vice President Al Gore on democracy that a furious Malaysia condemned as ''disgusting.'' The funds are aimed at shoring up the region's ailing banks and debt-laden corporations. Japan has already offered $30 billion of aid to its stricken neighbors. Both countries have contributed massively to International Monetary Fund rescue packages worth more than $100 billion for Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea. Shortly before the package was unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Gore made a pitch for more democracy as a cure for the region's twin curses of cronyism and corruption. At a dinner for APEC business leaders, he saluted as "brave people'' anti-government supporters of sacked Malaysian finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, sparking outrage from his hosts. Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz, spitting anger, told reporters on her way out of the dinner it was "the most disgusting speech I've heard in my life.'' "To me, as a government minister, we are disgusted,'' she declared. Asked about the $5 billion offered by Washington, Rafidah said: "I don't care. To me it's not worth five cents.'' ."

Electronic Telegraph 11/18/98 Hugo Gurdon ".A DIPLOMATIC row between the United States and Malaysia has demonstrated how willing the world's sole superpower has become to swat small east Asian countries that it finds irritating. Where once the Cold War and later Asia's burgeoning economic importance would have stayed their hands, Vice-President Al Gore and the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, went out of their way this week to take shots at the government in Kuala Lumpur. Mr Gore, standing in for President Clinton at the Asia-Pacific summit in the Malaysian capital, lectured his hosts on the merits of democracy. Referring to protests in east Asian countries suffering financial crises, Mr Gore said: "Among nations suffering economic crisis we continue to hear calls for democracy. We hear them today - right here, right now - among the brave people of Malaysia." Asian jaws dropped. Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia's Trade Minister, said: "It was the most disgusting speech I've heard in my life." Mrs Rafidah then got into a public spat with Mrs Albright, who had visited the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy premier and economic reformer who is on trial facing charges of corruption and illegal sex. Asked why she spent time with Mrs Anwar, Mrs Albright said Washington regarded Mr Anwar as "a leader". Mrs Rafidah said that on her next trip to the US she might visit Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel investigating Mr Clinton's alleged misdeeds. Mrs Albright said that there was a big difference between Mr Anwar and Mr Starr. The independent counsel was not in prison. American officials later described Mrs Rafidah as "pathetic"."

Reuters 11/19/98 Ranjan Roy ".Vice President Al Gore bolted for the airport only minutes after the end of a disastrous Pacific Rim trade summit - and that was not a minute too soon for many Malaysians....THE DAY AFTER HIS hasty departure, the U.S. vice president's actions during the APEC summit continued to ruffle Malaysian feathers today, including those of prominent opposition figures whom Gore apparently thought he supporting....On Monday night, Gore praised Malaysia's anti-government protesters, calling them "brave" for their struggle to demand democracy. Problem is, those same protesters want to end the 17-year leadership of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the host of the economic summit....Making matters worse, Gore spoke in front of Mahathir and several other prominent Asian leaders, then walked out of a banquet in his honor...."Ill-bred" and "ignorant" were among the latest slaps (against Gore) in the headlines of the government-backed dailies Thursday...."

Hong Kong Standard 11/23/98 Chang Kuo-sin ".ARROGANT pronouncements by United States President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore and the administration supporting the ousted Anwar Ibrahim were the first test of how qualified they are in speaking on a foreign controversy involving political and moral overtones. Firstly, it is an obvious attempt at intervening in an internal affair of a foreign country which is not altogether unexpected because it is in line with the old American habit of lecturing other countries on their internal problems. This is in contrast with the politeness of other countries.. Secondly, whether or not the allegations against Anwar of immoral acts are yet to be proven. But the allegations against President Clinton of immoral acts have been proven by independent investigation. Set against this background it obviously takes courage _ and arrogance _ for Vice-President Gore to talk about the merits of democracy in the Apec summit in Kuala Lumpur. His reference to the virtue of democracy is particularly illogical for it was exactly this virtue of democracy that is shielding President Clinton from being punished for his immoral acts in the sex scandal. Democracy in the US has virtually given immunity to President Clinton from criminal acts. Despite the acts, the American public persisted in giving him high job approval, though the majority consider him to be dishonest and untruthful..<B>Undoubtedly in Asian eyes, what President Clinton had done, proved to have done, had disqualified the US from ever talking on morals and virtue to other countries.</B> The time has perhaps come for the world to be spared some doses of American hypocrisy.."

