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FBIS3-46324_6 | Patten Urges Standing Up to China | responsibilities to Hong Kong. They are incorporated in the Joint Declaration. When ministers signed the Joint Declaratio n-- and Parliament endorsed it -- they took the view, reasonably enough, that it meant what it so eloquently said. The gradual development of democracy in Hong Kong has been a consistent aim of the British Government since 1984. As Richard Luce put it in the House of Commons in December that year: `We all fully accept that we should build up a firmly based democratic administration in Hong Kong in the years between now and 1997.' Or as Geoffrey Howe expressed it in 1989: `We have always sought to develop representative government in line with the wishes of the community as a whole and to ensure that what is achieved under British administration is firm and durable.' I take that view too, and am trying to make sure this treaty, to which Britain put her name, is implemented--to the letter and in the spirit. Fourth, it is argued that if only we weren't having today's argument with China, all in Hong Kong would be peace and harmony. But how much stability would we have earned ourselves through a rotten deal which compromised Hong Kong's electoral arrangements? We could have spent our last years of sovereignty defending the indefensible against every pro-democracy politician in Hong Kong and against critical or cynical opinion at Westminster and world-wide. Events between now and 1997 would have made life increasingly uncomfortable for a government which would have lost its authority. Fifth, there is the patronising argument that people in Hong Kong are only interested in money; that they don't care about democracy; and that clean elections are irrelevant to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity as her economy converges with that of the Chinese hinterland. Naturally, Hong Kong families want peace and quiet, like families everywhere else. But whenever they have been given the chance they have voted for more democracy, not less. Their aspirations are modest and they are moderately expressed, yet they clearly recognise that what makes Hong Kong special, what makes it unique, is the rule of law and the freedoms of a plural society. A decently elected legislature is a part of that fabric. If there is no level playing- field for the legislature, what chance of a level playing-field elsewhere -- in business, for example? The promise that Hong Kong people will run Hong |
FBIS3-46340_2 | `Charter' Signatories Criticize Qin Yongmin Arrest | right to make proposals on the state system within the limits allowed by the Constitution. The persecution of the "Peace Charter" drafters in any form is to rudely trample upon and ruthlessly mock the laws in our country. 2. The purpose of the "Peace Charter" was to promote peaceful changes. Democratic politics and the protection of human rights represent the world trend. We shall never give up our position and ideals and shall never yield to any pressure, even if this means that we lose our personal freedom and lives. 3. We strongly demand that the authorities release Qin Yongmin and guarantee that they will no longer violate the legal rights of the citizens in any form. In view of the similar unfortunate experience of such democracy champions as Qi Dashan, Zhang Xianliang, and Fu Shenqi, we call for: The immediate abolition of the reeducation-through-labor system and the detention-for- investigation system, which go against the existing criminal law in our country; and for stripping the administrative institutions of the illegal power to deprive citizens of their personal freedom without trial by the judicial organs. Yesterday, when answering reporters' inquiries, Yang Zhou said that the action by the authorities had aroused indignation among the people and he also felt that the action by the authorities was extremely ridiculous. He said that the "Peace Charter" was aimed at peace but it had been treated violently by the authorities and he felt that this was rather ironic. He added that the authorities sentenced Qin Yongmin without trial and this was not the sort of behavior expected of the state in a country exercising rule of law, thus it crushed the people's hopes. In addition, Lo Hoi-sing, who was jailed on counterrevolutionary charges in the 1989 prodemocracy movement, said yesterday: Although the mainland authorities have made concessions on the human rights issue to the United States and indicated that they would release some prodemocracy activists, their basic attitude toward human rights and the prodemocracy movement has not changed because, when talking about the releases, the mainland authorities continued to arrest prodemocracy activists and sentence them to imprisonment. The action against Qin Yongmin was a good example. He held that as long as the "old man" who held the paramount power in the Chinese mainland continued to regard the prodemocracy movement as an unstable factor, the mainland authorities will never change this point of view. |
FBIS3-46379_0 | MOFTEC's Wu Yi Speaks at News Conference Overseas Businesses Taking Shape | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, January 28 (XINHUA) -- Wu Yi, Chinese minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation (MOFTEC), said here today that by the end of last year China had set up 4,497 enterprises abroad with a total investment of 5.16 billion U.S. dollars. At a press conference held by the Press Office under the State Council, Wu said Chinese overseas investments have spread over more than 120 countries and regions. Among them, 2,927 are trade-related enterprises, and non-trade enterprises number 1,570. Wu said that 380 overseas enterprises were approved by or registered with MOFTEC last year. The volume of the contracted investment was 210 million U.S. dollars, of which Chinese investment was 120 million U.S. dollars, occupying 56 percent of total contracted investment volume. It is learned that Chinese overseas investment involves not only imports and exports but the non-trade fields of resource development, processing, production, assembly, contracted projects, communications and transportation, finance and insurance, medical and health ventures, consultancy service, and hotels and restaurants. |
FBIS3-46390_0 | Water Conservancy Project Preparation Nearly Done | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Beijing, January 28 (XINHUA) -- Preparatory work for Xiaolangdi Water Conservancy Project on the Yellow River, the second largest of its kind in China, is nearing completion. The preparatory work, which began at the end of 1991 and is expected to be completed eight months ahead of schedule, has cost about 1.2 billion yuan (about 137 million U.S. dollars). Infrastructure for the project, including facilities for transport, water and electric supplies, telecommunications and facilities to house the construction workers, has been completed. Roads totalling 60 km, covering the construction site, have opened to traffic. The Yellow River bridge, or Huang He bridge, which ranks first in China in handling capacity, has been built. The rail transshipment station, which is expected to handle nearly one million tons of materials and equipment, is also nearing completion. During a recent inspection of the construction site, Deputy Minister of Water Conservancy Zhang Chunyuan urged all the workers to continue to work hard so that the principal part of the project will start this year. Located about 130 km downstream from the Sanmen Gorges Dam in central China's Henan Province, the Xiaolangdi Water Control Project has a designed storage capacity of 12.6 billion cubic meters. Experts say that the 11-year project, together with other reservoirs nearby, will enable the lower reaches of the river to resist the level of a flood that occurs only once in one thousand years, instead of its present water-control capacity of only once in dozens of years. The project will make it possible to basically eliminate ice runs plaguing the lower reaches and prevent the Yellow River bed in the lower reaches from silting and rising, which has been a constant problem for hundreds of years. The project will cost hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars. Part of the project will use loans from the World Bank, and international bidding will be invited for the undertaking. |
FBIS3-46413_0 | Yearender Views Relations Among CIS Nations | Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN ["Year-End Report" by reporter Zhu Chengjun (4555 2110 6511): "Relations Among CIS Nations Are Still Evolving" -- XINHUA headline] [Text] Beijing 18 Dec (XINHUA) -- It has been two years since the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States [CIS]. This year, various CIS nations have experienced difficulties and frustrations to varying degrees, resulting in changes in the relations among the members. For quite some time, generally, the economies of the CIS member nations have had many problems, with serious production setbacks. While some nations have experienced prolonged war, political instability, and fierce internal struggles, others have been mired in nationality and territorial disputes. Confronting all sorts of real-life, serious difficulties, CIS nations are adjusting their own policies. If seeking their own futures soon after the disintegration of the Soviet Union had been the main goals of various CIS nations last year, this year should be the one during which they gradually regain their consciousness "from the intoxication of going their own way" and start exploring new cooperative means among themselves in a bid to overcome political, economic, and social crises. The signing of the "CIS Constitution" among leaders of seven nations, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, in Minsk in January this year, that binds all member nations, signified a temporary end to the year-long CIS "uncertainties." In May, leaders of nine CIS nations signed in Moscow a declaration on the establishment of an economic alliance among CIS nations. The declaration explicitly called for the setting up of a CIS common market where there will be a free flow of merchandise, labor services, capital, and labor forces within the unified economic area. Ukraine did not sign the "CIS Constitution" but signed all documents from that meeting. In September, leaders of nine nations further signed the CIS Economic Alliance Treaty, under which member nations will grant each other the most-favored-nation treatments and formulate a unified credit policy. Although their actual implementation remains considerably distant and the possibility of future changes is not excluded, the declaration and the treaty they signed reflected the urgency and wishes of the contracting nations in seeking cooperation. In the military field, the relatively prominent feature for this year has been the CIS August decision to establish a unified defense force in Tajikistan, consisting of troops from five nations -- including Russia and Kazakhstan -- to jointly deal with the opposition armed forces |
FBIS3-46416_0 | Beijing University Letter Protests Rights Encroachments | Language: Chinese Article Type:BFN [By reporter Teng Mei-ling (6772 5019 3781): "Beijing University Teacher and Student Issue a Letter of Appeal Jointly Signed by People From All Walks of Life, Calling for an End to Encroachment of Civil Rights"] [Text] Yuan Hongbing, deputy director of the Beijing University Law Department Procedural Law Teaching and Research Office, and Wang Jiaqi, a postgraduate law student specializing in handling cases wherein ordinary people have gone to law against government institutions, yesterday made public a letter of appeal signed by people from all walks of life, demanding that public security organs take measures to stop the occurrence of any events which encroach on citizens' interests and personal dignity. The letter of appeal was signed by 350 people and involved the largest number of people to sign a petition since the 4 June incident in 1989. The signatories include many prodemocracy activists. The petition was sparked by the following event. On 2 July 1992, Yan Zhengxue, "head" of an artist's village near Yuan Ming Yuan, who is also a deputy to the Jiaojiang City People's Congress, Heilongjiang, was involved in a dispute with a bus conductor. He was then detained by the public security organ of Beijing's Haidian District and was attacked by the security officers with electric batons. Yan later brought an administrative suit against the public security office, demanding that the public security organ be charged with such illegal behavior. The letter of appeal pointed out that if a deputy to the people's congress could be treated in such a rude way, then ordinary people would be less protected. The letter of appeal supported Yan Zhengxue's suit and demanded that the authorities act in accordance with the laws and that the law courts try cases independently and affix responsibility to those who should be blamed. The signatories will continue to pay close attention to the development of the event. The petition was caused by a dispute between the police and civilians and it was on the largest scale since the 4 June incident. The petition signatoriess included scholars, artists, reporters, lawyers, workers, cadres, members of the provincial people's congress standing committee, and ordinary people. Such prodemocracy activists as Wang Dan, Liu Xiaobo, and "Peace Charter" members Liu Nianchun and Zhou Guoqiang also signed the letter. The appeal letter was drafted in August 1993 but, as the drafters said, in order to prevent further |
FBIS3-46427_7 | Article Reviews China's Foreign Relations China Plays an Active Role in the Multipolar Arena The United States Will Shift Its Target for an Economic Boost to Asia Kohl Returns Home With Fruitful Results, Having Entered Into Business Contracts Worth $2.8 Billion ASEAN Leaders Take Large Groups of Entrepreneurs To Visit China Countries That Have Established Diplomatic Relations With China Have Increased to 158 Qian Qichen's Frequent and Busy Activities Epitomize China's Active Foreign Affairs | and crisp air, Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong, President of the Philippines Ramos, and Prime Minister of Thailand Chuan Likphai visited China one after another after they took office. Sultan Hassanal of Brunei visited Beijing after his country established diplomatic relations with China. Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir visited China for the second time. Although no senior officials from Indonesia visited China this year, President Suharto met with Jiang Zemin in Seattle. ASEAN Leaders Take Large Groups of Entrepreneurs To Visit China Economic and trade cooperation with mutual benefit is the distinctive characteristic of the contacts between China and ASEAN countries this year. Some ASEAN leaders took large groups of entrepreneurs to visit China directly and signed huge cooperative projects with China. Among them is the "Suzhou Industrial Park," a cooperative construction project between Singapore and China which introduces Singapore's experience in the construction and management of Yulang Industrial Park. Businessmen from Singapore have also invested in opening up a large area in Shandong Province. It is worth noting that the leaders of five ASEAN countries do not believe the "China threat theory" spread by the West. Instead, they consider that a strong and prosperous China will benefit the prosperity and stability of Asia. Moreover, they accept China's position on the Nansha Islands, that is, "put aside disputes and open them up together." Qiao Shi chose Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines for his first visit after he became chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC. It never happened in the past that a Chinese leader visited five ASEAN countries in one trip. During his visit Qiao Shi put forward the four principles which China would follow in its contacts with ASEAN countries. Of the four principles, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are listed first. This has further promoted the trust of the ASEAN countries in China. In November this year, ASEAN Secretary General Singh [xin ge 6580 2706] paid his first visit to China. His Beijing trip resulted in the establishment of the joint Sino-ASEAN Committee of Economic and Trade Cooperation and the Joint Sino-ASEAN Committee of Science and Technology Cooperation and promoted the cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in the fields of economy, trade and science and technology. New Developments in Sino-Vietnamese and Sino-Indian Relations This year China has also improved relations with Vietnam and India. They are neighbors which had once |
FBIS3-46431_1 | Column Criticizes U.S. on Radio Free Asia, Chemical Sales | Zemin to visit Seattle, the U.S. Administration's attitude toward China has tended to be realistic; ties between officials of the two sides have markedly increased; their mutual understanding has been greatly enhanced; and the momentum of development has been sound. However, anyone can see that there is always some element within the United States that is unwilling to see the normalization of international relations, especially Sino-U.S. relations, and is doing all it can to set up hurdles. The so-called "Radio Free Asia" that primarily targets China is precisely one of their most up-to-date inventions. A few days ago, the U.S. Senate officially adopted the bill on establishing "Radio Free Asia." Due to the U.S. economic recession, the United States is having difficulty making ends meet in its financial situation; the U.S. Federal Government has already received complaints from Los Angeles earthquake victims because it is unable to provide Los Angeles more money for relief purposes. Nevertheless, at this particular moment, they would rather spend a huge sum starting up "Radio Free Asia" -- why? Its real aim is precisely to utilize the station to create disputes, instigate turmoil, and realize the goal of interfering the internal affairs of China as well as other Asian countries. This being the case, the bill has naturally met with opposition from China and the other Asian countries. Such behavior of brazenly trampling upon international law and the criterion of international relations is a demonstration of its stubborn hegemonist ideas. Be Vigilant Against the Americans' Frame-Up Not long ago, news suddenly appeared in the U.S. press that prohibited chemicals that had been manufactured in China were found on a German vessel berthed in a Saudi Arabian port. The reports claimed that the marketing of these substances had been banned by an international agreement, and they could be used to create nuclear and biochemical weapons. When the news spread, many people associated it with the "Yinhe" incident that had been unilaterally created by the United States last summer. That incident went bankrupt due to the Americans' inferior handling of the situation; their plot was seen through and ended with their losing face throughout the world. The day before yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman explained the current issue. The fact was that, in response to the repeated requests of a U.S. company, a Chinese company sold a certain quantity of prohibited chemicals to that |
FBIS3-46431_2 | Column Criticizes U.S. on Radio Free Asia, Chemical Sales | Due to the U.S. economic recession, the United States is having difficulty making ends meet in its financial situation; the U.S. Federal Government has already received complaints from Los Angeles earthquake victims because it is unable to provide Los Angeles more money for relief purposes. Nevertheless, at this particular moment, they would rather spend a huge sum starting up "Radio Free Asia" -- why? Its real aim is precisely to utilize the station to create disputes, instigate turmoil, and realize the goal of interfering the internal affairs of China as well as other Asian countries. This being the case, the bill has naturally met with opposition from China and the other Asian countries. Such behavior of brazenly trampling upon international law and the criterion of international relations is a demonstration of its stubborn hegemonist ideas. Be Vigilant Against the Americans' Frame-Up Not long ago, news suddenly appeared in the U.S. press that prohibited chemicals that had been manufactured in China were found on a German vessel berthed in a Saudi Arabian port. The reports claimed that the marketing of these substances had been banned by an international agreement, and they could be used to create nuclear and biochemical weapons. When the news spread, many people associated it with the "Yinhe" incident that had been unilaterally created by the United States last summer. That incident went bankrupt due to the Americans' inferior handling of the situation; their plot was seen through and ended with their losing face throughout the world. The day before yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman explained the current issue. The fact was that, in response to the repeated requests of a U.S. company, a Chinese company sold a certain quantity of prohibited chemicals to that company in violation of the relevant regulations of the Chinese Government. The destination and purpose of those chemicals were entirely the business of the U.S. company in question. Of course, the matter must be investigated and clarified. Nevertheless, people cannot help but ask why the U.S. press should have singled out Saudi Arabia, Germany and China, but left out the country that was most directly related, namely, the United States? Was it out of neglect, omission, or a trick to feint to the east and attack in the west to deceive the public? Drawing a lesson from the "Yinhe" incident, people have ample grounds for asking a few more questions. |
FBIS3-46433_0 | XINHUA Reports U.S. Deputy Attorney General Resigns | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Washington, January 27 (XINHUA) -- Deputy Attorney General Philip Heymann, the No. 2 official in the U.S. Justice Department, resigned today because of different "operating and management styles" with Attorney General Janet Reno. Yet, in a joint press conference, neither elaborated on what the operating and management differences were. In a letter to President Bill Clinton this morning, Heymann, a Harvard law professor who headed the department's criminal division during the Carter administration, said: "The attorney general has concluded that our operational and management styles are too different for us to function fully effectively as a management team." Heymann is in charge of many of the operational functions of the department and is a key manager in coordinating operations among department agencies, such as the FBI, the drug enforcement administration and the immigration and naturalization service. The deputy attorney said he would stay on for a reasonable time so that a successor could be found. But he said he intended to return to teaching at Harvard University this summer. |
FBIS3-46475_0 | Prime Minister Delivers New Year Message | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Nuraina Samad] [Text] Kuala Lumpur, Fri [31 December] -- Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed said Malaysians must not run away from challenges facing the country and warned them not to make greed and excessive personal wants the driving force for moving ahead. The Prime Minister said the country would progress further if the people adopted a moderate approach, were not greedy and careful in their outlook. Dr. Mahathir said Malaysia was successful because its people had not forgotten their struggle and objectives. He said this in his New Year message over Radio and Television Malaysia tonight. The Prime Minister said the peace, stability, prosperity and progress now enjoyed by Malaysians did not come by accident. Much of it was the result of hard work and co-operation from all sides -- the rakyat [people], Government, workers and entrepreneurs. The concentration of efforts by everyone had helped Malaysia achieve encouraging performance in all fields throughout 1993, he said. Dr. Mahathir said societies in any country wished for prosperity. This led to the creation of numerous theories and ideologies like socialism and communism as well as a welfare state system. Wanting to have equality among the people is good but these ideologies do not take into account the human consideration. "Equality among us exists only at birth, when we are all clean of any sins. Whether or not we succeed to become decent human beings when we grow up depends on our attitude and efforts. "Others can help us. The Government can help us but in the end, what will bring us success is our own effort." Dr. Mahathir said this was why the people could not hope for society or the Government to provide all the facilities as promised by a western-style welfare state. He said: "Having only one section of the people working hard and with full responsibility while others who have less work and responsibility enjoy similar wages is not a sound practice. "If everyone is given equal benefits, no one will want to carry a heavy task. And there is no way to make work equally light." Dr. Mahathir said attempts to provide an equal salary for different types of jobs would only obstruct progress. "A country that does not progress and prosper will not be able to provide a good life for its people. What is easy to divide equally is poverty and |
FBIS3-46487_0 | `Constructive Engagement' With Burma To Continue | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Thailand will continue implementing Asean's constructive engagement policy towards Burma, which has shown positive signs of returning to democracy, Foreign Minister Prasong Sunsiri said. Rangoon had also expressed an interest in participating in Asean activities, including the Asean annual conference in July next year. "Thailand's foreign policy for 1994 will continue give priority to neighbouring countries, particularly Burma, as the situation in the other countries such as Cambodia is improving to a satisfactory level," the minister said. He repeated his earlier assertions that Laos, Vietnam, Burma and Cambodia should become more involved in the Asean forum. Laos and Vietnam have observer status; Cambodia was invited as "guest" to last year's Asean meeting in Singapore. There was strong opposition within Asean until recently to Thai proposals to invite Rangoon to the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bangkok in July, due to its record of human rights violations and refusal to hand over administrative power to a government elected in the May 1990 general polls. According to Prasong, Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, during his recent visit to Bangkok, had shown a "positive response" to Bangkok's move to invite Rangoon to the July meeting. He did not elaborate. However government spokesman Aphisit Wetchachiwa told reporters during Goh's visit that Singapore preferred the issue be considered by the Asean senior officials meeting. Prasong unofficially invited Burma to attend the annual Asean meeting as a "guest" during an official visit to Rangoon in September to co-chair the first Thai-Burma Joint Commission meeting. Burmese leaders said then they needed more time to consider the matter. The minister, a former head of the National Security Council, reiterated his belief that a constructive engagement policy is more effective than trade sanctions as a means of encouraging Burma towards democracy. The House Committee on human rights and justice recently sent a letter to members of Asean's Inter-Parliamentary Organization (IPO), asking them to push their governments to set conditions before accepting Burma into the six-nation regional grouping. |
FBIS3-46518_0 | Tokyo Urged To Become Permanent UNSC Member | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [Received via Nikkei Telecom Database] [Text] Sadako Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in an informal meeting with reporters at the Foreign Ministry on 22 December, spoke about Japan's role in the United Nations, and said Japan should increase its voice in the international community by becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council [UNSC]. She said: "As the international community sees it, Japan is already a power. The country should make better use of the United Nations in every meaning." Regarding a survey mission the Foreign Ministry plans to send to the former Yugoslavia, she said, "Even the simple fact that Japanese will be actually going to the site has meaning in itself." Referring to the question of making contributions to the former Yugoslavia, meanwhile, a source in the Foreign Ministry said on the same day that "if for preventive diplomacy in Macedonia, there should be many ways of doing it from the humanitarian viewpoint." [phrase as published] Thus, the source revealed that the ministry is also willing to send a survey mission to Macedonia to probe the possibility of providing assistance. |
