In this issue:

Malaysia: Bush War Violates International Law

Philippines Cardinal Denounces Bush/Blair War as Illegal, Immoral

China Elects New President, Prime Minister in Tumultuous Times

China Played Central Role in Diplomacy To Stop War

"Lock and Load The New World Order" Says New Straits Times

Indonesia Muslims Plan Protests Against Iraq War, Threaten To Drive Out U.S. Diplomats

U.S. Establishment Demands Bush Change Failed Policy, End Korean War

Japan's Koizumi Climbs Aboard Bush's Descent into Hell

U.S. 'Better Positioned' in Pacific To Deter North Korea

From Volume 2, Issue Number 12 of Electronic Intelligence Weekly, Published Mar. 24, 2003
Asia News Digest

Malaysia: Bush War Violates International Law

Acting Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi released a scathing attack on the Bush war drive on March 19, reported the Arab News from Kuala Lampur. With Dr. Mahathir in Brazil as part of a two-month leave, his probable successor, Vice PM Adbullah, said: "The unilateral use of force, undertaken without the support and authorization of the UN Security Council and not in self-defense against any armed attack, is clearly in violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter." He continued that "unilateral military action aimed at effecting regime change is also an illegal act of aggression, constituting an invasion of a sovereign state." As current head of the Non-Aligned Movement, Malaysia "will be consulting member countries of NAM on the appropriate course of action." He also said the invasion will "set back the common efforts in the campaign against terrorism," and "betrays selectivity on the part of the U.S. and its allies in enforcing compliance with UNSC resolutions, particularly in light of non-compliance by Israel."

Philippines Cardinal Denounces Bush/Blair War as Illegal, Immoral

"Without global support in the United Nations," wrote Jaime Cardinal Sin of the Philippines, "and considering the unforeseen consequences that may be caused to the Iraqi people and to the world, this war is deemed illegal under the charter of the United Nations and immoral under Christian principles. The U.S. and Great Britain's united move toward a so-called preventive war does not fall within the parameters raised by the moral principles of a just war. As the Charter of the United Nations Organization and the international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after operations," he said.

The statement appeared in a pastoral letter issued March 12 by the Philippines' senior Roman Catholic leader. Cardinal Sin, who played a leading role in the "people's power" military coup which placed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power, denounced a U.S./British attack on Iraq as illegal and immoral, despite President Arroyo's support for that war.

China Elects New President, Prime Minister in Tumultuous Times

In the midst of an extremely tumultuous international situation, China held an orderly election of the new "Fourth Generation" of leaders. On March 15, Vice-President Hu Jintao was elected President of the most populous nation in the world—1.3 billion people—by the National People's Congress, in its annual session in Beijing. Hu was also elected Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party, in the first important phase of this leadership transition, last November.

Vice Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was elected the new Prime Minister, to replace outgoing Zhu Rongji. Wen comes from a very poor background, and has been especially active in dealing with the vast rural sector of China—about 800 million people. Zeng Qinghong was elected Vice President; and Wu Bangguo replaced Li Peng as the Chairman of the National Peoples Congress.

Outgoing President Jiang Zemin, who has served two five-year terms, was re-elected as chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Peoples Republic. His deputy will be Hu Jintao.

On March 13, a new leadership was also elected for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the most important non-Communist Party institution in China. It was founded in its present form in 1949, and its history goes back to the 1930s. Jia Qinglin was elected chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

China Played Central Role in Diplomacy To Stop War

The new government of China was and is right in the thick of the diplomacy to try to stop the war in Iraq. March 18, new Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke to both French President Chirac and Russian President Putin on the telephone. All three said they share the same stance on the Iraq crisis, and would continue cooperation to try and safeguard the peace.

Both Presidents congratulated Hu Jintao on his new office.

With Putin, Hu discussed the Sino-Russian bilateral strategic partnership, and Hu said that China would contribute to regional stability.

With Chirac, he discussed upholding the UN Security Council. Chirac said that France wants to upgrade its cooperation with China, which has been making remarkable progress. Hu said that both countries were big powers, with significant world impact.

China's new Prime Minister Wen Jiaboa also called for peaceful settlement of the Iraq crisis.

The new Foreign Minister, Li Zhanoxing, also spoke to Russia's Igor Ivanov, as well as America's Colin Powell and Britain's Jack Straw by telephone. Li was formerly Chinese ambassador to both the U.S. and the United Nations.

Li told both Washington and London that the common wish of the international community is for peace.

"Lock and Load The New World Order" Says New Straits Times

In an editorial titled "Lock and Load the New World Order," Malaysia's New Straits Times on March 19 hit the "tragic failure of civilization." The editorial began: "The mocking, almost lampoonish contempt of the United States' final ultimatum to Iraq—that President Saddam Hussein and sons leave town by sundown tomorrow or be bombed out—is the last nail in the coffin of the notion that there could have been any other resolution to this ghastly farce of a conflict. The first major world crisis of the 21st century has been a triumph of naked military might over diplomacy and reason. This has been a tragic failure of civilization. The febrile militarism of the past century has reached out to infect this one, cursing the world with conflict eternal."

