    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 8, 2005]
    [Pages 1674-1681]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Foreign Print Journalists
    November 8, 2005

        The President. First I'm going to make just kind of some general
    remarks, and then will be glad to answer some questions for a while.
        First, I'm really looking forward to my trip. I'll be having
    meetings with the leaders of Japan,
    China, South Korea, and
    Mongolia, and then, of course, will
    attend the APEC meeting as well as meeting with ASEAN countries. So this
    is a chance for me to continue to talk about the war on terror, the need
    for all of us to work to spread freedom.
        I go representing the people of this country, obviously. I go to
    represent the workers, as I remind our partners in the Far East that
    trade must be not only free but fair. I go to represent the business
    people, in reminding people that there must be a strong focus on
    intellectual property rights throughout the world. I go to represent
    people who believe that we ought to be working together, like I believe,
    at the WTO, the Doha round, to advance the round, to see if we can't--I
    spent time doing that my recent trip in Latin America; I will continue
    that message of working toward a successful Doha round.

        And so this will be a good opportunity to explain to our partners
    that a successful round in Doha will be good for our respective
    countries, our workers, our farmers, our business people. But it will
    also help us work together to alleviate poverty. So I've been really
    looking forward to the trip.

        One other aspect of the trip that is important to me, and I know--
    we'll continue our dialog on avian flu, a potential pandemic, and how we
    can work together to detect and keep the folks informed about the
    possible outbreak of avian flu, how to isolate the flu--the virus, if
    it's detected, and what we can do together. This will be an important
    way to continue to advance this issue. I've spoken to the President of

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    China about this issue, for example, and I'm going
    to bring it up again.
        We've got a lot of issues on the table, and so this is an--this will
    be a chance to continue to advance those issues. Relations are strong in
    the Far East. U.S. relations with Japan and South Korea and China and
    Mongolia are excellent. We don't always agree on every issue, but they
    are very strong. And this is a chance to continue to advance those
    relationships.
        And so with that, we'll start with you, Mr. Nishimura.

    Japan-U.S. Relations

        Yoichi Nishimura. Thank you, sir, Mr. President. The United States
    and Japan recently signed a document on the transformation of U.S.-Japan
    alliance, and the realignment of U.S. and Japanese forces in Japan. But
    there is a strong local opposition to some of these plans. For example,
    the local government in Okinawa has called this relocation of Futenma
    Marine Air Corps--Air Station unacceptable. Since these plans for
    relocation have implication for a broader transformation plan of your
    country, how will you overcome this local, strong opposition to the
    implementation of the agreement, and more generally, what would you like
    to achieve in the Asia-Pacific region through the strengthening of the
    U.S.-Japan alliance?
        The President. The fact that we reached an agreement on troop
    realignment shows the maturity of our relationship. As you know, the
    agreement that has been reached was done so in good faith between the
    U.S. Government and the Japanese Government. It's an agreement that was
    not easy to bring to conclusion, but yet, nevertheless, because our
    relationship is strong and vital, we're able to do so.
        In a democracy, it's hard--first of all, it's hard to satisfy all
    the people all the time. And so--I'm aware that there is a discontent
    with the agreement expressed by the folks--some of the folks on Okinawa
    toward the Government--the Japanese Government that negotiated the deal.
    My attitude is and my message to the good people in Okinawa is: This is
    a good-faith effort. We tried to reach an accord that accommodated a lot
    of interests. And it's a positive development.
        Secondly, the relationship--it shows the--how strong we are, as an
    alliance, as a friendship. This has been a difficult issue, and in that
    it got resolved, it should be a sign to people on both sides of this
    issue that there is a cordial, frank, relationship that was able to deal
    with this sensitive subject.
        U.S.-Japan relations are important for our respective countries.
    We're trading partners; we're partners in peace. And I want to
    congratulate and thank the people of Japan for helping the people of
    Iraq establish a democracy. We worked in strong collaboration on a
    variety of issues, whether it be helping Afghanistan or whether it be to
    tackle disease around the world.
        So this is a healthy relationship, and it's good for peace, and it's
    good for prosperity of our peoples.
        Mr. Heo.