FBIS3-46527_8 | Article Views Means To Stimulate Economy | to accept it without due consideration. The yen's rise is nothing but a result of a speculative move made by young speculators. The economic fundamentals of "the yen-valued world," which corresponds to 80 percent of the national economy, are almost not affected by exchange fluctuations. As for "the dollar-valued world," which represents the remaining 20 percent, even if the value of the yen becomes about 20 percent stronger against the dollar in a mere six months, it does not mean that its economic fundamentals will also undergo a similar change. Such a change is beyond possibility. We are now living in a period of time when it is not possible for our country to stand by itself. Speaking of Japan's relations with the rest of the world, Japan-U.S. relations are the most important. I have stressed for a long time that Japan is like a younger brother of the United States. After the end of the war, our brother helped us out of difficulty. One day, we should return the kindness. Meanwhile, if we compare the two brothers, we can see that the United States is rather interested in software. Attracting many persons of remarkable talent, the United States is already living in an age of highly advanced information. This is why the percentage of Americans working for manufacturing industries is decreasing more and more. According to statistics released in 1990, only 16.7 percent of the U.S. working population was employed by a manufacturing industry. Meanwhile, Japan continues to spend money to buy high-quality software from the United States. Thanks to its excellent manufacturing technology, it develops new products from U.S.-made software. New products are then supplied to the United States. It seems that the United States has finally begun to understand this situation. However, discussions between the two countries are still not going smoothly. For example, I thought that everything would be resolved once Japan and the United States reached agreement following ministerial level bilateral talks, such as meetings between the Japanese international trade and industry minister or the Japanese posts and telecommunications minister and the U.S. secretary of commerce or the U.S. trade representative. However, things were not so easy. Japan Has a Masochistic Tendency of Self-Condemnation There is the problem of increasing Japan's purchase of foreign semiconductors to more than 20 percent of its market. This is a striking example showing the discord between the two countries. |
FBIS3-46527_9 | Article Views Means To Stimulate Economy | already living in an age of highly advanced information. This is why the percentage of Americans working for manufacturing industries is decreasing more and more. According to statistics released in 1990, only 16.7 percent of the U.S. working population was employed by a manufacturing industry. Meanwhile, Japan continues to spend money to buy high-quality software from the United States. Thanks to its excellent manufacturing technology, it develops new products from U.S.-made software. New products are then supplied to the United States. It seems that the United States has finally begun to understand this situation. However, discussions between the two countries are still not going smoothly. For example, I thought that everything would be resolved once Japan and the United States reached agreement following ministerial level bilateral talks, such as meetings between the Japanese international trade and industry minister or the Japanese posts and telecommunications minister and the U.S. secretary of commerce or the U.S. trade representative. However, things were not so easy. Japan Has a Masochistic Tendency of Self-Condemnation There is the problem of increasing Japan's purchase of foreign semiconductors to more than 20 percent of its market. This is a striking example showing the discord between the two countries. The text of the new U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Agreement states that the Japanese Government "recognizes that the U.S. semiconductor industry expects foreign-made chips to gain more than a 20 percent share of the Japanese market by the end of 1992." However, the text also says clearly, "Both governments agreed that this numerical target does not constitute a guarantee, a ceiling, or a floor." Despite the contents of the agreement, once the semiconductor issue comes to the fore, Americans get excited and start talking about penalties in the case of failure to meet the target. Although there are only a few Japan-bashers among U.S. congressmen, when the matter becomes serious, the United States has a tendency to resort to punishment, even if there is no basis for it. The Japanese Government as well as the Japanese news media should become more conscious of this. They should tell people the truth, by calling what is right, right, and what is wrong, wrong. I do not know why, but Japanese people have a masochistic tendency to immediately take the blame before even trying to ascertain the truth, when they are severely criticized by people of other countries. Moreover, Japanese people have another strange mentality: |
FBIS3-46527_14 | Article Views Means To Stimulate Economy | companies; Type A companies versus Type Z companies. Type A is a typical company with top-down decisionmaking. Type Z is a company having a participative approach to decisionmaking: it tries to reach a consensus by listening to what people of minor positions say. Originally, Japanese companies had the same characteristics as Type Z companies. However, they have now changed a little bit because the lifetime employment system is transforming to what I call a "continued employment system." In terms of employment, Japanese companies have become less stable due to an increase in the employee turnover rate: instead of hiring only new graduates, as they did previously, Japanese companies have begun to take experienced hands into service. However, Japanese companies are still more steady than the Type A companies of the United States. We are introducing favorable management methods from the United States, while keeping what is good in our management. For instance, under the Japanese system of lifelong job rotation, personnel changes used to be made in an arbitrary manner. Today, many Japanese companies are asking their employees if they have a request, so that they can reflect their wishes as much as possible on the occasion of their job rotation. As for NEC, we have adopted a U.S. review system under which all employees will be appraised according to their achievements, and not according to the amount of hours they have spent on the job. The Japanese Economy Suffers From Second-Stage Cancer If we compare the current economic situation to a cancer, we can say that there are already many symptoms showing that the cancerous growth has entered its second stage. I think the national economy got cancer toward the end of 1992. On 28 August 1992, the previous government announced a package of economic-stimulus measures worth 10.7 trillion yen. It had to convene an extraordinary Diet session from the end of September through October to pass a supplementary budget so that the package would be implemented as soon as possible to maximize its pump-priming effect; otherwise "pure water," or real government spending, would have become smaller than the mentioned figure. Unfortunately, for several reasons, the convocation of the extraordinary Diet session was put off from day to day. It was around 10 December that the Diet finally passed a supplementary budget to finance the program. The impact of the long-awaited pump-priming package was weakened because of this delay. |
FBIS3-46527_16 | Article Views Means To Stimulate Economy | At that time, I was already stressing the need for income tax cuts in addition to building up a counter argument against the tenacious view that the issue of deficit-financing bonds should be absolutely avoided. Basically, the Government should not issue bonds to cover the budget deficit. This is a matter of common sense. For instance, if we do not have enough money to wine and dine, it is not good to borrow money for that. But taking another view, let us suppose that you get cancer. Your doctor tells you that it is still operable because it was detected in its early stages. But for that, you will have to pay one million yen. In such a case, you should try to recover your health, even by borrowing money from your friends or obtaining a loan from your company, because cancer can be cured if spotted early enough thanks to the power of contemporary medical science. If the surgical operation is delayed, your cancer will enter its second and third stages. The doctor's fee will run up even higher and you may still die in the end. No one will be able to bring you back to life. Toward the end of 1992, I was strongly calling for a quick remedy to recover the national economy, by comparing the current recession with cancer. With respect to income tax cuts, I said "some 100,000 yen per household." I proposed an income tax reduction worth 3 or 4 trillion yen. As a matter of course, income tax cuts of this scale are not sufficient to prop up a sluggish economy. I added that we should also make efforts to create a better atmosphere to induce people to spend money. For example, if consumers begin to feel that the employment situation will not become worse, that they will be able to return their housing loan somehow, and that the economy has now bottomed out, they will certainly spend 70,000 to 80,000 yen out of the 100,000 yen they receive from income tax cuts. However, if the surrounding atmosphere remains gloomy, after spending 10,000 or 20,000 yen, consumers would prefer to put the remaining money in a bank. After all, economic performance is highly influenced by social psychology. In other words, it is a question of thinking. Therefore, I said that a reduction in income tax of 100,000 yen per household would be |
FBIS3-46535_0 | Press Review for 30 Dec | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Ulaanbaatar, December 30 (OANA-MONTSAME) -- As the newspaper "ARDIYN ERH" informs, the State Great Hural (SGH) session approved the law on international treaties of Mongolia. The law is to regulate relations connected with the signing and realization of bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements, with the joining and leaving international pacts and agreements. It is informed that the SGH session was to start discussing the draft law on land. But it was decided to postpone this discussion for a detailed consideration of the draft law by the parliament party groups. The newspaper informs that the session set to consideration of the draft law on making amendments and additions in the criminal code in the first reading. Additions and amendments will be made in the criminal code in connection with adoption of the new constitution, the criminal code, laws on court and procurator's organs. The newspaper notes that in the draft law special attention is paid to the guarantee of human rights and freedoms. The head of the letters sector of the State Great Hural Chancellery C. Davuu informs in the newspaper that in the current year the parliament has received about 720 letters of citizens. Besides that, the parliament members have met personally with more than 780 citizens. C. Davuu notes that, as the parliament members are always busy with legislative activity, they have time to meet with citizens mainly during the parliament recess. The majority of letters is given to the corresponding standing committees. As C. Davuu notes, the majority of the letters concerns the laws adopted by the parliament, the population's living standards guarantee. The newspaper publishes conclusions of the competent persons related to burying of the soil contaminated by isotope "Strontium 90", which was revealed in the Mongolian capital. The executive secretary of the government commission on nuclear energy T. Damdinsuren announces that the contaminated soil is buried in location Aldar-Tolgoi the only place in the country for the present meant for burying radio-active substances. T. Damdinsuren notes that the repeated dosemetrical measuring shows that radio-activity remains at the natural level. Doctor of Economic Science, Professor G. Purebbaatar writes in the newspaper that he considers the government conclusion about a tendency for improvement of economic situation in the country as groundless. As he says, such a conclusion under conditions of production drop, unemployment growth, continued inflation and the living standards drop can |
FBIS3-46546_1 | Kim Yong-sam Sends Message to Koreans Overseas | the most dynamic center of world growth. I am absolutely sure that the New Korea we are building will play a leading role in the Asia- Pacific age which is certain to emerge in the 21st century. Such a New Korea, with its enhanced international status, will benefit all the 70 million Korean people at home and around the world. It will be a source of encouragement and a spiritual haven for overseas Koreans in particular. Overseas Koreans, I know well that you have experienced and still are experiencing many difficulties in getting adjusted to and integrated into your adoptive societies. I am confident, however, that just as our people have triumphed over numerous trials and tribulations throughout history, you will never abandon yourselves to despair but will eventually overcome adversity. I sincerely hope that you will achieve not only economic security but also actively contribute to your communities. In that way, you will become respected citizens of your adoptive countries and demonstrate the excellent national traits of the Korean people to the world. I always keep in mind the fact that your, the overseas Koreans, are an invaluable asset for Korea. I am making every possible effort for your interests. In particular, I am working hard to improve our immigration and other pertinent laws and regulations so that your will not suffer any trouble and inconvenience in visiting or dealing with your homeland. When your home country advances, your own status will rise also. Likewise, your success is a source of pride for our people. My fellow Koreans overseas, Our people have a long-cherished goal which we cannot forget even while sleeping: The peaceful unification of the divided Korea. A unified Korea would certainly be able to play a key global role. To that end, North Korea must clear up doubts and suspicions about its nuclear intentions. I am doing my best to persuade the North, with a sense of kinship and patience, to join in the new world order geared to peace, prosperity and freedom. Overseas Koreans, The world is now entering an age of fierce economic war, replacing the past ideological war. If we do not work hard enough, we will skid into the backwaters of history. We must strive for a second national foundation and a second liberation. Looking ahead into the future, we must be determined to succeed in reforming all spheres of national life |
FBIS3-46549_0 | Diplomats Told To Prepare for Trade War | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Dec. 31 (YONHAP) -- Foreign Minister Han Sung-chu called on all diplomatic service members in a New Year message Friday to prepare for a trade war and internationalization. "Many nations have shed ideological confrontation to seek reconciliation and cooperation, and at the same time adopted pragmatism, placing their national economic interests as top priority," Han said. "An era of boundless competition and trade wars opened with the conclusion of the Uruguay Round. With the hastening of internationalization, global problems such as disarmament, human rights, environmental protection and the fight against poverty are becoming important issues," he said. International relations in the post-cold war world shifted the focus from political and military affairs to economics and trade problems, the minister said. Seoul also places its emphasis on practical economic interests to join the world's advanced economic powers. He recalled an agreement at last month's South Korea-U.S. summit for a "thorough and broad" approach to solving the North Korean nuclear problem. While promising to keep to this principle, Han said that an international action such as by the United Nations Security Council was inevitable if North Korea did not come forward favorably in the dialogue efforts. South Korea enhanced its ties with both Asia and the Pacific at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Seattle in November and the new year will see more participation by Seoul in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially in regional security dialogue, Han said. |
FBIS3-46593_7 | Kim Il-song Delivers 1994 New Year Address | full capacity and normalize production at a higher level. Ranging the large-scale central light industry from small- and medium-sized local industries and the production of 3 August people's consumer goods, all units and domains should fully produce various people's consumer goods. By so doing, we should increase the types of consumer goods and actually improve their quality. We should positively pioneer foreign markets and thoroughly win our reputation in developing foreign trade in keeping with the changing circumstances. Various domains of the national economy should thoroughly strengthen the production bases for export goods, increase production of export goods, and improve their quality. All domains and all locals should further increase export by positively finding and mobilizing the sources of export. They should also develop the processing trade. We should put efforts into the coal, electrict power, and metal industries in a bid to develop agriculture and the light industry and vigorously accelerate the overall economic construction of the country. We should more smoothly resolve the railway transportation issue. The fields of coal and electric power industries should effectively use existing production foundations and further develop the production capacity. They thereby should decisively increase the production of coal and electricity. We should smoothly meet the daily-increasing demand for transportation of the national economy by strengthening the railroad's material and technological foundation, setting up a policy for transportation, commanding the transportation organization, and actively making the railways strong. All units and domains of the national economy should vigorously launch the campaign for the struggle for production and conservation as an all-people movement. By so doing, they should effectively use existing labor, facilities, and equipment, and should fully mobilize inner reserves and increase production. All the economic guidance officials must carry out economic organizational work and production management to comply with the party's economic strategies, have the popular masses display their revolutionary enthusiasm and positive creativity, and, thus overfull the people's economic plan for this year. Contributing to socialist construction with scientific knowledge and technology is our intellectuals' honorable duty. In hearty response to the party's policy on cultural revolution, intellectuals must devotedly wage the struggle to achieve new development in science, education, culture and arts, public health, and all other fields of socialist cultural construction. This year we must also cope with the enemy's war provocation maneuvers and make proper efforts to strengthen the country's defense capability. We must firmly prepare ourselves |
FBIS3-46596_8 | Hosokawa Holds New Year's Day News Conference | we seek to be in by the 21st century. To ensure that society does not lose its vitality from high tax burdens, we are resolved to contain the people's burdens to below 50 percent, even at the aging population's peak time in the 21st century. We must think hard and come up with the best possible ideas. We must implement administrative reform, with an emphasis on deregulation, as well as fundamental revision of government expenditures. My government should boldly relax regulations which will generate the maximum effect -- in areas closely tied to people's lives like distribution, housing and land, new types of businesses like information communications and industries which will contribute to expanding employment. Even when these efforts are made, however, I think that if an abundant and invigorating society is to be realized in the 21st century, some increases in individuals' tax burdens will be unavoidable. Right now, one senior citizen is supported by five working citizens, but when our aging society peaks, one senior citizen will be supported by only two working citizens. Simply put, the burdens will more than double. No doubt, we must also think about increased social security insurance premiums with a further aging population and increased tax burdens to improve social overhead capital. If we look at the existing tax system from such a viewpoint, because the weight of individual income tax in the tax system is so large, so much of the burdens need to be borne by the generation of working people. If the present condition is allowed to continue, it will excessively task the generation supporting the aging society. If the willingness of the working generation and the vigor of the society as a whole are to be fully maintained, it will become necessary to reconsider the burdens of the people and to bring a tax system which ensures a balance between income, consumption, and assets. As such, I have come to think the best choice given to us is to push for a tax system reform with a national consensus -- along the lines of the tax reform policy recommended by the Tax Commission which is aimed at realizing a fair and invigorating society of the aged population. I would like to have the nation's understanding on this. Lastly, I would like to speak about international affairs. Japan's prosperity is only possible if the world's free trade system is |
FBIS3-46614_6 | Vo Van Kiet Addresses Assembly Opening 6 Dec | a new stimulus in many sectors and occupational areas, especially agriculture and the rural economy, where the people's manpower and material resources play a key role. Along with the state-provided investment capital generated by the national economy and international development aid, we are now retaining more and more material reserves from previous years. It is possible that we can increase them quickly in the future. Regarding the outside world, our ability to acquire capital and technology has grown quickly despite the impact of the U.S. trade embargo. The breakthrough in our credit ties with international financial institutions has strongly stimulated multilateral and bilateral international development aid. A total of 22 countries and 17 international organizations sent delegations to the recent Paris conference of Vietnam's aid donor countries. These countries and international organizations pledged to provide our country with 1.86 billion U.S. dollars in development aid in the 1993-94 fiscal year. Direct foreign investment has continued to increase. It is noteworthy that foreign investment capital for 1993 reached about 800-850 million U.S. dollars, twice the amount invested in 1992. The current pace of foreign investment capital inflow depends mainly on our ability to receive and make effective use of it. The above-mentioned factors present tremendous opportunities for development. Opportunity does not come spontaneously. It comes through the personal efforts of our entire party and people together with the trends of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and other parts of the world. Opportunity would not have brought us success if we had not seized it and developed it in time. 2. The new stage of development requires an effort to grasp opportunities and the ability to understand clearly those weaknesses, difficulties, and obstacles that must be overcome. A. Our economy is still rife with many factors of instability; this could lead to upheavals. Slow efforts have been made to improve the quality of the socioeconomic infrastructure, which, in some cases, has deteriorated. The savings and investment rates are still low. A substantial part of the people's potential has not been tapped or developed into productive activities. Public assets and state investment funds are being embezzled or seriously wasted. The work force has not yet been brought into full play. Economic efficiency is still low, thus limiting the sources of investment capital and material reserves as well as our ability to improve the people's standard of living. Our market economy is |
FBIS3-46614_39 | Vo Van Kiet Addresses Assembly Opening 6 Dec | we must concern ourselves with improving the health of the entire people, ranging from children to mothers to the aged for the sake of our national construction now and for future generation. Along with government guidance and further budget assistance, we must step up physical education and sports activities, preliminary health care, disease prevention and treatment, family planning, and so forth. We must strive to launch a movement to carry out these tasks in a wide and far-reaching manner with the participation of all individuals, families, schools, mass organizations, and the rest of society. In 1994, the government will allocate more funds and provide better guidance for implementing various measures to provide health care for people in the mountain regions and for ethnic minority compatriots. We must dispel and then proceed toward eradicating all social diseases and resolve the issue of water supplies for our compatriots. C. Improving the intellectual standard and protecting public health are essential conditions for averting and dispelling social vices, especially prostitution, drug addiction, and the danger of being infected with HIV virus as this disease is spreading and causing indignation and concern among the people. As early as 1993, the government issued a directive with drastic measures aimed at preventing and dispelling these social vices, but implementation is, however, still slow. The administration at various levels must cooperate with mass and social organizations in reviewing and profoundly analyzing the movement to fight social vices in the past, draw on lessons of good works and failures, become familiar with the experiences of other countries in order to take practical and effective measures suitable to our country's situation. The government will create better conditions and provide more financial support for these tasks. Most importantly, various authorities in the local administration at the provincial, city, district, village, and ward levels must strive to seriously carry out their functions and duties and take responsibility in curbing social vices in their areas. IV. Develop Our New Advantages in Diplomatic Activities: On the basis of the successes of the renovation process and taking into account our correct foreign policy, our positive and dynamic diplomatic activities have helped create a favorable international environment for the cause of national construction and defense and for improving the position of Vietnam in the international arena as an active member of the trend toward peace, stability, and cooperation in this region and the world over. We |
FBIS3-46618_2 | More Responsible Investment in Cambodia Urged | they were the main financial supporters of the Khmer Rouge also did little to help Thailand's assertions that it deserved credit as one of the main forces behind the peace process. In Phnom Penh, Thai businessmen, in particular bar and massage owners were singled out as the worst of the carpet baggers who descended on Cambodia in search of quick profits from the UN mission. In a pure business sense, the most essential mistake made by Thai businessmen was to back the wrong horse. Practising business much as they have at home, Thai businessmen invested heavily in building up contacts with the despised former Phnom Penh based government of Hun Sen. The shock election win by the royalist Funcinpec [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia] party left many Thai businessmen holding dubious and potentially worthless contracts. Thai businessmen in Phnom Penh estimate the cost in pay-offs for some of the more spectacular concessions won by their compatriots could have been as high as 10 million dollars. If such reckoning is correct it is a sad irony because, with the exception of the oil exploration companies and a few others, there has been little legitimate investment in Cambodia of the same magnitude. Thais were obviously not the only foreigners doing business in Cambodia, nor were they the only ones involved in the logging or bar trades, or the only ones with conspicuously close ties to the former government. The behaviour of Singaporean and Malaysian businessmen has been little different to their Thai counterparts although for the most part they seemed to have escaped international condemnation. Part of the problem for Thailand has been the traditional suspicion with Cambodians have viewed their larger neighbours. The return of peace provided the two countries with an opportunity to embark on a new chapter in Thai-Cambodian relations but so far there is little to suggest a change from the distrust of past. The Thai government itself can do little to control Thai companies overseas. That is the responsibility of the host countries. It can, however, be more aware of internationally accepted standards of business behaviour and not defend the worst excesses of its businessmen, as was the case with the logging and gems concessions. It is also too much to expect Thai businessmen to heed official recommendations. In the world of business the only lessons are the ones taught by |
