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US diplomat in Beijing for nuclear talks

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered a top Asia diplomat to stay in China yesterday to look at fresh ways of unblocking the stalled effort to get North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.

Rice instructed US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill to remain in Beijing to study with Chinese officials new ideas to move the process ahead, instead of accompanying her to Japan yesterday.

"He's continuing the discussions that we had with the Chinese ... on how to make progress in the six-party talks, how to get to a place where everyone is executing the obligations that they have undertaken," she told reporters in Tokyo. "We were having good discussions and it seemed like a good idea for Chris to stay behind and continue those discussions."

Rice replied with a flat and firm "no" when asked if she would elaborate.

Hill had planned to travel with Rice on all three legs of her Asian tour. She has visited South Korea in addition to China and Japan.

Rice also expressed hope that the recent arrest of a US Marine on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa would not damage Washington's relations with Tokyo.

The Okinawa arrest and a series of other damaging criminal accusations against some of the 50,000 US troops based in Japan have stirred anger at the US military presence, which critics blame for crime, noise and pollution.

"We certainly hope that there will not be lasting effects. It's a long-standing and strong alliance," she said. "Our concern right now is to see that justice is done, to get to the bottom of it and our concern is for the girl and her family."

Officials have demanded further steps by US forces to control their troops. The Americans last week restricted thousands of military personnel and their families indefinitely to bases, homes and work places, and pledged to review anti-sexual assault guidelines and training programs.

The North Korea issue has dominated Rice's trip. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that Hill was working on proposals put forward on Tuesday by Rice and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) to jump-start the denuclearization talks.

Hill does not plan to meet directly with North Korean officials during his extended stay in Beijing, where he will remain for at least another day, McCormack said.

On Tuesday, Rice won assurances from China that it would use its influence on North Korea to help with the denuclearization process.

In China, Rice reiterated Washington's demand that Pyongyang provide a "complete and full declaration" of its nuclear programs. North Korea says it has already provided such a list.
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