Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Jul. 25, 2010)

For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org

Planned U.S.-S.K. Naval Drill and China's Reaction

Major Ship in U.S. Fleet Will Visit South Korea By Elisabeth Bumiller(New York Times, Jul. 20, 2010) The Defense Department announced that an aircraft carrier, the George Washington, would arrive in the South Korean port of Busan as the United States and South Korea prepared for joint military exercises meant to be a show of strength against North Korea.
China Warily Eyes U.S.-Korea Drills By Elisabeth Bumiller and Edward Wong (New York Times, Jul. 21, 2010) The United States and South Korea announced that the first in a series of large-scale naval exercises off Japan and the Korean Peninsula would begin next week, despite objections from China.
Top US Officer Calls China ‘Aggressive’ in Yellow Sea
(VoA, Jul. 23, 2010) The top U.S. military officer says China is taking a "much more aggressive approach" in its policy toward international waters near its coastline.

On North Korea and More, China Flexes Its Muscles By Ishaan Tharoor (Time, Jul. 22, 2010) U.S. implicit hegemony is being steadily challenged by an ascendant China, charged by a feeling of historical grievance and an eagerness to assert itself on the global stage.

U.S. Policy and U.S.-China Engagement

U.S. Dislike for ECFA Is a Myth By Dennis V. Hickey(China Post, Jul. 22, 2010) Stories about American opposition to the warming relations between Taiwan and the China receive a lot of media attention. But even a cursory examination of this issue reveals that these views do not reflect mainstream opinion in the U.S. or official American policy.
US Congress Seeks Report on Chinese Military from Pentagon
(PTI, Jul. 24, 2010) The Senators alleged that the Pentagon has failed to submit a report to the Congress on the military power of China as mandated by the 2000 National Defense Authorization Act.

PLA, Military Balance and Arms Sales

PRC’s Preparation to Attack Taiwan Accelerate: Report
(Taipei Times, Jul. 19, 2010) Despite repeated displays of goodwill by the government of President Ma Ying-jeou, China’s military preparations for an attack on Taiwan continue to accelerate, a report by the MND’s intelligence research branch says.
The Chinese Navy’s Emerging Support Network in the Indian Ocean By Daniel Kostecka (China Brief 10(15), Jamestown Foundation, Jul. 22, 2010) Regardless of whether or not the PLAN develops its support network through a series of formal agreements that guarantee access, or continues to supply its forces as it has been, that network is developing and will in all likelihood continue to grow in the foreseeable future.
Assessing the PLA’s Promotion Ladder to CMC Member Based on Grades vs. Ranks—Part 1 By Kenneth Allen (China Brief 10(15), Jamestown Foundation, Jul. 22, 2010) The protocol order and placement of the PLAN, PLAAF and Second Artillery commanders on the CMC as a “policy promotion,” which is not an automatic promotion upon becoming the commander, implies that the eight members of the CMC may not be equal in terms of their authority. Military a Key Bargaining Chip for Taiwan: DPP
(CNA, Jul. 20, 2010) Taiwan has to maintain its military strength to serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China, Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party said.
Ma Orders Ministry to Draft Military Shopping List
(AFP, Jul. 20, 2010) Taiwan plans to buy US-made torpedoes and heavy tanks to boost its defense capabilities despite improving relations with China, reports said. Taiwan Leader Chairs China Attack Wargame: Report
(Bangkok Post, Jul. 22, 2010) Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou has presided over a computerized wargame simulating intensive ballistic missile attacks by China, it was reported.
Taiwan Nears Patriot Contract: Raytheon
(Taipei Times, Jul. 22, 2010) A Taiwanese official visiting Washington said if the US did not sell Taiwan F-16C/Ds, it would consider upgrading Taiwan’s fleet of older F-16A/Bs.

  

Taiwan's Foreign Relations

Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou Deserves Australia’s Praise for Easing a Long-running Problem By Greg Sheridan (The Australian, Jul. 17, 2010) Taiwan’s President, Ma Ying-jeou, may be the most important statesman in Asia for Australia's national interests. He would also like to undertake a free trade agreement with us.
Charity Wins Consultative Status from U.N. Council
(CNA, Jul. 21, 2010) The U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSCO) has designated the Taiwan-based Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation as one of its special consultants.
Taiwan May Try to Reach Free Trade Accord with Singapore, Negotiator Says (Bloomberg, Jul. 22, 2010) Taiwan may seek a free-trade accord with Singapore following its first such deal with China, the island’s top negotiator with China Chiang Pin-kung said.

China's Rise and Domestic Issues

How Will China’s Tech-Savvy, Post-90s Generation Shape the Nation? (CNN, Jul. 19, 2010) One thing for certain is the post-90s are different from those born before them: they have no memory of China's tumultuous past, instead only experiencing it as a country with rapid economic growth underscored by rampant consumerism and globalization.
Foreign Companies in China Sound off on Business Policies By Keith B. Richburg (Washington Post, Jul. 22, 2010) The heads of some leading U.S. and European multinationals have publicly questioned recently whether new Chinese policies and regulations are making China a more difficult place for foreign firms to do business.

Regional Issues and Japan Policy

U.S. Continues Effort to Counter China’s Influence in Asia By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Jul. 23, 2010) The Obama administration's announcement that it will resume relations with Indonesia's special forces is the most significant move yet by the United States to strengthen ties in East Asia as a hedge against China's rise.
Offering to Aid Talks, U.S. Challenges China on Disputed Islands By Mark Landler (New York Times, Jul. 24, 2010) Opening a new source of potential friction with China, the Obama administration said that it would step into a tangled dispute between China and its smaller Asian neighbors over a string of strategically significant islands in the South China Sea.
China Rejects U.S. Efforts in Maritime Spat By Jay Solomon(Wall Street Journal, Jul. 25, 2010) The U.S. shouldn't internationalize the South China Sea issue, China Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said. Mr. Yang said the best way to solve the disputes relevant to the South China Sea was through bilateral negotiations between China and the countries involved. Ministry Concerned about Japanese Deployment Plan
(Taipei Times, Jul. 23, 2010) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had voiced its concerns to Tokyo after reports that Japan planned to deploy Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel on two islands off Okinawa.