FBIS3-46622_0 | Official on Effect of Brain Drain on Diplomacy | Language: English Article Type:BFN [By Somchit Siturongkkhathum] [Text] The Foreign Ministry is drastically short of diplomats qualified to negotiate multilateral trade agreements. The brain-drain to the private sector has gutted the pool of experienced talent. There are at most 10 diplomats able to negotiate at international levels, the ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary Pratyathan Dawi Tawethikun, told THE NATION. "We now lack officials who are eligible to represent Thailand at global-level negotiations." "The permanent secretary is very concerned about the matter," he said. During the fiscal year Oct 1992 to Sept 1993, four C-10 diplomats left the Foreign Ministry, including the former ambassador to Brussels Danai Dulalumpha, one of the few Thais well acquainted with the European Community market. Three C-10 diplomats resigned the preceding three years. Senior officials are urgently seeking a way to reverse the drain of talent, and to train promising middle-ranking and junior staff. Officials trace the start of the brain-drain back to 1990, when the private sector's high pay strategy first began to influence Thai society. The number of qualified applicants for the annual intake of staff has also dropped. Not all ministry officials, however, regard the situation as critical and say it is only to be expected that the most experienced people, having already fulfilled their ambitions within the ministry, should look elsewhere for a fresh challenge. "They have fulfilled their career goals. Now that they have honour money and connections they can go into businesses or even take a rest," a mid-level official said. Another senior official also said the resignation rate amongst senior officials, although high, was not of too much concern. "The situation is not worrying when compared to resignation levels at other ministries," he said. He admitted, though, that the number of resignations had also increased at the lower and middle levels. During the past three years, about 20 C-4 to C-8 grade employees had resigned from the ministry, which now had a staff of less than 1,200 and war, the smallest in the government. However, he was not too worried and insisted the Foreign Ministry was still an attractive career option. "A career here is promising for people who want to be diplomats, to travel and live overseas," he said. There were about 70 C-10 positions in the ministry, and ample opportunities for people with ambition. Another ministry source said there had also been a dramatic decrease in the number |
FBIS3-46622_1 | Official on Effect of Brain Drain on Diplomacy | be expected that the most experienced people, having already fulfilled their ambitions within the ministry, should look elsewhere for a fresh challenge. "They have fulfilled their career goals. Now that they have honour money and connections they can go into businesses or even take a rest," a mid-level official said. Another senior official also said the resignation rate amongst senior officials, although high, was not of too much concern. "The situation is not worrying when compared to resignation levels at other ministries," he said. He admitted, though, that the number of resignations had also increased at the lower and middle levels. During the past three years, about 20 C-4 to C-8 grade employees had resigned from the ministry, which now had a staff of less than 1,200 and war, the smallest in the government. However, he was not too worried and insisted the Foreign Ministry was still an attractive career option. "A career here is promising for people who want to be diplomats, to travel and live overseas," he said. There were about 70 C-10 positions in the ministry, and ample opportunities for people with ambition. Another ministry source said there had also been a dramatic decrease in the number of applicants for junior openings, at the C-3 and C-4 levels, during the annual recruitment. A decade ago when there were more than 4,000 applications for the approximately 40 openings each year, this year there had only been 1,200. However, Pratyathan Dawi said the drop in applications was not a problem as most of the new recruits were highly qualified. "It's not only the Foreign Ministry which attracts fewer applicants. But we can take comfort that those entering the ministry are capable," he said. However, in order to keep experienced staff and attract quality recruits the ministry had to compete increasingly with the private sector. The ministry recently gave government scholarships to 60 people to continue their studies, some to PhD levels. "This way we can ensure that these people will come back and join the ministry," he said. A C-6 official told THE NATION he was proud to work at the Foreign Ministry and had no plans to quit. "I am satisfied with what I am doing here, despite the low income," he said. "Most of us here don't have any financial problems. But if I was offered a salary of, say, Bt [baht] 50,000 by a private company, |
FBIS3-46700_0 | Foreign Minister Outlines 1994 Policy Goals | Language: Korean Article Type:BFN [Article by Foreign Minister Han Sung-chu] [Text] Many changes took place last year at home and abroad. At home the civilian-led government was inaugurated and new policies and reform were promoted. Internationally, important changes and progress also continued. In particular, as part of the international society, our country's position and role were newly established. I also believe it was a year in which we were able to feel skin-deep our international responsibility. Our government established a broad and future-oriented diplomatic line of the so-called "new diplomacy," and promoted various diplomatic policies according to it. In the past, our diplomacy concentrated only on survival and security. However, our diplomacy deviated from it and is now unfolding our diplomacy so that we can actively take part in matters of interest and concern to the world and resolving international issues as well as working for our welfare. President Kim Yong-sam's central role at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] summit and the dispatch of our engineer corps for UN peacekeeping operations symbolically show our new diplomatic efforts. It is important to view the international environment which we are faced with when we once again assess the direction of our diplomacy for the new year 1994. In a nutshell, while the world is becoming smaller it is moving toward a peaceful period but of fierce competition. The world is becoming smaller because of developments in the technology of transportation and communication as well as the enhancement of mutual dependency among the countries. Now the world is literally becoming a global village, and it has become an era in which no country in this world can live without interchange with other countries. After the end of the Cold War, international society was able to free itself from the fear of a great nuclear war which can destroy the whole world, thus making it possible for international society to all the more actively promote peace and reconciliation. Therefore, the interest of the countries are naturally leaning toward the development of the economy and society which gives priority to prosperity and welfare, rather than politics and security. As a result, competition among the countries in the field of economy and communications is becoming fiercer with each passing day, and an era of "unlimited competition" has emerged as the rules for competition has been laid down as a result of the Uruguay Round [UR] negotiations. |
FBIS3-46700_2 | Foreign Minister Outlines 1994 Policy Goals | Amid this kind of international environment, we can view some essential points on what direction our diplomacy must move toward for 1994. First of all, we can now embody on a full-scale our "new diplomacy" which has established its frame. The five bases of the new diplomacy is globalization, diversification, pluralism, regional cooperation, and future-orientation. The reliability of the five bases is enhancing with the current international trend. Last year was the first year of the new diplomacy. We especially concentrated on globalization. I believe that 1994 will emerge as year in which regional cooperation and pluralism will be important tasks. A few years ago the arrival of the Pacific era of the 21st century seemed only a figure of speech. However, with the rapid emergence of the Asia-Pacific region, it has now become a fait accompli. The Asia-Pacific region's cooperation is approaching as our top priority. The Asia-Pacific cooperative system made steady headway at the Seattle APEC summit. Our country is already playing an initiative role. Also, through the Indonesia APEC summit which is to take place this year, APEC will become our core diplomatic arena. Here we will pursue "open regionalism" and will continue efforts to strengthen cooperation on both sides of the Pacific. The diplomacy of regional cooperation is important in the field of security. We will participate in the security dialogue which is being carried out centering on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN] and will actively participate in the "multi-faceted security dialogue of Northeast Asia" put forth by us. Countries in this region agree that an institutional device is necessary for cooperation in the security field of this region. When pending issues such as North Korea's nuclear issue is resolved can this kind of cooperation be accelerated. Strengthening the economic and communications diplomacy is especially important in the process of diversifying the matter of interest and concern of our diplomacy. The World Trade Organization will be inaugurated as a result of the settlement of the UR. Here, we must concentrate our diplomatic strength and play an active role. This is a follow-up measure of the UR. In the process of dealing with various trade issues, our diplomacy in this field is important in reflecting our national interest to the utmost, but it is also necessary in preparing for possible international negotiations such as environmental issues in the future. The economic diplomacy must also place |
FBIS3-46701_0 | Research Report Assesses North-South Relations The Atmosphere for Cooperation Among the Four Powers Will Be Maintained | Language: Korean Article Type:BFN [Article by reporter O Yong-hwan on the research report "The Environment for Reunification and North-South Relations," issued on 3 December by the Research Institute for National Reunification, affiliated with the National Unification Board (NUB)] [Text] The World Situation The world order will further assume an aspect of multilateralism in 1994. Accordingly, it is expected that the United States will be in favor of the trends toward pluralism; that the regional powers' right of speech will be strengthened; and that the roles of international institutions and international organizations, including the United Nations, will be enhanced. Powerful countries will constantly make efforts for disarmament, including cutting nuclear weapons. However, the regional arms race will be intensified, because uncertainty may take place as a result of the weakening of the influence of the United States and Russia. In this connection, the need for multilateral cooperation to cope with the issue concerning regional security will be raised. In particular, because of the relative economic stagnation of the United States and the European Community (EC) and because of the rapid economic growth of the East Asian countries, the world order cannot but become more multilateral. It is expected that the settlement of the Uruguay Round (UR) negotiations and the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will promote the free trade system in the international economic order. In addition, as the atmosphere for security and economic cooperation is heightened in international society, international concern and cooperation toward the environment, narcotics, and terrorism--the factors traditionally irrelevant to security--will be increased. Accordingly, in order to stably manage the world's security, economy, and other factors traditionally irrelevant to security, international society's cooperation and the leadership of advanced countries, including the United States, will be more necessary. The Situation of Northeast Asia The factors of constant tension--including the enhanced roles of Japan and China, the regional arms race, the instability of Russia, and the North Korean nuclear issue--exist in Northeast Asia. However, the relations among the four powers in the region, which have been important in stabilizing the regional order, will be improved. Accordingly the atmosphere for cooperation among the four powers will be maintained. In connection with the issue concerning security, it is expected that U.S.-Chinese relations, Japanese-Chinese relations, and U.S.-Japanese relations, which have become three pivots in maintaining the Northeast Asian order since the end of the Cold War, will be developed to |
FBIS3-46701_1 | Research Report Assesses North-South Relations The Atmosphere for Cooperation Among the Four Powers Will Be Maintained | of the Uruguay Round (UR) negotiations and the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will promote the free trade system in the international economic order. In addition, as the atmosphere for security and economic cooperation is heightened in international society, international concern and cooperation toward the environment, narcotics, and terrorism--the factors traditionally irrelevant to security--will be increased. Accordingly, in order to stably manage the world's security, economy, and other factors traditionally irrelevant to security, international society's cooperation and the leadership of advanced countries, including the United States, will be more necessary. The Situation of Northeast Asia The factors of constant tension--including the enhanced roles of Japan and China, the regional arms race, the instability of Russia, and the North Korean nuclear issue--exist in Northeast Asia. However, the relations among the four powers in the region, which have been important in stabilizing the regional order, will be improved. Accordingly the atmosphere for cooperation among the four powers will be maintained. In connection with the issue concerning security, it is expected that U.S.-Chinese relations, Japanese-Chinese relations, and U.S.-Japanese relations, which have become three pivots in maintaining the Northeast Asian order since the end of the Cold War, will be developed to promote cooperation. In particular, because since September 1993, the United States has strengthened cooperation with China, including the revision of a hard-line policy against China and because China has also positively promoted the improvement of its relations the United States, there will be considerable progress in U.S.-Chinese relations this year. The Atmosphere for Cooperation Among the Four Powers Will Be Maintained Taking into consideration the roles of the United States and China in Northeast Asia, the improvement of the relations between the two countries will have a positive influence on the stability of the regional situation. It is expected that because of the settlement of the UR negotiations and because of the agreement on establishing the Trade and Investment Committee in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), economic exchange among the Northeastern Asian countries will be further expanded. However, because the United States may put more market-opening pressure on regional countries which may enjoy great economic booms, trade friction between the United States and regional countries may take place. It is expected that such an atmosphere in Northeast Asia will have a positive influence on the reunification environment rather than a negative influence. The development of relations among the four powers--United |
FBIS3-46703_0 | Contact With DPRK Religious Figures Approved | Language: Korean Article Type:BFN [Text] The government on 3 January approved the Korean Council of Christian Churches's application filed at the Unification Board on 26 December requesting permission to have a contact with North Korea's Christian figures, including Kang Yong-sop, chairman of the North Korean Christians Federation. Prior to this, the Christian figures from the North and South met in Beijing last November and agreed in principle to hold exchanges. Thereupon, Kwon Ho-kyong, director of the Korean Council of Christian Churches, plans to discuss with North Korea the issue of North Korean Christian figures attending the general meeting of the Korean Council of Christian Churches slated for 21 February in Seoul and other religious events. |
FBIS3-46721_0 | Framework Discussions on Insurance Held With U.S. National Positions Outlined | Language: Japanese Article Type:CSO [Text] The insurance working-level conference of the Japan-U.S. General Economic Council met for two days on 12-13 October in Tokyo following the first meeting on 19 September in Hawaii. At the meeting on the 12th, the U.S. side demanded correction of "keiretsu" trading which impedes entry by foreign companies into Japan. The Japan side also demanded a reexamination of the regulations in the United States that vary according to states. However, the two views appeared to run along divergent lines. At the meeting on the 13th, the U.S. side indicated the shares held by foreign companies in the seven advanced nations. It pointed out that, compared to the share of 2 percent in Japan, the shares in the other G-7 nations is on a double-digit level, and that the reason was the closed nature of the Japan market. The discussions were concluded without reaching any conclusion and were carried over into the third meeting scheduled in November. Later, a senior U.S. Government official held a press conference at the U.S. Embassy and explained the basic U.S. posture of unilaterally setting numerical targets, unless agreement is reached on share expansion. Following the two-day discussion, a senior U.S. Government official held a press conference at the U.S. Embassy and clarified the intentions of the U.S. Government. According to the official, the items requested of Japan by the United States indicate the basic U.S. attitude of seeking share expansion for U.S. insurers in the Japan market, and the U.S. Government proposal is in line with the report by the Insurance Council, but is more concrete in its content. The official also indicated the key points of the U.S. demands and negotiations by item as follows: 1) Clarification of the conditions for insurance businesses to receive licenses. 2) Participation by foreign companies in the Insurance Council and industry organizations. 3) While a certain amount of regulation is necessary for the protection of the insurers, easing of measures is requested. 4) A change from the licensing procedures to a registration system. 5) Induction of a broker system. 6) A step-by-step easing of controls concerning the third sector. 7) Investigation of the "keiretsu" problem by the Fair Trade Commission. 8) Deciding quantitatively measureable shares for U.S. insurance companies. 9) The United States will not apply sanctions despite an inability to achieve share expansion within the prescribed time period. 10) The share of |
FBIS3-46722_7 | Framework Discussions on Insurance Held With U.S. U.S. Official Holds News Conference Trade Sanctions Will Not Be Applied Despite Unattainment of Figures; Concern About 2-Percent Foreign Share in Japan | postal insurance in Japan, the denominator becomes larger when postal insurance is included, and the share become lower than 2 percent. Compared to the other G-7 nations, Japan's insurance market is really closed. The share of foreign companies in Britain is 25 percent, 33 percent in Italy, and 10-13 percent even in the United States, France, and Germany, so the gaps with Japan are extremely large. Our purpose is to see the Japan market gradually draw closer to the other advanced nations. The Ministry of Finance says that the share of Japan's insurers in the U.S. market is extremely small, and that it is particularly small compared with the market share of U.S. insurers in Japan. This is an interesting statement, but we believe the figures are inappropriate or unrelated for use in this forum. That is to say, what we must look at is how open each nation is vis-a-vis foreign insurers as a whole regarding a specific market. We are not considering the problem of how a specific nation's insurers are faring in a specific nation. Also, what we indicated in our negotiations with the Japanese Government under the framework agreement are all based on what we observed multilaterally, and can be applied to other nations on a most-favored-nation base. The results of the negotiations with the Japanese Government will generally be applied similarly to all nations. It will be likewise regarding insurance, telecommunications, autos, auto parts, and medical care equipment. According to the data prepared by the NAIC, Japan's insurers are generally not very successful in the U.S. market, but the insurers of other nations are successful in the United States. Although we are told that Japan's insurers are not succeeding in the United States, the reason is not because the U.S. insurance market is closed or because there is discriminatory treatment. We do not know the reasons why Japan's share is low in the United States, but insuffficient efforts by the Japanese side, indifference toward the U.S. market, or a lack of competitiveness are conceivable reasons. Perhaps it is because the Japanese companies do business only with the so-called traditional customers who have advanced into the United States. In any case, what is clear is that other foreign insurers besides those of Japan are very successful in the United States, and the criticism by Japan that the U.S. insurance market is closed is inaccurate and unfair. |
FBIS3-46736_0 | Economic Cooperation in Russian Far East Viewed | Language: Japanese Article Type:CSO [Article by Susumu Yoshida, managing director, Nissho Iwai: "Economic Cooperation and Characteristics of Russian Far East; Resources and Industries of Far Eastern Region"] [Text] The area of Russia's Far East region is 16 times that of Japan and its population is 8 million, so its population density is 1.3 per square kilometer. The Russian Far East is made up of seven administrative units, such as the Maritime Kray, the Sakhalin Oblast, Khabarovsk Kray, and the Sakha Republic. In this region are such resources as rich timber (30 percent of the total for the former Soviet Union), aquatic products (40 percent), diamonds (98 percent), gold (50 percent), and tin (80 percent). In terms of industrial structure, lumbering, nonferrous metals, and fisheries make up 50 percent of the extractive and manufacturing industries. Its secondary industries lag markedly, with 80 percent of consumer goods and 50 percent of the food brought in from other areas. Efforts were made to develop defense industries in the 1930's; and the city of Komsomolsk-na-Amure became a center for steel, petroleum refining, shipbuilding and aircraft industries. Vladivostok provided supplies and repair as a base for the Pacific Fleet. Far Eastern Area in Era of Reform In a speech in Vladivostok in July 1986, Secretary General Gorbachev stressed that economic development of the Far Eastern region was inseparable from the strengthening of economic cooperation and trade relations with Asian nations. Keenly sensing that if carrying out the "Program for Far East Regional Development by 2000" (August 1987) were to end in failure each region, would require economic self-reliance, Nakhodka, Sakhalin, and Vladivostok applied to the union in 1988-91 for conversion into free-economy zones. The Yakutia, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and Maritime regions are proclaiming sovereignty over management and utilization of resources within their areas. Also, in August 1990 they set up a Far East Economic Association, taking up such matters common to each state as energy, foodstuffs, construction, transportation, and military-to-civilian conversion, and they plan to pull together. One of this association's achievements was drawing up the May 1991 "Concept for Solving the Far East Region's Crisis and Economic Development by 2000"; but due to the coup of August 1991 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in December that year, they did not get so far as to draw up an action program. After that, based on a September 1992 presidential decree, they deliberated on the |
FBIS3-46736_1 | Economic Cooperation in Russian Far East Viewed | Reform In a speech in Vladivostok in July 1986, Secretary General Gorbachev stressed that economic development of the Far Eastern region was inseparable from the strengthening of economic cooperation and trade relations with Asian nations. Keenly sensing that if carrying out the "Program for Far East Regional Development by 2000" (August 1987) were to end in failure each region, would require economic self-reliance, Nakhodka, Sakhalin, and Vladivostok applied to the union in 1988-91 for conversion into free-economy zones. The Yakutia, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, and Maritime regions are proclaiming sovereignty over management and utilization of resources within their areas. Also, in August 1990 they set up a Far East Economic Association, taking up such matters common to each state as energy, foodstuffs, construction, transportation, and military-to-civilian conversion, and they plan to pull together. One of this association's achievements was drawing up the May 1991 "Concept for Solving the Far East Region's Crisis and Economic Development by 2000"; but due to the coup of August 1991 and the breakup of the Soviet Union in December that year, they did not get so far as to draw up an action program. After that, based on a September 1992 presidential decree, they deliberated on the "Far East development program" in light of Russian and Far East conditions; and there are moves to try to draw up the policies. Economic Cooperation in the Far East What actions might be needed for now to bring about further development of economic cooperation? 1. Expansion of Trade Deals With trade between Japan and Russia totaling $3.48 billion in 1992, it has fallen to 57 percent of its peak. Likewise, imports also were down 26 percent to $2.5 billion; but a majority of that was foodstuffs, lumber, coal, etc., for which the Far East is a producing area. Hence, the Russian Far East is unchanged in being a supplier of raw materials. As disruptions in the economic system are causing the import reductions, considerable recovery of trade volume is possible by bringing about quality guarantees and strict observance of delivery dates (normalization of rail transport and port operations). 2. Effective Use of G-7 Economic Aid Aid totaling $43.4 billion was set for 1993; but it is necessary to place all possible emphasis on the Far East for the portion that is bilateral aid, to quickly set up also the Far East region's receiving facilities and to put into effect an |
FBIS3-46748_0 | Auto Association Reports 6-Year Low in Sales | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tokyo, Jan. 5 KYODO -- Reflecting the prolonged recession, domestic auto sales in 1993 dropped from the year-before level for the third straight year to hit a six-year low, an industry association said Wednesday [5 January]. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association said sales of cars, trucks and buses, excluding minivehicles, totaled 4,887,179 vehicles, down 8.4 percent from the previous year. The figure was the lowest since 1987 when sales totaled about 4,344,000 vehicles, the association said. Sales declined in all categories for the first time since 1980, underscoring the severity of the automobile market slump, association officials said. They said there is little possibility of market recovery at least until March, with expected sales for 1994 inching up to around 5 million vehicles. Of the 1993 total, passenger cars accounted for 3,427,088 vehicles, down 6.9 percent, posting the third straight year-to-year fall, the association said. It said sales of cars with engine capacity of over 2 liters dipped 4.2 percent from the year before to 683,763 while those of subcompact cars fell 7.5 percent to 2,743,325. The association said sales of trucks were down 11.7 percent at 1,632,376 while those of buses totaled 19,025, down 11.8 percent. Imported car sales grew 9.1 percent to 201,484 vehicles, the association said. Among 11 major automakers, only three -- Daihatsu Motor Co., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. -- posted sales growth, the association said. Industry leader Toyota Motor Corp. suffered a 7.7 percent drop in sales while sales of Nissan Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. declined 8.4 percent, 16.8 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively. Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s sales also declined 7.2 percent. In December, the association said, sales totaled 345,715 vehicles, down 11.1 percent from the year before and down 13.8 percent from the preceding month. It was the ninth straight month that sales dropped from the year-before levels, the association said. Sales of passenger cars slumped 9.3 percent to 251,451 while those of trucks and buses were down 15.6 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively, at 93,354 and 910, [as received] it said. |