    South Korea-U.S. Relations

        Yongbom Heo. Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to also ask about the
    relationship between United States and South Korea. Do you have any
    specific plans for the strengthening of the alliance, and to improve the
    relationship between the United States and South Korea? In that context,
    what do you also think of the growing anti-American sentiments in South
    Korea?
        The President. Well, first of all, the trip will help strengthen the
    alliance. Any time I can sit down with a leader and discuss common
    opportunities and common problems, that strengthens the relationship.
    Secondly, we have shown the people in South Korea that we're able to,
    again, deal with the complex issue of military bases in a way that is
    thoughtful and sensitive.
        As you know, we're realigning our forces and realigning our bases.
    The Government

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    is a duly elected Government of the people. It tends to reflect the
    will--they reflect the will of the people and this relationship, and the
    realigning of the forces reflects the will of the people. And it's being
    done in a respectful way. That should strengthen the relationship.
        As well, I want to congratulate the Government and thank the
    Government of South Korea for the support in democracy in Iraq. People
    there--the Government there has helped the people in Iraq see a way
    forward by providing security forces there. I appreciate that very much.
        Ours is a very important relationship, and it is one that--one that
    is able to accomplish important things, such as working together to make
    sure that we have fair trade. And I'll bring that up, of course, with
    the President. We don't have a free trade agreement yet with South
    Korea, but nevertheless, we've got a lot of trade with South Korea, and
    we want it to be mutually beneficial. And the more beneficial trade is
    between our countries, the deeper our ties become.
        I don't study public opinion polls in South Korea, so I don't know
    the basis for the last part of your question. But I mean, I made some
    difficult decisions, and I understand not everybody agrees with them.
    But one of the things I hope people do agree with in South Korea is that
    the United States--they've got a strong friend in the United States.
    We've been a friend for a long period of time, and we'll remain a
    friend.
        Mr. Wang.

    China-U.S. Relations

        Faen Wang. Thank you, Mr. President. You are going to visit China
    for a third time since 2001. As we know, the relationship between two
    countries have made considerable headway since you took office. Now it's
    your second term in office. How do you assess the relations between
    China and the United States at this moment? And how do you anticipate
    relations in the coming years?
        The President. I would say my personal relationship with President
    Hu is very good. I would say relations between the
    United States is mixed--or between China and the United States is mixed.
    On the one hand, we have got increasing trade and dialog and
    cooperation. On the other hand, there is still work to be done on
    intellectual property rights, for example, or currency or market access.
        And so ours is a complex and important relationship. And I look
    forward to visiting once again with the President
    and talking to him about these very vital issues. I was very pleased the
    last time we met in New York that he openly stated that we need--that
    China will work hard on having intellectual property rights. And this is
    not just an issue between the United States and China. It's really an
    issue that when China cracks down and enforces intellectual property
    rights laws, that it will be good for China's standing in the world.
    People really don't want to do business in a country if they think their
    products is going to be--if the patents will be copied.
        And so I appreciate the President's strong
    statement on intellectual property rights, and it will be a chance to
    continue to talk about intellectual property rights.
        I appreciate the Government's position on currency as they begin--
    the beginnings of a market-based currency. And that was a strong step
    forward. I will remind him that this Government
    believes they should continue to advance toward market-based evaluation
    of their currency, for the sake of the world, not just for the sake of
    bilateral relations.
        There's a--I want to tell him that there's a--
    that we--again, what we've discussed in the past, that there's--the
    trade balance between China and the United States is bothersome to
    people here and that we've got to address the trade balance. And one way
    to do so is for there to be market access

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    for U.S. products, continued market access for U.S. products.
        So we've got an important relationship, and it's a good
    relationship. But it's one in which I will continue to bring the--our
    concerns to the Chinese Government.
        Another round.

    China-Japan-Korea Relations

        Mr. Nishimura. Okay, Mr. President, thank you. It seems the
    relationship between Japan and China is currently at an all-time low. We
    have heard criticism, concern voiced by China about Prime Minister
    Koizumi's recent visit to Yasukuni Shrine. This is, Mr. President,
    historically, a sensitive issue between the two countries. As poor
    relations between Japan and China have a significant impact on U.S.
    national interests in Asia, I suppose, what can the United States do to
    address the worsening relationship between the two countries--I mean,
    Japan and China--and how would you like to rebuild U.S., Japan, and
    China relations as a part of your comprehensive diplomacy towards Asia?
        The President. What I can do is to urge the leaders of not only
    China and Japan to dialog and to try to get the past behind them as we
    move forward but also to do the same with the South Korean leader. I think the issue that you described goes beyond
    just Japanese-Chinese relationships; it's probably Japanese-South Korean
    relationships as well. And my point to not only the Prime Minister of
    Japan but to the respective Presidents is
    that, look, I understand that there is great tension as a result of some
    events that took place in the past. But the United States and China--I
    mean, the United States and Japan at one time were sworn enemies. And
    now here we are sitting down as friends. In other words, it's possible
    to forget the past. It's difficult, but it is possible.
        So I think a useful role for me will be to paint a--talk about the
    future and talk about how optimistic the future can be, particularly as
    nations are able to work out past differences and focus on what's--and
    focus on the future. No question that there's tension. On the other
    hand, if you look at capital flows between Japan and China, there is a
    significant amount of investment taking place, which indicates to me
    that there is a possibility for the relations to improve over time. In
    other words, not all aspects of the relationship is negative.
        Mr. Heo.

