The United States and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 

FACT SHEET: APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS MEETING (1998) -- OUTCOMES 21 Dec 98 

Etats-Unis - Asie

La présence américaine en Asie est primordiale, selon Cohen (Reuters, 14/3/2000)
Le secrétaire d'Etat américain à la Défense William Cohen a déclaré à des responsables militaires vietnamiens que la présence de forces américaines en Asie-Pacifique était cruciale pour la prospérité de la région. S'adressant à l'Académie nationale de la défense du Vietnam au deuxième jour de sa visite, Cohen a également déclaré que les deux pays avaient tout intérêt à coopérer. 
"Aujourd'hui, si l'on prend en compte notre histoire commune, faite de fierté et de douleur, je suis devant vous pour le compte du
département de la Défense des Etats-Unis pour promouvoir les intérêts de nos deux pays, dans l'espoir que nous puissions être à
nouveau guidés par nos intérêts communs", a déclaré Cohen dans un discours. 
Cohen est le premier secrétaire américain à la Défense à se rendre au Vietnam depuis la fin de la guerre du Vietnam en 1975. 
Il a ajouté que la promotion d'objectifs communs de sécurité et de prospérité en Asie se basait sur plusieurs éléments - en
particulier, le maintien des forces américaines déployées dans la région. Washington a quelque 100.000 hommes stationnés en Asie-Pacifique. 

L'importance des alliances 
L'autre pièce maîtresse de la stabilité dans la région est constitué des alliances nouées par les Etats-Unis avec le Japon, la Corée
du Sud, l'Australie, la Thaïlande et l'amélioration des relations militaires avec les Philippines, a-t-il ajouté. "il n'y a pas meilleure illustration de la stabilisation apportée par la présence militaire américaine que la crise économique de la fin des années 90, qui aurait pu dégénérer en crise sécuritaire", a déclaré Cohen, faisant référence à la crise asiatique qui avait démarré en Thaïlande durant l'été 1997. Des éléments conservateurs de l'armée vietnamienne ne seront pas forcément convaincus. En dépit de la chaleur dont a fait montre Cohen au cours de sa visite, des suspicions sur les intentions militaires américaines demeurent. Les médias publics vietnamiens se sont concentrés mardi sur les déclarations du Premier ministre Phan Van Khai, qui a déclaré à Cohen lundi lors d'une réunion qu'il espérait que Washington pourrait faire davantage pour contribuer à régler les problèmes humanitaires provoqués par la guerre du Vietnam. Cohen a ajouté qu'il était dans l'intérêt des Etats-Unis et de la Chine de bâtir des relations durables et matures, soulignant que Pékin était indispensable à la paix dans la région. Le patron du Pentagone a sinon réaffirmé sa gratitude envers le Vietnam, dont il a loué les efforts pour faire avancer la question des quelque 2.000 prisonniers de guerre américains portés disparus sur le front (MIA). Quelque 58.000 soldats américains et trois millions de Vietnamiens, militaires et civils, ont trouvé la mort au cours de la guerre du Vietnam. Washington et Hanoï ont normalisé leurs relations diplomatiques en 1995. La visite de Cohen du 13 au 15 mars coïncide avec deux mois d'évènements dans le pays pour marquer le 25ème anniversaire de la fin de la Guerre du Vietnam le 30 avril. Cohen s'envolera dans la journée pour Ho-Chi-Minh-Ville, l'ex-Saigon. Après Hong-Kong et le Vietnam, Cohen se rendra au Japon et en Corée du Sud, dans le cadre d'une tournée en Asie. 

Le vote asiatique n'est plus aussi favorable au parti démocrate (AFP, 6/3/2000)
Le vote asiatique, favorable en 1996 au parti démocrate, est activement courtisé par le républicain George W. Bush, alors que le vice-président Al Gore veut faire oublier un scandale de collecte illégale de fonds de campagne, dans un temple bouddhiste en 1996. M. Gore se fait aujourd'hui prier pour se rendre dans des lieux fréquentés par une communauté asiatique, selon Karen Narasaki, du National Asian Pacific Legal Center.
"Il faut une quantité anormale d'efforts pour faire venir Gore à des rencontres d'Américains d'origine asiatique", déclare Mme
Narasaki, ajoutant que "cela a érodé son soutien auprès d'eux, parce qu'ils ont l'impression qu'il les fuit parce qu'il n'est pas en paix avec" l'affaire du temple bouddhiste. En 1996, M. Gore s'était rendu dans ce temple de la banlieue de Los Angeles, où plus de 100.000 dollars avaient été collectées illégalement en sa présence.
Le favori républicain George W. Bush, au contraire, "ne dédaigne pas les contributions de la communauté", affirme Mme Narasaki,
ajoutant qu'il bénéficie en son sein d'un soutien croissant. Les déclarations du gouverneur du Texas favorables à l'immigration et aux milieux d'affaires ont fait de lui, bien qu'il soit républicain, un candidat attractif, selon Christine Chen, de l'organisation des Américains d'origine chinoise (Organization of Chinese Americans). Bush bénéficie aussi du soutien du Trésorier de la Californie, Matt Fong, le plus haut responsable asiatique de l'Etat.
L'autre candidat républicain John McCain s'est en revanche discrédité auprès de cette communauté en traitant de "chinetoques"
(gooks) ses anciens geôliers au Vietnam, même s'il a promis par la suite de ne plus utiliser ce terme, selon Mme Narasaki.
Aujourd'hui 11 millions, soit 4% de la population, les Américains originaires d'Asie et des îles du Pacifique devraient être 20 millions en 2020, et représenter alors 6% de population. En 1996, ils s'étaient tournés vers les démocrates à cause de la volonté des républicains de limiter l'immigration et d'une loi en Californie, l'Etat où ils sont le plus nombreux, interdisant aux enfants de clandestins l'accès aux aides sociales et aux écoles publiques, selon Mme Chen.
Mais aujourd'hui, l'électorat asiatique se répartit à parts égales entre républicains, démocrates et indépendants, "parce qu'il y a
tellement de nouveaux citoyens et de nouveaux électeurs, que nombre d'entre eux ne s'identifient plus à aucun parti", selon Mme
Chen. Les Asiatiques se trouvent aux deux extrémités de l'échelle sociale: proportionnellement plus nombreux que les blancs dans la catégorie des revenus supérieurs à 75.000 dollars par an, ils sont aussi le groupe chez lequel le nombre de personnes vivant dans la pauvreté croît le plus vite, selon un rapport sur "l'état de l'Amérique asiatique".

Missiles: Pyongyang, Téhéran et Bagdad pourraient menacer les USA en 2010
WASHINGTON, 10 sept 99(AFP) - L'Iran, l'Irak et la Corée du Nord pourraient procéder à des essais de missiles balistiques
intercontinentaux capables de frapper les Etats-Unis vers 2010, selon une étude des services de renseignement américains rendue
publique jeudi.
Hearing on Taiwan, the PRC, and the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, 15/9/99

08 Jan 99 - DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT, JANUARY 8, 1999
08 Jan 99 - TEXT: RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR 1/8 ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA
08 Jan 99 - TEXT: HIRC CHAIRMAN 1/8 ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CHINA
07 Jan 99 - TEXT: STATE 1/6 ON U.S.-DPRK TALKS ON UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION
07 Jan 99 - TEXT: STATE 1/6 ON UPCOMING MEETING OF FOUR PARTY TALKS ON KOREA
04 Jan 99 - TEXT: CLINTON LETTER TO CHINESE PRESIDENT ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS
30 Dec 98 - TEXT: SEC. DALEY 12/18 REMARKS ON U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS
29 Dec 98 - TEXT: STATE 12/29 ON DEFECTION OF SENIOR KHMER ROUGE LEADERS
28 Dec 98 - TEXT: STATE 12/28 ON NEW ZEALAND ACQUISITION OF F-16 PLANES
28 Dec 98 - TEXT: STATE DEPT. 12/27 ON SURRENDER OF KHMER ROUGE LEADERS
24 Dec 98 - TEXT: PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES $12 MILLION ASSISTANCE TO KEDO
23 Dec 98 -TEXT: CLINTON PROCLAIMS COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT WITH VIETNAM
22 Dec 98 - TEXT: STROBE TALBOTT ON CHINA'S SENTENCING OF RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

CLINTON 'FINE TUNES' RELATIONS WITH JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA
Editorialists in East and South Asia, Europe and Israel responded positively to President Clinton's just-concluded five-day trip to Asia, which included visits to Japan, South Korea and Guam. A majority of writers, particularly in Japan and South Korea, judged that the president had exercised great skill in assuaging Japan's "wounded pride"--over criticism of the Japanese government's reported inability to reverse the severe recession affecting that country's economy--and in "fine-tuning" relations between the U.S. and South Korea. On the question of how to deal with North Korea, which has refused access--except at a very high price tag--to a suspected underground nuclear facility near Yongbyon, analysts judged that Mr. Clinton's visit to Seoul had produced a single, "consistent" U.S.-South Korean policy toward Pyongyang, one based on engagement and encouragement of the North to "take advantage of its historic opportunity" to renew ties with South Korea. Some observers, however, characterized North Korea as a "rogue nation, groaning under a megalomaniac cult of personality" that still posed a serious threat to its neighbors and to the world. As if to confirm those fears, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) alleged that U.S. "warmongers" and South Korea were planning a "pre-emptive attack" against North Korea. KCNA also maintained that the U.S. "wants to break the DPRK-U.S. framework agreement" and claimed that is was "basic U.S....policy to impede the reunification of Korea" in order to maintain "South Korea [as a] permanent colonial military base." 