FBIS3-46755_0 | Bishop Discusses Human Rights, Democratization | Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Excerpt" of interview with Monsignor Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, bishop of East Timor, by correspondent Yacob Herin in Dili; date not given] [Excerpt] Question: During your trip to Australia, did you pass on any message to the Catholic people there? Answer: First of all I appealed to them to remain Catholics. I know that many of them have quit going to church. In modern Australian life, people tend to forget about God. Secondly, I reminded them of the values of reconciliation, of redemption, unity, solidarity and mutual forgiveness. Were the Australian people still talking about the human rights situation in our country? Yes. They talk about it every day. They would rather I talk about that than about seminary matters. In the United States and Canada, it was the same. I got upset over there as I had not come to discuss human rights. My top priority was establishing the seminary. But the same question came up again and again, so when we were in Canada, the priest who was escorting us suggested that I talk a little bit about human rights so that the congregation would be inclined to donate funds (the bishop said this as a humorous aside). So, as far as I was concerned, I did not go there for human rights. In Australia, to those who asked the questions I replied: "You already know it all." Whatever happens over here, they will learn about it over there. It happens here in the morning, in the afternoon everybody knows about it over there. So, there is no point in trying to hide what happens over here. Although we can exercise censorship on the press, on the television, and although we have here sophisticated means to filter news, everybody will find out. Were the Australians still asking about the November 12, 1991, incident? Oh, a lot was asked about it. It was a big joke in the cathedral as well as among the Australian press. But I told them I did not come for that topic. I respect those who have passed away, I pray for them, and I pray that such a thing will never happen again. What is important to me now is the future. I would like to forget the incident, learn from what has happened, prepare our young generation, and hope that this will never happen again. My mission is |
FBIS3-46755_4 | Bishop Discusses Human Rights, Democratization | was OK. There should be input from all sides, from the press, from the people themselves. Groups should be brave enough not to keep on defending their own interests. In the Portuguese language, we have the word tacho; it connotes a person who has achieved a good position, has accumulated a lot of wealth, but then defends his personal interests as if on behalf of national and state interests or the necessity to defend the country. Do you have anything to say to those who have opened their eyes and who have been participating in the democratization efforts? Well... I call for them to be more courageous in pushing for democratization in the country. I know on campuses students have become more outspoken. It serves no purpose but to educate the people to be more mature in various aspects, such as the economy, politics, culture and so on. Do you think that what has been taking place on campuses is a reflection of progress in the democratization efforts? Well, at least there are differences in opinion, and there is the courage to state them. Could you imagine if we had to live in a society with no courage and no initiative...? Hopefully those students will become crusaders in the future. Not only those students, but our intellectuals, too. In the efforts to bring about democracy? Yes. What is your expectation of the newly set up National Commission of Human Rights? Let us give them some time. Let us wait and see how they accommodate the people's aspirations. Only then can we make comments. Let us move to another topic now. It appears that local people have been asking for more opportunity to play a bigger role on the political stage. Does this mean that their understanding of politics has reached an advanced level? I once made my comment on that. Ready or not, they should be given enough opportunity. We have been wondering, when will they be allowed to lead their own communities? Not yet ready, not yet stable, not yet prepared, these are always the excuses for not letting them do it. Consequently, the people are being treated like a baby who is deprived of the opportunity to develop psychologically. A baby, or a teenager for that matter should develop in all sorts of difficulty, although he may have to be guided all the time. [passage omitted on culture] |
FBIS3-46776_0 | Veterans Reject Settlement on Agent Orange | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Jan. 5 (YONHAP) -- Some 200 South Korean veterans of the Vietnam war have rejected an out-of-court settlement in their class-action suit against seven American chemical companies, a spokesman for the Association for Agent Orange Victim Veterans of the Vietnam war said Wednesday. They are seeking compensation of 300 million U.S. dollars for illnesses caused by the herbicide agent orange, and were offered 30 million dollars in August last year by the U.S. chemical companies, which include Dow Chemical Co. and Monsanto company. Spokesman Pae Nam-su, 50, said he filed the suit against the seven manufacturers of the dioxin-based herbicide, widely used as a defoliant in the Vietnam war, in May 1993 on behalf of 204 Korean victims in the State Court of Texas and expects the first hearing this April. The veterans association sent a list of 100 names, including Pae's, who have been recognized with agent orange sequelae by the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Ministry, and documentary evidence of their service in Vietnam to American lawyers in March last year and sent documents on 104 additional victims in August. The Rev. Yi Su-man, chairman of the association, said the chemical companies offered 30 million dollars for the estimated 3,000 agent orange victims in Korea on line with the compensation paid to American victims in 1980 through the association's lawyer in August. "But I concluded that the sum is too small considering the cost of treatment over the years and us being a minority race, and so I have refused the offer," Yi said. "Even if it takes us two or three years, we are determined to get every penny of the amount we demand," he said. Six lawyers will defend the victims in the United States and two lawyers are offering legal advice in Seoul. The Korean Veterans Association plans to file a separate suit against two American chemical companies on behalf of Korean agent orange victims. |
FBIS3-46779_5 | Daily Predicts Changes in DPRK in New Year | This is because the pro-North Korean Japanese Social Democratic Party has the majority of seats in the Hosokawa coalition cabinet and because North Korea is in need of reparations from Japan to overcome its economic difficulties. In the meantime, North Korea will likely strive to improve relations with China and Russia, its traditional allies, and to emphasize economic diplomacy with oil producing countries including Iran and Libya. At the same time, North Korea will continue pushing for nonaligned diplomacy with third world countries, including those in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Economy and Society It appears that this year North Korea will unlock the gate of its economy externally, while internally it will attempt to further strengthen the control of people in order to maintain its political system, thus implementing two contradictory policies. In view of its outdated production facilities and backward technology, the North Korean economic index will not likely show noticeable growth this year. Improvement in U.S.-North Korean relations following solution to the nuclear problem, however, will bring about a stable supply of foodstuffs and oil, as well as a reduction in defense expenses, thus serving as a new factor for invigorating its economy. It is expected that this year North Korea will, for the first time, induce foreign capital to Najin-Sonbong free trade zone as part of its external opening up. North Korea will also likely induce foreign investments for developing sight-seeing resources in the Mt. Paektu and Mt. Kumgang areas. It is presumed, however, that North Korea will decide on the opening of Nampo industrial zone and the like after analyzing the result of development of Najin-Sonbong district. It is clear that North Korea will accelerate external trade following declaration of the trade-first policy and will diversify its markets by extending to Europe, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Needless to say, North Korea will direct its efforts on restoring normal economic relations with China, Russia, and Iran with a view to securing a stable supply of foodstuffs and oil. However, such a limited opening up will work as an occasion to strengthen the control of people in a bid to maintain the system, because North Korea has learned a lesson from Eastern Europe that opening up should not be allowed to be a factor for collapse of the system. Therefore, North Korea will allow only the people whose so-called identities and status are reliable, to move in |
FBIS3-46795_0 | 1993 Overseas Construction Orders Reported | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Jan. 4 (YONHAP) -- South Korean construction companies gained 96 overseas orders worth 5.11 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 83.9 percent from 74 worth 2.78 billion dollars in 1992, the Construction Ministry said Tuesday. The rise was caused by governmental and industrial efforts to diversify markets and to open new markets in former and current communist countries and Southwest Asia, according to the ministry. Southeast Asian countries placed orders worth a total of 2.58 billion dollars, or 50 percent of the overseas orders, followed by Middle Eastern nations at 1.81 billion dollars, up 319 percent from 1992. Former and present communist countries such as Russia and Vietnam placed orders of 684 million dollars. Engineering work accounted for 2.31 billion dollars, or 45 percent, and construction work for 1.62 billion dollars. By company, Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. ranked first at 1.3 billion dollars, followed by Dong Ah Construction Co. at 1.19 billion dollars and Daewoo Engineering Co. at 628 million dollars. Major contracts include Hyundai engineering's airport expansion in Singapore and Indonesia, Daewoo's hydroelectric power plant in Laos and Hyundai heavy's undersea oil pipeline in India. |
FBIS3-46796_0 | Commentary Reviews Human Rights Achievements | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Station commentary] [Text] Prominent and obvious achievements obtained by Vietnam in 1993 were recognized by the world. In addition, it is an undeniable fact that human rights have been ensured and improved. For the Vietnamese people, the rights to live in independence and freedom are the biggest, a lesson drawn from the country's reality over the past half century. However, all the Vietnamese people are fully aware that independence and freedom will have no significance if they live in poverty, ignorance, and a minimally developed society. An independent and free country should closely links with ideas of prosperous people and a mighty nation [sentence as heard]. That is why the renovation process has been fully responded by the people. The people's rights to live, first of all, is the right to do business. It is safe to say that never before the Vietnamese people are doing business as dynamically as today. They have engaged in diversified jobs in different branches. Life of the people in different quarters is better. However, a part of the people still lead a difficult life for they cannot adapt to the mechanism of market economy. To be fair, the people's rights to do business have been strongly assisted by a number of state encouraged policies. Democracy has worked in many fields and it showed that human rights have been respected. National Assembly deputies and relevant government officials have been directly and frankly questioned about the standstill and negative practices in their branches or ministries. The Minister of Education and Training openly talked with students about issues of their concern. Mass media has disclosed cases of corruption and smuggling in different ministries and branches, including senior officials and so forth. Perhaps never before the Vietnamese people have followed closely the mass media as today, because they not only need information but also want to know the implementation of human rights and the national renovation process. Last year, the Vietnamese state continued to issue policies and guidelines in order to substantially ensuring the citizen's rights. Now, the number of Vietnamese people going to foreign countries as tourists is on the increase. They not only go to regional countries but also to far away countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, U.S.A., Canada, and Australia where in the part were considered forbidden land. An ordinance on the marriage of Vietnamese citizens with foreigners |
FBIS3-46818_3 | Foreign Minister on 1993 Accomplishments | each country's law and customs. The Cuban people face acute difficulties. Vietnam provided material aid to our Cuban friends and positively supported the Cuban people's struggle against the U.S. embargo. Our party and government delegation's official visit to Cuba in July 1993 was a vivid manifestation of the traditional relations and solidarity between the two peoples. A prominent result of last year's activities was the normalization of our relations with international financial and monetary organizations. On that basis, the IMF, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank agreed to lend us more than $700 million in 1993, and promised bigger loans in the coming years to improve, upgrade, and construct Vietnam's infrastructure. The first international conference to provide financial assistance to Vietnam convened in Paris in November 1993, with the participation of 22 countries and 17 international organizations. They agreed to provide us $1.86 billion in grant aid and concessional loans during the 1993-1994 financial year. Recently, sympathetic to our difficulties, the members of the Paris credit club decided to reduce 50 percent of our debt, extend our loan repayment period, and reduce the interest rates on the remaining loans. These things testify to a clear change in the world community's attitude toward Vietnam, a country that is enjoying success in its renovation policy and foreign policy of openness and is moving ahead with promising steps. [Correspondent] Vietnamese-U.S. relations have not been completely normalized. There have been some significant changes, however. Could you evaluate the progress and its effects? [Nguyen Manh Cam] America is the only big and developed country that has not normalized relations with Vietnam. It still maintains a trade embargo against Vietnam. The development of Vietnam's relations with regional nations, developed countries, and major politico-economic centers, however, clearly shows that the U.S. trade embargo runs counter to the common trend. Nevertheless, there was certain progress in the normalization process last year. Many meetings were held at different levels to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and accelerate normalization, especially the meetings between Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Khai and American politicians, including high-level American officials in Washington; and the meeting between our foreign minister and the U.S. secretary of state in Singapore. The normalization of Vietnam's relations with international financial and monetary organizations was effected by U.S. President Bill Clinton's 2 July statement ending opposition to other countries providing loans to Vietnam for the repayment |
FBIS3-46825_0 | MITI on Plan To End Car-Export Restraints | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [Text] On 27 December, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI] made firm its plan to discontinue voluntary restraints on automobile exports to the United States at the end of the current fiscal year. MITI has made its decision in consideration not only of the fact that voluntary export restraints [VER] have become meaningless due to decreased auto exports from Japan as a result of expanded local production in the United States by Japanese automakers, but also of the fact that it was agreed at GATT's new round of multilateral trade talks (Uruguay Round) that VER, among other measures, would be abolished by 1999. In view of expected progress in the Japanese-U.S. framework trade talks in which the automobile trade is one of the key issues, MITI plans to make an official decision as early as January 1994. To ease Japanese-U.S. trade frictions over automobiles, a quota of 1.68 million units was imposed on Japan regarding its VER for fiscal year 1981. The quota was increased to 2.3 million units thereafter, but because actual exports began dropping after peaking in fiscal year 1986, the quota was cut to 1.65 million units in fiscal year 1992. It has been kept at the same level for the current fiscal year. Actual automobile exports, however, remained below the quota from fiscal year 1987 and fell to 1.56 million units in fiscal year 1992. Thus, VER have become meaningless. Concerning the quota, MITI has so far maintained that it "wishes to have the measure abolished because it runs contrary to the principles of free trade." But MITI has been forced to continue VER due to expected objections from the U.S. automobile industry should MITI decide to discontinue them. While local production of Japanese automobiles in the United States has increased, however, Japanese export models have weakened in terms of their price competitiveness due to the yen's appreciation. The U.S. Big Three automakers have also regained their competitiveness. Therefore, MITI has judged that Japanese automobile exports would not increase immediately even if VER were to be lifted. Concerning VER, the United States has ostensibly maintained that "it is a voluntary measure taken by the Japanese automobile industry, and the U.S. Government has no part in it." It is said that the issue will not be taken up in negotiations at the Japanese-U.S. framework trade talks regarding the automobile and auto |
FBIS3-46832_12 | * Outlook for Relations With Russia Discussed | beginning to cope seriously with these aspects, Russia is seen as finally lining up on the starting line. Certainly, its energy is extremely cheap by international standards. Therefore, if Russia itself upgrades its system to cope with the extremely difficult task of curbing inflation while raising the prices of its energy, I believe it will be important, first of all, for everyone to give support and offer advice. Black Markets, But No Corporations [Nukazawa] Here and there on the street corners in Moscow are seen foreign exchange trucks which are remodeled buses. The people all exchange rubles for marks, francs, and dollars, and they deposit the foreign currencies. It is regrettable when the people have a low regard for the currency of their own country. The foreign exchange brokers, like the postwar black market operators (in Japan), reportedly buy and accumulate coupons which they trade for stock shares to be issued when the national enterprises are privatized. Can sound privatization be realized under such conditions? In postwar Japan black marketeers were rampant, but the established enterprises also remained. In today's Russia, there are black markets but no corporate enterprises. How the other advanced nations will support them in this respect is important. If Russia's market economization makes progress, there may be a stage when further privatization of the national enterprises will be attempted. At this stage, however, like postwar Japan and Europe, or like the United States following the Great Depression, it should aim for economic reconstruction with the public sector as the business core. Regarding the mode of management, it could probably bring in enterpreneurs from Japan and the United States, and let them take over management temporarily. Outlook of Japan-Russia Economic Relations [Nukazawa] Regarding Japan-Russia economic relations, unpaid trade payments and the freezing of foreign investment accounts are two problems that weigh heavily and became the focus of attention at the recent conference. [Yamashita] The Russian side said that they will be reviewed by a committee chaired by Deputy Chairman Shokhin. Although they say that it will suffice to pay foreign debts with $150 billion worth of foreign currency credits, it is rather difficult for the money to be returned when the debtors are nations like Cuba, Vietnam, and Angola. It is a hopeless situation to be told all of a sudden that "your debtor is Cuba," or "your debtor is Angola." [Kawake] We would hope that the |
FBIS3-46832_19 | * Outlook for Relations With Russia Discussed | do not have the confidence to sell 90,000 pieces outside of Bulgaria. Stymied by this, the idea was dropped. It is quite a task when production is not possible without our thinking about marketing and sales for them. Therefore, regarding conversion of military facilities to civilian use, they should not talk about such large-scale projects as artificial satellites, but utilize the munitions plants in the environs of Khabarovsk. For example, their casting technology is reputed to be extremely good, so if Japan consigns production of mechanical equipment and parts like flanges and buys up the entire volume, or initially has them produce simple communications facilities on a small scale, or seeks cooperation on conversion of simple military facilities to civilian use, I believe Russia will appreciate it. Conversion of high-level military facilities on a grand scale is too costly and extremely difficult to materialize, and it is clear from the standpoint of productivity and cost that their products cannot possibly compete with the products of Europe and the United States. [Kawake] I believe that, in terms of the present relations with Russia, it is important to understand the present conditions. We must go over there to conduct fact-finding surveys in order to formulate some kind of concrete plan. Further feasibility studies are also a prerequisite. [Rokugawa] When we went to a munitions plant in the Vladivostok suburbs where they are working on general telecommunications called "Radio Pribor" [phonetic], we were told that we were the 98th company from Japan. It indicates how many companies in Japan are conducting studies. They probably all investigated and found it difficult to handle, so they gave up. [Nukazawa] Russia has broad territorial lands and is rich in rsources, so the potentials are great. However, it is deterred by its legacies from the past, so it is probably necessary for us to advise them and make smooth circulation possible. However, it is difficult to know where to begin. Image of Russia as a Great Power Must Be Dropped [Yamashita] The problem is that the Russian side is not very receptive to advice. They probably believe that they are smart enough. In any case, all they want from Japan now is money. [Aiko] When we listen to people in charge of projects for overseas advancement, I believe the greatest point in a minus sense is pride. Where pride exists, the situation is difficult. Once that pride |
FBIS3-46847_6 | Impact of Toyota Restructuring Offensive Examined | new government's economic policies and the Tokyo motor show opening this month. But our real sense is that we are in the dark about any clear-cut time for recovery." Among analysts and others involved a common view is that in mid-1994 there will be an upturn in demand for cars along with economic recovery. This also depends on the economy, and the timing may slip; but there will certainly be replacement buying for that portion sold in a burst in the bubble era. So, one may foresee at least a surge in domestic demand in the mid-1990's. But, most forecasts do not see that happening to the extent of its level much surpassing that of 1990. Now, as to exports, shipments to Europe and the United States, making up 65 percent of Japan's car exports, are severely affected by price increases responding to the high yen. Passenger car sales in the United States were up 8.1 percent in August compared to the same month last year; but those exported from Japan were down 2.1 percent. Japanese carmakers have set much larger price increases than the U.S. Big Three makers for the 1994 models being released this fall; and, along with the quality improvements in U.S. cars of late, this greatly lowers the competitiveness of Japanese cars. In Europe, too, Japanese cars not only have weakened price competitiveness, but the outlook for car demand within the EC area is a drop of 16 percent. Due to this, in September the car-export monitoring framework for the EC in 1993--set in April at 1.085 million vehicles--was reduced to 980,000. Any recovery in demand next year also is moot. Medium- and long-range exchange rates are generally expected to be anywhere from the present level to about 100 yen per dollar. Exports of Toyotas and other Japanese cars to Europe and the United States are gradually falling for two reasons: lessened competitiveness and expanded local production. At Toyota, they say, "We will strive to develop demand in places like Southeast Asia and China" so as to make up for this. Yet, current demand for autos in Asia is of only 34 million vehicles; and, except for a handful of countries like Thailand, the pace for market expansion is not at all clear. Whatever the long-range prospect, for the present it would be difficult for this alone to compensate for declining exports to Europe and the |
FBIS3-46848_6 | Reform of Lifetime Employment Practice Urged | be met at all, this may become the time when the myth that "big business equals stable employment" will be questioned. The High Yen and the Hollowing Out of Industry The continuing high yen, a major factor in the lengthening of the current recession, has rekindled the risk of a hollowed-out industry, which had been trumpeted during the previous high yen slump. The high yen, which has climbed to nearly 100 to the dollar, is only one-fourth what it was during the 1985-87 period in terms of rate of increase. A major factor for the serious acceptance of the current high yen has been the inability to shift smoothly from external to internal demand, eliminating other factors of the earlier high yen period such as: 1) correction of the overly cheap yen during first half of the eighties; 2) improvement in trade as a result of the steep drop in crude oil prices; and 3) financial deregulation and increased corporate earnings bolstered by skyrocketing asset values. That is to say, the current high yen, facing a time of corporate strength weakened by a steep business recession and the explosive drop in asset values, is having a greater impact than would appear on the surface. Furthermore, from the fact that the automobile and electronics industries, which were eagerly making direct overseas investments during the previous high yen time and simultaneously investing aggressively in plants and equipment domestically, the hollowed-out production argument results in needless fear. However, if we look back in terms of the current state of things, another factor was that the chief export industries, primarily automobiles and electronics, in simultaneously making broad domestic and direct overseas investments, created a surplus of plants and equipment, prolonging the inventory adjustment period. The response to the high yen by Japanese companies who have learned this lesson will be different this time. Furthermore, it is significant that many businesses already producing in earnest overseas have made few investments compared to the previous high yen period. In this alone there is the strong possibility that companies are responding with care to the differences between foreign and domestic production costs. In the future this will strengthen the trend for still higher production overseas as opposed to domestic production. However, on the other hand, judging by questionnaires of most companies, the view that 120 yen to the dollar is an appropriate exchange rate and that export |