 

 

Other

The Hindu 12/28/98 "..Led by the Congress(I), the entire political spectrum has spoken with one voice against the unabated violence against the Christians in Gujarat. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have been severely criticized by almost all political parties and various citizens forums for the sangh parivar's current violent campaign against Christian organizations and educational institutions in Gujarat, especially in the Surat and Dangs districts. Even the BJP has found itself constrained to disapprove the attacks...The CPI(M) politburo in a statement said it was shocking that Christian missionary schools and churches in the BJP-ruled Gujarat continued to be targeted despite ``assurances to the contrary'' by Union Ministers. ``The inability to rein in the culprits smacks of a connivance of both the State and the Union Government in permitting, if not encouraging, such attacks'', it alleged. The politburo pointed out that after the ``earlier round'' of violence, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani had claimed that there was no law and order problem in Gujarat. He should now take note of what was happening and order ``necessary action'', it said squarely blaming the ``saffron brigade'' for the violence. It appealed to the people not to get provoked by attempts to fuel social tension.."

7/10/98 Washington Post Charles Krauthammer ".in the lull that comes when Clinton's spinners are too jet-lagged to publicly pretend -- the China trip amounts to a significant loss for the United States.For an arbitrary, highly repressive, often truculent regime to win such praise from the world's pre-eminent democracy is a priceless political asset. You just can't buy that kind of legitimacy. (Although in Clinton's case, who knows?) .This left our real Asian partners -- nonthreatening, pro-American, economically successful democracies such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan -- gasping. .Clinton signaled that his hunger for the Chinese market and desire for pleasing photo-ops will dominate American foreign policy in the region. We'll pay for this trip. Thank God he's home. "

8/23/98 The Nation (Bangkok Thailand) "A wave of anger swept across much of Asia Saturday, as opposition to the US bombings in Afghanistan and Sudan mounted, with American claims of self-defence dismissed amid accusations of cowardice and tyranny.But Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes accused Washington of violating the UN charter and international laws by ordering the military strikes to avenge the bomb attacks against US embassies in Africa. ''A powerful nation should not exercise its strength against smaller and weaker countries,'' he said, adding the US bombings were ''very unfair and excessively heavy handed.."

The Hindu 11/5/98 DPA ".China today voiced strong opposition to the Dalai Lama's visit to the U.S. and urged Washington to adhere to its commitment to recognise Tibet as a part of China or risk harming bilateral ties, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and secular leader, yesterday began a 10-day visit to the U.S. He was expected to meet President Bill Clinton and present his definition of autonomy for the remote Himalayan region, where he contends that the indigenous religion, culture and language of the people of the region are being undermined by China's Communist leadership. ``If the U.S. commits to having him, especially to meetings with leaders, I think it plays a role in conniving to support his activities which will seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a regular news briefing.."

Reuters 11/10/98 ".China Tuesday repeated a veiled warning to President Clinton against meeting Tibet's exiled god-king, the Dalai Lama, in Washington. Separately, the official People's Daily accused the Dalai Lama of "playing tricks'' during his nine-day U.S. visit. The twin blasts dampened expectations of a breakthrough between the 1989 Nobel peace prize winner and China."The Dalai Lama has for a long time engaged in activities to split the motherland and preached independence for Tibet,'' foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a news briefing. "To this day, he has not repented,'' Zhu said. "We ask U.S. leaders not to meet the Dalai Lama to avoid harming China-U.S. relations,'' he said. The Dalai Lama is expected to meet President Clinton at the White House this week.."

Agence France Presse 12/4/98 ".The Dalai Lama .came under attack from an official Chinese newspaper Friday which dubbed the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader a "terrorist" for supporting India's nuclear tests in May. "The Dalai Lama's words only remind people of a terrorist who greatly admires violence and shows no respect for the well-known world rules," the Tibet Daily said in an editorial, excerpts of which were published in the English-language China Daily. The Dalai Lama had called for "full understanding" of the tests conducted by India in the face of global condemnation, it said. "Peace is just a cloak for him to cheat the world," the article said. "Granting Dalai the (Nobel Peace) prize shed discredit on the prize." "Dalai's 'smart' comments on the nuclear tests tore off his mask and showed the nature of a faked pacifist," it said. "Black turns into white and threats are called peace in his mouth." London-based pressure group the Tibet Information Network (TIN) said last month that China had intensified a campaign against the Dalai Lama's followers in Lhasa, searching their homes and cracking down on Tibetan children studying in India..."