    North Korea

        Mr. Heo. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. You probably were going to ask the same question,
    weren't you? [Laughter]
        Mr. Heo. I would like to ask about North Korean issue.
        The President. That's fine, but I thought you were going to ask
    about the shrine.
        Mr. Heo. Mr. President, you have called Mr. Kim Chong-il, North
    Korean leader--Kim Chong-il's regime a ``tyranny'' and North Korea an
    ``axis of evil.'' What can you do to promote human rights and democracy
    in North Korea? And what kind of leadership do you expect from Kim
    Chong-il to exercise as the leader of North Korea?
        The President. I have been--I have expressed my concerns about the
    treatment of men, women, and children in North Korea. I worry about a
    society that is going hungry. I worry about forced labor camps. And I do
    so--and as I do worry about that, I do so because I am, like many
    Americans, a compassionate--share a compassion for all peoples,
    regardless of where they live.
        I believe a--the measure, the mark of a good leader is one that
    cares first and foremost about the human condition of the people that
    live in the country. And where there's starvation and hunger, the
    leader's responsibility is to address that and, if need be, call upon
    others to make sure that food and aid actually get into the mouths of
    the hungry. I believe that a humane society

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    is one in which people have a voice in government. And so I have talked
    about these values. But I've also talked about them in the context of
    say, Myanmar. I have warned about the undermining of those values in
    other parts of the world. It's a consistent message of my
    administration.
        As you know, the main focus of the region is to adhere to the
    Crawford Declaration that President Jiang Zemin
    and I stated in Crawford, which was that there would be a nuclear-free
    Korean Peninsula. And now we're working to achieve that goal--working
    together--Japan, China, South Korea, Russia, and the United States
    sitting down at the table with the North Koreans as a group, saying,
    ``Here's our goal: For the sake of peace for all peoples, peoples of
    South Korea, people of North Korea, people in the region, let us achieve
    the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula--nuclear-weapons-free Korean
    Peninsula.''
        And so we'll be discussing this issue, of course. I'll be discussing
    it with the respective leaders about how to achieve that goal. We've
    made some progress where we declared that it's our intention to work
    with the North Koreans to see to it that they dismantle their nuclear
    weapons programs in a verifiable fashion. And so the dialog will
    continue on as to how to achieve this noble goal.
        Yes, sir.

    Taiwan

        Mr. Wang. My second question is about Taiwan. The Chinese people are
    determined about peaceful reunification with the motherland, but the
    secessionist force in Taiwan have never stopped their activities,
    causing a threat to peace and stability Cross Strait. What do you think
    the United States can do in preventing the secessionist forces in Taiwan
    from moving toward independence, while maintaining peace and stability
    in the region?
        The President. Well, one thing the United States can do is be
    consistent in its policy in dealing with the--both China and Taiwan. And
    so our policy has been consistent from day one, which is one China,
    three communiques, that we do not support independence, and that,
    however, we strongly support the Taiwan Relations Act. And it's
    important for parties to understand that's the position--that is the
    consistent position of this Government, that we also believe and are
    heartened when we see dialog beginning to take place between China and
    Taiwan. That's a positive development, and I will continue to encourage
    that dialog.
        Mr. Nishimura.

    Six-Party Talks

        Mr. Nishimura. Yes, Mr. President.
        The President. One more round of questions.
        Mr. Nishimura. Thank you very much, sir.
        The President. Then you probably have to go back to work.
        Mr. Nishimura. Okay.
        The President. So do I.
        Mr. Nishimura. Let's move to the six-party talks again.
        The President. Yes.
        Mr. Nishimura. A little bit more in detail.
        The President. Okay.
        Mr. Nishimura. Actually, the next round of six-party talks beginning
    tomorrow in Beijing, so this is previous--the six-party talks. And now
    as of today, of course, the United States and Japan have demanded that
    North Korea take tangible steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons
    program. But North Korea, on the other hand, every day--almost every
    day--is insisting that the United States company provide it with light
    water reactors. So, Mr. President, there is obviously still a sizeable
    gap between North Korea's position and that of other five parties----
        The President. Yes.
        Mr. Nishimura. ----including Japan and the United States. So, Mr.
    President, what