Defense Secretary Cohen says the continuity of the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific region "remains unchanged" with plans
to maintain 100,000 U.S. military forces there as a way to ensure stability in the region. 
At a November 23 news conference to release the Defense Department's East Asia Strategy Report, Cohen said such a military presence in the region "helps us to shape events, to respond to crises, and to prepare for an uncertain future."
The fourth edition of the report is entitled: "The United States Security Strategy for the East Asia-Pacific Region." Cohen said it reaffirms the U.S. network of alliances with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
The 68-page report also reaffirms the U.S. commitment to "comprehensive engagement with China" and to the expansion of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region, the secretary said. (USIA, 23/11/98)

Ambassador Alan Larson, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs U.S. Department of State
TOPIC:    Asia and America:  Restoring Confidence and Growth, 4/11/98
During a USIA Worldnet interactive broadcast with audiences in Jakarta, Singapore, and Guangzhou November 4, Larson stressed the six-point plan to restore confidence and growth to the global community presented by President Clinton in his speech to the Council on Foreign Relations September 14.
"The president," he said, "emphasized the obligation the United States has to lead the way in restoring confidence, stabilize the financial system and spur global growth."
The six points, Larson said, include:
-- a growth strategy for Asia; "The United States," Larson said, "has lowered interest rates twice in order to ensure that the economy would be strong and help be a locomotion for restoring growth in Asia."
-- the United States should take the lead in helping stimulate corporate debt work-outs and bank structuring efforts;
-- dealing with the social dimension of the crisis; "The United States has been working with the international financial institutions as well as with development assistance agency to try to be as responsive as possible to those social needs," he said.
-- the United States must be prepared to respond with financial force to any new outbreaks of the crisis in countries that are following good policies;
-- there must be ample trade finance available because it is part of the engine that will pull Asian economies out of the economic slump;and
-- the United States must ensure full funding for the programs of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Meeting the Crisis: What Should Governments Do?" by John S. Wolf, U.S. Ambassador to APEC
Presentation to PBEC Conference,Los Angeles, California, October 19, 1998
The global financial situation will be a chief discussion topic at the APEC Leaders Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on November 17-18, according to Ambassador John S. Wolf, U.S. Coordinator for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
In remarks to a Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) conference in Los Angeles October 19, Wolf said: "Leaders will certainly recognize the need for pro-growth policies, in line with IMF understandings, to relieve the social pressures and political reaction to reform. Hopefully, too, the message will emphasize that the path toward renewed growth is a path that continues to build on opening markets and competing internationally."
"Leaders," he said, "might address next steps on how to restructure corporate debt, strengthen financial architecture (especially
management of volatile short-term capital flows), and expand multilateral bank social safety net programs and the use of loan
guarantees and other innovative mechanisms to leverage private sector lending.
"We hope, too," he added, "leaders will endorse the need to improve economic governance, including corporate governance. And, while they may be circumspect in what they say, I suspect no one will overlook that the countries that are progressing best in their efforts to restructure and reform economically are those with broad popular political support."
Wolf noted that the United States wants to accelerate technical assistance activities planned in collaboration with the international
financial institutions (IFIs) to help economies build stronger financial sectors. "We are also very interested in how to increase
private sector involvement in addressing these technical assistance opportunities."
Wolf stressed that, beyond financial system reform, further market opening and liberalization are important positive signals to investors that Asia is still open for business. "An important trade goal for the APEC region this year is successful conclusion of the APEC Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization (EVSL) initiative," he said.
"We have made progress in developing the nine Priority Sectors (Chemicals, Energy, Environment, Fish, Forestry, Gems and Jewelry, Medical Equipment, Telecom MRA, Toys) since APEC leaders agreed to pursue this liberalization approach last year. Advancing EVSL can help rebuild market confidence; Asians need also to understand that success in EVSL can help us here in the U.S. to push back the calls for protectionism that come here with our rising deficits. If we're to succeed, APEC economies need to craft a much better package that assures there is mutual benefit -- a one-sided, or tepid, package will not sell."
"Underpinning this all is the necessity for the United States to take a leadership role," Wolf said.
"We are continuing to grow and taking the monetary and fiscal steps to ensure that growth path is sustained. We are taking steps to assure our financial system remains broad, deep, and resilient," he said.
"We will remain a champion for freer and more open trade and investment, but we also must resist the pressure some are exerting to close our open markets. We hardly can lead if we are going backwards.
We are committed to assisting those who have been drastically affected by the crisis. We are working through USAID, with the World Bank and other international institutions to address social safety issues.
Innocent bystanders should not have to suffer the consequences of others' mistakes. Ex-Im and OPIC are looking at how they can expand further their Asian programs," he said.

(United States Information Service, 29/10/98) 
The purpose of Secretary Cohen's October 30-November 6 trip to the Far East is to discuss the continuing U.S. role in the
Asia-Pacific region, according to a senior Defense Department official.
"That role is multi-dimensional," he said, "it's just not of a security and political nature, it's of an economic and financial
nature as well."
During a background briefing on the trip October 27, the official said: "The United States is the big constant in the region right now
and must continue showing leadership at a time of uncertainty."
"The one unifying thing that runs through all of our stops," he said,"is U.S. commitment to remain engaged both in good times and in badtimes."
According to the official, Secretary Cohen's trip will include the following visits:
-- Hawaii, where he will have meetings with Admiral Prueher (CINCPAC)and members of the Hawaiian Congressional delegation to discuss Admiral Prueher's most recent trip through the Asia-Pacific region;
-- Hong Kong, where he will discuss U.S. defense involvement with Hong Kong and economic and commercial developments in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole;
-- Korea, where there will be meetings between senior military and civilian leaders on both sides to reaffirm the importance of the
U.S.-Republic of Korea security alliance; and
-- finally, to Japan where he will hold intensive deliberations with the Japanese government about the status of various security issues concerning defense guidelines, progress on theater missile defense, and shared perceptions of regional developments.
"It is extremely important from the U.S. perspective that we can not be seen to be meddling in another country's domestic politics," the official said, "...but we are committed to making sure that Asia is at peace and stable, and that is the best kind of environment with which to develop -- to come out of a very significant economic downturn that we have experienced."

ALBRIGHT 7/29 REMARKS TO AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (United States Information Service, 29 july 1998) 
The Asian financial crisis is both "an urgent economic concern" and a threat to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "America's policy toward the crisis is clear. We urge reform, but we will also do all we can to help countries that are being hurt by the crisis and that we are committed to reform," Albright said in July 29 remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Manila. 

DUMPING CASE ON CANNED MUSHROOMS ADVANCED BY COMMERCE (United States Information Service , 28 July 1998) 
The U.S. Department of Commerce has made a preliminary determination finding that certain mushrooms from China, Indonesia, India and Chile have been dumped on the U.S. market. In a July 28 report, the department estimated dumping margins ranging from 168.72 percent to 198.63 percent for companies in China, from 
11.24 percent to 29.58 percent for companies in Indonesia, and from 2.75 percent to 243.87 percent for companies in India. The margin for companies in Chile was estimated at 142.43 percent. 

PENTAGON REVIEW REFUTES CNN/TIME ALLEGATIONS ON U.S. SARIN USE (United States Information Service , 21 July 1998) 
 Defense Secretary Cohen presented the results on July 21of a month-long Pentagon investigation which he says proves unequivocally that the United States never used Sarin nerve gas in Southeast Asia and the chemical agent was never taken from its storage area in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. 

U.S. TRADE DEFICIT POSTS ANOTHER RECORD IN MAY(United States Information Service , 17 July 1998) 
Washington -- The U.S. trade deficit in goods and services widened again in May to a record seasonally adjusted $15,745 million, more than 10 percent above April's shortfall, as exports to Asia continued 
to plunge, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

J-1 VISA CHANGES FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDENTS (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998)
Washington -- Southeast Asian students studying in the United States under J-1 visas may now be eligible for a loosening in employment and course load restrictions. 

USDA REINSTATES CREDIT GUARANTEE PROGRAMS FOR INDIA, PAKISTAN: Action allows exports sales to Pakistan and India to resume (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
Washington -- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman July 15 announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reinstated the export credit guarantee programs for the purchase of U.S. agricultural commodities by buyers in Pakistan and India. 

Visites de Madeleine K. Albright au Japon, Chine, Corée et Mongolie  (USIA, 9/4/98) 
This is the first of at least four trips that Secretary Albright will be making to the Asia Pacific region in 1998, including accompanying President Clinton to China in June, heading the American delegation to back to back meetings of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila in July, and participation in the APEC Summit in Kuala Lumpur in November. 
The purpose of Secretary Albright's trip is to affirm continued U.S. strategic commitments to Asia and take up specific regional and bilateral concerns, including the situation on the Korean peninsula; the Asian financial crisis; progress toward free, fair and credible elections in Cambodia, and Burma. 
Secretary Albright will make her second trip to Japan as Secretary of State on April 28 for high level meetings to discuss the important cooperation between Japan and the United States on a wide array of bilateral, global and regional issues. On Wednesday, April 29, the Secretary will travel to China where she will lay the groundwork for President Clinton's June Summit. Secretary Albright will meet with Chinese government officials to discuss our expanding strategic dialogue with China and to facilitate progress on a range of bilateral issues.The Secretary's visit to the Republic of Korea on May 1 will be the first opportunity for a U.S. cabinet official~ to meet with President Kim Dae Jung and his new foreign policy team. 
Secretary Albright will travel from Seoul to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on May 2 where she is looking forward to learning more about the important economic and political reforms advanced under the leadership of Prime Minister Enflisaihan's government. The Secretary is scheduled to return to Washington on Sunday, May 3. 

FACT SHEET: ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN)
(Released by Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, October 26)

ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM MEETING, Honolulu, November 4-6, 1998
Washington -- Senior foreign affairs and defense officials, as well as military officers, representing members of the the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will meet in Honolulu from November 4-6.
Following is an October 30 statement by the Department of State on the meeting:

STATEMENT BY JAMES B. FOLEY,  DEPUTY SPOKESMAN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman, October 30, 1998
Senior foreign affairs and defense officials, as well as military officers, representing members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will meet in Honolulu from November 4-6. Mr. Ralph L. Boyce, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Mr. Saroj Chavanaviraj, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, will co-chair this meeting of the ARF's Intersessional Support Group on Confidence Building Measures. A second meeting will be held in Bangkok on March 3-5, 1999.
The Confidence Building Measures Group is the most active of the ARF's intersessional working groups and its meetings form the core of the ARF's overall work program. The results of its deliberations in Honolulu and Bangkok will form the basis of the agenda for the annual Ministerial meeting in July that Secretary Albright and Department of Defense officials attend.
The United States has played an active and supportive role in the ASEAN Regional Forum since its inception in 1994. The ARF, comprised of twenty-two members (21 countries plus the EU), is the only region-wide Asia-Pacific government-level security forum.
Co-chairmanship of the ARF's intersessional groups rotates; the U.S. co-chaired with Singapore a meeting on Search and Rescue in March 1996 and is working with Thailand and New Zealand to conduct a Disaster Relief experts meeting in Bangkok in January 1999.
In Honolulu and Bangkok, the Group will continue a frank, open and substantive dialogue on security-related and political developments in the region, defense policies, nonproliferation and arms control, and a range of confidence building activities. For the first time, the Group will examine the overlap between confidence building and preventive diplomacy, the second stage of the ARF's evolution.
In addition, the Honolulu meeting will focus on maritime cooperation, specifically on where the ARF can add value or supplement existing activities and regimes in the areas of maritime safety, law and order at sea, and protection and preservation of the marine environment. A separate but concurrent meeting of maritime officials, chaired by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Thai Navy, will address these issues in detail. Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command will conduct a briefing and facilitate a tour of naval facilities for ARF participants.