Reuters 12/20/98 ".The vote to impeach President Clinton could undermine the credibility of American policy in Japan and the Asian-Pacific region, Japanese political analysts said Sunday. Although it was unlikely that there would be any immediate impact on U.S.-Japan relations from the House impeachment vote, Japanese law-makers and citizens are likely to greet U.S.-backed initiatives with greater cynicism, said Shinichi Yoshida, senior political writer for the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun.."

China Daily 1/12/99 Jin Zequing Freeper notes ".The China daily is the official English newspaper for the Chinese Communist Party. Its' articles reflect the views of their government and officials. The following is an opinion piece that was published today concerning relevations from the Cox report. Under it is the letter Clinton sent to Jiang Zemin on the first day of this year.." From China Daily ".THE Investigation Report on Technology Transfers to China issued by the US Congressional Ad Hoc Committee on China and Technology Transfers is just one more attempt by some China-haters to demonize China and poison Sino-US relations. The report again picked up the clumsily fabricated rumour of the alleged Chinese theft of sensitive American technology in fulfilling a satellite-launching contract. The contracts involved contained clearly defined terms and procedures, all of which were observed to the letter.."

Reuters 5/24/99 "...China concerned about Japan-U.S. military ties China expressed ``grave concern'' on Tuesday over the passage of controversial bills by Japan's parliament aimed at strengthening defence ties with the United States and expanding Tokyo's military role in the region. The official People's Daily quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao as saying Japan should ``honour its solemn commitments not to become a military power and to adhere to peace and development through concrete actions.'' ``We will listen to its words and watch its deeds,'' Zhu said....."

Chinatimes 5/31/99 AFP "...Tokyo's newly-elected nationalist governor, Shintaro Ishihara, is to seek joint use of all eight US military facilities located in the Japanese capital, a newspaper said Sunday. The Tokyo metropolitan government will include the joint-use request in a list of demands to the central government in June, said Mainichi Daily News. The request targets the US Air Force's Yokota base whose return was a central issue during Ishihara's April campaign....."

Reuters Yvonne Chang 6/20/99 "...Japanese authorities are cracking down on the doomsday cult accused of a deadly 1995 nerve gas attack on Tokyo subways. Spurred by fears that Aum Shinri Kyo (Supreme Truth Sect) is making a comeback, police and even tax collectors are using all legal means available to combat it. But authorities complain existing laws do not give them enough scope to take preventive action...... Fears the cult could launch an attack has forced residents living close to sect members to take action. In some cases this has involved setting up 24-hour surveillance huts near Aum facilities and in another, digging two-metre (six-foot) deep trenches around Aum premises to bar its members from approaching private buildings.....``There are no signs the cult poses an imminent threat to society,'' a security source who declined to be identified told Reuters. But authorities say cult members clinging to their creed, which justifies murder as a ``virtue'' if ordered by Asahara to realise his prophesies an Armageddon-like end of the world, is reason enough to worry...."

International Herald Tribune 6/19/99 Masashi Nishihara "...On July 8, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan will visit Beijing, the first of the leaders who attended the summit talks in Cologne early this month to do so. Furthermore, he will be the first major U.S. ally to go to China since the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. During his visit, the Chinese are likely to adopt one of two strategies. They may strongly criticize U.S. actions in the Kosovo crisis but refrain from commenting on Japanese wartime conduct, in an attempt to draw Japan closer. Or they may decide to criticize the strengthened U.S.-Japanese alliance as destabilizing for the region and warn against the re-emergence of Japanese militarism. The aim of both strategies is similar: to undermine the key alliance in the Asia-Pacific region...."

International Herald Tribune 6/29/99 Masashi Nishihara "...The Kosovo conflict has sharpened tensions between major powers in Asia and the Pacific. There is now a risk of another Cold War emerging in the region. Such a development would be destabilizing and must be averted. When NATO began bombing Yugoslavia, China and Russia once again became close political allies.... Both China and Russia suspect that the eastward expansion of NATO and the recently strengthened alliance between Japan and the United States are linked as part of a pincer movement to squeeze their countries from both east and west..... Moreover, North Korea now seems to think that it may be the next target of U.S. bombing. It is likely that North Korea will move closer to China to secure its support in case of an armed conflict between Pyongyang and Washington.... Relations between Japan and China have also been seriously damaged in the last six months. Ill-timed remarks by President Jiang Zemin of China in Tokyo last fall about Japanese behavior before and during World War II angered many in Japan. This climate of tension and mutual suspicion in the Asia-Pacific region has produced something similar to the two opposing sides - the U.S.-led anti-Communist camp and the Chinese-Soviet camp - that existed during the early Cold War period. On July 8, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan will visit Beijing, the first of the leaders who attended the summit talks in Cologne early this month to do so. Furthermore, he will be the first major U.S. ally to go to China since the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade...... "