FBIS3-46850_1 | Tariff Cuts Ordered on AFTA Product Groups | of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed that there is a need to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers that only serve to impede intra-ASEAN trade. The six member countries of the ASEAN includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand. The ASEAN member countries have agreed to improve the existing Preferential Trading Arrangements (PTA) in this regard. To boost economic cooperation and intra-ASEAN trading, the ASEAN member countries have agreed to do this through the CEPT scheme which set a time frame of 15 years beginning January 1993 to reduce tariff rates from zero to five percent. EO 145 says that products identified by the Philippines for accelerated rate reduction under the CEPT scheme for the AFTA, tariff rates (MFN/PTA) [expansion unknown] of 20 percent or below shall be reduced to five percent and zero by 1 Jan 2000, while tariff rates (MFN/PTA) above 20 percent shall be reduced to five percent and zero by 1 January 2003. For products identified by the Philippines for "normal rate reduction," the tariff reduction to five percent and zero shall be done in two stages, namely: -- For products with existing tariff rates (MFN/PTA) of 20 percent or below, tariffs shall be reduced to five percent and zero through a seven-year program starting 1 January 1996 up to 1 January 2003; and, -- For products with existing tariff rates (MFN/PTA) above 20 percent, tariffs shall be reduced to 20 percent by 1 January 2001. The subsequent reduction of tariff rates from 20 percent to five percent and zero shall be done within seven years, with the minimum rate of reduction set at five percentage points every two years starting 1 January 2004 up to 1 January 2008. EO 146 amends EO 43, series of 1992 by modifying the margins of preference (MOP) and the applicable ASEAN Preferential Tariffs on certain items included in the coverage in the Philippine Exclusion List. In EO 43, the rates of duty of certain imported articles as provided for under the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines of 1978, as amended, provided a minimum level of 25 percent MOPs in certain items in the exclusion list. EO 147 modifies the rates of duty on certain imported articles as provided for in the Tariff Code to implement the 10 percent (MOP) granted by the Philippines under the agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) among |
FBIS3-46900_1 | Businesses Wary of Participation in TMD Plan | Defense Production Committee under the Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan [Keidanren], which is organized by about 80 defense-related companies, released a 200-page report in mid-December. The report carries a translated text of the theater missile defense (TMD) plan, which was released by the U.S. Defense Department in June 1993. In view of trends in the post-Cold War period, the TMD is proposed as a regional defense system to replace the strategic defense initiative (SDI) plan. The United States is calling for Japan's cooperation in developing and purchasing the TMD system, and Japan is beginning to think seriously about it since it became obvious the DPRK (North Korea) is developing the "Nodong" missile with an effective range of 1,000 kilometers. Under such circumstances, the Keidanren Defense Production Committee has decided to study the U.S. proposal. A senior official of a major electric appliance manufacturer noted the TMD plan is expected to awaken Japan's interest in better warning and control systems as well as defense missile systems, saying: "Japan's air defense system is intended for airplane attacks, and the nation is completely open to ballistic missiles. The TMD will be a chance to modernize the nation's capability to cope with missile attacks." During his Tokyo visit in November, U.S. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin stated that Japan should contribute to the TMD project not only by offering its technology, but also by purchasing U.S.-made equipment. If so, the project would be unattractive to Japanese companies. Japan decided to purchase airborne warning and control system (AWACS) late last year, and the purchase of four AWACS planes was incorporated in the 1993 and 1994 budgets; however, this suppressed expenditure for Japanese-made equipment. Therefore, Managing Director Shozo Ojimi of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Limited showed a prudent attitude toward Japan's participation in the TMD project, saying: "It is questionable that we really have to join the TMD project thoughtlessly. We have to carefully study its technological merits, or we will just waste money." Also, a senior Defense Agency official said: "While the United States wants to use Japanese technology in the TMD, Japan's technological contribution to development of the missile system would be quite limited due to legal restrictions." Some quarters express concern that, even if some sort of technological cooperation is possible, such Japan-U.S. projects may produce nothing but technological friction just like the joint project for development of Japan's next-generation support fighter (FSX). |
FBIS3-46906_1 | * Long-Term Issues Facing Government Examined Will the Japanese Government Change Under These Circumstances? | intact, the tax burden of the worker 30 years hence will likely be about 70 percent. At that time, the old people's welfare will probably be cut drastically, and along with it, a heavy consumers tax will probably have been introduced in order to equalize the tax burden. It seems likely that the era, in which everyone, both young and old, must lower the standard of living, is about to be realized in the not too distant future. There is no way to protect against this, except either to increase the number of foreign workers or, as quickly as possible, to return the birth rate from the present 1.5 to close to 2.1. Sweden has succeeded in raising the birth rate from 1.6 to as much as 2.14 through such child-care policies as granting maternity leave with pay until the child is a year and a half old, child-care allowance, reduced working hours until the child is eight years old, etc. Under this system in Sweden, where by having just one of the two parents remain at home to babysit for a total of about two years, one person, who in the future will work for 45 years between the ages of 20 and 65, will emerge, and therefore, this is truly an advantageous calculation. From the standpoint of economic statistics, Japan is a nation with an extremely high savings rate, but for the future, the number of young people who must shoulder Japan's economy has begun to decrease. Moreover, with the increase in the population of old people, consumption will increase more than savings and, therefore, the savings rate will unmistakably shift to a decline. If the working population should decrease and the savings rate should decline, Japan's economy will definitely enter a degenerative stage. Lamentation of Trade Surplus The next problem is the expanding trade surplus. This means that the goods produced through hard work by the Japanese cannot be fully utilized domestically and have become surplus goods. When compared with the middle class of the United States and the former West Germany, the standard of living of the Japanese is woefully unequal. The workers of the metropolitan cities ride overcrowded streetcars and commute from faraway small homes for long hours. No decent resort areas are found in their surroundings. If the trade surplus were to be spent domestically, the standard of living of the Japanese would improve |
FBIS3-46906_5 | * Long-Term Issues Facing Government Examined Will the Japanese Government Change Under These Circumstances? | to become the greatest target is Japan, which to the United States is the country with the greatest trade deficit. At the recent U.S.-Japan summit meeting, Miyazawa rejected President Clinton's request of making the ratio of the international accounts surplus to the GNP below 5 percent in four or five years hence, but regarding the important industrial fields of automobiles and their components, space industry equipment, etc., they apparently agreed to decide on the open market of the numerical target value of each one. This means that, regarding the important fields, the Japanese government must assume the obligation of achieving the importing objectives that have been decided on. The United States has forced unfair controls even against Japanese business, but apparently the Japanese government could not allude to them. Among the major unfair controls are the demand for self-imposed controls on exports to the United States, foreign investment controls in the United States, policy of prioritizing the purchase of domestic goods, place of origin controls of any business advancing into the United States, forcing the domestic production ratio, etc. With the exception of oil-producing countries, Japan has an expansive export surplus in nearly all countries. This is true even with the United States. The United States is trying to prevent the increase of Japan's exports to the United States, is suppressing the activities of Japanese business in the United States, and, regarding the important industrial goods, is trying to ensure a part of Japan's market share. Japan's best plan in countering these efforts is to expand the investments of the infrastructure, such as transportation, cities, homes, etc., through the reform of the land system or the withdrawal of various controls, and thereby reducing the trade surplus. But in reality, the plan is not possible. If the trade surplus cannot be reduced on a large scale, a balance must be achieved by increasing capital exports. By this means, Japan's overseas activities can be stimulated, and as Japan's position in the world expands, then its international responsibility on a comparable basis will be demanded. Regarding the world's desired order for the future, Japan must establish its world strategy under a clear vision, endeavor in that direction and it must assume the economic burden for the above reasons. At times, the burden might become a political or military one. Regrettably, the formation of this sort of vision is not possible in today's Japan. |
FBIS3-46908_4 | * Political Trends Behind Hosokawa Administration Ad Hoc Council on Administrative Reform and the "Cultural Age" | particularly significant were the demands that resulted from Japan's internationalization. Concretely, it was the pressures brought to bear by the United States, demanding market opening and contributions by Japan. Faced with these pressures, Japan's elite arrived at the judgment that they must comply with international demands even at the sacrifice of domestic demands. It was in this context that, with the progress of administrative reform, they deepened their awareness that political reform was indispensable for administrative reform. Numerous problems remain which could not be solved by the administrative reforms in the first half of the 1980's. The agricultural problems centering on rice are typical. Other reforms are the easing of regulations and the reform of special corporations. Consequently, the United States has made severe demands against Japan in the forum of the Japan-U.S. Structural Impediments Initiative [SII] talks. In order to meet these tasks, reform of the ruling and opposition parties that have been resisting--i.e. "political reform"--became necessary. However, the "political reform" was, more than administrative reform, a challenge against the power base of the elite in the form of stablized control by the conservative party. The greater the progress toward political reform, the greater was the resulting destruction of their own power base. However, an awareness arose among the elite that they could not commit themselves to the nation's tasks without restructuring their power base itself. The election system reform proposed several years ago was a means to meet the tasks by restructuring the power base of the political parties. In the first place, administrative reform was pushed through with powerful support by public opinion mobilized by the mass media. Its substantial support layer was the urban salaried-worker class that was unrelated to the vested interests called the "iron triangle." From the standpoint of the LDP's support base, it means a shift from the farm regions to the cities, and from the old middle class to the new middle class. However, it is extremely difficult to make the new support layer a stable political base with the current election system as the premise. The glorious advent and disappointing exit of the Shinjiyu [New Liberal] Club was the outcome of such a risk. In order to overcome this instability, the reform of the election system is a most effective means. The proposed small-constituency system and the proportional-representation system are both expected to provide stable support bases for the new conservative |
FBIS3-46918_11 | Automakers' Restructuring Strategies Outlined Toyota: Personnel Reshuffle of 20 Percent in the Indirect Sector; Faced With Measures Concerning Surplus Plants Nissan: Second Zama Plant To Close in 1995; Is "Profit at Zero Growth" Possible? Mazda: "Third Restructuring" Inevitable for Correction of the Bubble Expansion Isuzu: Resources Concentrated in the Truck Sector With Withdrawal From Passenger Car Production | time in five years in its October 1991 settlement and, even amid its restructuring, no clear direction was indicated regarding the nonprofitability in the passenger car sector. The company's number of passenger cars was 200,000 in 1985, but it fell to 72,000 in 1992. During this period, technological innovation on passenger cars, including electronification made advances, and development investment grew unprecedentedly. The inability to win in such development competition and sales resulted in lowering its competitiveness in the passenger car sector. However, even amid the deficit settlements, no revival measures for the passenger car sector were indicated, and voices of doubt were heard among those concerned as to "what the company intended to do." Ultimately, however, it was decided to discard the sector as a nonprofitable sector and to aim for management reconstruction under a production system with trucks as the commercial mainstay vehicles. Many evaluate such a clearcut decision as "far better than continuing the bloodletting endlessly." The reason is that withdrawal from the passenger car race not merely has a negative aspect, but also has various merits. One positive aspect is that the limited management resources can be concentrated in the truck sector. In the truck industry, every company is desperately continuing research and development in order to clear the medium- and long-term regulations on diesel exhaust gases. Naturally, plenty of funds become necessary. However, withdrawal from the passenger car sector is expected to facilitate coping with exhaust emissions. Also, passenger cars are directed toward the general consumers who are the ultimate users and, despite the "hits and misses," commercial vehicles such as trucks have mostly fixed users. Therefore, if commerciality in the hardware aspect can be ensured, it is difficult to fall into a broad decline. In other words, it is deemed that, compared to passenger cars, management plans for trucks can be easily formulated. The characteristic of such products is of course an extremely important element for a restructuring company like Isuzu which must follow a stabilized schedule. The market scale of trucks is smaller than for passenger cars, and the profitability rate is not high. However, they have merit as a potentially sound business with little fluctuation. Although reducing the product lineup has its risks in a certain sense, the risks are smaller than maintaining a front line that drains the company's energies. It will probably become the final gamble for Isuzu, the distinguished automaker. |
FBIS3-46924_0 | Bureau Reports Decreased Cattle Numbers | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Ulaanbaatar, January 4 (OANA-MONTSAME) -- According to preliminary results released by the Statistical Board of Mongolia here today, during the counting of the cattle number conducted at the end of the last year, there are some 25 million 172.5 thousand head of cattle of five kinds registered in Mongolia. That is by 521.6 thousand less than in 1992. Among the five kinds of animals there is observed an increase in the number only for goats. As is shown by the preliminary data there are some 367.4 thousand camels, 2,189.8 thousand horses, 2,730.4 thousand bovine, 13,778 thousand sheep and 6,106.9 thousand goats in the country. In 13 out of 18 aymags of the country the total number of cattle has recorded to be reduced. Among the consequences of the natural calamity occurred in the three western aymags of Mongolia, the growth of cattle number has been affected by an uncontrolled slaughter of meat and a remarkable weakening of maintenance and care of animals provided in many cattlebreeding units. [sentence as received] This might be seen from the fact that the six aymags with the most favourable weather conditions for the last winter-spring period failed to increase the number of cattle, specialists of the statistical board points out. |
FBIS3-46925_0 | Minister Welcomes Report on Tokyo, EAEC | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 6 KYODO -- Malaysia hopes a report that Japan has decided to back the proposed East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) is accurate since Tokyo's participation will augur well for the region's economic development, a top official said Thursday [6 January]. "It means Japan is at last fully convinced that not only is it geographically right in the midst of East Asia, but it belongs to East Asia," said International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz. "It's good if the report is true that Japan has now decided to recognize the EAEC," she said, commenting on a report Wednesday in a Japanese daily that quoted government sources as saying that Tokyo has reversed its cautious EAEC stance. The ASAHI SHIMBUN report said the new position hopes to create a "diplomatic balance" in the Pacific region following implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among the United States, Canada and Mexico at the weekend, and to curb U.S. dominance in the 17-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which held its first summit in Seattle in November. The news report was carried on the front pages of all major Malaysian newspapers Thursday. The Japanese Foreign Ministry declined to comment on it. Rafidah added that Japan joining the EAEC should not detract Tokyo's network with groupings in other parts of the world. [sentence as received] The six-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hopes to lure Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan into forming the EAEC hopefully by this year, but only China has so far publicly welcomed the grouping. ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Japan and South Korea have been noncommittal over their participation after the previous U.S. Administration of President George Bush strongly opposed the exclusive Asian grouping, saying it is a potential trading bloc. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed proposed the EAEC in late 1990 when the recently concluded Uruguay Round of talks to free the global trading system was bogged down mainly by disputes between the U.S. and the European Community. The ASAHI report said the conclusion of the talks allows Japan to reverse its stance on the EAEC which it feared would have hampered the round that was held under the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It added the change was also due to Japan's concern that NAFTA is evolving |
FBIS3-46943_0 | Foreign Groups Report Japanese `Past Crimes' | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Pyongyang, January 6 (KCNA) -- World people and broad public circles have exposed the past crimes of Japan. Participants of international meetings including the international hearing on sexual enslavement by the Japanese Army and the 49th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights denounced the crimes of the Japanese imperialists in driving millions of Korean young and middle-aged people like beasts of burden and murdering over a million Korean people and making fortunes by carrying away a large amount of resources and valuable cultural relics. At a meeting of the sub-commission on prevention of discrimination and protection of minorities, a representative of the Liberation Organization said that the Japanese imperialists had drafted over six million Korean young and middle-aged people to work them hard and its government and military deprived the Koreans of their language and names and forced them to worship the Japanese emperor. Lourder Indai Sajor, coordinator of the Asian women human rights council task force for Filipino victims of military sexual slavery by Japan, said that the crimes of the Japanese imperialists in depriving women of their rights and reducing them to sexual slaves were most hideous anti-human, special-class crimes without parallel in history, that they were heinous crimes against human rights and humanity in view of international law. Campton Makamure, chairman of the Zimbabwe Association of Democratic Jurists, said that the Japanese imperialists established a medieval colonial rule after occupying Korea and murdered over a million Korean people in cold blood and drafted nearly 200,000 innocent Korean women as sexual slaves of the Japanese Army. "If Japan really has the intention to improve its relations with the DPRK and contribute to world peace and security, it must repent of and apologize for its past crimes and show its sincerity in practice," he urged. |
FBIS3-46961_5 | Vice Unification Minister on Policy for 1994 | Even amid the difficult economic situation, North Korea pushed ahead with the expansion of armaments. We can say that its overall internal situation is getting worse. However, it is true that North Korea is seeking a series of changes in a bid to maintain existing systems. For example, the Supreme People's Assembly held last December declared agriculture-first, trade-first, and light industry-first policy. Besides, North Korea is accelerating the overhaul of its juridical system with a view to inducing foreign investment. [Kim] You mentioned changes in North Korea. What is your view on the degree of such changes? [Song] It is true that North Korea is changing. But it is too early to consider this as an essential change. I would like to personally describe it as tactical change. However, we should also remember that when such tactical change is accumulated, this change will be linked to strategic change. One of the examples is that North Korea entered the United Nations together with South Korea. Up until its entrance to the United Nations, North Korea claimed that simultaneous entry was a policy for the perpetuation of division. Nevertheless, it choose the simultaneous entry in order to maintain its system after the international situation changed. In view of North Korea's past logic, this can be considered a great change. Likewise, North Korea will continue to seek changes according to what occurs at home and abroad for the survival of its own system. I think the direction of changes North Korea is seeking would be that of Chinese-style change. I presume that even if North Korea pursues the Chinese model, it will take its own characteristics into account and will push for a limited opening at a lower speed than that of China. [Kim] People repeatedly say that circumstances for reunification have now changed. Will you point out which are beneficial to reunification and which are not in recent relations among neighboring countries? [Song] The neighboring countries of the Korean peninsula support the principle of resolving the reunification issue by the concerned parties, North and South of Korea, as well as the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The fact that our neighboring countries want the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and durable peace are aspects beneficial to us, because the basis of our reunification policy is to advance toward reunification through the peaceful coexistence between the North and the South. Therefore, North and |
FBIS3-46985_0 | Alatas Welcomes Reported Japan Stance on EAEC | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Jakarta, Jan. 7 KYODO -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas welcomed Japan's reported support for a proposed East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) after it had previously shown a cautious stance to the idea, the state-run news agency ANTARA reported Friday [7 January]. It quoted him as saying Thursday, "I'm grateful to hear of Japan's commitment." In its Wednesday edition, a leading Japanese daily, the ASAHI SHIMBUN, quoted unidentified government officials as saying that Japan has decided to "commit itself" to the regional forum after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1. Japan had been guarded in its support for EAEC, proposed by Malaysia, because the United States, its major trading partner, was against the idea, fearing it would be excluded. Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed stayed away from an informal summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Seattle in November. Alatas said a ministerial meeting in Singapore last year of the Association of Southeast [Asian] Nations (ASEAN) agreed to include the EAEC in the APEC framework. "So, the EAEC is not a threat to the APEC," he said. ASEAN had accepted the caucus as an economic consultative forum, Alatas said, adding that APEC "more or less" agreed to the East Asian forum. Potential members of EAEC are the six ASEAN countries -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- and China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. APEC comprises these countries plus Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the U.S. |
FBIS3-46998_1 | Northern Economy Viewed; 80-100 Projects Started | socialist countries have changed positively: Mr Chaiyot sees opportunities for public service infrastructure, hotel, residential building and environmental preservation projects in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and Lampang. In the lower northern provinces, promotional privileges will assist machinery, metal and other industries. "The establishment of a new industrial estate in Phichit is intended to stimulate competition in the lower North," he said. The Board of Investment's [BoI's] northern office forecast about 8 percent growth for the northern region this year, compared to 1993's 7.8-7.9 percent. Last year was seen as a golden time for investment in the North he said. The BoI-approved plans involved total investment of about 1,000 million baht. These created 25,038 jobs. In 1989, which was seen as a good year, there were 73 projects worth a total of 11,273 million baht. These created 18,208 jobs. In 1992, only 32 schemes were approved with a total investment of 4,267 million baht. These created 8,749 jobs. Last year, 100 projects (77.5 percent) were located in the upper North and 29 (22.5 percent) were in the lower North. Thirty-four projects were in Chiang Mai, 30 in Lamphun, 15 in Tak, 10 in Lampang and eight in Chiang Rai. Seven projects were in Nakhon Sawan and five in Phetchabun. Mr Chaiyot said 35 industrial projects, mostly involving mines, ceramics and metal production, had a combined cost of 2,688 million baht and created 4,388 jobs. These factories are in Tak, Chiang Mai and Lampang. Twenty-seven projects involved garments, textiles, shoes and ornaments with a combined cost of 597 million baht. These created 7,886 jobs and are mostly in Chiang Mai, Lamphun or Chiang Rai. Twenty-one projects were related to infrastructure and services, 19 were agro-industrial factories, 15 were electronics factories, nine involved metal production, machinery, equipment and tools, and three involved petrochemical industries paper and plastics. Promotional privileges were granted for projects costing a total of 1,795 million baht aimed at the export markets. These created 5,583 jobs. Mr Chaiyot said Thais spent a total of 7,138 million baht on 92 projects in the North last year. These created 18,777 jobs. Twelve projects involving foreigners cost a total of 753 million baht and employed 1,768 people. These factories were owned by Japanese, European, US, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korean interests. Twenty-five projects were joint ventures between Thais and foreigners. These cost 1480 million baht and created 4,513 jobs, Mr Chaiyot said. |