ALBRIGHT REMARKS AT ASEAN POST-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE (United States Information Service , 28 July 1998) 
The countries that show the best signs of recovering from the Asian financial crisis are those that have moved to more open economic and political practices, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.In remarks at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference July 28, Albright said: "In the past year, those nations that have done most to reassure markets of their commitment to open trade, transparency, and sound macroeconomic policies have made the most progress in regaining market confidence. That confidence is based on a simple premise: An economy powered by open and sound financial policies will be better able to adjust to the global market than an economy that is closed and hobbled by financial favoritism. 

ALBRIGHT 7/27 REMARKS AT ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM PLENARY (United States Information Service , 27 July 1998) 
In an age of interdependence, nations must consider the difference between interference and assistance, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "One thing is clear: if a nation is important to our security and facing problems that could threaten our security, then we must deal with those problems frankly here," Albright said in July 27 remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Plenary. 

ALBRIGHT 7/24 SPEECH TO INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY COUNCIL (United States Information Service , 24 July 1998)
 On the eve of her sixth official trip to Asia, Secretary of State Albright said Asian nations must adopt "open and sound financial policies" if they are to solve their current economic problems. She issued this call in a July 24 speech to the International Diplomacy Council before departing for Manila to attend the ASEAN 
(Association of South East Asian Nations) Regional Forum and ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference. The Secretary will then visit Papua-New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. 

USITC PROCEEDS WITH STAINLESS STEEL PLATE DUMPING CASES (United States Information Service , 24 July 1998) 
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has decided to proceed with investigations into whether stainless steel plate and strip was dumped on the U.S. market by companies in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. 

ROTH 7/21 ON MULTILATERAL APPROACHES TO REGIONAL SECURITY (United States Information Service , 23 July 1998) 
The creation of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the mid-1990s was a result of a trend toward multilateral approaches to regional security, according to Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth 

ALBRIGHT WILL DEPART FOR ASIA JULY 24 (United States Information Service , 22 July 1998) 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will depart for the Philippines July 24 to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila.She will also make stops in Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. 

TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT/SHIPLEY 8/1 PRESS CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND (United States Information Service, 03 august1998) 
Auckland, New Zealand -- The United States and Australia share a common interest in supporting free trade, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. 

Etats-Unis-Birmanie

Report to the Congress Regarding Conditions in Burma and U.S. Policy Toward Burma for the period from March 28, 1999 to September 28, 1999. 

U.S. DEEPLY REGRETS BURMA'S FAILURE TO CONVENE PARLIAMENT  (United States Information Service , 21 August 1998) 
Washington -- The U.S. Department of State issued a statement August 21 regretting the Burmese government's rejection of the National League for Democracy's (NLD) call to convene the parliament elected in 1990. 

TEXT: U.S. ASKS BURMA TO RESOLVE STANDOFF WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI  (United States Information Service , 20 August 1998) 
Washington -- The United States is deeply concerned by reports that National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's health is beginning to deteriorate as a result of her prolonged standoff with Burmese security forces on the main Rangoon-Pathein road. State Department Deputy Spokesman released a statement August 20 calling on the Burmese government to take steps to resolve this  situation peacefully and quickly, including releasing the three imprisoned National League for Democracy representatives elected from Pathein in May 1990. 

ALBRIGHT 7/28 REMARKS AFTER ESTRADA MEETING (United States Information Service , 28 July 1998) 
The United States remains concerned about the Burmese Government's detention of National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD members, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "We hope very much that there will be a resolution to the issue. Aung San Suu Kyi should be able to travel freely in her own country, and we hope very much that that will, indeed, happen," Albright said in July 28 remarks after meeting with President Estrada of the Philippines. 

ALBRIGHT 7/27 ON FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BURMA ( United States Information Service , 27 July 1998) 
The United States deplores the government ofBurma's refusal to allow members of the National League for Democracy, a legal political party, to travel freely in their own country, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said. "We believe that freedom of movement is fundamental and that its denial can only increase the already dangerous state of tension in Burma. And we are gravely concerned about the health and safety of Aung San Suu Kyi and will hold the Burmese authorities directly responsible for insuring her health and welfare," Albright said in July 27 remarks in the Philippines. 

Hearing on POST ELECTION CAMBODIA: WHAT NEXT ? MARCH 9, 1999

TESTIMONY OF STANLEY O. ROTH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ASIA-PACIFIC SUBCOMMITTEE (United States Information Service, 2/10/98) 
In testimony before the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific October 2, Roth said the United States is working on a day to day basis to get all parties involved to agree to a
genuine power-sharing arrangement. Unfortunately, he said, it's too early to tell whether it will work.
"Two things clearly need to happen if this electoral process is to be brought to closure and Cambodia is to get on with the urgent task of national reconstruction: legitimate electoral disputes must be
appropriately adjudicated, and the parties must, pursuant to the provisions of the Cambodian constitution, negotiate a coalition  government which reflects the will of the people as expressed through
their vote," Roth said.
"Hun Sen's initial attempts to form a government with the opposition were simply not acceptable, having offered only token appointments to the opposition while retaining all major ministries for the CPP. At
the same time," he said, "the opposition's efforts to provoke a constitutional crisis by refusing to seat the Parliament by the September 24 deadline were counterproductive, serving only to escalate tensions and threaten instability."
"U.S. policy throughout this tumultuous post-election period has been clear and consistent," Roth said. "We have called for a thorough vetting of all legitimate electoral disputes by the bodies charged
with such duties; negotiations toward a genuine power sharing arrangement; and restraint on the part of all parties lest Cambodia once again explode in chaos."
"Ultimately," Roth said, "only the Cambodians themselves can determine their own fate and future." 

U.S. CONDEMNS GRENADE ATTACK IN CAMBODIA  (United States Information Service, 21 August 1998) 
Washington -- The U.S. Department of State issued a statement August 20 condemning an attack in Cambodia during which a grenade exploded outside the Interior Ministry, where opposition leader Sam Rainsy was being interviewed by Japanese journalists. 

The U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues -- David Scheffer -- has ended a two-day visit to Cambodia by reasserting America's determination to bring remaining Khmer Rouge leaders to trial for crimes against humanity. (USIA, 28/4/98)

Les syndicats montent au créneau contre le PNTR à la Chine (AFP, 12/4/2000)
Plusieurs milliers de manifestants, réunis à l'appel de la puissante centrale syndicale AFL-CIO, ont appelé mercredi le Congrès à ne pas signer de "chèque en blanc" à la Chine en approuvant fin mai la normalisation des relations commerciales sino-américaines (PNTR).
 "Tant qu'il y aura des traités bafoués, tant qu'il y aura des dissidents en prison (...), des cas de torture et des exécutions, il n'y aura pas de chèque en blanc en faveur de la Chine", a déclaré le président de la AFL-CIO, John Sweeney, lors d'un rassemblement devant le Congrès réunissant des syndicalistes, des élus, des militants des droits de l'homme et des groupes de protection de l'environnement, tous opposés au PNTR.
 "Tant qu'il n'y aura pas de liberté de la presse et de liberté d'association, tant qu'il n'y aura pas de liberté réligieuse et syndicale, il ne peut pas y avoir d'accord commercial permanent avec la Chine", a ajouté M. Sweeney.
 Le Congrès américain doit se prononcer fin mai sur le PNTR, un statut indispensable pour entériner l'accord bilatéral d'adhésion de la Chine à l'Organisation mondiale du Commerce (OMC), conclu en novembre dernier.
 Si l'adoption du PNTR au Sénat semble acquise, il n'en va pas de même à la Chambre des représentants, où de nombreux démocrates, inquiets de ses conséquences économiques, y sont hostiles, et se sont alliés pour la circonstance avec des républicains conservateurs également opposés au PNTR.
 Le président Bill Clinton a fait de l'octroi de ce statut une priorité de sa fin de mandat, et défend quasi quotidiennement ses avantages.
 Mardi, il avait renouvelé ses mises en garde au Congrès contre le rejet de la normalisation permanente des relations commerciales avec la Chine, en affirmant qu'il aurait des "conséquences extrêmement néfastes pour la sécurité nationale des Etats-Unis".
 Mais les syndicats, alliés traditionnels des démocrates, ont dénoncé les menaces qui pèsent selon eux sur l'emploi, l'environnement et les droits des travailleurs, et ont rejeté l'octroi de ce statut à Pékin.
 "Ce sont nos emplois contre les leurs", a déclaré un ouvrier chez Daimler-Chrysler, Gary Sutkiewicz, membre du syndicat de l'automobile, opposé au PNTR car il craint "la concurrence chinoise".
 "C'est peut-être un bon accord pour les milieux d'affaires, mais pas pour le travailleur", a indiqué pour sa part un syndicaliste Jay Mazur.
 Après leur rassemblement, les manifestants devaient submerger les parlementaires d'appels et de visites, notamment à la Chambre des représentants, pour les inciter à ne pas voter l'octroi du PNTR à Pékin.
 Plus de 70 réunions avec des représentants à la Chambre ont été programmées mercredi, a indiqué une porte-parole de l'AFL-CIO, Deborah Dion, selon qui près de 10.000 personnes étaient attendues au Congrès.
 Aucun chiffre officiel sur le nombre de participants à la manifestation n'était toutefois disponible dans l'immédiat.
 "Si la Chine obtient le PNTR et rejoint l'OMC, ce serait un désastre non seulement pour le travailleur chinois mais pour tous les travailleurs", a conclu un dissident chinois Wei Jingsheng, qui participait au rassemblement.

