International Relations

International Relations China • Current Issues • WTO

Current Issues • China remains the political powerhouse of the region • China has made many strides towards a market economy and improved international relations • Many issues still exist • Undervalued Yuan • Labor practices • Trade imbalance

World Trade Organization Membership • Import and export policies • Tariff reductions • Antidumping and safeguards • Standards and inspection • Investment-related measures • Banking and Insurance • Local government developments • Pushing the requirements to the local level • Rule of law • Intellectual property rights: Pharmaceuticals, software

International Relations China Taiwan • History • Roots of Conflict • Call for Independence • Current Conflict

China – Taiwan International Relations • The two sides have been ruled separately since the Communists won a civil war and took over China in 1949 • Unification is a sacred goal for Chinese leaders. • Taiwanese consider Beijing's rulers to be repressive and have been extremely reluctant to join the mainland • Since the two sides split in 1949, their leaders have never met

Roots of Conflict • 1949 Communists won a civil war and took over China • Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek withdrew to Taiwan, with two million refugees, vowing the reclaim the mainland. • The conflict reached such a point that Chiang imposed a "perpetual" martial law over the island for the next 38 years. • 1950 Outbreak of the Korean War • U.S. President Harry S. Truman ordered the 7th Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to prevent possible Chinese attack on the island. • The U.S. considered Taiwan a buffer against communist expansion in Asia and provided the island money and military supplies.

Call for Independence • During the 1960s some native Taiwanese, upset by the rule of the mainland minority, began to call for independence from China. • Focus shifted from reclaiming the mainland to developing the island • 1971 - the United Nations expelled Taipei's nationalist government in favor of Beijing's. • Eight years later, the United States formally recognized the People's Republic of China, severing official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, now under the rule of Chiang's son, Chiang Ching-kuo. • America accepted Beijing's "one China" mandate and abandoned its defense pact with the island.

Call for Independence • 1990 - The Taiwanese National Assembly elected Chiang Ching-kuo to a full six-year term • 1996 - Tensions in the Taiwan Straits reached a new level when China test fired missiles in March. • Many in Taiwan said the mainland was trying to influence voting in the election by the show of force. • The U.S. responded by sending warships to the straits, in what would become the largest show of naval force since the Vietnam War. • The elections went forward as planned and Lee decisively won a second term. • 1997 - As Britain prepared to return control of Hong Kong to China, Taiwan conducted live military exercises in the Straits. • The United States began shipping fighter jets to Taiwan that year

Current Conflict • 2000 election – Separation at heart of Taiwanese election • Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji threatened "bloodshed" if the Taiwanese voters "acted on impulse." • Despite threats, Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected president • Chen has pushed for a sovereign "Republic of Taiwan," but said he will not declare independence unless Taiwan comes under military attack • 2005 – China passes “anti-separation” law • Formalizes principles of "peaceful unification" and "one country, two systems," in strict adherence to the so-called "one China" principle. • Taiwanese publicly denounce law • President - “Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to the 23 million people of Taiwan; and only the 23 million people of Taiwan may decide to change the future of Taiwan” • Hundreds of thousands Taiwanese marched on the capital in Taipei in protest of the law

Current Conflict Video describing the current conflict

International Relations China Hong Kong

China – Hong Kong International Relations • Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year • Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997 • China has promised that, Hong Kong will remain under its "one country, two systems" formula for at least 50 years

International Relations Japan

History • World War I resulted in victory and financial prosperity for Japan • World War II resulted in a devastating situation as Japan lost the war and then found itself in a deeply troubled economic situation • In 1951 Japan signed the Treaty of Peace and began down a track of becoming a peaceful nation • Japan is considered a major economic power in the world today and has diplomatic relations with nearly all independent nations and is an active member of the United Nations

International Relations Japan China

Japan – China International Relations • There has been a turbulent history between these two nations • Japan defeated China in a war in 1894 and gained control over Southern Manchuria • In 1931 Japan invaded China on a quest to conquer more territory. This invasion lasted 14 years until 1945. Certain periods of the invasion were characterized with brutal torturing and murders against the Chinese which has been a great source of hostility between the countries. History

Japan – China International Relations • Signed a peace and friendship treaty in 1978 • China & Japan have substantial economic ties • Two countries harbor bad feelings as a result of • World War II History • Territorial Disputes • 11/04 Incursion of a Chinese nuclear submarine • China has great resentment over Japan’s military invasion during the 1930’s & 40’s • China is angered by annual visits of the Japanese Prime Minister to a shrine that honors Japan’s war criminals which has resulted in virtually a stop between mutual visits by the two countries leaders since 2001 • China is also frustrated by Japan’s interference in China’s relations with Taiwan

International Relations North Korea South Korea • History • Nuclear Tension • Human Rights

History • 1910 – 1945 Japanese colonial over Korea • Efforts to eliminate Korean language and culture • Korea divided following WWII • North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) under Soviet Union trusteeship • South Korea (Republic of Korea) under US trusteeship • June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea • 3 year conflict involving US, China and 16 member coalition • Creation of Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) • Reunification efforts in ‘70s and ’80s • Bombing of South Korean commercial aircraft

Nuclear Tensions • 1991: both North and South Korea signed The Basic Agreement and Joint Declaration on denuclearization • 1994: US and North Korea signed Agreed Framework, outlining nuclear weapons restrictions • 2002: Discovery of North Korean uranium enrichment program for nuclear weapons • North Korean explanation: provide itself with a deterrent force in the face of US threats and the US’s “hostile policy”

Nuclear Tensions • 2003 – 2004: Series of multilateral talks • Six party talks involving US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia • Goal: reach settlement through diplomatic means • Since June 2004, North Korea has refused to continue talks • China’s role • Historical ally and provider of food and energy aid to North Korea • Wants to avoid a North Korean collapse, which would result in refugees “spilling across the border” • BBC news clip (March 19, 2005) • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4363397.stm#

Human Rights Issues • North Korea considered to have the worst human right record ever • Satellite photos how prison camps • 150,000 – 200,000 political prisoners • China response • UN 1951 convention on refugees and 1967 protocol • Government claims refugees are “economic migrants” • Refugees returned where they face torture and imprisonment • US response • October 2004 President Bush signed North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (NKHRA)

International Relations