10.25.2004 The Straits Times
Powell trip signals US' Asia concerns
UNITED States Secretary of State Colin Powell continues on his Asia trip.
He will wrap up his visit to the Chinese capital today and head to Seoul next as part of his first visit to the region in 18 months.
He was in Tokyo on Saturday as part of his three-nation visit to Japan, China, and South Korea.
This is widely seen as an effort to restart the stalled six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue.
Mr Powell's visit comes just days after Pyongyang's No. 2 man Kim Yong Nam visited Beijing where he held talks with Chinese leaders.
WHY IT MATTERS
The whirlwind visit comes at an odd time, with the US presidential election just one week away and doubts over whether Mr Powell himself will serve a second term.
But perhaps precisely so, the visit and its timing signal Washington's concern over the two potential flash-points in the region - North Korea and the Taiwan strait - regardless of the outcome of the Nov 2 vote.
No new offers are likely from Mr Powell.
He is expected to stress Washington's commitment to further talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, whoever sits in the Oval Office in January next year. -- CHUA CHIN HON |