FBIS3-47027_3 | Attache To PRC Khamla Views Economic Ties | technology cooperation projects carried out in various ways and means and participated in by several economic sectors. The process of cooperation involved the provision of gratis aid, interest-free or low-interest loans for construction of hydropower electric plants, or the development of agriculture, forestry, and the rural economy. On cooperation in the expansion of industry or in mining exploration, many Chinese companies have been awarded contracts for the construction of roads, airfields, hydropower electric plants in the northern, central, and southern regions of Laos, with a combined total cost of more than US$60 million. Over the past four years, the PRC has invested a total of US$21,914,000 in 34 projects in Laos. In 1993, the PRC invested in 17 projects worth more than US$13 million. To enhance future economic and trade relations and cooperation, although both countries have had similar experiences, I believe each country has some unique qualities and different conditions and levels of development. Despite differences, both have similarities in many aspects, such as geographically, in natural resources, in labor, funding, science and technology, and in the lessons of socioeconomic development and other fields. I believe that along with the relations and cooperation between the potential markets, Laos and China will be able to find basic sectors, projects, forms, and methods of cooperaton that can serve as strategies and key factors for firm and lasting cooperation. I believe both countries are jointly considering basic, lasting, and key cooperation projects in several fields. These are integrated agriculture; forestry; processing industry for export; hydropower; mining; geology; construction materials; communications and land, water and air transportation; and tourism. [passage omitted] Our country is the country of peace, stability, and social order. Its location is important as the international community is interested in development projects in this region, some of which are the Golden Quadrangle development project; the project to link Asian transportation routes -- roads, railways, waterways; the Mekong River waterways transportation project from the watershed in Tibet to Vietnam. [passage omitted] Trade and the economy have very important roles for Lao-Chinese ties and cooperation. In this regard, all concerned agencies of each side will have to make efforts not only to increase production but also to consider the natural resources of each country, as well as the trade balance. They will also have to take into account various main strategic projects, ways to increase prosperity, and international competition. For example, border |
FBIS3-47036_0 | MOF Considers Tobacco, Liquor Tax Increases | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [Text] The Ministry of Finance [MOF] has begun studying a plan to increase taxes on tobacco and liquor. This is because the MOF has judged that since it plans to abolish additional tax on automobile acquisitions and to remove a special tax on business corporations as part of the pump-priming measures, it needs to cover the expected shortfall in tax revenue -- which is expected to be nearly 400 billion yen -- that will occur following implementation of the plan. A probable plan is to raise cigarette taxes by 1 yen per cigarette. However, the situation concerning economic pump-priming measures is a fluid one due to the difficulties in coordination on the cost of the income tax cuts. Moreover, industrial circles and consumers are expected to oppose the MOF plan. For this reason, the MOF intends to coordinate with the ruling coalition and other parties while watching the situation concerning the shortfall in estimated tax revenue. At a request by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the MOF intends to include the plan to lower the consumption tax on motor vehicles from the current 4.5 percent (which is the standard consumption tax of 3 percent plus an additional tax of 1.5 percent) to 3 percent, and to remove the (current 2.5 percent) special tax on business corporations in an economic pump-priming package which it will compile within this month. The MOF plans to raise the consumption tax to 7 percent in April 1995. It hopes that demand for automobiles and other products will increase in response to the proposed income tax cuts and change in tax rates, and this will help the economy escape from the current recession. It is expected the drop in consumption tax on automobiles will push down the overall tax revenue by approximately 80 billion yen and the abolition of the special tax on business corporations by 315 billion yen. Because an expected drop in tax revenue is serious in view of the economic recession, the MOF intends to make up for the fall by raising taxes on liquor and cigarettes, which are not daily commodities and will have little impact on the economy. Since Japan Tobacco Inc. gave up its plan to list shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by the end of the fiscal 1993, the proposed hike in cigarette tax is not expected to affect its business profits |
FBIS3-47041_2 | Tokyo Show Highlights Automakers' `Distress' | cars exhibited by Toyota Motor and Nissan based on the absolutely identical idea of "having interior space rivaling that of a large car, but with the car size and fuel consumption of a small car." The pudgy appearance could not be called attractive even as an empty compliment, but the two companies both insist that "in the future this type of thoroughly rationalized car will become mainstream." However, the true feelings of Japanese automakers do not welcome such a change. Inexpensive, compact, and practical were once characteristics of Japanese cars, but that is no longer the case. Since size increased and every conceivable type of new technology continued to be piled on during the bubble period, cars are no longer either inexpensive or compact. It is pointed out that they are excessively equipped and it has also become doubtful whether they are practical. Price Difference Between U.S. Cars: Severe Cost Reductions Make Development Teams Feel Powerless In January 1994 Chrysler will introduce the Japanese car killer "Neon," the focus of much attention, into the North American market. It is expected that the minimum price of this small passenger car will be about $9,000. A passenger car with engine displacement of 2,000 cc, its price at about 1 million yen defies the conventional wisdom of the Japanese automakers. Such things as power windows, and other equipment not regarded very highly by small car customers have been decidedly cut out, and it is said that, compared to a Japanese car of the same class, it has reduced the total number of parts by 10 percent. There are critics, such as Honda President Nobuhiko Kawamoto, who says, "The Neon is a car solely in earnest pursuit of affordability. It will be necessary to monitor the situation a bit longer to make an accurate assessment of its reliability, among other things." One thing for certain, however, is that it has placed a big gap between the Japanese makers and the Big Three in terms of price competitiveness. Lamenting his own company's disposition toward high costs, Nissan President Yoshifumi Tsuji says, "No matter how hard we try, a car under 1.5 million yen will not generate a surplus. It is like producing it merely to maintain the plant's rate of operation." Fixed costs such as personnel expenses and repayment expenses which soared during the bubble period have become encumbrances, and their constitution is such that |
FBIS3-47057_2 | MONTSAME Carries Press Reviews 8 Jan | two years was signed between the governments of the two countries. Besides that, credits for renewal of the rolling stock will be granted by the World Bank. The newspaper points out to the necessity of an effective use of credit means, in an interview with the newspaper correspondent an official of the National Development Department P. Danspanjav announces that for building a hydroelectric power station on the River Egiingol 268 mln US dollars are needed, the Asian Development Bank agreed to allot 700 mln US dollars. The rest of means should be allotted by the Mongolian side. The issue, as it is supposed, will be considered in the first quarter of the current year. The hydroelectric power station project is accomplished by Mongolian specialists jointly with the Swiss company "Electrowatt". As P. Dansranjav considers, capital investments in building the electric power station, in all probability, will be allotted starting from 1995. The agricultural newspaper MONGOLYN HUDOO publishes an interview of the Chief of the Food Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture B. Alzahgui. He tells about measures on realization of the government programme "Food '93". B. Alzahgui tells that in 1993 measures have been taken on mobilization of internal resources for improvement of food supply of the population, involving in this work all citizens. In 7993 many families started breeding cattle, pigs, raising poultry, growing vegetables. According to the preliminary data, more than 40 thousand families and 1000 economic units started being engaged in agriculture. Approximately the same number of families and organizations in cattle pig-breeding, poultry farming, at many places in rabbit breeding and bee-keeping. For these purposes the state has granted to aymags and cities 180 mln tugriks credit on favourable terms. Realization of the projects on production of vegetable oil and granulated sugar in the country has begun. B. Alzahgui notes that there are all opportunities for supplying the population with food at the expense of internal sources, the newspaper publishes an interview of its correspondent with the administration head of Ulaanuul Somon of Hubsgul Aymag D. Seseer, he notes that in the majority of bags (primary administrative units) [word indistinct] persons are elected their chairmen. The new persons, notes D. Seseer, are striving to work in a new fashion. D. Seseer notes that the local authorities have to face also many difficulties, lack of means, premises, transport, he considers the administration heads as the |
FBIS3-47057_3 | MONTSAME Carries Press Reviews 8 Jan | the governments of the two countries. Besides that, credits for renewal of the rolling stock will be granted by the World Bank. The newspaper points out to the necessity of an effective use of credit means, in an interview with the newspaper correspondent an official of the National Development Department P. Danspanjav announces that for building a hydroelectric power station on the River Egiingol 268 mln US dollars are needed, the Asian Development Bank agreed to allot 700 mln US dollars. The rest of means should be allotted by the Mongolian side. The issue, as it is supposed, will be considered in the first quarter of the current year. The hydroelectric power station project is accomplished by Mongolian specialists jointly with the Swiss company "Electrowatt". As P. Dansranjav considers, capital investments in building the electric power station, in all probability, will be allotted starting from 1995. The agricultural newspaper MONGOLYN HUDOO publishes an interview of the Chief of the Food Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture B. Alzahgui. He tells about measures on realization of the government programme "Food '93". B. Alzahgui tells that in 1993 measures have been taken on mobilization of internal resources for improvement of food supply of the population, involving in this work all citizens. In 7993 many families started breeding cattle, pigs, raising poultry, growing vegetables. According to the preliminary data, more than 40 thousand families and 1000 economic units started being engaged in agriculture. Approximately the same number of families and organizations in cattle pig-breeding, poultry farming, at many places in rabbit breeding and bee-keeping. For these purposes the state has granted to aymags and cities 180 mln tugriks credit on favourable terms. Realization of the projects on production of vegetable oil and granulated sugar in the country has begun. B. Alzahgui notes that there are all opportunities for supplying the population with food at the expense of internal sources, the newspaper publishes an interview of its correspondent with the administration head of Ulaanuul Somon of Hubsgul Aymag D. Seseer, he notes that in the majority of bags (primary administrative units) [word indistinct] persons are elected their chairmen. The new persons, notes D. Seseer, are striving to work in a new fashion. D. Seseer notes that the local authorities have to face also many difficulties, lack of means, premises, transport, he considers the administration heads as the main support for local authorities. |
FBIS3-47066_0 | Security Talks Planned With PRC, Russia | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tokyo, Jan. 8 KYODO -- Defense talks between Japan and China will be held in Beijing in late February as part of confidence-building measures, government sources said Saturday [8 January]. In addition, the sources said, representatives of the agency and the Russian Defense Ministry will meet in Tokyo in early February for a second round of official consultations on security matters following a similar meeting in Moscow in June 1992. The working-level talks with China, which will be attended by defense officials and ranking members of the Self-Defense Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, are the first since the visit of China's defense minister in 1984. Following a trip to China by then Defense Agency Chief Yuko Kurihara in 1987, regular working-level defense talks were envisaged, but the plans were suspended after Beijing's military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at the Tiananmen Square in June 1989. Tokyo, however, decided to go ahead with the original project after Washington and Beijing resumed defense talks with the visit of a senior Pentagon official to China last autumn, the sources said. The defense talks come at a time of allegations that China's long-time ally North Korea is pursuing a nuclear weapons development program. "Through dialogue with other countries such as China and Russia, we aim not only at fostering mutual understanding, but also at making sure that Japan has a say concerning North Korea's alleged nuclear development," a Defense Agency source said. The talks also reflect the agency's efforts to launch a broader security dialogue with Asian neighbors to revise outdated Cold War defense patterns, the sources said. Defense consultations with Russia will therefore focus on security guarantees and be upgraded to section chief level, the sources said. In line with more active military exchanges to build trust in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan will see the first ever visit by an incumbent South Korean defense minister at the end of March, the sources said. |
FBIS3-47129_9 | Assembly Issues Resolution on 1994 Tasks | must take stern punitive measures as defined by law against offenders. Meanwhile, we must actively combine correctional education with vocational training and productive labor and must adopt preventive and control measures against HIV infection. We must reserve necessary funds for the resolution of these social ills. D. We must pay appropriate attention to and care for people's primary health, especially for mothers and children in rural and mountain regions; we must accelerate the immunization campaigns against epidemic diseases and endeavor to curb the rate of malnutrition among children. We must also strengthen the tasks relating to population and family planning, as well as solidify and develop tbe network of local medical stations, especially in mountainous, remote, and not readily-accessible regions. We must be active in training locals to become medical cadres and speed up the promulgation of regulations that treat grassroot medical cadres adequately. An adequate budget for the treatment of malaria and leprosy must be guaranteed, and iodine salt for the grassroot level to treat goiter must be provided. Concerned provinces will be authorized to distribute free of charge iodine salt to poor people living in highland regions. Free medical consultation and treatment for poor people must be guaranteed, and the hospital management task must be strengthened so as to counter the degradation of hospitals. We must speed up the establishment of two advanced medical centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and try to develop the traditional ethic of the medical profession, that likens a good doctor to a tender mother. E. We will form effective policies and measures to create more jobs for people of working age, especially for young people who have been trained, and for discharged soldiers. We will also motivate capital from various sources to develop production, business, and service activities in both urban and rural areas in order to attract and exploit labor. We must also continue the effective implementation of the program to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, with special attention paid to regions suffering the most from natural disasters, highland and remote regions, or former resistance bases. The entitlements and living standards of those eligible for social security assistance must be guaranteed and improved. We must speed up the promulgation of a decree that stipulates rewards for people with meritorious deeds and implement effectively the new wage policy, correcting any unfair consequences in the process. 4. Regarding National Defense and |
FBIS3-47141_0 | Soldiers In South Seek Vietnam War Compensation | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Pyongyang, January 8 (KCNA) -- Some 200 former soldiers of the South Korean puppet Army who had suffered injuries during the U.S. imperialists' war of aggression on Vietnam demanded compensations from seven U.S. chemical weapons manufacturers, according to a radio report from Seoul. During the Vietnam War the U.S. imperialists had committed a criminal act of spraying a leaf-drying chemical substance at random to devastate woodland that stood in the performance of their operations. Former puppet Army soldiers who had been taken to the war are still suffering from the sequelae of the chemical harmful to human body. |
FBIS3-47153_1 | Press Comments on U.S. Nuclear Talks With North CHOSON ILBO Editorial | NPT signatory, the signatory has to inform the IAEA of the design of its facilities engaged in preservation and research of nuclear materials. After receiving such information, the IAEA installs monitoring video tape recorders to inspect the facilities. We call this ordinary inspections [tongsang sachal]. Inspections of only reported facilities are not sufficient nuclear inspections. The inspection of unreported, suspicious facilities can help in guaranteeing each country's nuclear transparency. This is a special inspection. After inspecting a nuclear waste specimen of North Korea in the course of its specific and ordinary inspections of the country, the IAEA suspected that high-density plutonium had been extracted without being reported. This is why the IAEA wants to see the North Korean facilities. The United States said that it had given up the special inspection of the North Korean nuclear facilities because it wanted to maintain the continuation of at least ordinary inspections. It also said that it may find a resolution of special inspections during the third round of U.S.-North Korean talks. Judging from the North Korean attitude shown up to the present time, I cannot help but point out that there is no likelihood of the success of the U.S. approach. North Korea agreed to allow ordinary inspections of its seven reported facilities and to hold South-North working-level contacts for an exchange of envoys in return for the resumption of high-level talks with the United States and suspension of the Team Spirit exercise. This is nothing but a one-sided concession made by the United States because it will enable North Korea to assume a highhanded attitude in South-North working-level contacts without allowing practical nuclear inspections and to hold negotiations with the United States on various pending issues -- such as the establishment of diplomatic relations, the issue concerning light-water reactors, and the issue of signing a peace treaty -- after the suspension of the Team Spirit exercise. The United States cannot exercise overall nuclear control over North Korea by this approach. It is nothing more than overlooking the nuclear development of unreliable countries. It will obviously strike a serious blow to the plan for the limitless extension of the term of the NPT, which is supposed to expire in 1995. The United States will have difficulties in leading the new world order of the post-cold war era if it loses the confidence of Asian countries, which are sensitive to the nuclear issue. |
FBIS3-47184_0 | Medical Equipment Trade Criteria Disputed | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [By reporter Hiroaki Ito] [Text] Washington, 7 Jan -- Working-level meetings in Washington regarding government procurement of medical equipment in the Japan-U.S. framework trade talks ended on 7 January. Although some progress was made, such as making procurement procedures transparent, Japanese and U.S. officials remained at odds as they failed to fill the gap between their basic views concerning the issue of objective criteria. The procurement of medical equipment is one of the priority sectors in the bilateral trade talks. Dispute over this sector must be settled before the 11 February Japan-U.S. summit meeting. Therefore, negotiators plan to resume talks as early as after mid-January. Concerning objective criteria, the United States demanded setting criteria to evaluate Japanese efforts "toward increasing imports to the level of other major industrialized nations." Japan, however, objected that "this idea would result in setting numerical targets." Thus, the two nations remained at odds, both refusing to compromise. Working-level meetings regarding the government procurement sector in the bilateral trade talks have been held continuously since 4 January. A high-ranking U.S. trade official expressed strong dissatisfaction, saying: "Although an agreement was made during the summit meeting last July to set up numerical targets, Japan is now objecting to it. No progress has been made in the discussions because of Japan's attitude." |
FBIS3-47187_1 | Article Notes `Confusion' in Framework Talks | must be created and the United States must keep continuous surveillance over it. To maintain this surveillance, the United States believes that the indexes are necessary. The U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Agreement is a precedent for the framework talks. Because the goal of a 20-percent market share for foreign-manufactured [semiconductors] was achieved through the administrative guidance of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the United States, both government and private sectors, praised it, saying: "It is the first case in which the Japanese side honored a U.S.-Japan agreement." But Japan today refuses the U.S. demand entirely. MITI puts forth its position that "the semiconductor agreement was a very great mistake." One Japanese official spurned a high-ranking U.S. Government official who proposed establishment of market shares at the beginning of the framework talks, saying: "As for myself, your proposal is improper." This attitude has not changed since then. U.S. Government high-ranking officials, in turn, have been irritated ever since, saying: "Japanese officials can not be trusted." There is also thinking on the U.S. side that the bureaucrats are interfering, even though Prime Minister Hosokawa advocates "change" for the Japanese economy. Go Over the Heads of the Bureaucrats, Use Politicians An impatient U.S. negotiation team in December met with Shinseito [Japan Renewal Party] Representative Secretary Ichiro Ozawa, skipping over the heads of the bureaucrats. They are leaning toward the use of the directive power of "politics" over the bureaucrats. This reminds us of a revival of the method used by former Ambassador Armacost. He was called "Mr. Gaiatsu" by Kasumigaseki [government office district] because he went over to Nagata-cho [Tokyo political district] any time an issue arose and negotiated with influential Liberal Democratic Party [LDP] members. But a solution is not necessarily found by going over the "wall" of the Japanese bureaucrats. As for quantitative indicators, should Japan create bilateral rules at a time when, as the new round is concluded, the rules are to be strengthened for multilateral free trade through GATT? As for imports, should Japan adopt methods of managed trade or conclude an agreement with the United States on voluntary import expansion, even as a temporary measure?... Such decisions concern fundamental issues of international trade policy and are outside the competence of individual politicians. Bureaucratic organizations themselves are losing the basis of their power for domestic regulation. Just at that time [when the U.S. representatives were approaching the politicians], |
FBIS3-47189_2 | Stand `Apparently Softened' | words, the United States can decide to put the U.S. Trade Act into motion, depending on its judgment. This would mean that "the United States could compromise on the question of numerical targets, but there is no change in the effect of putting pressure on Japan." Another factor is the consideration given for the difficult position Prime Minister Hosokawa is now facing. Bowman Cutter, deputy assistant to the President, is said to have spent much time when he was in Japan recently gathering information relating to the future of the Hosokawa government. In the White House, there are many who view positively the market liberalization and deregulation policies advocated by Prime Minister Hosokawa -- regardless of whether he has real power or not. In a news conference on 20 December, Mickey Kantor, U.S. trade representative, made a remark supporting the prime minister in an indirect way, saying bureaucrats should be sensitive to what the prime minister seeks to achieve. Undersecretary of State Spallow [name, title as published] has also viewed Prime Minister Hosokawa's policies in a positive light. The official's concern was apparent when he said: "It is not good to press Prime Minister Hosokawa, who is in a difficult position over the issues of budget formulation and political reform bills." Another point to note is that there has been a gap of views between the Office of the USTR on one hand and the White House and the Department of State on the other from the beginning. Under Secretary of State Spallow has said, "the United States has never talked about numerical targets," and White House officials have also been conspicuously cautious. But people like Barshevsky, deputy U.S. trade representative, have demanded setting the numerical targets, going so far as to assert, for instance, that "Japanese bureaucrats function better when they have concrete targets." It is highly possible that the United States is employing in the economic talks the strategy of Trade Representative Kantor, who was a lawyer formerly, of "making as many demands as possible in the beginning, and then conducting negotiations on them later." However, while attitudes may have changed superficially, it does not mean that the Clinton government has given up its intention of including in the agreement figures of market shares held by foreign products of companies from the G-7 nations. The White House has suggested that "standard G-7 market share figures should be included." |
FBIS3-47190_0 | U.S. Criticism of Bureaucrats To Affect Talks | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [By Shigeru Komago] [Text] Washington, 24 Dec -- There has been increasing criticism of Japanese bureaucrats from senior U.S. Government officials. While this is seen to be due to impatience with the deadlock in Japanese-U.S. economic framework talks, it is also believed that statements by Japanese bureaucrats portraying the recent change in the U.S. position as "a concession to Japan" have enraged the U.S. officials. Such a war of words "does more harm than good" to the framework talks. Industry leaders in both countries are annoyed that "bureaucratic friction has surpassed actual Japan-U.S. economic friction in intensity; this is aggravating the problem." Recently, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Mickey Kantor and Bowman Cutter, deputy assistant to the president (concurrently vice chairman of the National Economic Council), criticized Japanese bureaucrats in public, mainly for: 1) distorting U.S. proposals in the framework talks when presenting them to Japanese Government leaders and the Japanese people, and creating a "mistaken impression"; and 2) stopping the Japanese political and industrial sectors from taking steps to open markets, ease regulations, and reduce income tax. Senior U.S. officials are particularly annoyed that the Japanese counterargument which claims "the United States is obsessed with market share targets, and is forcing managed trade on Japan" has received international support, and has even given rise to criticism of the government in the United States. In any case, the Japanese argument is not entirely a distortion of facts. In the beginning, the Clinton administration had indeed made repeated statements which showed a preoccupation with market share targets. It is only in the past month, when reaching an agreement in the framework talks before the Japan-U.S. summit meeting in February has become the priority task, that remarks to the effect that "we are not obsessed about market share targets" became prominent. The truth is, the U.S. Government is extremely anxious that this recent shift of position may be taken as "a concession to Japan," and subjected to criticism in Congress. That is the reason why U.S. officials have criticized Japanese bureaucrats in public despite the possible adverse effects on the framework talks. |