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific: Select Committee on U.S. Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China (May 26, 1999) Statement by Hon. Doug Bereuter, Chairman

Déséquilibre des échanges commerciaux sino-américains pas tenable (Barshefsky)
   WASHINGTON, 4 mai (AFP) - Le déséquilibre persistant des échanges commerciaux sino-américains "n'est pas tenable" car il provoque des "tensions et frustrations croissantes" aux Etats-Unis, a mis en garde mardi, la représentante américaine pour le Commerce, Charlene Barshefsky.   "Il est très possible que sans un changement, le commerce pourrait perdre son rôle de source de stabilité et d'intérêt mutuel pour devenir une autre source de division" entre les Etats-Unis et la Chine, a-t-elle
ajouté dans un discours devant la Société des éditeurs et des journalistes des affaires.    "L'intégration de la Chine au reste du monde reste fragile", a poursuivi Mme Barshefsky, déplorant le grand nombre de barrières et autres obstacles à l'accès aux marchés chinois.   "Son économie fait encore face à des problèmes de taille qu'à terme le développement des échanges extérieurs devraient contribuer à résoudre", a-t-elle dit.    Pendant ce temps "ses voisins - y compris les Etats-Unis - sont
tenus en dehors d'une économie qui pourrait être un moteur de croissance dans le contexte actuel de crise financière (en Asie) et dans l'avenir", a encore dit Mme Barshefsky.   Résultat de la faiblesse d'accès au marché chinois, les Etats-Unis
subissent un déficit commercial de plus d'un milliard de dollars par semaine avec la Chine.   Mme Barshefsky a en outre souligné qu'entre le début de la normalisation des échanges commerciaux avec Pékin en 1980 (Normal Trade
Relation ayant précédé à la Clause de la Nation la plus favorisée) et 1997, les exportations américaines de marchandises dans ce pays n'ont progressé que de neuf milliards de dollars.   Ce montant représente un peu plus de la moitié de la progression de
16 milliards des exportations des Etats-Unis vers Taïwan et d'un quart de celles de 39 milliards de dollars dans les pays de l'ASEAN.   L'accession de la Chine à l'OMC "est une occasion" de régler les problèmes de fonds à l'origine de la faiblesse de l'accès aux marchés chinois, a lancé Mme Barshesky.   Un accord d'accès à l'OMC fondé sur des critères commerciaux solides,ouvrirait aux exportateurs américains le marché chinois dans les secteurs de l'agriculture, manufacturier et des services, renforçant en même temps le système commercial multilatéral dans son ensemble,a-t-elle assuré.   En matière de stratégie, l'accession de la Chine à l'OMC compléterait nos efforts de maintien de la stabilité dans le Pacifique en intégrant
davantage l'économie chinoise dans la région, selon Mme Barshefsky.   Enfin, du point de vue des valeurs, les principes de l'OMC, à savoir la transparence, l'équité et l'impartialité des pratiques judiciaires (...) et l'état de droit - sont de ceux que les Etats-Unis entendent promouvoir en Chine et dans le reste du monde, a-t-elle conclu.   La Chine et les Etats-Unis se sont engagées lors la visite du premier ministre Zhu Rongji à Washington au début avril à conclure un accord sur l'OMC d'ici la fin de l'année.   Malgré des concessions très importantes faites par Pékin en matière d'ouverture de ses marchés, les deux pays ont toutefois échoué à conclure un accord complet, échec que M. Zhu avait attribué au sentiment antichinois au Congrès américain.
   Américains et Chinois avaient repris leurs discussions le 22 avril à Pékin sans que ces discussions ne donnent de résultats. Mais les deux parties ont décidé de se retrouver à la mi-mai à Pékin.

Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade and Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Hearing: "The Embattled State of U.S.-China Relations: Assessing the Zhu Rongji Visit" (April 21, 1999) :Opening Statement of Hon. Doug Bereuter, Chairman

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific: Markup of H.Res. 32 and H.R., United States-Macau Policy Act of 1999 (February 25, 1999)
 

Hearing on U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, MARCH 25, 1999

Quand Kissinger jouait Pékin contre Moscou (AP, 10/1/99)

Kissinger a offert à la Chine des informations sur les armées de l'URSS (AFP, 10/1/99)
L'ancien secrétaire d'Etat américain Henry Kissinger a proposé en secret à la Chine de la renseigner sur les forces armées de l'Union soviétique dans les années 1970, selon des documents rendus publics dimanche à Washington. M. Kissinger, agissant dans le cadre d'une "diplomatie triangulaire" mise en place par l'administration du président Richard Nixon, a offert à plusieurs reprises à Pékin, dès 1971, des ordinateurs très puissants et une "ligne rouge" permettant à Washington de prévenir les Chinois sur les mouvements de troupes soviétiques. Selon ces documents rendus publics par les Archives sur la sécurité nationale, dépendant de l'Université George Washington, ces propositions ont été faites pendant toute la période de tension entre Pékin et Moscou. Au même moment, selon les transcriptions des conversations de l'ancien secrétaire d'Etat rapportées dans un livre, "The Kissinger transcripts", ce dernier niait l'existence d'une telle coopération dans ses entretiens avec les Soviétiques. Lors de leurs rencontres, qui devaient aboutir à la normalisation des relations entre Washington et Pékin en 1979, M. Kissinger a également fourni aux Chinois des éléments très sensibles concernant les relations américano-soviétiques. Les documents, confidentiels jusqu'à présent, rapportent aussi des entretiens auxquels ont participé Richard Nixon, le président Mao Tsé-Toung et le Premier ministre Tchou En-Laï. En 1973, selon ces textes, M. Kissinger a avancé dans un entretien avec Tchou En-Laï la mis en place d'une "ligne rouge" dont l'existence "resterait confidentielle". "Cela vous permettrait de déplacer vos bombardiers, et si possible vos missiles, si vous appreniez qu'une attaque (soviétique) se préparait", notait le secrétaire d'Etat. "Vous auriez besoin de bonnes communications entre Pékin et vos différentes bases, mais nous pourrions sans doute vous aider d'une certaine façon", ajoutait M. Kissinger. "Nous pourrions également vous fournir la technologie pour certains types de radars, mais vous devriez les construire vous-mêmes", ajoutait le responsable américain. Lors d'un entretien précédent, Kissinger avait tenté de rassurer Mao sur le fait que les Etats-Unis n'encourageraient aucune attaque soviétique contre la Chine. "M. le président, déclarait-il, il est très important que nous comprenions nos motifs réciproques (et) nous ne coopérerons jamais sciemment à une attaque contre la Chine". Pour recueillir les faveurs des dirigeants chinois, Kissinger n'a pas hésité non plus à leur donner des renseignements sur les relations américano-soviétiques, indiquent encore ces documents. En juillet 1973, à peine quelques jours après une rencontre entre M. Nixon et son homologue soviétique Leonid Brejnev, M. Kissinger a rapporté la teneur de ces entretiens à l'ambassadeur de Chine auprès des Nations unies alors même que le président russe avait demandé le secret absolu. Brejnev, lui a-t-il dit, a "déclaré qu'il serait intolérable d'imaginer que les capacités nucléaires de la Chine soient dans 15 ans égales à celles des Soviétiques aujourd'hui". "Ceci, a-t-il ajouté, serait intolérable et inacceptable pour l'URSS". M. Kissinger a enfin précisé à son interlocuteur que M. Brejnev avait suggéré que Moscou et Washington partagent des informations sur le programme nucléaire chinois, ce que M. Nixon avait refusé.

The US and China: An uneasy relationship (BBC, 24/6/98)

As the millennium approaches, few doubt that China and the United States are increasingly important. But if history is anything to judge by, establishing a solid, open relationship may be difficult. Throughout the last 50 years, US-Sino relations have been uneasy, marked by a general lack of understanding on both sides. Hostility and mistrust run deep. During its first two decades, Communist China was deeply hostile to the United States, considering it an  'imperialist enemy of the people'. China's role in the Korean War led to a US policy of "containment" towards China. Increased US co-operation with Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province, through the 1950s also contributed to the problems and the stalemate that characterised relations in the 1960s. 
But in the late 1960s and early '70s, President Nixon and his foreign policy team realised that the falling out between the two great Communist countries, China and the USSR, offered the United States a unique opening as well as a means to isolate the Soviet Union by  joining with China to challenge Moscow.
The means used for developing contacts between the two countries was cultural. Through games of ping-pong in 1970 and '71, the two countries became used to one another. That closer relationship led to President Nixon's historic 1972  trip to China. 
 During the visit Nixon signed the Shanghai Communiqué, which signalled the adoption of a 'one China policy', a policy to which it continues to adhere. The United  States still acknowledges that there is only one China, and that Taiwan  is a part of China. 
During the 1970s relations slowly  improved between the two countries  through cultural interchange and a number of visits, including President Gerald Ford's trip in December 1975. 
 In 1979 there was a further move  forward in relations under President Carter as the US established relations with the People's Republic of China and transferred diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Soon after, Deng Xiaoping visited the United States. At a Texas rodeo, he appeared in a traditional American Stetson hat, creating a new more friendly image of China to the American public. 
The 1980s saw some ups and downs with a number of disputes mainly centring on Taiwan although there were also visits like that by Ronald Reagan to Beijing in 1984. In February 1989 President George Bush made a quick visit to China which proved difficult after he invited  dissidents to a banquet and Chinese authorities responded by forcibly preventing one, Fang Lizhi, from attending. 
But in 1989 nearly all of the work was undone with the events of June 4 in Tiananmen Square. Images of student protests and tanks came to define the perception of China in the United States. Human rights rose to the top of the agenda as sanctions were imposed on Beijing, a  few of which remain to this day. 
In his 1992 campaign Bill Clinton attacked President Bush for 'coddling' China's leaders and promised that he would pursue a tougher policy. But the Clinton administration's China policy has generally lacked coherence and seen a number of sharp turns. 
Clinton initially pursued a policy that emphasised the use of economic leverage to actively promote human rights and democracy in China, especially through the annual debate in Congress about granting China 'Most Favoured Nation' trading status. By encouraging contact, trade and economic development, it has hoped that China can be drawn into the world community. But  this policy has met with many critics especially in Congress from those who favour a tougher stance against a rising China. 
Meanwhile China is deeply conscious of both its past as a great power and its later subjugation by foreign and colonial powers and as a result is especially sensitive at any talk of the US trying to 'contain' China in the same way as it tried to contain the Soviet Union leaving  plenty of room for continued misunderstanding and tension between the two countries. 

BARSHEFSKY ON CHINA, WTO, EU AGRICULTURE (United States Information Service, 20/10/98) "
It is very important that China be brought into amultilateral, rules-based trading system, where China becomes more accountable for its actions," Charlene Barshefsky, the U.S. Trade Representative said in a discussion period following her speech to the American Chamber of Commerce here October 19.

Testimony of the Honorable John D. Holum Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
(United States Information Service, September 17, 1998)
Permitting the launch of U.S. satellites from China is part of America's broader engagement policy, which includes a strong basis for U.S.-Chinese cooperation on missile nonproliferation issues, according to John Holum, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs. 
According to Holum, the United States does not permit the transfer of sensitive technologies that could contribute to China's missile programs or to the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). 
"The U.S. has a very strict policy, secured in a bilateral technology safeguards agreement between the U.S. and China, designed to prevent the transfer of sensitive missile technology to China that could assist its space launch vehicle program," he said. "The agreement specifically precludes U.S. persons from assisting China in any way on the design, development, operation, maintenance, modification, orrepair of launch vehicles. 
"The agreement itself also limits the level of technical data that may be provided to the Chinese to specific interface data related to form, fit and function that are necessary to mate the satellite to the launch vehicle. And the agreement provides for the right of U.S. Government oversight of all stages of a planned Chinese launch, including preparations, satellite transportation, and launch," Holum continued. 
"It is against this backdrop that the United States conducts commercial space launch cooperation with China," he said. "We strive to accommodate U.S. commercial and economic interests -- including
promoting U.S. satellite exports -- but within our paramount nonproliferation and national security objectives. We have a system, involving the licensing and technical safeguards processes, to deny 
access to sensitive missile technology by China. At the same time, if any persons violate our laws and regulations in this area, then such violations need to be investigated fully and prosecuted accordingly." 

