North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has the world guessing on his movements during a highly secretive trip to China, but analysts say the economic and geopolitical goals of his visit are clear.
Kim is in China to determine whether the US may consider altering its hardline policies against Pyongyang, especially in the six-party nuclear forum and to look at potential economic reforms for his starving nation, they said.
Stephen Noerper, a Northeast Asia expert from the University of New York, said Kim was also likely making a statement that he had a friend in the Chinese leadership, one of North Korea's few international allies.
This was especially important for North Korea as it struggled against the US in the six-party talks aimed at having Pyongyang disband its nuclear program. The talks also include China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.
"From a geopolitical perspective, it shows they [North Korea] have something of a special relationship with China," Noerper said.
"During a period of very difficult negotiations with the US [in the six-party forum], it shows that there are those who are willing to talk and engage."
While the Chinese government continues its policy of refusing to confirm Kim's visit, various media reports across Asia have suggested he has either met, or will meet, with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) to discuss nuclear issues.
The six-party talks, which are hosted by China, reached a landmark agreement in September last year to peacefully scrap all of Pyongyang's nuclear programs.
But the negotiations have since broken down, with North Korea refusing to participate in further rounds until the US lifts financial sanctions over money laundering accusations.
consultations
Cui Yingjiu (崔英九), a retired policy expert at the North Korea Cultural Research Institute of Beijing University, said that Kim would want to consult with Chinese leaders on US policies in relation to the six-party talks.
"Kim is not convinced that the US has a new non-hostile policy on North Korea," Cui said.
While toeing the government line that Kim's presence in China had not been confirmed, Cui said Kim would be trying to assess from the Chinese whether or not the US may be willing to budge on the sanctions issue.
"Kim won't want to re-engage in the talks unless he is certain that the US and Japan will want to move forward in these areas and make progress in the talks," he said.
Economic reform separate from the nuclear issue would also be high on his agenda, as evidenced by his time spent in the southern province of Guangdong, one of the nation's most prosperous regions, Cui and Noerper said.
"In Guangzhou, he would take a look at an area of China that appears to be making the most progress in terms of the economy," Noerper said.
"He seems to be continuing to want to take a look at the Chinese system, not for [political] reforms, but for what structural changes are necessary by way of economic modernization."
Indeed, Kim's movements on his current trip, which reportedly began on Tuesday last week when he crossed from North Korea on his own train, appear to follow a similar pattern to his three previous visits to China.
Kim made a point on his earlier trips, the last of which was in April 2004, of visiting China's economic hub of Shanghai, as well as other regions of economic development.
Noerper said the mystery surrounding Kim's visit was typical of the famously reclusive leader's tactics in ensuring the world never knew exactly where he stood on any position.
"Keeping everyone guessing, that's a major part of his strategy," Noerper said.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.