Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Oct. 10, 2010)

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

Cross-Strait Issues

Taiwan’s Ma, in National Day Speech, Vows to Deepen Exchanges with China (Bloomberg, Oct. 10, 2010) Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou pledged to deepen economic and cultural exchanges with China in an address to mark the island’s National Day. Reform, Innovation and the Pursuit of Justice--President Ma Ying-jeou’s National Day Address

President Urges Beijing to Release Nobel-Winning Dissident
(CNA, Oct. 9, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou urged Chinese authorities to release jailed human rights activist Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.

Currency Issues and U.S.-China Engagement

More Countries Adopt China’s Tactics on Currency By David E. Sanger and Michael Wines (New York Times, Oct. 4, 2010) A growing number of countries are retreating from some free-market rules that have guided international trade in recent decades and have started playing by Chinese rules.
U.S. Ramps Up China Currency Fight By Howard Schneider(Washington Post, Oct. 7, 2010) The Obama administration is trying to escalate international pressure on China to change how it manages its currency, casting a global focus on what U.S. officials say has become a major risk to the economic recovery.

China Central Bank’s Chief Backs Gradual Rise in Currency
(New York Times, Oct. 9, 2010) The head of China’s central bank said that he favored letting the Chinese currency rise in value, but only gradually, as exchange-rate tensions overshadowed an international meeting of finance ministers and central bankers.

I.M.F. Doesn’t Press China on Currency By Sewell Chan(New York Times, Oct. 10, 2010) The world’s financial leaders failed to reach agreement on how to contain an escalating currency dispute that has threatened to undermine global cooperation on economic recovery.

Defense Secretary Gates May Meet Chinese Counterpart in Hanoi, Officials  Say (Washington Post, Oct. 5, 2010) The Pentagon, signaling a thaw in its frozen relationship with the Chinese military, announced that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will meet with a Chinese counterpart next week in Vietnam and then will probably visit Beijing early next year.

Analysis: US-China Ties Strained by Dissident By Foster Klug(AP, Oct. 9, 2010) President Barack Obama's push for China to release an imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate and rising economic and trade friction could aggravate U.S. efforts to win crucial Chinese cooperation on global hot spots.

PLA, Military Balance and Arms Sales

Politics and the Military Blur in China By Ko Shu-ling(Taipei Times, Oct. 5, 2010) One thing commentators agree on when discussing the often -mysterious relations between the CCP and one of the world’s largest military forces is that they exhibit none of the instability witnessed in Latin American and Africa in the last century as authoritarian regimes repeatedly fell victim to military coups.

China Threat Is Still Growing: Senior Official
(AP, Oct. 6, 2010) A senior Taiwanese official has told a defense forum in the United States that despite rapidly warming commercial relations with Taipei, China's military threat against the island is growing, Taiwanese media reported.

Top Taiwan Officer Visits US Over Jet Deal: Report
(AFP, Oct. 5, 2010) A top Taiwanese military officer is visiting the United States to press for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the island, a deal that may irk giant neighbor China.

Taiwan Shops for Newer Air Defenses from US By Bill Gertz(Washington Times, Oct. 6, 2010) Taiwan urgently needs newer model F-16 jet fighters to bolster its air defenses and overall security because of growing missile and aircraft threats from China, Taiwan's deputy defense minister said.

US Still Mulling F-16 Sale: AIT Chief Burghardt
(Taipei Times, Oct. 7, 2010) AIT Chairman Raymond Burghardt told Taipei that despite enormous pressure from China, the US continues to give serious consideration to selling it advanced F-16 fighter aircraft.

Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations

Taiwan Court Extends Former President’s Detention
(AFP, Oct. 8, 2010) Taiwan's High Court ruled on Friday that former president Chen Shui-bian should be held in custody for another two months while he appeals a 20-year jail term for graft.

U.S. Supports Taiwan’s ICAO Participation: Official
(CNA, Oct. 8, 2010) The United States expressed explicit support for Taiwan's bid to take part in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) , in which Taiwan is seeking "meaningful participation" as an observer.

US-Based Analysts Apprehensive Over US-Taiwan Ties By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2010) Washington-based China-watchers are becoming increasingly apprehensive over the perceived failure by Taiwan and the US to use the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen ties.

China's Rise and Domestic Issues

China to Strengthen Local Demand in Five-Year Plan, Goldman Says (Bloomberg, Oct. 8, 2010) China’s policies over the next five years will focus on boosting domestic consumption and investment to offset an expected slower pace of growth in the global economy that will hurt demand for its goods, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

China’s Chokehold on Rare-Earth Minerals Raises Concerns By Michael Richardson (YaleGlobal, Oct. 8, 2010) In the light of China’s increasing assertiveness in the global scene, its dominance in rare-earth reserves and processing has raised concerns about the future availability of materials needed for a range of critical industries.

Regional Issues and Japan Policy

China’s Irresistible Power Surge By Rowan Callick(Australian, Oct. 4, 2010) The danger is less one of a large-scale military threat than of the gradual constriction of our freedom to operate in the manner to which Anglo-American naval primacy has long accustomed us.

US Willing to Help Craft a South China Sea Code of Conduct
(AFP, Oct. 5, 2010) The US is willing to help craft a legally binding “code of conduct” to end a territorial dispute between ASEAN members and China that threatens regional stability, a US envoy said.

China’s Growing Clout in the SCO: Peace Mission 2010 By Richard Weitz (China Brief 10(20), Jamestown Foundation, Oct. 8, 2010) For Beijing, these exercises serve a number of purposes besides enhancing the collective military capacity of the member states.
Chinese Civilian Boats Roil Disputed Waters By Edward Wong(New York Times, Oct. 6, 2010) The number of Chinese civilian boats operating in disputed territory and that of the run-ins they have with foreign vessels, including warships, are on the rise, American and Asian officials say.

Gov’t Probing U.S.-Japan Tiaoyutai Joint Exercise Report
(CNA, Oct. 4, 2010) Taiwan's representative office in Tokyo has launched a probe into a report published by the Sankei Simbun newspaper that the United States and Japan are slated to hold a joint military exercise in November as a mock operation to retake the Tiaoyutai Islands if China occupies them.

Government Expresses Concerns about Japanese Politicians’ Diaoyutais Visit (Taipei Times, Oct. 10, 2010) Taiwan expressed concern to the Japanese government after four Japanese lawmakers inspected the disputed Diaoyutai Islands and nearby waters from the air.

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