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The following is a roundup of stories related to world news which appeared in full on our website during the week of August 12-18.
- China/US: New Dispute Over Spy Plane Pay Offer
China rejected a US offer to pay $34,000 over costs incurred by its spy plane, which collided with a Chinese fighter jet early this year and caused a standoff between the two countries. China wants $1 million, but the State Department of the United States did not agree to increase its offer. In response, China urged Wednesday that Washington reconsider.
- Japan’s Koizumi: A Bad Decision on Any Day
On August 13, two days earlier than the planned date of August 15, the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, Japans Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine despite the strong objections of other Asian countries such as China and South Korea. Though Koizumi’s visit date may have been shifted to avoid the sensitive anniversary day, this move did little to ease the indignation of Japan’s Asian neighbors. Instead, his visit to pay “respects” to executed war criminals hurt the feelings of other Asian people and is expected to harm Japan’s diplomatic relations with its Asian neighbors.
- US: Saying Farewell to ABM
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld reaffirmed in Moscow on August 13 that Washington will insist on withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty unilaterally, even if Russia does not give its consent. He said that in case the testing of the new missile defense system proves to be a success, the U.S. will quit the treaty in about one year.
- Middle East: A whirlwind of Palestine-Israel Violence
Recently, the nearly year-long conflict between Palestine and Israel has been escalating. Hawks on both sides have come to the forefront; fear and anger on all sides is growing. A new round of hatred has started to pervade the Middle East. The world worries: Where is the conflict going? A Chinese expert gives his views on the issue in an interview with China.org.cn.
(China.org.cn by Xiaowei 08/19/2001)
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