Statement of Franklin C. Miller, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense For Strategy and Threat Reduction Before A Hearing Of The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation U.S. Senate 
 (United States Information Service, September 17, 1998) 

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and General Zhang Wannian of the People's Republic of China
 (United States Information Service, September, 15, 1998) 
"The United States and China have both established programs to minimize environmental damage from military activities," Cohen said September 15 following a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Zhang 
Wannian. "The programs have different approaches. The United States stresses the use of technology. China emphasizes natural processes and procedures. We can learn from each other's methods." 
"These meetings allow frank dialogue on global and regional security issues of mutual concern. And we are working together where we can openly discuss issues of disagreement that arise as well," Cohen said. 
"We believe that Gen. Zhang's visit will expose him and his entire delegation to U.S. military institutions and society in ways that will build mutual understanding and continue to foster more stable relations and understanding between the world's most populous country and the world's most powerful country." 

TEXT: USTR 8/7 PRESS RELEASE ON TAIWAN MARKET ACCESS PACKAGE (United States Information Service, 10 August 1998) 
Washington -- The United States and Taiwan have concluded the bilateral market access portion of the negotiations for Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). 

DALEY 7/30 REMARKS TO KENT SCHOOL OF LAW FORUM ON CHINA (United States Information Service, 30 july 1998) 
 China faces many major challenges in advancing their economy past its present point, according to Secretary of Commerce William Daley. "During my visit (to China), my message to government officials was 
loud and clear: American workers and companies believe fairness requires China's market be open to us," Daley said in a July 29 address to the Kent School of Law Forum on China. "What I heard from the Chinese was this: they cannot open their markets because they are afraid their domestic industries will not be able to compete," Daley continued. "I think the exact opposite is true. If China's domestic industry cannot compete it would be because they do not have the kind of competition that would make them better." 

CARTER CENTER NEWS RELEASE ON ELECTION OBSERVERS FROM CHINA (United States Information Service, 30 july 1998) 
High-ranking officials responsible for the conduct of elections in some 930,000 villages in China will be in Atlanta August 9-13 to watch citizens vote in the runoff elections and to learn more about U.S. election procedures. In a July 29 press release, the Carter Center announced that nine election observers from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) will be hosted by The Carter Center in conjunction with the Georgia Secretary of State's Office and the United States Information Agency. 

Les Etats-Unis reconduisent la clause de la nation la plus favorisée à la Chine (La Tribune 24/7/98) 
Le Congrès américain a voté mercredi la reconduction, pour la Chine, de la clause dite de la nation la plus favorisée (MFN), rebaptisée à l'occasion « relations commerciales normales ». La clause permet à Pékin de bénéficier de droits de douanes avantageux. La Chambre des représentants a rejeté une motion appelant à la révocation de la MFN par 264 voix contre 166. Le débat a porté sur les questions des droits de l'homme et sur le déséquilibre croissant de la balance commerciale. En effet, les Etats-Unis affichent un déficit de 63 milliards de dollars, pour les seuls échanges avec la Chine cette année. De son côté, Clinton s'est félicité du vote des représentants. Pour Lee Hamilton, un démocrate de l'Indiana, dénoncer la MFN reviendrait « à déclarer la guerre économique » à Pékin. 

PRESIDENT WELCOMES HOUSE VOTE TO EXTEND CHINA MFN (United States Information Service , 22 July 1998) 
President Clinton welcomed the vote in the House of Representatives July 22 to extend normal trade relations with China. "This vote reflects my conviction that active engagement with China expanding our cooperation while dealing forthrightly with our differences  is the most effective way to advance our interests and values," the president said in a statement released July 22. 

CONGRESSMEN OFFER WAY TO "END THE ANNUAL MFN CIRCUS" (United States Information Service , 22 July 1998) 
Senator Joe Lieberman (Democrat-Connecticut) and Representative Robert Matsui (Democrat-California) called for the renewal of most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status for China and introduced a new framework for U.S.-China economic relations. 

AGRICULTURE SECRETARY GLICKMAN ON CHINA MFN: China MFN vote will affect U.S. agricultural exports (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
Washington -- The vote on China's most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status will decide the fate of $3.3 billion in exports of American agricultural products, according to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. 

ALBRIGHT BEFORE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON CHINA MFN: Revoking MFN would rupture U.S.-China relationship (United States Information Service, 09 July 1998) 
Washington -- Revoking China's most-favored-nation (MFN) trading status would rupture the U.S.-China relationship and set back progress, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said. 

ALBRIGHT EDITORIAL ON U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS: "U.S., China can and will continue to work together" ( United States Information Service, 08 July 1998) 
Washington -- Despite differences, the United States and China can and wiill continue to work together to meet the challenges both face, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. 

Under Secretary Reinsch on U.S exports control (United States Information Service 7/7/98)
Congressional Cold War tactics won't work, he says. The Department of Commerce's top export control official says that Congress is employing a Cold War trade sanctions policy that is counterproductive to U.S. economic and political interests. "We are now faced with the most anti-international Congress in decades," said William Reinsch, under secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. "Simply put, they don't understand globalization; they don't like it; and they want to stop it. 

Reciprocal observer status between China, U.S.  (United States Information Service 7/7/98) 
DOD says both sides will view military exercises. Representatives from the United States and China during 
the next few months will work out a schedule under which each country will observe military exercises conducted by the other, Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon said July 7. 

Renversement d'alliances en Asie ( The International Herald Tribune parLa Tribune 7/7/98) 
Le voyage de Bill Clinton en Chine marque un renversement des alliances en Extrême-Orient. Le président américain a implicitement, mais clairement, laissé entendre que la Chine était désormais le principal allié des  Etats-Unis et cela aux dépens du Japon, de l'Inde et de Taiwan. Les raisons d'un tel revirement n'en demeurent pas  moins énigmatiques [...]. La Chine n'en demandait pas tant : le gouvernement de Pékin aurait été sasfait d'esquisser   un « partenariat constructif » avec les Etats-Unis, mais ne s'attendait pas à des promesses sur Taiwan. Il n'y a que  des explications mesquines. Washington est fâché avec Tokyo, et sa politique budgétaire et commerciale. Faire la  cour à la Chine est une sorte de punition. Mais il y a plus. Le président Clinton est sous pression de la part des  milieux d'affaires, des PDG américains victimes des modes, qui demeurent fascinés par la perspective d'un marché  d'un milliard de consommateurs. 

 Le vent tourne en Chine (The Economist parLa Tribune 7/7/98) 
 Jiang Zemin aspire à se tailler une place unique sur la scène internationale dans l'histoire de la Chine  communiste. Il a clairement apprécié le faste et les égards auxquels il a eu droit lors de sa visite aux Etats-Unis  l'automne dernier. Répondre dignement à l'attention dont il a été l'objet est devenu pour lui une affaire d'honneur  personnel. Beaucoup de Chinois soupçonnent le président chinois de devenir pro-américain. [...] Aujourd'hui, les  étudiants chinois sont de moins en moins radicaux, et beaucoup sont même criques à l'égard de ceux qui ont  protesté à Tiananmen. La plupart d'entre eux ont été impressionnés par le président Clinton et son ton conciliant à  l'égard de la Chine. Mais si l'Améri que se soucie de démocratie, la Chine est éprise de sta bilité. 

Final Clinton China visit press conference: U.S. must deal forcefully, respectfully with China, (United States Information Service 06/07/98) 
"Clearly, China is changing, but there remain powerful forces resisting change, as evidenced by continuing governmental restrictions on free speech, assembly, and freedom of worship,"President Clinton said. 

FACT SHEET ACHIEVEMENTS OF U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT (THE WHITE HOUSE -  Office of the Press Secretary, June 27, 1998) 
Beijing, People's Republic of China: The agreements reached between the United States and China as part of 
President Clinton's visit build on the achievements of the October 1997 summit between Presidents Clinton and Jiang Zemin, deepen cooperation between the two countries on a broad range of issues and contribute toward a more stable, secure, open and prosperous world. NONPROLIFERATION AND SECURITY: The United States and China confirm their common goal to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction. 

Clinton rend visite à une Chine bien "éveillée" (La Tribune, 25/6/98) 
Dans la gestion de la crise asiatique comme du différend nucléaire entre l'Inde et le Pakistan, Pékin est apparu comme l'allié objectif bien qu'inattendu de Washington.  Le climat est donc propice à la politique d'ouverture voulue par Bill Clinton. Mais peu de retombées concrètes sont attendues de ce voyage de neuf jours en cinq étapes.

Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division (United States Information Service , June 5, 1998): 
Improvements in U.S.-China relations since mid-1996 have been marred by recent allegations of technology transfer to China by      U.S. aerospace companies, continuing controversy over human rights abuses in China, and charges that China is continuing to violate its non-proliferation commitments and helped Pakistan gain nuclear weapons capability. Investigations are also continuing into allegations that the Chinese government was involved in illegal financial contributions to the presidential and other political campaigns in 1996. Meanwhile, both U.S. and Chinese leaders sought to improve the political relationship in 1997. High-level contacts, political dialogue, and presidential summitry resumed during the year, culminating in October 1997 with the visit of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Washington. President Clinton plans to return the visit with a summit in China in June 1998. 