Christian Science Monitor 7/7/99 Cameron Barr "…In recent months Japan's government has: Begun building its very own spy satellites. Allowed its warships to fire shots in anger for the first time since World War II. Partially approved a law allowing police to tap phones. Opened debate on whether to declare a flag and anthem evocative of the war as national symbols. Initiated the process of revising this country's pacifist Constitution. One by one, these items barely register on the news seismometer. Taken together, they seem to signal the emergence of a more assertive Japanese state. For many Japanese and many other Asians, a strong government in Japan inevitably recalls the run-up to World War II, when militarists acting in the name of the emperor created an intolerant, authoritarian regime…..Then isn't necessarily now, of course. But feelings of insecurity - internal and external - are prompting Japan's government to do things that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, such as all of the above. "Some non-Japanese people might say that the country is becoming more assertive, nationalistic, strong, et cetera," cautions Terumasa Nakanishi, a professor of international relations at Kyoto University. "As I see it, it's more that [a] sense of crisis has brought people together, making both politicians and the public alike think that they should 'do something.' "…The experts were divided over how the "profound" changes under way here would ultimately affect the country's defense posture, but some argued that the US and Japan "may be drifting apart in the security realm." …."

Asian Wall Street Journal 7/27/99 Robert Madsen "...In the last year or so a subtle change has occurred in Japan's attitude toward its own national defense. On the one hand Tokyo has decided to build a more robust security system by, among other things, developing a new satellite system to gather military intelligence without depending so heavily upon foreign sources. On the other, the balance of domestic political opinion has shifted in favor of more vigorous use of the country's Self-Defense Forces. Indeed, some mainstream politicians are now advocating a reinterpretation of Article Nine of the constitution that would permit the SDF to participate in "collective self-defense" with other countries. Even more striking, for the first time in decades this suggestion has failed to evoke strenuous condemnation from the Left...."

AP via Newsday 7/27/99 Joji Sakurai "...Since its defeat in World War II, Tokyo has abided by a pacifist constitution that bars it from offensive military action. However, the annual defense report it issued Tuesday makes clear that Japan has the right to defend itself -- including the use of military strikes to prevent likely attacks. Such talk would have been taboo just a few years ago. Tokyo has long been extremely cautious about taking a stand on defense, as any sign of militarist revival generally draws nervous protest from its Asian neighbors. The 500-page defense report, Japan's longest ever, came amid the country's efforts to redefine its security role in an increasingly tense Asia. Under pressure from the United States to take more responsibility for its defense, Japan's parliament passed a new set of security guidelines in May that allow Japanese forces to provide greater assistance to American troops in Asia and give the United States greater access to air- and seaports here. But it was a North Korean missile launch last August that shocked Japan into re-evaluating its national defense....."

Pacific Stars And Stripes 7/29/99 AP "...Since its defeat in World War II, Japan has abided by a pacifist constitution that bars it from offensive military action. However, Japan's annual defense report issued Tuesday makes clear that the country has the right to defend itself - including the use of military strikes to prevent likely attacks. Such talk would have been taboo just a few years ago. Tokyo has long been extremely cautious about taking a stand on defense, as any sign of militarist revival generally draws nervous protests from its Asian neighbors. The 500-page defense report, Japan's longest ever, came amid the country's efforts to redefine its security role in an increasingly tense Asia. Under pressure from the United States to take more responsibility for its defense, Japan's parliament passed a new set of security guidelines in May that allows Japanese forces to provide greater assistance to U.S. troops in Asia and give the United States greater access to airports and seaports here...."