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    would you like to see achieved during the next round, and what do you
    think are the most important steps in attaining those goals?
        The President. Yes, thank you. Well, first of all, you're right,
    there's a meeting starting, I guess, this week, but it's a 3-day meeting
    which is really to prepare for the longer meetings, which will take
    place next month.
        Secondly, you've assessed our position. It's not the United States'
    position, but our position--the five parties that are working with North
    Korea to achieve the goal of having a nuclear-weapons-free peninsula,
    and that is that--and that is that we want to see tangible results in
    the dismantling of a program, and at the appropriate time we'll discuss
    the light water reactor. That's how we interpret the agreement.
        So part of the reason to go on a trip like this is to remind people
    about the strategy and talk it out with leaders and friends and remind
    them that we will stick together and hopefully achieve this noble goal.
    Again, it's a goal vital to all the interests of the people in the
    region. And it's one that I believe we can achieve by working together.
    And this is the--there is a certain degree of patience required when it
    comes to negotiating a difficult issue. And there is clearly a need for
    us to continue to dialog amongst ourselves, to make sure that we send a
    consistent message in order to achieve this goal. It's in people's
    interest.
        It's definitely in the interest of the people in the region that
    there not be a nuclear weapon anywhere on the Peninsula. It's definitely
    in Japan's interest; I strongly believe it's in China's interest. I know
    it's in Russia's, and for that matter, it's in the U.S. interest. Even
    though we're seemingly removed, it's in our national security interest
    that we achieve this objective. So this is a very important subject, and
    I look forward to continuing to dialog with our partners in peace.

    Future U.S. Role in South Korea

        Mr. Heo. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. Make this a good one, because it's your last
    question. [Laughter]
        Mr. Heo. What kind of new role do you expect United States troops in
    Northeast Asia, including South Korea, to do in the future? And what are
    you going to deal with their critical issues, such as strategic
    flexibility of the United States forces in Korea and the transporting
    wartime operational control from the United States forces to Korea?
        The President. The first part of your question, the role of U.S.
    troops is to provide stability. Obviously, there is--on the Korean
    Peninsula, North Korea has got troops massed on the DMZ. Part of the
    role and the relationship with the South Korean troops is to provide
    stability to the people in the Korean Peninsula.
        Now, as you know, we're repositioning our troops and realigning
    bases, but we have done so in a way, as we've worked out with President
    Roh in such a way as not to diminish the
    capacity to provide stability. And secondly, the presence of troops
    helps provide regional stability.
        The arrangement we have on the Korean Peninsula has worked for a
    long period of time. And that ought to be the operative model as we go
    forward.

    China-U.S. Relations

        Mr. Wang. China and the United States have enjoyed good cooperation
    in various areas, including fighting terrorism, democratic relation, and
    the nuclear issues of Korean Peninsula. And a shared interest between
    the two countries have increased over time. So what's your comment in
    this regard, and where do you think we could expand our cooperation
    further, say, in what areas?
        The President. Well, first of all, we do have good cooperation. We
    trade a lot--that's cooperation. On the other hand, we just want to make
    sure--and both sides

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    feel that it's important to have a level playing field when it comes to
    trade. Advancing the Doha round is an area where we can cooperate
    together.
        The avian flu area is an area where we can cooperate together. And I
    did have a very good discussion with President Hu
    about this in New York. And I'll bring it up again, because I am
    concerned about a pandemic. And I'm not suggesting it's going to break
    out in any country; but if it were to break out anywhere in the world,
    it becomes an international issue. In other words, I'm not saying just
    because I'm talking to President Hu that I think it's going to happen in
    China. All I'm saying is that if it happens anywhere, China and the
    United States, Japan and South Korea, ASEAN countries, APEC countries,
    everyone is going to have to work together to identify, contain and
    respond to an outbreak. So this is an important area.
        We work together in the war on terror. There is a variety of ways
    that we can continue to advance an agenda that is based upon peace. And
    then, again, this is a complex relationship, as I said. And it's an
    area, for example, where I will continue to remind President Hu about, for example, my personal faith and the belief
    that people should be allowed to worship freely. And a vibrant, whole
    society is one that recognizes that certain freedoms are inherent and
    need to be part of a complete society. And he's made some very positive
    statements and interesting statements about different aspects of
    freedom.
        So this is a vital relationship. China is a vast, significant,
    growing economy that is--using more and more energy. And here is an area
    where all of us can work together, and that is on how to share
    technologies and use technologies in such a way that we become less
    dependent on hydrocarbons. Certainly, Japan has an interest in this in
    that she imports a lot of hydrocarbons. South Korean Peninsula, same
    thing--or South Korea, same thing--and China. The United States uses a
    lot of hydrocarbons, and it's in our interest that we develop
    technologies so that we use less. It's in China's interest as well. So
    energy cooperation, the idea of discussing how to best move forward and
    to share technologies makes a lot of sense for our respective people and
    the world for that matter.
        And so it's a--we've got great opportunities to work together. I'm
    really looking forward to going to the three countries represented here.
    Every time I go out to the Far East, I come back appreciative of the
    notion of hard work and entrepreneurship and culture. So I'm looking
    forward to the trip. It's going to be--it'll be an important trip.
        Thank you all for your time. Very good questions, appreciate it.
    Thank you all.

    Note: The interview was taped at 10:30 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred
    to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan; President Hu Jintao and
    former President Jiang Zemin of China; President Roh Moo-hyun of South
    Korea; President Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia; and Chairman Kim Chong-
    il of North Korea. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of this interview.

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