U.S. Relations with the People's Republic of China (2006)

U.S. Department of State

Interview With Sean Hannity

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
October 24, 2006

(4:00 p.m. EST)

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

MR. HANNITY: -- and you just got back from what, a five-nation tour?

SECRETARY RICE: I did. I was in four nations, five days.

MR. HANNITY: Four nations, five days.

SECRETARY RICE: I went to -- first to Japan because in the wake of the North Korean nuclear test it was really important to affirm that the United States will defend Japan in accordance with our defense obligations there.

I then went on to South Korea to do the same thing. I was then in Beijing and in Moscow. And in all those capitals, there is a very clear seriousness about the North Korean problem, very clear dedication and commitment to fully implementing Resolution 1718, which was the resolution that the Security Council passed after the North Korean nuclear test, that requires cutting off trade in goods that might help the North Korean nuclear program, but also cutting off, for instance, luxury goods because that regime sits there and receives luxury goods while its people starve. And so this is a very good resolution. That China backed it was really -- that's a headline.

MR. HANNITY: I think it is an improvement because, I guess, there has been some reluctance, somewhat mysterious reluctance, resistance on the part of the Chinese and the Russians to really back a resolution against Kim Jong-il. But now we have missile testing, we have nuclear testing going on, and now we're really -- there's been a lot of talk about the rearming of Japan or the nuclear arming of Japan or missile defense systems put up in Japan or Taiwan and South Korea.

SECRETARY RICE: Yes.

MR. HANNITY: Is that the issue that got their attention the most?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think the list that you've just reeled off just shows what kind of instability you could bring to this region by a North Korean nuclear weapon.

MR. HANNITY: Sure.

SECRETARY RICE: And it has gotten everybody's attention. Now Japan said very clearly that it has no intention of going nuclear and relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. I just want to note, too, that the President three years ago realized that in order to manage the North Korean nuclear problem, a problem that's been going for decades, we have to have a regional coalition. This isn't something the United States was going to be able to do alone. And Sean, that has been proven to be exactly the right policy, because that's why you have China and Russia voting for this Chapter 7 very serious resolution, because they are not invested in this. They are a part of this coalition that's managing the North Korean nuclear problem. It's not just the United States and North Korea, which is the way North Korea would like it.

MR. HANNITY: That's what they would have liked from the very beginning and we've insisted, no, there's going to be a number of nations as part of the talks.

I want to just ask, he's now threatening, Kim Jong-il, a third -- three more nuclear tests. You know, what will we do?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think you would see stronger reaction. He'd isolate himself even more. But apparently he is saying he wouldn't do anything immediately and he'll wait to see how the international system evolves. I think he probably realizes that if he tests again, he's just going to isolate himself more. This is not going to help his case.

MR. HANNITY: Kim Jong-il -- as we go forward here, do you see a scenario under which the Chinese will absolutely back the United States because they fear of the arming of these other nations?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, it's in the Chinese interest not to have a nuclear North Korea and all the instability that it would set off. And so the Chinese have been very supportive. But it is -- the really good thing about this is this is not just America's policy; this is China's policy, too.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]