FBIS3-47195_3 | Companies Eager To Penetrate PRC Market Investment Risks Assessed "Neophyte Group to Virgin Market"--Uniden Corp. Depends on Youngsters in Thirties Rapidly Consolidating Production, Distribution, and Retailing--Yaohan Is Taking Advantage of Being First Yamaha Undertakes Joint Venture Promptly--Aiming for Joint Production With Future Rival Daihatsu Ranks Next to Volkswagen--Failure To Make Inroad into United States Was Fortuitous Limit Reached in Low-Risk Business Dependent on United States--Self-Reform Needed To Attain Growth | the world's population, China is certain to surpass U.S.-European markets. In the near future, China will account for one-half of this company's sales." Uniden's strengths are its young, highly efficient force as well as the selection of a powerful partner, CITIC. CITIC is a type of conglomerate with a wide range of activities, including trade and finances, in addition to investment operations, and has a big pipeline to the core of the government. In June 1993, Uniden received approval for a type of portable telephone for China only two months after application, a procedure that normally requires from half to one year, thanks to CITIC's support. The challenge now to Uniden is to break the domination of the U.S. giant, Motorola, which holds approximately 80 percent of the portable telephone market in China. In 1993, Uniden hopes to acquire a 20-percent share of the market, estimated at about 500,000 units, and rise to the position next to Motorola. Takuya Kumagaya, who is serving as the general manager of Xinyou S&T Development Co., says: "In China, companies with marketing strengths in their home countries do not necessarily win. Since this is a virgin market, you can devise operations through your own means. China's attraction is that neophyte groups, without preconceived ideas, have a better chance of displaying their strengths." Kumagaya, a former Sony technician, is another member of the group that studied in the United States and is only 39 years old. Resident employees are staying in the same hotel in Beijing, where the main office is located, and gather almost nightly to drink and encourage each other. The vigor forgotten by Japanese companies that had passed the growth stage is alive here. Rapidly Consolidating Production, Distribution, and Retailing--Yaohan Is Taking Advantage of Being First In state-owned department stores, 7 percent of the merchandise is stolen by employees and others, goods are carelessly thrust to customers, employees do not greet customers, employees litter the floor, etc. That is China, but Yaohan is trying to implant the Japanese-style customer-first retail service. As the first store in China, the Saide shopping center (Beijing Yaohan) was opened last fall. Four times a day, Masahiro Kurosugi, the general manager, stands behind the cash register clerk and checks on the customer service of sales personnel. He checks to see if product names and prices are being read aloud as the cash register is punched, whether customers |
FBIS3-47195_11 | Companies Eager To Penetrate PRC Market Investment Risks Assessed "Neophyte Group to Virgin Market"--Uniden Corp. Depends on Youngsters in Thirties Rapidly Consolidating Production, Distribution, and Retailing--Yaohan Is Taking Advantage of Being First Yamaha Undertakes Joint Venture Promptly--Aiming for Joint Production With Future Rival Daihatsu Ranks Next to Volkswagen--Failure To Make Inroad into United States Was Fortuitous Limit Reached in Low-Risk Business Dependent on United States--Self-Reform Needed To Attain Growth | reason, we concentrated our efforts on Asia but strategically, that was fortunate for us." Daihatsu is presently producing 50,000 vehicles a year locally and estimates it can expand production to 150,000 in 1997. Of course, it is the leader among Japanese firms and, even including U.S.-European companies, it ranks second after Volkswagen. Limit Reached in Low-Risk Business Dependent on United States--Self-Reform Needed To Attain Growth After World War II, Japanese companies sold surplus industrial products to the United States and continued to grow using that as a leverage. Simply put, under such circumstances, businesses could be run profitably by only watching U.S. trends. Risk factors, such as market selection and timing and scale of investment, did not have to be considered carefully as long as firms were under the U.S. umbrella. Japanese companies, which were given a stable export market and the opportunity to operate at low risk, were able to manage somehow if they did not neglect efforts to move ahead. However, it has become impossible to run on the track laid by the United States. Japanese companies can no longer depend on the U.S. market. Putting aside firms that are determined to survive only in the saturated domestic market, many Japanese firms, which think that "enterprises must seek growth," will probably be forced to enter the Chinese market, willy-nilly. China is a high-risk market that is totally different from the United States. There are many risks that are different in nature from past risks, such as inadequate legal systems and business methods that are totally unlike capitalistic countries, defective financial systems, bottlenecks in distribution, energy, and communications infrastructure, etc. However, it is difficult for Japanese companies to escape from the current confined environment unless they enter China. The strength is needed to risk entry into the huge Chinese market and survive without being swallowed up. Wang Songnian, director of the Tokyo Overseas Chinese Association and chairman of Ashu Kogyo (Asian Industrial Promotion) Co., a consulting firm for investments in China, points out that Japanese companies entering China fail because "those in charge do not think on the local level." In Japanese firms, responsibilities are shared so it is difficult for a person to make decisions independently and few responsible officials can speak Chinese. Persons who make decisions might go on short visits, but do not take the trouble to learn the actual situation firsthand by living there. He |
FBIS3-47304_11 | Labor Regulations for Foreign-Funded Enterprises | applicant on the pay day. The travel expense to and from the holiday home and sanatorium and the funeral subsidy shall be paid on the basis of the relevant document and be settled later. As for the pension and subsidy under the social security, the foreign-funded enterprise shall submit the application to the social insurance organ for approval and, on completion of procedures, the pension payment organ shall pay to the person in question at the fixed date of each month. Article 40. Subsidy and pension under social insurance and social security shall be calculated in accordance with the labour regulations of the DPRK. Article 41. The benefits of social insurance and social security shall be provided from the social insurance fund. The insurance fund shall be raised with social insurance fees collected from the employees. Article 42. The foreign-funded enterprise can organize and operate a sanatorium and a holiday home for the promotion of the health of the employees. The operation cost of the sanatorium and the holiday home shall be paid from the social insurance fund. Article 43. The foreign-funded enterprise shall be subject to supervision by the social insurance organ in the area og its operation and the trade union regarding the payment of social insurance fees and expenditure of the insurance fund. Article 44. The foreign-funded enterprise can create a cultural and welfare fund for the employees with part of its profits after paying the taxes. The cultural and welfare fund shall be used for the enhancement of the cultural and technical levels of the employees, mass culture and sports, and the operation of the welfare facilities for them. The use of the cultural and welfare fund shall be supervised by the trade union. Chapter 8 Sanctions and the Settlement of Disputes Article 45. The labor administration organ shall impose a fine on the foreign-funded enterprise, if it employs and dismisses workforce of our country in violation of these regulations. Article 46. In case a foreign-funded enterprise fails to provide labour security facilities and industrial hygienic conditions, the labour administration organ shall order it to rectify the fault within a set period of time. In case it does not rectify it thereafter, it can fine the enterprise or suspend its operation according to the extent of the failure. Article 47. When the fine is considered unjust it can request the organ superior to the one that |
FBIS3-47308_0 | * Wartime Operations, Shootdowns, Units Described Anti Aircraft Bn 4.5.6 | Language: Lao Article Type:CSO [Article by Boualapha Thindoi: "The Heroics of Anti-aircraft Battalion `456'"] [Excerpts] When we think back again to the lives and battles of the cadres and combatants of the Anti-aircraft Corps and especially of the cadres and combatants of the 456th Anti-aircraft Battalion and those who went through the war or were in the unit then, one can only say that it is a frightening image because the fighting involved one side using modern explosives and weapons to wipe out another side which was not willing to surrender but staked their lives for their patriotic ideals. The Geneva treaty for Laos of 1962 was trampled on and destroyed completely by the special war of the imperialists, which they steadily escalated. In addition to their mobilizing the rightist forces and the special forces of Vang Pao to attack and seize liberated areas, starting on 17 May 1964 they used their air force to brazenly destroy our country. They used various types of aircraft to drop many kinds of bombs and brutally kill our people who had done nothing wrong. This lit the fire of anger among the multi-ethnic Lao people more and more, and it caused them to rise up and fight an ever broader people's war. It also mobilized the spirit for battle of the cadres and combatants of the Anti-aircraft Battalion. The enemy air war grew steadily fiercer especially in Viang Sai District, the stronghold of the revolution. This was a special target for the air pirates who wanted to destroy the base of the patriotic forces. They used various types of aircraft to drop bombs every day in hundreds of sorties. Every day the Viang Sai base was covered by a frightening amount smoke and wreckage from explosions. This fierce warfare forced our army to strengthen the Anti-aircraft Corps and improve its combat capabilities. This was the reaction to the "spreading fire" which required water to be put out. They combined the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th anti-aircraft companies to create an anti-aircraft battalion on 2 May 1965. Its assignment was air defense for central Viang Sai. This battalion was under the command of Comrade Khamchan. Comrade Sao was responsible for political activities. Comrade Phonkeo was chief of staff. Leadership was provided by the artillery department of Supreme Headquarters. After being established the unit moved into position to defend the position of the central leadership |
FBIS3-47325_1 | Column on Sino-Japanese Military Exchanges | in the 50 years since World War II. In post-Cold War Asia, the two nations are beginning to seek new security relations. The Sino-Japanese security talks by defense authorities were advocated by the Defense Agency. Last November, (former) Director General of the Defense Agency Keisuke Nakanishi secretly told (former) U.S. Defense Secretary Les Aspin: "As director general of the Defense Agency, I would like to visit China. I want to go there as soon as possible -- probably during the cherry blossom season." In reply, Aspin said: "That is a good idea. But we would like you to inform us of what China says." Nakanishi's true intentions are seen in the 1993 defense white paper. The 1993 white paper has a new section entitled: "Efforts To Establish a New Security Environment." In this section, the paper notes "promotion of international exchanges with foreign military officials will directly deepen mutual understanding with these nations." And it stresses "further promotion of dialogue is needed" especially for security in the Asia and Pacific region. In view of the presence of various ethnic and religious groups, the Defense Agency has a plan to establish regional security through a network of bilateral exchanges with various nations, rather than a multinational agreement. In this sense, China is the biggest target to achieve this objective. The security policy of postwar Japan has been promoted under a liberal interpretation of the peace constitution. Even under such circumstances, the Defense Agency and Self-Defense Forces [SDF] have always been "bit players" in the nation's postwar history. Although the SDF's role in UN peacekeeping operations has been positively discussed since the Gulf war, the conclusion of the cold war has led the world into an era of disarmament to enjoy the "dividends of peace." The significance of the Defense Agency is now in question since the Hosokawa administration pledged an SDF scale-down through reviewing the nation's defense buildup plan. Security Is Ensured Through Exchanges What is the role of the "outlawry-of-war forces" in national security in the new era? In reply to the question, the Defense Agency is preparing the following answer: "To ensure national security, exchanges of military officials should be promoted to deepen mutual confidence with neighboring nations." The agency is seeking Japan's initiative in confidence-building efforts in Asia to overcome the trend of SDF rationalization. Since the Tiananmen Square incident, China has been seeking better ties with neighboring |
FBIS3-47329_0 | Keidanren's Hiraiwa on Weak Yen, Tax Moves | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [Text] U.S. Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen, cabinet members, and other high-ranking U.S. Government officials have recently spoken out against depreciating the yen and appreciating the dollar. Commenting on their remarks at a news conference on 10 January, Gaishi Hiraiwa, president of Keidanren [Federation of Economic Organizations of Japan], said: "While a strong yen will delay Japan's economic recovery, a weak yen will end the current asset deflation and strong yen-caused deflation. I believe the weak yen is in the interests of the United States." In this way, he implicitly attacked the U.S. Government. Asserting: "It is undesirable that exchange rates fluctuate because of the remarks of specific individuals," President Hiraiwa said definitely: "Given the U.S. economic recovery, the yen can be depreciated a little more." Touching on stimulus measures at the news conference, Hiraiwa stressed: "It is necessary to cut more than 5 trillion yen in income taxes prior to raising the consumption tax and to issue national bonds to make up for the fiscal shortfall resulting from the income tax reduction." As for handling the consumption tax, he said: "The idea is surfacing that if the income tax and consumption tax are cut and raised simultaneously, it will serve to stimulate the economy by increasing demand; this idea is reasonable." Thus, Hiraiwa expressed his understanding of the tax cut and tax increase package the Finance Ministry has broached. As for the lead time of the income tax reduction prior to the consumption tax hike, President Hiraiwa said: "I cannot say lightly whether 15 months (under study by the government) is desirable or not." Referring to the argument for lowering the official discount rate, President Hiraiwa indicated his opposition to lowering the rate, saying: "Many people are pointing increasingly to its adverse impact on the economy." |
FBIS3-47337_5 | Factional `Wrangling' Within MITI Noted | matters) is inappropriate when one looks at it with general common sense." Many of the concerned MITI officials agreed that a number of similar personnel actions occurred in the past, and very few questioned such a "practice." "That much should be permissible for people who run for elective office, as a gift from MITI" (former official). "They quit immediately after receiving the promotion, so there was no real harm" (former official). Mr. Naito too did not conceal his resentment at the news conference, saying: "It is as if I am being executed for a minor offense." For the past week, some volunteer former MITI officials filed into the administrative vice minister's office and pressed the vice minister to refuse the minister's demand. Senior officials still in service sent an open letter of questions to the minister. The commotion expanded. Glory Is Declining and.... People in the United States Trade Representative's Office (USTR) called Japan's MITI the "notorious MITI." This was in the latter half of the 1970's. It was a nickname given with grudges, but also with some wonder. MITI was the locomotive for Japanese industry which, while creating friction with other countries, had built up a trade surplus. Prior to that, Japan was also called an "economic animal," "Japan, Inc." The world thought that all the secrets for achieving that surprising economic growth were possessed by MITI. MITI was formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry during the Meiji period. In 1925, it became the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and for a time during the war was called the Ministry of Munitions. After the war, it was reborn as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In 1949 it became the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and supported the Japanese prosperity which followed. The share of the national budget it receives is only 1 percent. Pride that "this is a place to work on a national vision, not a bureaucratic office to administer subsidies" is said to lead to the staff's sense of elitism. One former official reminisced: "I was embarrassed because people overrated us, believing that if MITI gave its OK, then everything was decided." But as the nation has entered a period of stable growth, the current of trade has begun to flow toward liberalization and deregulation, and their glory has begun to wane. Now the people concerned are at a loss: "The key phrase is |
FBIS3-47391_0 | Board May Screen Investors for Cambodia | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Excerpts] THE Board of Investment (BOI) is willing to help Cambodia screen Thais wanting to invest in Cambodia, secretary-general Sataphon Kawitanon said yesterday. Mr Sataphon made the offer on the eve of Prime Minister Chuan Likphai's visit to Cambodia this week. The 56 Thai businessmen who will accompany the Premier on the three-day visit will participate in a seminar on regulations and prospects for trade and investment in Cambodia. During the visit, the Foreign Ministry will sign an agreement to set up a joint commission on bilateral relations. Mr Sataphon said the seminar is being held by the Cambodian Government in cooperation with the Thai Embassy and the BOI to attract Thai investors to Cambodia. The Government was formed in November last year. It will give Thai investors "who have good intentions" an opportunity to learn more about new investment regulations in Cambodia. He said he hoped the Prime Minister's visit would strengthen relations between Thailand and Cambodia and result in more investment cooperation. He said the BOI is aware of Cambodia's concern about "Thai opportunists" who are taking advantage of Cambodians. He hoped that a new group of Thai investors will replace the bad ones. [passage omitted] According to the Thai Commercial Counsellor's Office in Phnom Penh Thais had invested in 617 projects in Cambodia as of October last year. Hotels accounted for most of the projects, 71, followed by 64 banking projects. In the first quarter of last year, there were 589 foreign projects, of which Thais had 21.4 percent, Cambodians 16.1 percent, Singaporeans 13 percent, Hong Kong people 11.9 percent, and joint ventures between foreigners and Khmer accounted for 1.4 percent. Mr Sataphon said the BOI has not yet signed agreements with the new National Investment Committee on investment cooperation because the Cambodian Government is improving its investment law and restructuring. He said that if the Cambodian Government wants the BOI to help screen Thai investors, it is willing to do so. Thai businessmen should explore partnerships with Cambodians and long-term investments to benefit both sides, he said. The BOI and Cambodia's investment agencies have closely cooperated on investment for a long time. Cambodia sent officials to study the management and investment law of the BOI last year, and Phnom Penh is planning to offer investment privileges through a similar agency to Thailand's BOI. The 56 businessmen who will accompany Mr Chuan include |
FBIS3-47392_0 | Minister Asks Malaysia To Ease Border Trade Rules | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Deputy Prime Minister Suphachai Phanitchaphak has formally asked his Malaysian counterpart to ease some restrictions on border trade in the spirit of the Economic Growth Triangle programme. Dr Suphachai said he expects the next ministerial-level meeting of the Growth Triangle -- Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia -- to formulate policies to enhance cooperation in cost saving, trade, investment, industry, energy, tourism and farming. He said longer opening hours at border checkpoints and lower tariffs would be a first step towards better Thai-Malaysia trade. Malaysia wants to shift some of its electronic industry to Chalung Industrial Estate in Thailand. But some Malaysian businesses say the estate is too small and land prices are too high, Dr Suphachai said. Some Malaysian companies have been buying land in Sungai Kolok to build a parts factory, he said. Turning to Indonesia, Dr Suphachai said he expected joint development in power plants, air services and joint fishing ventures. |
FBIS3-47430_0 | Firms Win Exploration Rights in Australian Coal Mine | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Jan. 12 (YONHAP) -- An international consortium whose members include a South Korean consortium, Mitsui Co. of Japan and Savage Co. of Australia won the exploration rights for a coal mine in Queensland from the Queensland State Government in bidding on Jan. 4, the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry said on Wednesday [12 January]. The four members of the Korean consortium are Yukong Ltd., Dongbu Industry Co., Hyosung Corp. and the Korea Mining Promotion Corp., and they own 33.3 percent of the international consortium in equal shares. The mine is 15 kilometers from a railway line, has an estimated 770 million tons of soft coal and covers an area of 475 square km. It is the largest soft coal mine in the world in which Korean mining companies have a stake. The Ministry predicted that the mine will produce between 4 million and 5 million tons of coal a year. The Queensland government drilled 105 holes and finished exploration at a depth of 18,810 meters. The international consortium will drill 200 holes in three to four years. The coal is suited for power generation and steel production. |
FBIS3-47446_1 | * Reform Impact on Civil Service Assessed | great deal. One government official compressed the most characteristic of recent changes into six categories: three that have increased and three that have decreased. The so-called "Three Increases, Three Decreases". Audits, anonymous messages and group civil petitions have increased; the convictions of government workers, their supplementary income and desire to work have decreased. The number of audits in particular have increased conspicuously. Several audits frequently happen at once, so much so that it is said they happen at the drop of a hat. [passage omitted] Anonymous messages have also increased markedly. This is so much the case that this saying is circulating: "[The government] failed at economic revitalization, but succeeded at anonymous-message revitalization." Anonymous messages and written petitions from all over are pouring into the Blue House, Integrated Government Building, Public Service Center, Board of Audit and Inspection [BAI] and the Public Prosecutor's Office. "Stabbing-the-persimmon-you-can't-eat" style of groundless, anonymous messages intended to secretly hurt someone are also contributing to this flood. Not too long ago, a saying was circulating in one government office in which a bureau chief was sacked because of such anonymous messages: "Anonymous messages are more frightening than the anti-corruption campaign." [passage omitted] Supplementary income has also decreased. The number of regularly visiting petitioners has markedly dropped. Contact with people who used to occasionally call officials out for food and drink has also become rare. The giving and taking of money envelopes, considered natural in the past, is now something to be done cautiously. Restaurants in the vicinity of government offices are starting to feel the pinch of economic hard times. [passage omitted] The lack of enthusiasm is the same, regardless of rank or duties. Although there may be differences in degree between those in and out of government offices, and between central and regional offices, their problems are similar. The "season of ambition" during which workers were anxious to quickly do people's civil-petition paperwork for them appears to have passed. Now a new habit is forming in them, a habit of checking the regulations carefully one more time to make sure they do not get in trouble. Lying low. Is this a byproduct of the reforms or resistance to it? "Outwardly making justifications, inwardly asking, what am I getting out of it, bureaucrats put class and personal interests first. They consider the nation their possession. Their existence is of a different order, their consciousness full of |
FBIS3-47446_5 | * Reform Impact on Civil Service Assessed | environment, district office workers have to go around taking down advertisements off the streets. He says they even wash billboards and signs. Even worse, if a "civil petition" comes in that a drunk has vomited making a public place dirty, they have to go out to clean it, the worker says. One told a story about what he experienced while removing poster advertisements. "Two of us were engrossed in removing an advertisement from a telephone pole. One little kid who was going along with his mother asked, Mommy, what do those people do?' Do you know what the mother answered, then? She said, If you don't study hard either, you'll end up being one of those people too.'" He says it is at times like these that the doubt, what is the use in working hard, enters his mind. Recently, the number of public servants feeling this way is increasing. Let us listen to the words of one grade five official: "Lately, in meetings between classmates or between juniors and seniors, you hear a lot of talk about how empty people feel. The greater a person's expectations of the civil service community, the greater the sense of emptiness. It's not because the profits of the past have disappeared with deregulation. It's because there is a great deal of criticism of the economic departments to which we have devoted ourselves, as if they were an obstacle to our country's economic development and because government workers are thought of as a group of criminals. There are not a few of my colleagues who feel the present government has sold us out for political objectives. It's to the extent that we go in twos and threes after work to comfort ourselves in the neighborhood bar." The grade five official said, "When there were regulations, control was possible, so the work was easy. But as regulations were eased, it became less possible to predict, so everything must be checked and reviewed. Because of this, there's a lot more work to do. There may be those in the front-line windows who say they won't take money and they won't work, but here we have neither the time nor mental latitude to think like that." Criticized by civil petitioners for saying they "won't take money and won't work," there are those who respond, "I have something to say to that." These are the words of one |