Pointing out that nearly every nation could be on the U.S. target list, the editorial added: "In the mother of all ironies, the military subjugation of Iraq against the wishes of the world will strip the United States of every last shred of the moral authority it seeks so mightily to gain. The world is being re-drawn. Much of Europe is realigned behind France and Germany, who now as a consequence jointly wield a geopolitical clout greater than justified by the sum of their domestic parts. Spain has made its suitably Quixotic choice, while the British and Australian governments' support of the U.S. is more durable than those governments themselves, judging by the public opprobrium and internal revolts both are facing."

Indonesia Muslims Plan Protests Against Iraq War, Threaten To Drive Out U.S. Diplomats

According to Agence France Presse March 19, Indonesian Muslims are planning protests against the Iraq war:

*Syafii Ma'arif, head of the 35-million-plus Muhammadiyah, responded to Bush's speech: "Bush needs to see a psychiatrist, because his mindset is no longer normal. It is a pity to see a superpower country having a leader like him."

*The Anshor Youth movement of the 40-million-plus Nahdlatul Ulama plans to launch a national boycott of U.S. products and threatened to demand the expulsion of U.S. diplomats and government representatives, and those of U.S.-allied countries.

The Anshor Youth statement warned that if the diplomats did not leave voluntarily within 48 hours from the start of any attack, "There will be the possibility of a forced expulsion by the people, and should war break out, Anshor will try to close down all U.S. companies operating in Indonesia." An Anshor spokesman said: "This decision did not come from Anshor itself, but following intensive discussions with other youth and religious groups and leaders. Washington should realize that these anti-war sentiments are not just small ripples that it can ignore. You go and make war and you will see what you will reap."

U.S. Establishment Demands Bush Change Failed Policy, End Korean War

The "Task Force on U.S. Korea Policy" chaired by CFR North Korea hand Selig Harrison, in a report March 3, demanded the Administration's failed Korea policy be changed, in favor of a non-aggression pact—and a much-needed peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War. "North Korea has a nuclear program because it fears a preemptive strike" by the U.S., Harrison told National Public Radio March 16. "They hear President Bush tell Bob Woodward, 'I loathe Kim Jong-il and we want to topple him,' and of course they want to have a deterrent." Harrison also pointed out that even in his report, Brigadier Gen. James Grant in the dissenting statements called for a U.S. preemptive strike to be "left as an open possibility."

The report, "Turning Point in Korea" was produced by a bipartisan panel of most of the past four U.S. administrations' Korea experts, including Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; two former U.S. ambassadors to South Korea, Donald Gregg and James Laney; Clinton Ambassador Robert L. Gallucci, who negotiated the 1994 Agreed Framework with North Korea; Selig S. Harrison; and the directors of research institutes specializing in Korea at ten leading U.S. universities.

The proposal calls for bilateral negotiations, to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program in return for U.S. security assurances, economic assistance, and normalized relations. North Korea must commit not to reprocess its fuel rods at Yongbyon into plutonium, and renew their moratorium on missile testing and end the development of long-range missiles. Longer term, it calls for reducing the U.S. military profile in Korea, and signing a peace treaty formally ending the Korean War.

Japan's Koizumi Climbs Aboard Bush's Descent into Hell

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi endorsed the Iraq war as his Cabinet and the Japanese people protested. Koizumi expressed strong support March 18 for Bush's ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "It goes against the national interest to break the trust between Japan and the U.S., which the citizens have built up for more than 50 years since World War II," said Koizumi.

Koizumi also stated that he had to take into consideration the "threats from North Korea," and thus be firm against Iraq.

Koizumi's public approval rating sank to a record low due to strong opposition to an attack on Iraq, coupled with his 100% failure to stop the bleeding of Japan's economy. A Kyodo News poll says the premier's support rate has plunged to a record 41%, with 60% saying the government should not back an attack on Iraq. Another Kyodo News survey also showed Koizumi is not receiving support for his stance from fellow lawmakers, as more than two-thirds of Japanese parliamentarians surveyed do not support the use of force to disarm Iraq. Members of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation demonstrated in an emergency meeting to oppose the war at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo just after Koizumi's statement.

Koizumi's two coalition partners, the New Komeito Party and the Democratic Party, are also lukewarm on the idea, as both voiced concern at a Cabinet meeting after Koizumi's statement. The New Komeito had opposed the war entirely but was overruled.

U.S. 'Better Positioned' in Pacific To Deter North Korea

Admiral Thomas Fargo, head of U.S. forces in the Pacific, and General Leon LaPorte, commander of forces in Korea, told Senate hearings March 13 that the U.S. is "better positioned today in the western Pacific than a year ago," in Fargo's words, as significant new U.S. forces move into the area. According to AFP and Yonhap, they announced resumption of U.S. airborne surveillance off North Korea less than two weeks after North Korean fighters intercepted an American U-2 plane over international waters in the Sea of Japan. Fargo said the U-2 planes may now have fighter escorts.

Fargo announced that additional troops and aircraft were flowing into South Korea as part of annual joint war games, which included a simulated amphibious assault on a beachhead on the east coast of the peninsula by hundreds of thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has been deployed from the states and will dock in Pusan. Six U.S. F-117 stealth fighter jets have deployed to South Korea for the first time, following arrival of 24 long-range bombers on Guam.

North Korea on March 12 referred to the maneuvers as "a preparation for an invasion."

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