*EPF415 03/14/2002
Assistant Secretary Kelly Outlines U.S. Policy Toward Asia-Pacific
(March 14 Foreign Press Center briefing) (660)

By Stephen La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly outlined U.S. policy toward the Asia-Pacific region in a March 14 briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, D.C.

One purpose of President Bush's recent visit to the region was to underscore his support for South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung's efforts to engage North Korea peacefully, according to Kelly.

President Bush supports this policy of peaceful engagement, Kelly said.

During his visit to South Korea, President Bush also wanted to show appreciation for a long-standing ally and the "deeply-rooted democracy" President Kim has helped to foster, according to Kelly.

President Bush also wanted to "explain personally" to President Kim his reference to the Pyongyang regime as part of an axis of evil in the State of the Union speech, the assistant secretary said.

During the Japan portion of his trip, the President sought to underscore U.S. support for the reform policies of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, according to Kelly. Kelly said he did not know what was going on with Japan's stock market, which has risen in recent days, but noted that Japan's economy -- the second largest in the world -- continues to be "plagued" by problems.

While Bush's party was in China, the Chinese Vice President was invited to visit the United States as a guest of U.S. Vice President Richard Cheney, Kelly said.

As China and the United States are both "big countries" with interests around the world and share a "huge trading relationship," he said, there is always the need for the top leaders of the two nations to "get to know each other" so as to better discuss problems "when they arise."

Kelly stressed that U.S. policy concerning Taiwan has not changed. The United States has no intention of being a mediator between Taipei and Beijing, he said.

At the same time, Kelly said, the United States would not seek to pressure either party to enter talks.

The U.S. supports the one-China policy, with peaceful resolution of the issue, as required by the Taiwan Relations Act and the three communiqu�� between the U.S. and Chinese governments, Kelly said.

Responding to reporters' questions about North Korean asylum seekers at the Spanish embassy in Beijing, Kelly said the asylum issue was one to be settled by Spain and China. Kelly added that the issue of North Koreans seeking to flee the Pyongyang regime is not a situation to which anyone can give a "simple answer."

He acknowledged that the Beijing regime is "reluctant" to give refugee status to North Koreans fleeing that country. Kelly added that he did not know how many people would be left in North Korea if China did start giving refugee status to every North Korean crossing over into China who requested it.

On the issue of North Korean refugees, Kelly suggested, the South Korean government probably is in a better position to talk with Beijing to resolve the matter than the United States.

Kelly added that reports of North Korean kidnapping of Japanese citizens are viewed "very seriously" by the United States.

In response to a question on Burma, Kelly said the United States looked forward to the visit to that country next week by the United Nations special envoy and to the possibility that the visit might lead to the ending of house arrest for National League for Democracy General Secretary and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

On support in the war on terrorism, Kelly said the United States is very pleased with the support it has received from the Malaysian government.

Similarly, the United States considers Tokyo's support "very valuable," Kelly said, adding the United States would be in "close consultation" with Japan and other allies on the next steps in the campaign against terrorism.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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