Washington Post 8/2/99 Doug Struck "...Jitters over signs that North Korea might test another long-range missile have hastened Japan's gradual move away from a half-century of strict pacifism. Japan last week sounded markedly different from the country that usually takes great pains to avoid any stridency that could evoke memories of its wartime militarism. Government officials joined Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright last Monday to issue a threat--of economic and diplomatic consequences, but still a threat--to North Korea if it fires another rocket over Japanese territory, as it did last August On Tuesday, the Japanese military released an annual report thick with warnings about the dangers from North Korea. On the same day, the Japanese parliament formed councils to study replacing the constitution, established during the U.S. occupation of the country after World War II, that prohibits Japan from using military force. ..."

http://www.foxnews.com/js_index.sml?content=/news/wires2/ 8/4/99 AP "...In what is seen as a countermeasure to growing military threats from North Korea, longtime rivals Japan and South Korea held a joint naval exercise today for the third day. The drill, the first joint military exercise between the two countries, was conducted amid fear that North Korea is preparing to test a long-range ballistic missile. The reclusive regime test-fired a missile last August that flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific. The six-day exercise, a mock search and rescue of a wrecked civilian vessel in international waters, is being held in the East China Sea between Japan's southwestern island of Kyushu and South Korea's Cheju Island, off the southwestern coast, the Defense Ministry said...."

The New York Times 8/4/99 Howard French "...North Korea's preparations for the test launching of a new long-range missile this month have caused a dramatic change of course in defense strategy and diplomacy for both Japan and South Korea. ...Japan has agreed to take part in a "theater missile defense system" created in Washington and at the same time is speeding up its own plans for a satellite surveillance system. Most surprising is Japan's decision to consider equipping its largely toothless air force with airborne refueling and attack capabilities that would enable its F-15s to launch retaliatory strikes against North Korea. South Korea, whose capital, Seoul, lies within easy range of its northern neighbor's missiles and artillery, has already indicated to Washington its desire to build new missiles capable of reaching much of North Korea, including the capital, Pyongyang. Under a 1979 agreement, South Korea must obtain Washington's consent before building missiles with a range of over 112 miles.... The message, as stated here last week by Cohen, and repeated over and over by others, is that by launching a new missile with an estimated 3,700-mile range -- one theoretically able to strike Alaska or Hawaii -- North Korea has nothing to gain and everything to lose...."

http://www.drudgereport.com/gertz.htm 8/5/99 Bill Gertz Washington Times "...The Pentagon is considering a request from the U.S. Space Command to deploy a new missile defense radar in Japan to monitor North Korea's upcoming missile test, The Washington Times has learned. Air Force Space Command chief Gen. Richard Myers asked the Pentagon last month to use the tracking radar from the Theater High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, to monitor the test of the Taepo Dong-2 missile, Pentagon officials said. ..."

The Straits Times International Herald Tribune, AFP 8/8/99 "...Japan and the United States are expected to reach a formal agreement this week on research towards developing a ballistic missile, amid rising tension over North Korea's apparent intention to test-fire a new missile. Japanese defence officials said that the US Defence Department and the Japan Defence Agency had worked out specific terms of a memorandum under which researchers would collaborate on four basic aspects of the missile's design -- nose cone, warhead, infrared seeker and rocket motor....."

MSNBC 8/6/99 Kari Huus "...This week, the two most heavily armed merchant ships since World War II, the Pacific Teal and the Pacific Pintail, headed for the Cape of Good Hope. Their cargo: enough plutonium to make 75 nuclear warheads. The ships, en route from France to Japan, are the first of many slated to move large quantities of weapons grade plutonium across the Pacific, part of a trend that some experts will greatly increase the risk of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands. THE TWO SHIPS are armed with 30-millimeter cannons, seven tons of ammunition and enough fuel to make the 60-day journey without stopping. In Japan, the material, known as mixed oxide fuel or "MOX," is to be used to power civilian nuclear plants...."

Associated Press 8/10/99 "...Amid rising tensions, North Korea threatened Japan today with ``merciless retaliation'' unless Tokyo atones for its colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The strong words came in a statement issued to mark the 54th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan on Aug. 15, 1945. ``If Japan opts to open good-neighborly relations through liquidation of the past, the (North) will welcome it with pleasure,'' said the statement, carried by the country's foreign news outlet, the Korean Central News Agency. ``But if it repeats its crime-woven history and undertakes a reckless provocation, the (North) will never miss the opportunity of meting out merciless retaliation,'' the statement said...."

Financial Times 8/17/99 Alexandra Harney "Japan and the US yesterday signed agreements on joint development of the Theatre Missile Defence system. Masahiko Komura, Japan's foreign minister, and Thomas Foley, US ambassador to Japan, exchanged diplomatic notes about the programme and defence officials exchanged a memorandum of understanding on expected costs and division of responsibilities. Designing the system could cost Japan and the US $36m each and take at least two years, according to the Asahi newspaper. The entire project is expected to last between five and six years and cost between ¥50bn and ¥60bn ($431m-$517m)….."