U.S.-China commercial relationship: Remarks for Ambassador David L. Aaron Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Asia Society, Washington Center (USIA,May 6, 1998) 

Les Etats-Unis se félicitent du sommet inter-coréen (AFP, 14/6/2000)

WASHINGTON, 14 juin (AFP) - Les Etats-Unis se sont félicités mercredi des résultats du premier sommet
inter-coréen, qu'ils ont jugés "encourageants", estimant toutefois qu'il n'écartait pas la menace représentée par les
missiles de la Corée du Nord.
"Je suis très, très satisfait" de ce sommet, a affirmé le président américain Bill Clinton devant la presse, reconnaissant toutefois qu'il ne s'agissait que d'un "premier" pas. Mais "clairement (c'est) un pas dans la bonne direction", a-t-il ajouté.
"Le sommet était en soit une étape très importante (...) et le fait qu'ils (le dirigeant nord-coréen Kim Jong-Il et le président sud-coréen Kim Dae-Jung) se soient rencontrés, qu'ils aient discuté et soient parvenus à un accord est encourageant", avait déclaré auparavant le porte-parole de la Maison Blanche, Joe Lockhart.
"Je ne crois pas que nous puissions voir (dans ce sommet) l'ébauche de quoi que ce soit qui change la possibilité d'une menace des missiles (de la Corée du Nord) contre les Etats-Unis", a pour sa part déclaré le porte-parole du département d'Etat Richard Boucher.
L'inquiétude américaine concernant l'éventuelle menace des missiles nord-coréens est l'un des arguments principaux des défenseurs du projet américain de bouclier anti-missiles.
"C'est très bien qu'ils aient ces entretiens. Nous sommes contents qu'ils se réunissent. Nous sommes contents de voir tous les
contacts pris par la Corée du Nord ces jours-ci", a aussi affirmé Richard Boucher.
Le porte-parole de la Maison Blanche a noté que "dans le passé, il y avait eu des faux départs" dans les tentatives de
rapprochement entre les deux Corées. "Nous espérons certainement qu'il parviendront à amplifier les succès de ces deux derniers
jours", a-t-il dit.
Il a rappelé que les Etats-Unis appuyaient déjà depuis longtemps l'établissement d'un dialogue direct entre les deux Corées pour
réduire la tension sur la péninsule coréenne.
M. Lockhart s'est refusé à dire si ce sommet avait été au-delà des attentes de Washington.
Interrogé sur la levée de certaines des sanctions économiques américaines contre la Corée du Nord, annoncée il y a neuf mois, M.
Lockhart a réaffirmé qu'elle interviendrait "très prochainement" mais qu'elle n'était pas liée aux résultats du sommet.
Il s'est par ailleurs refusé à démentir ou confirmer que le président Clinton se rendrait à Séoul après le sommet du G8 à Okinawa
(Japon) en juillet, et à spéculer sur les implications à terme d'un rapprochement entre les deux Corées sur la présence militaire
américaine dans la péninsule.
Washington a plus de 37.000 soldats stationnés dans la péninsule face à l'armée d'un million d'hommes de Pyongyang.
Les relations entre la Corée du Nord et les Etats-Unis sont très tendues depuis que l'armée américaine a combattu les forces
communistes dans la péninsule durant la guerre de Corée (1950-1953).
Les deux pays ont conclu en 1994 un accord en vertu duquel Pyongyang s'engage à geler son programme d'armes nucléaires en
échange de centrales nucléaires de production d'électricité fabriquées par les Etats-Unis et destinées à réduire la pénurie d'énergie
dans ce pays.

Des survivants de massacres perpétrés durant la Guerre de Corée témoignent pour la première fois au Pentagone (AP, 13/11/99) Quatre Sud-Coréens, survivants du massacre présumé de civils par des soldats américains
à No Gun Ri durant la Guerre de Corée, ont été entendus vendredi pour la première fois au Pentagone, où ils ont obtenu la promesse de l'armée américaine de poursuivre l'enquête. Les quatre survivants ont raconté leur histoire, accusant les soldats américains d'avoir pensé ``uniquement à l'efficacité de leur opération'' et d'avoir ignoré ``totalement les droits de l'homme''. Le sous-secrétaire adjoint à la Défense Charles Cragin et les enquêteurs de l'armée américain leur ont de leur côté exposé la façon
dont l'enquête, ouverte à la suite des révélations de l'agence Associated Press sur le massacre présumé de No Gun Ri, est
conduite. ``Les deux parties se sont accordées sur le fait que la communication est la clé de l'intégrité de l'enquête'', a fait savoir un communiqué de l'armée publié après cette rencontre. 

Visite de William Perry à Pyongyang du 25 au 28 mai 99
   WASHINGTON, 20 mars (AFP) - L'émissaire américain pour la Corée du Nord, William Perry, se rendra à Pyongyang pour rencontrer les dirigeants nord-coréens du 25 au 28 mai, a annonce jeudi le secrétaire d'Etat Madeleine Albright.   A l'aller et au retour, M. Perry fera escale au Japon et en Corée du Sud pour "consulter les dirigeants" de ces deux proches alliés des Etats-Unis, a précisé Mme Albright devant une commission spécialisée du Sénat.   M. Perry, un ancien secrétaire à la Défense, sera notamment accompagné de Wendy Sherman, conseiller special de Mme Albright.   Celle-ci a rappelé que le président Bill Clinton avait chargé William Perry de lui soumettre bientôt un rapport sur d'éventuels changements à apporter à la politique des Etats-Unis vis-à-vis du régime communiste de Corée du Nord.   Le ministre sud-coréen des Affaires étrangères Hoong Soon-Young avait annoncé lundi à Washington une prochaine visite de M. Perry en Corée du Nord, sans donner de dates.   M. Perry sera porteur d'un ensemble de propositions, avait precisé M.Hong en appelant Pyongyang "à saisir l'occasion" de cette visite pour entamer un rapprochement avec Washington.   "C'est un ensemble fait de bâtons et de carottes", avait dit M. Hong du rapport de M. Perry et du message dont il devrait être porteur à Pyongyang.   Les Etats-Unis avaient annoncé lundi une nouvelle aide alimentaire de  400.000 tonnes à la Corée du Nord, touchée par la famine.   Une équipe d'experts américains se trouve depuis mardi en Corée du Nord pour inspecter un site souterrain au nord de Pyongyang que Washington soupçonne d'abriter un programme d'armement nucléaire.

NORTH KOREA -- MEETING ON SUSPECT UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION (United States Information Service , 28/10/98) 
Ambassador Charles Kartman, U.S. Special Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks, will lead a U.S. delegation to Pyongyang November 16-18 to continue serious discussions on suspect underground construction in North Korea. The talks, which began in New York during high-level U.S.-DPRK bilateral meetings August 21 to September 5, are aimed at completely satisfying U.S. concerns regarding the suspect construction.

Joint Statement on North Korea Issues by The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and The Secretary of State of the United States of America 
The three Ministers confirmed the importance of maintaining the Agreed Framework signed between the United States and North Korea in October 1994 and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) as the most realistic and effective mechanisms for preventing North Korea from advancing its nuclear program," the statement reads. The three also urged North Korea "to implement fully the Agreed Framework including the continued freeze of nuclear activities under IAEA monitoring and to remove any doubts about its nuclear program." 

"United States Policy Toward North Korea": TESTIMONY BY CHARLES KARTMAN, SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE KOREAN PEACE PROCESS AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO KEDO BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (24/9/98) 

NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE TEST OVER JAPAN: A 'PROVOCATIVE' 'SHOT ACROSS THE BOW' (3/9/98) 
North Korea's test-firing this past Monday of a medium-range missile, part of which flew over the Japanese island of Honshu before plunging into the Pacific Ocean, evoked swift condemnation from media outlets in the region and beyond. The missile test, following just weeks after reports that North Korea had resumed construction of an underground facility near the Yongbyon nuclear plant and one of its submarines had 
infiltrated South Korean waters, prompted editorialists to agree with Seoul's pro-business Joong Ang-Ilbo's assessment that "rapprochement is not likely to come easily on the [Korean] peninsula.... The North seems much more interested in an offensive diplomacy than in enhancing peace and coexistence with the South by way of a dialogue." A release by North Korea's official KCNA news agency, while not directly acknowledging the missile launch, lashed out at Japan for "making a fuss" over the episode. "Japan's behavior is ridiculous," KCNA charged, adding: "Japan must necessarily pay for the 40-odd years of its occupation of Korea and murder of Koreans and plunder.... We warn Japan to...act with discretion and renounce its anachronistic hostile policy toward [North Korea] at once."(Foreign Media Reaction USIS)

US-NORTH KOREA TALKS WILL RESUME ON SEPTEMBER 3 
Talking to reporters on background September 2, the official, who did not wish to be identified, said that North Korea has yet to provide an explanation to the United States for its provocative test flight over Japan of its new missile, the Taepo Dong 1. 
The North Korean delegation had failed to attend the meetings set for September 2, claiming they had not received guidance from Pyongyang, the State Department official said. On August 31, North Korea test fired its new Taepo Dong 1 missile that has a range of more than 1500 kilometers. The missile flew over ,Honshu, Japan's main island and landed in the Pacific Island. 
Some intelligence officials have been quoted in the press as saying the Taepo Dong 1 brings North Korea closer to developing the capability to build a long-range intercontinental missile. 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has said the United States is "very displeased" with the North Korean missile test. But she said the United States continues to support the US-North Korean pact known as the Agreed Framework. 
"We have to keep in mind what it is that we have accomplished," she said in an interview conducted late September 1 on CNN's "Late Edition" program. 
"This Agreed Framework that we have negotiated with the North Koreans has, in fact, frozen the nuclear materials that would be available for nuclear weapons," the Secretary of State said. "We are concerned about  a number of things that are going on in North Korea. But to the best of our ability, they are still in compliance with this agreed framework." 
Under the Agreed Framework, North Korea agreed to dismantle its gas graphite nuclear reactor program, which produced weapons grade material. North Korea also agreed to engage in dialogue with South 
Korea, remain in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to meet obligations set by the International Atomic Energy Agency. 
In exchange, the United States spearheaded the establishment of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), an international consortium lead by the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the European Union. 
 The main purpose of KEDO is to finance the building of two light water reactors in the DPRK to meet North Korean energy needs. These reactors are considered safer in that they use fuel that produces significantly fewer byproducts that can be used for nuclear weapons. The reactors will be of South Korean design. 
The State Department official discounted the possibility that the KEDO light water reactor plan could be derailed by Japan's angry reaction to the North Korean missile test. Press reports say Japan has halted 
its food aid and suspended all charter flights to and from North Korea. 
"The Japanese have made a number of statements about what they're going to do in their bilateral relationship, but that's between Japan and the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea)," the State 
Department official said. 
The US official maintained that Japan's bilateral response does not impact KEDO. 
Japan, however, along with all the KEDO members, has decided to postpone plans to sign a burdensharing agreement to finance the costs of the light water reactor project for North Korea, the official said. 

Staffdel Kirk Final Report Mission to North Korea and China  (August 11-23, 1998) This report is a zipped WordPerfect 8.0 file.

OPIC 7/30 PRESS RELEASE ON REOPENED KOREA PROGRAMS (United States Information Service, 30 july 1998) 
 The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has reopened its programs in Korea, according to a July 30 OPIC press release. OPIC President and CEO George Munoz and South Korean Ambassador to the United States Dr. Lee Hong-koo signed a new bilateral agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea July 30. The signing was witnessed by Deputy Secretary to the U.S. Treasury Lawrence H. Summers and Korean Minister of State for Trade Han Duck-soo. 

NATIONAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS ARMISTICE DAY, 1998 (United States Information Service , 24 July 1998) 
The US Congress, by Public Law 104-19 (36 U.S.C. 169m), has designated July 27, 1998, as "National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day, President Clinton said July 24 as he issued the proclamation. Clinton observed that the fighting during the 1950-1953 Korean War "was brutal; the toll in injuries, lives lost, and those missing in 
action was heavy. But American forces, fighting side by side with South Koreans and our U.N. allies, halted communist aggression, preserved the Republic of Korea, and won a victory for democratic peoples everywhere. 

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Missing from Cold War aircraft shootdowns is 130 (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
MILITARY SEARCHES FOR MISSING FROM COLD WAR AND KOREAN WAR: The Pentagon says DoD and the four military services are expanding their intensive public outreach efforts to locate family members of Korean War "and Cold War servicemen who are unaccounted-for from those conflicts. 

President names Kartman envoy for Korean peace talk  (U.S.  Information Agency (USIA) 07/07/98 ) 
Kartman is a Career Member of the Foreign Service.President Clinton announced July 6 his intent to 
nominate Charles F. Kartman for a Rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks. 

U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS: LOOKING BEYOND MFN  (House Committe of International Relations 05/06/98)
It is a great pleasure to come to Brookings today to participate in your National Issues Forum on The United States and the Asia-Pacific. I know many of you have a lifetime of expertise on the countries within the Asia-Pacific region and U.S. policy. I am honored to be asked to address such a distinguished group. 
When I received Ambassador Armacost's kind invitation to speak today, I noted that your program would consist of two panel discussions:one panel focusing on economic issues such as APEC, China's accession to the WTO, and intellectual property rights; and the other panel focusing on security concerns resulting from the Hong Kong transition, China's leadership changes, and the situation in North Korea. Given that background, I thought it would be most useful for me to address a topic both your panels will have to discuss -- U.S.-China relations. 

CHINA EXPORT CONTROLS : "Testimony" of  William Reinsch, under secretary of commerce for export administration. (USIA, 28/4/98) 
"China poses a difficult problem for U.S. export controls today, and the integration of China into a stable world order is a paramount challenge for U.S. foreign policy..." 

UNITED STATES-HONG KONG POLICY ACT REPORT (USIA, 2/4/98)

U.S.-China Relations- Enter The 21st Century. Déclaration de l'Ambassadeur James R. Sasser (The Asia Society, 31/3/98) 

Chine-Etats-Unis : déclaration et conférence de presse communes des Présidents américain et chinois (Washington, 29/10/97) source USIA-Traduction MAE (voir Documents d'actualié Internationale n°1-1/1/98 consultable au CEDOCAR) 

 Le commandant de la VIIè flotte américaine à Jakarta (AFP, 8/4/99)
L'amiral Dennis Blair, commandant la flotte américaine dans le Pacifique, est arrivé mercredi à Jakarta pour une brève visite de quarante huit heures, a indiqué jeudi l'ambassade des Etats-Unis en Indonésie.   M. Stanley Roth, secrétaire d'Etat adjoint pour l'Asie de l'est et le Pacifique, est également attendu la semaine prochaine dans la capitale indonésienne, selon des sources concordantes.   Le porte-parole de l'ambassade américaine, M. Graig Stromme a indiqué ne pas être en mesure de confirmer cette visite mais a fait remarquer que M. Roth était un visiteur régulier de Jakarta.   Le secrétaire d'Etat adjoint, selon des informations sûres, devrait être porteur d'un message "au contenu très dur" lié à la dégradation de la situation au Timor oriental à la suite des activités des milices anti-indépendantistes organisées et armées par l'armée indonésienne.   La visite de l'amiral Blair qui assume son commandement depuis quelques mois seulement, est "une visite destinée à se présenter" aux
autorités indonésiennes, a déclaré M. Stromme en soulignant que l'amiral n'était "porteur d'aucun message".   "C'est une visite discrète", a encore dit le porte-parole ajoutant en réponse à une question qu'il n'était pas prévu que l'amiral rencontre la
presse.   Le commandant de la puissante flotte du Pacifique, dont l'emploi du temps et les entretiens n'ont pas été communiqués, doit quitter Jakarta dans le courant de la journée de jeudi.   La visite à Jakarta de M. William Cohen, secrétaire américain à la Défense, était annoncée depuis plusieurs semaines mais a du être remise en raison de la situation dans les Balkans, a-t-on appris de sources américaines.   C'est M. Roth qui se rend à sa place en Indonésie où il serait attendu mercredi prochain, selon ces sources.

Hearing on Indonesia: Countdown to the Elections,  March 18, 1999

Strategic Withdrawal (Far Eastern Economic Review, Week 20 August 1998) 
U.S. defence chief explains move to shelve exercises. Barely a week before the Jakarta riots in mid-May, the United States called off a routine training exercise between members of its elite special forces and their Indonesian counterparts, Kopassus.  Washington also put a hold on all other planned military activities in Indonesia until at least April  1999. 

TRANSCRIPT: COHEN 8/1 PRESS CONFERENCE IN JAKARTA (United States Information Service, 03 august1998) 
The United States is encouraged by Indonesia's efforts to make the transition to a democracy, according to Secretary of Defense William Cohen. 

Etats-Unis - Iran

INDYK UPDATES CONGRESS ON U.S. MIDEAST POLICY (United States Information Service, 29 july 1998) 
The United States is at a "new stage" in its efforts to achieve an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian authority on ideas aimed at restarting the final status negotiations, says Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Martin Indyk. Speaking before the House International Relations Committee July 29, Indyk said the "Israelis and Palestinians have now agreed to discuss directly Israeli refinements" to U.S. ideas." 
He said that while U.S. officials are in touch with both sides, it is essential for the two parties to "resolve these issues directly." He pledged continued U.S. support for the talks, and said the United States is ready to play a more direct role to help bring the "dragged-out negotiations to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible." 

USA-Inde-Pakistan:La Maison Blanche appelle à la retenue au Cachemire
   WASHINGTON, 27 mai 99 (AFP) - Les Etats-Unis ont appelé jeudi l'Inde et le Pakistan à la retenue au Cachemire, après une résurgence des tensions dans la région.   "Nous sommes préoccupés par la récente escalade dans les combats au
Cachemire et avons appelé les gouvernements d'Inde et du Pakistan à faire preuve de retenue", a déclaré un porte-parole de la Maison Blanche, Mike Hammer, interrogé par l'AFP.   L'Inde a reconnu avoir perdu deux avions au Cachemire jeudi, mais a
affirmé que seul l'un d'entre eux avait été abattu, au-dessus de la partie indienne de cette région divisée, par les forces pakistanaises.   L'armée de l'air pakistanaise a affirmé avoir abattu jeudi deux MiG indiens dans l'espace aérien pakistanais au Cachemire, tuant un pilote et capturant le second.   L'ambassadeur américain en Inde Richard Celeste s'est entretenu
personnellement mercredi avec le ministre indien de la Défense George Fernandes de la situation "et des discussions similaires ont eu lieu à Islamabad", a indiqué le porte-parole américain.   Washington souhaiterait que les deux pays, tous deux en possession de l'arme nucléaire, puissent résoudre leurs divergences par le dialogue comme ils se sont engagés à le faire lors du sommet de Lahore au Pakistan en février, a ajouté M. Hammer.   Ces incidents sont intervenus alors que New Delhi a lancé depuis mercredi une série d'attaques aériennes pour soutenir son armée de terre engagée dans une vaste opération de ratissage contre des guérilleros séparatistes musulmans, qu'elle accuse le Pakistan d'avoir infiltrés au Cachemire indien, dans la région de Kargil et Drass (nord).

Poursuite les 29-30 janvier des négociations nucléaires Inde-Etats-Unis (AFP, 20/1/99)
L'Inde et les Etats-Unis poursuivront les 29 et 30 janvier à New Delhi leurs négociations pour trouver un accommodement sur le nucléaire à la suite des essais atomiques indiens de mai 1998, a indiqué mercredi un porte-parole indien. Le secrétaire d'Etat adjoint américain Strobe Talbott doit avoir une huitième série de discussions avec M. Jaswant Singh, ministre indien des Affaires étrangères, avant de se rendre au Pakistan pour des pourparlers parallèles sur le nucléaire. A l'issue des dernières discussions, en novembre à Rome, MM. Talbott et Singh avaient fait état d'un climat constructif mais d'aucun rapprochement de leurs positions. Pour une normalisation avec l'Inde, ainsi qu'avec le Pakistan qui avait répliqué aux essais indiens par ses propres tests, les
Etats-Unis veulent que les deux pays rivaux signent le traité interdisant les essais (CTBT), cessent de produire des matériaux
fissiles, limitent le développement, déploiement, stockage et les tests de missiles, renforcent leurs contrôles de non-prolifération et
dialoguent entre eux. L'Inde a promis de signer le CTBT avant septembre 1999 et de renforcer ses contrôles de non-prolifération et a repris son dialogue avec le Pakistan. Mais, outre une levée des dernières sanctions américaines, elle entend avoir une dissuasion minimum crédible face au Pakistan et à la Chine, et recevoir des technologies sensibles qui lui sont pour l'instant interdites aux termes du régime de non-prolifération. Avant de signer le CTBT, l'Inde veut aussi s'assurer que tous les pays le ratifieront, ce qui n'est pour l'instant pas le cas que de la France et de la Grande-Bretagne parmi les cinq puissances nucléaires reconnues. New Delhi a d'autre part accepté de se joindre à des négociations internationales sur un traité prévoyant l'arrêt de la production de
matières fissiles nucléaires à usage militaire, mais a affirmé qu'il n'était pas question d'arrêter la production d'ici là. M. Talbott doit à New Delhi et Islamabad appeler les deux pays à faire preuve de retenue quant à des tests de missiles balistiques qui, selon des informations de presse, seraient prévus prochainement. L'Inde a des discussions parallèles avec la France, la Grande-Bretagne et le Japon notamment sur le nucléaire. Le principal conseiller du Premier ministre Atal Behari Vajpayee, Brajesh Mishra, a rencontré le président français Jacques Chirac mardi à Paris, la France faisant état de "progrès" vers une signature du CTBT par l'Inde, et devait s'entretenir mercredi à Londres avec le secrétaire au Foreign Office Robin Cook. 

