DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media, which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.
Detention of VOA Correspondent in China
On August 13 the US Department of State Spokesperson discussed the case of a VOA (Voice of America) correspondent and another freelance journalist who were detained unjustifiably in China the previous day for several hours. Recently, there has been a new crackdown restricting free speech and limiting human rights as Chinese President Xi Jinping seeks to further consolidate his power.
The State Department spokesperson noted: “They [correspondents detained] were doing their jobs, and we continue to support people who are engaging in doing their jobs, telling the stories about what is going on, not just behind the scenes but reporting on daily life for those in China and elsewhere as well. We are concerned about what we consider to be China’s suppression of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of association. And we call on China to allow all individuals to express their views without fear of retribution and for journalists to be able to do their jobs without interference.”
This latest incident follows another that occurred a few weeks earlier in which a professor being interviewed by a VOA correspondent disappeared after being taken away by security officials. In addition, a VOA reporter and a VOA contractor also working in China were temporarily detained for speaking freely.
It remains unsafe for foreign or domestic press and individuals in China to gather or speak out about fundamental human rights, which are suppressed, or other political issues that challenge the leadership or dogma of the Chinese Community Party (CCP).
Taiwan
For the first in 15 years a representative of the government of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-Wen, visited the United States to deliver a public speech. The State Department stated that this does not represent a change in the “one China” policy. It does, however, continue to send a strong message to Beijing that Washington will not stand by idly if China threatens Taipei.
North Korea
Ambassador John Bolton, US National Security Advisor to President Trump, announced that North Korea has not “taken effective steps” to denuclearize the country. The State Department pointed out there has been some productive progress in talks with the regime. Recently, Pyongyang returned the remains of US servicemembers killed during the Korea War.
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Iran
Sixty-five years after the 1953 coup in Iran, Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran, spoke to the press about the new Iran Action Group (IAG), which he said “will play a critical role in leading our efforts within the [State] department and [in] executing the President’s Iran strategy….” Our goal, he added, is to reduce every countries importation of Iranian oil to zero by November 4, the day before sanctions go into effect.
According to Hook, our new strategy will examine all aspects of the Iranian threat and concentrate on implementing a strategy to deal with it. The IAG’s goal is to protect America’s national security and that of our allies and partners around the world. He pointed out that Iranian activity outside that country is so broad the US needed a comprehensive approach to deal with Tehran’s desire to acquire nuclear weapons, its support of cyber and terrorist activity, maritime aggression, and its proliferation of ballistic missiles. For many years Iran has acted as a destabilizing force in the Middle East and as an advocate of violence throughout the region.
Hook also traveled recently to London to meet with senior representatives from Germany, France and the United Kingdom to garner support for American efforts and to move discussions with our allies forward where there is consensus.
The IAG’s efforts are centered on changing the Iranian regime’s behavior, not overthrowing the government in Tehran. “…when you look at the kind of money that Iran provides to Assad and to Shia militias, to Lebanese Hizballah, it’s billions and billions of dollars. And we need to get at drying up those revenue streams. And so that is the purpose of our maximum economic pressure campaign,” he noted.
If Iran is prepared to engage in a serious and productive dialogue President Trump will consider sanctions relief and the reestablishment of full diplomatic and commercial relations with the US. In a May speech Secretary of State Pompeo outlined the 12 requirements that Iran must comply with to move forward on sanctions relief. Although most centered on nuclear issues, they also contained provisions for the return of arbitrarily detained Americans. The maximum economic pressure campaign is designed to isolate Iran diplomatically and to deprive it of the funds is needs to support terrorist activity.
If imposed in November, sanctions will impact Iran’s energy sector, transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran, and Iran’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors, among others. Hook pointed out that if we are backed by our allies and partners the United States will not have to risk imposing secondary sanctions on nations who continue their transactions with Iran.
Illustration: Pixabay