Rice seeks N Korea breakthrough

By Jonathan Beale
BBC News, Washington

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's four-nation trip to East Asia is her second visit to the region in the space of six months.

There is frustration in Washington over the North Korean nuclear impasse

That is not just a recognition of the growing importance of China - but also a sign of frustration in Washington that there has been no progress in persuading North Korea back to the negotiating table over its nuclear weapons programme.

Three of the countries Condoleezza Rice visits - China, Japan and South Korea - have been involved in the six-party talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

It is over a year since those talks broke down. Since then Pyongyang has confirmed it possesses nuclear warheads - hence the sense of urgency to restart the talks.

Washington believes Beijing should be using more of its influence - economic as well as political.

Rhetoric toned down

The senior US diplomat on arms control, Under Secretary of State Robert Joseph, has said: "We think China can do more to get them to eliminate the nuclear weapons programme".

North Korea has indicated it may return to talks

Washington needs China's help as a mediator because its own relations with Pyongyang are so poor.

A meeting between US and North Korean officials last month at the UN headquarters in New York appears to have produced little.

The US has toned down its rhetoric against North Korea since Pyongyang indicated it might return to negotiations.

Pyongyang has yet to set a date though and Condoleezza Rice has always kept open the option of referring North Korea to the UN Security Council.

However, she is not likely to get enough support to do that, so she really needs that Chinese pressure.

Powerful China

But relations between Washington and China are under strain too on other issues.

The US tsunami aid effort already appears to be paying dividends

On her last visit to Beijing, Condoleezza Rice expressed concern about Chinese military strength and called on it to be a "positive force" in the region.

She warned the European Union against lifting its arms embargo on China.

Now add to that growing unease on Capitol Hill about China's rising economic influence.

US lawmakers are alarmed about the Chinese company CNOOC's bid for the US energy company Unocal - and about cheap Chinese goods flooding American markets.

Washington is wary of a more powerful China.

Positive images

Condoleezza Rice has come to rely on Tokyo as America's most important ally in the region.

Japan's loyalty has been rewarded by US support for its bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

No other country has so far received American backing.

The US Secretary of State is acutely aware that she needs to improve America's image around the world.

Hence her stopover in Phuket, Thailand.

She wants to highlight American efforts to help in post-tsunami reconstruction.

The US tsunami aid effort already appears to be paying dividends.

Recent research on global attitudes by Washington's Pew Centre showed that in neighbouring Indonesia 79% of those questioned had a more favourable view of America because of its help there.

Thailand will provide the positive images of the trip.

But Condoleezza Rice hopes that her talks in China will provide the political breakthrough.