FBIS3-47464_0 | Court Addresses Law on Church, State Relations | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Ulaanbaatar, January 12 (OANA-MONTSAME) -- The Constitutional Court of Mongolia, considering the complaints of the group of Mongolian citizens on the issue about contradictions of many provisions of the law on relations of the state and church with the country's Constitution, a number of international treaties, including the General Declaration on Human Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, made today a decision, which, as it can be said, has satisfied the plaintiffs that much the complaints concerned the articles of the law, which, in view of the plaintiffs are restricting the human rights on religious liberty, on holding a prayer freely, spreading their religious convictions, acting on behalf of church, holding religious ceremonies; also are discriminating other religions in the country, except Buddhism, Islam, Shamanism; are violating the rights of foreign citizens to act on the territory of Mongolia in accordance with their religious views. As the Constitutional Court considered, the provision of the law on leading place of Buddhism is up to the spirit of the Constitution about the unity of the Mongolian society, national security, and has just a declarative and symbolic character, concerning the provision on ban of organizational spreading of religion from outside, the judges considered that this also does not contradict both the country's main law and international rights and duties of Mongolia. But the Constitutional Court gave a commentary to this decision, stating that this provision applies only to reactionary religions and currents. As far as the provisions of the law, by which a ban is imposed on spreading, propagating of religions outside church, except Buddhism, Islam, Shamanism, and also on organization of any religious actions on the Mongolian territory by foreign citizens arrived in the country not on the church line, are concerned, the constitutional judges recognized these provisions as not corresponding to both the country's Constitution and international agreements. The chairman at the court session, after passing a verdict of the court, officially addressed the foreign citizens present at the court examination, gave explanations on some decisions, drew their attention to the fact that this is not the last word, the verdict of the Constitutional Court will be considered by the Mongolian parliament, it was said about a possibility of revision by law-makers of some provisions, on which the complaints were made. The law on relations of the state and church, which was adopted |
FBIS3-47464_1 | Court Addresses Law on Church, State Relations | on behalf of church, holding religious ceremonies; also are discriminating other religions in the country, except Buddhism, Islam, Shamanism; are violating the rights of foreign citizens to act on the territory of Mongolia in accordance with their religious views. As the Constitutional Court considered, the provision of the law on leading place of Buddhism is up to the spirit of the Constitution about the unity of the Mongolian society, national security, and has just a declarative and symbolic character, concerning the provision on ban of organizational spreading of religion from outside, the judges considered that this also does not contradict both the country's main law and international rights and duties of Mongolia. But the Constitutional Court gave a commentary to this decision, stating that this provision applies only to reactionary religions and currents. As far as the provisions of the law, by which a ban is imposed on spreading, propagating of religions outside church, except Buddhism, Islam, Shamanism, and also on organization of any religious actions on the Mongolian territory by foreign citizens arrived in the country not on the church line, are concerned, the constitutional judges recognized these provisions as not corresponding to both the country's Constitution and international agreements. The chairman at the court session, after passing a verdict of the court, officially addressed the foreign citizens present at the court examination, gave explanations on some decisions, drew their attention to the fact that this is not the last word, the verdict of the Constitutional Court will be considered by the Mongolian parliament, it was said about a possibility of revision by law-makers of some provisions, on which the complaints were made. The law on relations of the state and church, which was adopted at the end of 1993, has aroused arguments not only in the Mongolian society, but, in all probability, had an international repercussions. Participation of many foreign citizens in the court examination, who represented in the main the representatives of Christian churches, and some of whom arrived in Mongolia specially on this occasion, is indicative of this fact. It has become known from the reliable sources that the ambassador of Great Britain to Mongolia at his recent meeting at the Mongolian parliament paid attention to the fact that consequences of this law would affect not only mutual relations between Mongolia and England, but also the international arena, as this restricts the human rights and liberties. |
FBIS3-47514_5 | Report Analyzes North's Negotiating Style | featuring the logic of converting the Korean peninsula into a nuclear-free zone after the North and South forge a denuclearization declaration. Also, it has delayed discussing the inspection regulations. North Korea regards propaganda as important in negotiations. Before entering negotiations, North Korea has created international opinion by conducting a political propaganda that the fundamental root is caused by U.S. nuclear weapons deployed in South Korea and it is being threatened by U.S. nuclear weapons, and by holding the "international conferences for peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula." A Threat With an Extreme Diplomacy North Korea invites famous foreign figures who can speak for its position in the process of negotiations. By using them, it tries to dispel the suspicion of its nuclear development and obtains information from them regarding the other party. Also, it uses them as a way to grasp the limit that the other party can compromise and, at the same time, to strengthen its demands. High-ranking North Korean military officials show, however, that they are still reluctant to meet foreign figures. As a result, officials of the State Administration and the party can mainly deal with them. Foreign figures who are believed to be highly useful for propaganda works are be selected as to meet with Kim Il-song. In addition, in the course of nuclear negotiations with the United States, North Korea has shown its strategies, such as "a threat of extreme diplomacy, the change of agenda items in negotiations by presenting either new conditions or proposals, and the presentation of uncompromising demands." Through an extreme step of the so-called declaration to withdraw from the NPT, North Korea has escaped from the pressure to accept special inspection [tukpyol sachal] from the IAEA for the time being and led the United States to regard the issue of making North Korea remain in the NPT as a more important agenda than the IAEA inspection issue in the negotiations. As a result, North Korea has come to hold its long-wished-for direct negotiations with the United States. In North Korean-U.S. negotiations, particularly, North Korea has strongly called for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea and for the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States, while the United States has demanded that North Korea remain in the NPT. It is the current situation that the United States, by presenting irresistible demands, checks North Korea's will concerning nuclear inspections. |
FBIS3-47516_0 | NUB Allows Church Council To Contact North | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Jan. 13 (YONHAP) -- The National Unification Board (NUB) said Thursday it has given the Korean National Council of Churches (KNCC) permission to contact North Korean citizens but has made no decision on allowing KNCC to invite North Korean Christian leaders to visit South Korea. "Our approval is limited to an exchange of letters or a meeting in a third country to find out if North Korean leaders are willing to visit Seoul, and does not extend to their actual visit," an NUB official said. If Pyongyang shows it is sincere about settling the nuclear problem, Seoul is said to be willing to seriously consider allowing North Korean Church leaders to visit the South. KNCC applied for a permit to contact North Koreans to invite church leaders from the communist country to attend its general assembly on Feb. 21 and various religious events. |
FBIS3-47520_1 | NSP Changing Role in Era of `Internationalization' | to internationalize itself if it is to serve the nation in the world arena. Director Kim Tok set the goal for the Agency in his New Year's message: "Let's become an international intelligence organization in tune with the general trend for internationalization." Accordingly, the Agency is now in the middle of the processes to strengthen the functions of collecting information, especially on business in foreign countries, after abolishing the department that was in charge of political affairs. Kim Tok specifically prohibited NSP agents from meddling in domestic politics. The Agency is also training its officials to specialize in various fields while stepping up foreign language education for its agents. It has already began sending NSP officials abroad for one- year study of language and political and social backgrounds of a country they are to be assigned to later. The NSP is also encouraging officials to develop associations with Korean businessmen and intelligence agents of their assigned countries, sources say. Moreover, the Agency made the use of computers a requirement for all agents and the ability to use a computer is a must for promotion. In addition, the NSP is working out measures to handle the "enormous amount" of information being collected by vast networks of Korean big businesses operating overseas and to prevent foreigners from siphoning off Korea's own economic information for foreign interests. The Agency is also faced with the necessity of strengthening its department in charge of affairs related to the National Assembly since it no longer is be able to take advantage of the confidentiality of Agency work under the revised law on the NSP. What irks the Agency more than anything else in the passage of the revised law is the abolition of the Agency's right to investigate persons accused of not informing the authorities of communist activities despite their knowledge or those who praise the North Korean political system. Initially, there was "some opposition" in the agency when those rights were abolished, but most NSP officials have now accepted the revision as part of "unavoidable" action on the part of the civilian government of President Kim Yong-sam, sources say. Under the revised law, the Agency is barred from auditing the security matters of every government agency. It has also lost the right to "coordinate business" of other governmental agencies. As a result, it is faced with shifting some personnel in charge of those affairs elsewhere. |
FBIS3-47523_0 | Ramos Meets Iranian Minister, Views Ties | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Kuala Lumpur, Jan 13, IRNA -- Iran's Agriculture minister 'Isa Kalantari, currently in Manila, met with President Fidel Ramos Thursday and called for direct trade between Iran and the Philippines without intervention of a third party. Kalantari also underlined Iran's strategic status in the Persian Gulf particularly after the establishment of the newly independent Central Asian republics. Ramos welcomed the idea and expressed desire for further collaboration between Iran and the Philippines in all areas. He said Tehran and Manila could meet each other's needs through their recources and facilities. Kalantari also conveyed the greetings of President Akbar Hashemi- Rafsanjani to Ramos and briefed him on the agricultural developments in Iran. |
FBIS3-47541_0 | Hosokawa Rejects U.S. Numerical Target Demands | Language: Japanese Article Type:BFN [Text] At his meeting with top leaders of four economic groups held on the afternoon of 12 January, Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa touched on new economic discussions between Japan and the United States and said: "At the Japanese-U.S. summit talks set for February, I will say again that the Japanese Government cannot set numerical targets for the private sector." In this way, he clarified his view that he will not accept the U.S. demand to set concrete figures as objective criteria to measure the degree of Japan's market liberalization. Japan and the United States are facing rough going in discussions over the three sectors: insurance services, autos and auto parts, and government procurement. As for the establishment of the objective criteria in particular, the opinions of the two countries are sharply divided. In the 12 January meeting, Prime Minister Hosokawa stated: "I said at the summit talks held last November in Seattle in the United States that I could not accept numerical targets. I would like to confirm this again at the upcoming summit talks." Moreover, saying that "multilateral actions are needed to prevent the United States from invoking Article 301 of the Omnibus Trade Act," Hosokawa clarified his plan to use the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will be formed in 1995 as a result of an agreement reached at the Uruguay Round (new multilateral trade negotiations of the GATT), to prevent sanctions between the two countries. As for the issue of financial resources for an income tax cut, which will be a pillar of his economic measures, Prime Minister Hosokawa stated: "The Social Democratic Party of Japan understands the need to carry out a fundamental reform of the tax system. However, it has a different understanding when it comes to the consumption tax." In this way, he stressed the difficulty of ironing out the differences of opinion within the ruling parties over the issue of increasing the consumption tax rate. Moreover, he commented on the Finance Ministry, which wants to limit a lead period of a tax cut to 15 months, and stressed: "I do not know if it [15 months] is enough to convince the people. We have to study how we can cut spending and accomplish fairness in the tax." He also said that "some kind of political decision will be needed" after the government's investigatory council for tax reform reaches its |
FBIS3-47627_0 | Nuclear Power Generating Capacity Used in 1993 Reported | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Seoul, Jan. 14 (YONHAP) -- Nuclear power stations produced 58.13 billion kws of electricity last year, or 87.2 percent of their capacity of 66.71 billion kws, the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry said on Friday. This is the highest rate so far, comparing with 84.5 percent a year earlier and an average 70.7 percent in world countries in 1992. Wolsong power station worked at full capacity and Uljin One and Two, Yongkwang One, and Kori Three and Four operated above 80 percent capacity. Kori One reached 78.7 percent and Kori Two, 78 percent. |
FBIS3-47720_0 | ICO Backs Mindanao Investment Despite Bombings | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] The influential Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will keep its commitment to convince its member-countries and allies to invest in Mindanao despite the rash of terrorist acts in the area which may discourage foreign investors, foreign affairs officials said yesterday. According to sources at the foreign affairs department, the OIC will not renege on its vow to help Mindanao on its path to economic recovery, since it was convinced that President Ramos is sincere in peacefully settling the decades-old Muslim secessionist movement in the southern Philippines. Earlier, a high-ranking OIC official, Secretary-General Hamid al- Gabid, had committed to the president during a meeting at Malacanang that the 52-nation OIC would bring in investments to Mindanao. Officials said OlC's commitment to the Ramos administration was a giant step in helping improve Mindanao's economy. The commitment is also doubly significant, according to officials, since the government's previous bids to seek the support of the OIC to assist Mindanao, were fruitless. Al-Gabid, however, has committed to the president the OIC leadership's strong support for the Philippines' investments' pitch during the annual OlC foreign ministers meeting which will be held in Tunisia this April. According to officials, al-Gabid had been satisfied during his visit here in seeing for himself that the president was committed to Mindanao's economic development and the grant of autonomy to Muslim-dominated areas in the region. Foreign affairs officials said this view has not changed despite the bombings in recent weeks in Mindanao, particularly in Christian and Muslim religious sites. Last December, the San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City was bombed leaving scores of people killed and hundreds injured. The cathedral bombings was followed by explosions which rocked two Muslim mosques. Aside from supporting the Ramos' administration's economic programs for Mindanao, the OIC had also assured the government that it will not tolerate any moves to violate the territorial integrity of the Philippines. |
FBIS3-47760_3 | Myo Nyunt Addresses Convention on Security | considering the special needs of the state administrative system, it should be noted that the world communications and transportation are not like before; they are developing fast. The international political, economic, social, and military situation is changing every moment. Taking these changes into account, it has become necessary to have a fast and effective administrative machinery. The future system of administration must be modern and effective to safeguard the interests of the nation, to ensure the perpetuation of national sovereignty, the defense of the country's land, air, and maritime territory, and the prevention of violations against the country's prestige and interests. Our delegates from the Defense Services will take on the responsibility we deserve and give our assistance to the best of our ability in electing the president. This is to ensure the administrative system with the president as chief executive is fast and effective and meets the nation's defense requirement in the fast changing international situation. It has become necessary to give such assistance because we want to defend the country in a timely manner, in today's fast changing international situation that has repercussions on our nation's interests to a certain extent. While I have the opportunity, I would like to speak on the third cardinal cause -- the perpetuation of national sovereignty, which is crucial to a country. No one should attempt to undermine and weaken the country's sovereignty. We shall not tolerate the undermining of national sovereignty in any way. We shall not tolerate external threats to our national sovereignty, and we shall not tolerate threats to our national sovereignty from internal minions. Sovereignty, which belongs to the people, is the highest [power] and it should be exercised by a central body according to constitutional provisions. Therefore, it will be necessary for other organizations not to infringe upon the rights of the central body. National sovereignty belongs to all the indigenous people who have the responsibility to respectfully safeguard the sovereignty with their lives. National Convention delegates: The environment we are currently experiencing provides a very valuable lesson for our future journey. The conditions are alerting us to be vigilant. Some of those who are opposing national interests are still striving to obtain power through a short cut. They are ignoring the concrete conditions in the country marked by progress and are espousing a pessimistic outlook in making false accusations against the state. In accordance with international |
FBIS3-47787_0 | Tokyo on Concerns Over Military Intentions | Language: English Article Type:BFN [Text] Tokyo, Jan. 15 KYODO -- Japan will assure other Asian states at July's security forum for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that it will never become a major military power, Foreign Ministry sources said Saturday [15 January]. The sources said Japan will do its best to dispel such concern among Asian nations and to gain their confidence. Japan's occupation of many Asian countries before and during World War II still keeps ASEAN nations nervous about the country's military intentions. Foreign ministers from six ASEAN member countries and their dialogue partners agreed at a 1993 session to set up the forum to discuss security matters in the region. Representatives from 18 countries and international organizations will attend the forum's first session at the foreign minister level in Bangkok. At the session, Japan will reaffirm the importance of the U.S. presence in the region, and brief participants on its defense policy in an effort to boost their trust and strengthen relations with them as key partners, the sources said. As part of efforts to dispel Asia's concern, Japan will explain its policy of continuing to shoulder the costs for U.S. forces in Japan, they said. China's military modernization and concerns over North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons are also likely to be taken up as topics at the forum. ASEAN links Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Among the 18 other countries and organizations attending the session will be the European Union, Japan, Russia and the United States. |
FBIS3-47808_0 | Document, Spectrum Analyzer Export Link Viewed | Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Duet of Anti-Communist Conspirators" -- KCNA headline] [Text] Pyongyang, January 19 (KCNA) -- NODONG SINMUN today accuses the South Korean puppets and the Japanese reactionaries of connecting "missing of military secret document" and "export of a spectrum analyzer" with the DPRK in a far-fetched way. It was reported in South Korea January 14 that the secret affairs command of the puppet Army launched an investigation, "assuming that the recently lost military secret document might be handed over to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongnyon)." On the same day, reports provoking the DPRK and Chongnyon were set afloat in Japan, which said the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was suspecting that a Kanagawa Prefecture-based trading company, specializing in deals with Pyongyang, exported a spectrum analyzer which can be converted to military use so that the DPRK may use it for missile development. Commenting on this, an analyst of the paper says: It is not an accidental coincidence that the South Korean puppets and the Japanese reactionaries launched a smear campaign against the DPRK and Chongnyon. It is another premeditated smear campaign they launched in conspiracy to spread a new rumour giving rise to an "international suspicion" against the DPRK and impair its image. Although the South Korean puppets and the Japanese reactionaries talk about "possibility" and "suspicion," there is no ground to suspect the DPRK's involvement. The South Korean puppets allege that a military secret document which was sent to Cho Sun-hwan, "national assemblyman" from the United People's Party, disappeared. The "assemblyman," however, said he did not know that such document was sent to him from the "Defence Ministry" and nobody told him to return the document. Nevertheless, the puppets say they have begun an investigation "on the premise that the document may be handed over to Chongnyon." How ridiculous they are. The South Korean puppets and the Japanese reactionaries are trying to create a new "suspicion" against the DPRK in an attempt to attach "credibility" to their hitherto fuss over "nuclear threat" and "missile threat," bring their "danger" into bolder relief and put a new spoke in the wheel of the third round of DPRK-U.S. talks which is now on the order of the day. Lurking behind their anti-communist campaign is also a sinister intention to impair the prestige of the dignified DPRK in the international arena and stretch suppression to Chongnyon, a dependable |
FBIS3-47851_11 | U.S. Ambassador's Associates View Relationships | "L," a diplomat in active service, warns that there is a need for people to view things in a more cool-headed manner. A Korean worker at the U.S. Embassy also says that "the arrival of a pro-Korean personality as the ambassador does not mean a change in the basic U.S. policy or position." [passage omitted] The well known Laney network in Korea is apparently dominated by Christians. His acquaintances in political and business circles are mostly Christians. Considering that he had been a minister--he retired from clergy prior to taking his ambassadorial post--and that he had worked as a missionary, it is a natural outcome. But how he will cope with the fact will also be noteworthy. On the day he presented his credentials, there was an anti-U.S., Molotov cocktail-throwing demonstration in Kwangju, the first since the launching of the Kim Yong-sam government. The unresolved nuclear issue and the remaining anti-U.S. sentiment are the major tasks confronting Ambassador Laney. [passage omitted] As for the successive U.S. ambassadors to Korea in the past, Koreans have a negative image of them all. The biggest reason is that they behaved as if they were the "governor general" sent to this country. The rulers of the military dictatorial regimes in the past--which the people never recognized as truly legitimate--were compelled to depend heavily on the United States to keep their regimes in power, no matter whether they liked it or not. Consequently, one cannot deny that they were more or less responsible for the role of the U.S. ambassador that "departed from its normal path." Any U.S. ambassador coming to Korea--even if he was not an ex-CIA official--perhaps could not but involve himself in interference with Korea's domestic affairs and covert operations. A known political figure says that the U.S. foreign policy toward Korea has been "blank." What he means is that Washington was barred from the normal conduct of foreign policy toward a dictatorial regime and, as a result, Korea remained nothing more than a military strategic region more under the sway of the Pentagon rather than that of the State Department--and a void as far as foreign policy was concerned. The launching of the civilian government has, in effect, paved the way for the office of U.S. ambassador to recover its "normal" role. It means that Ambassador Laney's role will inevitably be different from the one his predecessors played. Therefore, it can |
FBIS3-47852_2 | `Disorder' in U.S.'s DPRK Policy Claimed | and China's weapons exports, they went so far as to recommend implementation of a security-first policy in the Asian-Pacific area, instead of a foreign policy of attaching importance to economics, which may only touch off trade disputes. If we accept their allegation even in part, we would come to realize the seriousness of the security situation in the Asian-Pacific area. Thus, they pointed out that significant political and economic relations should be open to North Korea only when it takes concrete steps to reduce its threat to the Korean peninsula and the surrounding areas. They even proposed a plan to promote trade relations between the United States and China with a view to encouraging China to participate actively in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue and in removing North Korea's military threat. It is indeed alarming that the U.S. conservative camp, including former cabinet members of U.S. Republican administrations, began to launch a counterattack as the third round of North Korean-U.S. talks are about to take place. This is even more true in view of the differences in views revealed among intelligence organizations within the Clinton administration, including the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. State Department. The U.S. intelligence organizations assess that North Korea has already manufactured one or two nuclear bombs, even though of crude condition, or the date of manufacture is imminent. The U.S. Department of State, however, disputes this assertion. As the situation is in disorder in the United States, which is carrying on nuclear negotiations with North Korea, it is quite natural for our government, which is maintaining a joint cooperation system with the Department of State, to be cautious. What if North Korea, while dragging out nuclear negotiations, nearly completes the manufacture of nuclear weapons and then initiates the work of hiding them in deep underground tunnels? How should we cope with a threat of attack by conventional weapons after suspending the Team Spirit exercise? The more serious problem is that even after the exchange of special envoys is realized, the envoy [from the North] may possibly propose the Koryo confederal system. In this event, is it desirable that we declare the suspension of the Team Spirit exercise to him as a partner? Indeed, this is a difficult problem. We have no other words than our hope that the North and the South make appropriate judgments regarding the situation. |
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