Statement of  Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs 
International Security Affairs (United States Information Service , 1/10/1998) 
The overriding U.S. defense interest in negotiations with the Freely Associated States is continued use of the Kwajalein Missile Range and the facilities on Kwajalein Atoll, according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Kurt Campbell. 
In testimony before a joint committee hearing of the House Committee on Resources and the House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific October 1, Campbell said: "The requirements of our missile defense and space surveillance programs combined with the uniqueness of Kwajalein's location, infrastructure investment, and real world treaty restrictions, make this an issue of 
the highest priority." 
The deputy assistant secretary noted that the compact between the United States and the Freely Associated States obligates the United States to provide for the defense of the Freely Associated States "in perpetuity." 
"We are," Campbell stressed, "committed to provide security to these nations and their peoples 'as the United States and its citizens are defended.' This level of defense goes beyond any other U.S. treaty or 
alliance." 
Regardless of the negotiations, the United States retains the right to automatically extend the use of Kwajalein for an additional fifteen years to 2016. 

Le nouveau Premier ministre japonaisObuchi rencontre le président Bill Clinton sur fond de cacophonie financière à Tokyo (La Tribune, 22/9/98) 
Le Premier ministre japonais s'est efforcé, hier soir, de persuader le président américain du bon avancement de son plan d'assainissement financier. Mais à Tokyo les déclarations contradictoires du parti au pouvoir achèvent de semer la  confusion. 

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and their Japanese counterparts discussed the security environment in Northeast Asia and issues concerning the bilateral security relationship between the United States and Japan at the September 20 meeting of the Security Consultative Committee (SCC). 
According to the Joint U.S.-Japan Statement on the meeting, the SCC "reconfirmed both governments' perception that the August 31 missile launch by North Korea presents a serious threat to the security 
interests of our two countries and to the region." 
"The Ministers called on North Korea not to develop, test, launch or deploy missiles, or export missiles and related material and technology" and "affirmed their support for the Agreed Framework and KEDO (the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization) as the best means for preventing the danger of nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula," the statement reads. 
The ministers also discussed issues related to the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan, emphasized the importance of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), and reviewed the progress made in strengthening the 
bilateral security relationship since the issuance of the U.S.-Japan Joint Declaration on Security in April 1996, according to the statement. 

TEXT: AMB. FOLEY 8/19 LECTURE ON U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS  (United States Information Service , 19 August 1998) 
Washington -- The U.S.-Japan relationship is made up of an integrated set of mutually reinforcing interests, according to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Foley. 

Washington critique Tokyo pour son application de l'accord automobile (La Tribune, 13/08/98) 
L'ADMINISTRATION AMÉRICAINE N'EST PAS SATISFAITE de l'application de l'accord automobile de 1995 avec le Japon et exige de  nouvelles mesures pour ouvrir le marché nippon, selon un communiqué du représentant au commerce, Charlene Barshefsky. « Des excès  de réglementation et des obstacles à la concurrence bloquent les exportations américaines et entament les propres efforts japonais pour  restaurer prospérité et croissance », a-t-elle affirmé hier. « Nous avons fait quelques progrès dans l'application de l'accord, mais il est  primordial que le Japon fasse davantage pour ouvrir et déréguler son marché automobile », conclut le représentant au commerce. Les  ventes sur le marché nippon de véhicules fabriqués aux Etats-Unis étaient en baisse de 26 % sur les cinq premiers mois. 

TEXT: STATE 8/7 ON UPCOMING VISIT OF JAPAN FOREIGN MINISTER (United States Information Service , 07 August 1998) 
Washington -- Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will visit Washington on August 14 to meet with Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, the State Department said in an August 7 statement. 

CLINTON COMMENTS ON US ECONOMY, ASIAN CRISIS (United States Information Service , 31 July 1998) 
President Clinton has again urged Japan's new government to "move forward quickly and effectively to strengthen its financial system and stimulate and open its economy. "It is going to be very, very difficult for Asia to recover," he said, "unless its leading economy, Japan, leads the way." He made these remarks in a statement on economic issues July 31 just before his departure from the White House for a political engagement on Long Island. 

UNDER SECRETARY AARON 7/22 REMARKS ON TRADE DEFICITS  (United States Information Service , 22 July 1998) 
 Most of America's trading partners do not systematically violate their trade agreements with the United States, but Japan is an exception, according to David Aaron, under secretary of commerce for international trade. 

PAAL 7/15 REMARKS ON U.S.-JAPAN TRADE RELATIONS: Japan's economic crisis worsening region's problems (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
Washington -- Japan's economic problems are exacerbating the Asia-Pacific region's financial crisis, according to Douglas Paal, former director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council. 

DEPUTY USTR RICHARD FISHER ON U.S.-JAPAN TRADE: Japan must revitalize economy, fix financial system 
(United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
Washington -- The United States expects Japan to play the responsible role it can and should play in world trade and economics, according to Ambassador Richard Fisher, deputy United States trade representative. 

PRESTOWITZ 7/15 REMARKS ON U.S.-JAPAN TRADE RELATIONS: Japan must act now to restore confidence in economy (United States Information Service , 15 July 1998) 
Washington -- Japan must act now to restore domestic and global confidence in its economy, according to Clyde Prestowitz, president of the Economic Strategy Institute. 

"U.S.-Japan Relations 1998: A Status Report". Déclaration de l'Ambassadeur américain  Thomas Foley au Japon (Institute for International Policy Studies, Tokyo, 9/4/98) 

Japon-Etats-Unis : déclaration du Comité consultatif de sécurité américano-japonais relative à la révision des directives pour la coopération bilatérale en matière de défense (New York, 23/9/97) source USIA-Traduction MAE (voir Documents d'actualié Internationale n°1-1/1/98 consultable au CEDOCAR) 

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific: "Malaysia: Assessing the Mahathir Agenda" (June 16, 1999)

THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT
The United States is increasingly concerned by Malaysia's use of the Internal Security Act to restrict the rights of assembly, free speech, and open communication, the State Department said in a September 24 statement. 
"We believe that all Malaysians should be allowed to defend themselves in open court in expeditious fashion under the legal protections afforded by Malaysian law and the Malaysian constitution. These 
protections are not available under the Internal Security Act," the State Department said. 
"In particular, we are concerned by the continued detention of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a number of his associates under the ISA, and, more recently, by restrictions placed on the activities of Anwar's wife, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail," the State Department added. 

JOINT STATEMENT ON U.S.-MONGOLIAN RELATIONS (USIA,May 7, 1998) 
Secretary of State Albright paid an official visit to Mongolia on May 2, 1998 to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to closer cooperation with Mongolia and to highlight continuing U.S. support for Mongolia's democracy, according to a joint statement on U.S.-Mongolian relations released by the Department of State on May 7. 

"AMERICA'S RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BEYOND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY" Remarks by 
Ralph L. Boyce ,Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, November 8, 1999 

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE AT CONCLUSION OF AUSMIN TALKS (United States Information Service, 31 july 1998) 
The United States and Australia have "a commonality of interests and values and commitments," senior U.S. 
officials said in a July 31 press conference at the conclusion of the 1998 Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consulations. 

JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF 1998 AUSTRALIA-U.S. MINISTERIAL TALKS (United States Information Service, 31 july 1998) 
The 1998 Australia-United States Ministerial Consulations (AUSMIN) enabled the two countries to exchanges views and assessments on a wide array of issues and to consider ways to advance their common interest in global and regional peace and prosperity, according to the July 31 AUSMIN joint communique. 

ALBRIGHT/COHEN 7/30 INTERVIEW ON "LATELINE" PROGRAM (United States Information Service, 30 july 1998)
The United States and Australia have many interests and goals in common, senior administration officials said during a July 30 Australia Broadcasting Corporation "Lateline" program. "We have the same interests, which is basically a Pacific that has stable democracies within it, where there are open markets, where there is the possibility of trade that benefits all the parties involved," Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said. 

ALBRIGHT 7/30 ADDRESS AT AUSTRALASIA CENTRE (United States Information Service, 30 july 1998) 
The relationship between the United States and Australia is an example of cooperation built on shared values and interests, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. "On the map, we could hardly be further apart. But as defenders of freedom and advocates of the rule of law, we cannot be separated," Albright said in July 30 remarks to the AustralAsia Centre of the Asia Society in Sydney, Australia. 

BACKGROUND BRIEFING ON COHEN AUSTRALIA/ASIA TRIP  (United States Information Service, 28  july 1998) 
Secretary of Defense William Cohen will emphasize the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to U.S. security and the importance of the United States to the region's security during his July 27-August 4 trip to Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, according to a senior defense department official. 

ALBRIGHT TO VISIT AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND: Finance crisis, nuclear tests provide backdrop (United States Information Service, 10 july 1998) 
Washington -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will Sydney, Australia July 30-3l to participate in this year's Australia-U.S. Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks. 

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific: "South Asia: Challenges in U.S. Policy" (March 3, 1999)

AMB. SIMONS' REMARKS ON DEPARTURE OF AMERICANS FROM PAKISTAN (United States Information Service, 20 August 1998) 
 (Says all four posts in Pakistan will continue to operate) Islamabad -- "All four of our posts in Pakistan are going to continue to operate.  At a reduced level of services, but we are going to continue to be in all four cities," U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Thomas W. Simons Jr. said August 18 at the International Airport in Islamabad, where he went to see off the American diplomats, their families, and other American citizens who were departing under the State Department's ordered draw down of personnel.  At the airport, he met briefly with the Pakistani and international media. 

AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO PAKISTAN MILAM AT SENATE(United States Information Service, 23 july 1998) 
 William B. Milam, nominated by President Clinton to be the next U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, spoke at his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 16. He noted that his appointment, if approved by the full Senate, comes at a critical time after the nuclear tests on the subcontinent. 

ALBRIGHT 7/29 PRESS CONFERENCE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA (United States Information Service, 29 july 1998) 
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea -- The United States will provide $450,000 to support U.N. projects for reconstruction in Bougainville and plans to support training for the Papua New Guinea electoral commission "so that it can ensure free and fair election of a reconciliation Government in Bougainville," according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. 

TRANSCRIPT: SEC. COHEN 8/3 PRESS STAKEOUT AT MALACANAN PALACE (United States Information Service, 10 August 1998) 
Malacanan Palace, the Philippines -- Ratification of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines would benefit the Asia-Pacific region as well as both countries, according to Secretary of Defense William Cohen. 

ALBRIGHT 7/28 REMARKS WITH NGO LEADERS IN MANILA (United States Information Service, 29 july 1998) 
The empowerment of women benefits society overall, according to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. 
"It is our belief that if women are empowered, both in terms of political and economic abilities, that it is a great help for the evolution of democracy and civil society," Albright said in July 28 remarks during a meeting with women non-governmental organization (NGO) leaders.

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific: "Taiwan Relations Act at 20: U.S.-Taiwan Relations"(April 14, 1999)