Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Oct. 2, 2011)

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

Reactions to the New U.S. Arms Deal with Taiwan

A Power Shift in Asia By Robert D. Kaplan(Washington Post, Sep. 24, 2011) This is a power shift. Taiwan tells us where we are, and very likely where we’re going.

Cross-Strait Relations Unaffected: Ma
(Taipei Times, Sep. 26, 2011) The US arms package for Taiwan announced by Washington last week did not jeopardize cross-strait relations, President Ma Ying-jeou said, promising to maintain proper defensive capabilities while promoting peace across the Taiwan Strait.

China Foreign Minister Warns Clinton on F-16 Deal
(Reuters, Sep. 27, 2011) China’s foreign minister urged the United States to reconsider its decision to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 jet fighter fleet, saying it could harm ties between Washington and Beijing.

US Secretary of State Claims Arms Sales to Taiwan Help Preserve Cross-Strait Stability (CNA, Sep. 28, 2011) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton defended her country's arms sales to Taiwan in the face of strong protests from Beijing, saying the policy is helpful to preserving cross-strait peace and stability.

US-Taiwan Arms Deal to Impact Exchanges: China
(AFP, Sep. 29, 2011) Beijing said Washington's decision to upgrade Taiwan's F-16 fighters would damage military ties between the United States and China, impacting military exchanges and high-level visits.

Pentagon Report Backs US Refusal to Sell F-16 Jets
(Taipei Times, Oct. 2, 2011) The report justifies US President Barack Obama’s decision not to sell advanced F-16C/D jets to Taipei on the grounds that the planes and the runways from which they would operate could not survive an initial missile attack from China.

US: Taiwan Outgunned by China Despite Arms Sales By Matthew Pennington (AP, Sep. 27, 2011) The chief of U.S. forces in the Pacific says recently announced upgrades of Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets will improve the island's defense capability but the military balance will remain heavily tilted in China's favor.

Rethinking Taiwan’s Defense By Dan Blumenthal(Wall Street Journal, Sep. 29, 2011) Taiwanese and U.S. defense officials are talking about reshaping the island's military strategy to pit Taiwan's strengths against China's weaknesses. The Obama administration can help Taiwan build a force structure driven by a three-pronged strategy of asymmetry, combat credibility and survivability.

Cross-Strait Issues

Poll Shows Support for ‘1992 Consensus’: MAC
(CNA, Sep. 26, 2011) Almost half of the respondents in a recent poll said they approved of the “1992 Consensus” as the foundation for institutionalized negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, a Mainland Affairs Council poll said.

U.S.-China Engagement

Friction and Cooperation for China, US By Bonnie Glaser and Brittany Billingsley (Pacific Forum, Sep. 28, 2011) In pursuit of agreements reached between Presidents Hu Jintao and Barack Obama in January, the United States and China worked to strengthen their relationship, while managing friction on a number of issues.

Senate Takes Up Bill to Punish China for Manipulating Currency (AP, Oct. 1, 2011) After years of trying, Congress is taking another stab at retaliating against what many see as Chinese manipulation of its currency to make its exports to the United States cheaper and U.S. exports more expensive.

Fear and Loathing in Beijing? Chinese Suspicion of U.S. Intentions By Michael S. Chase (China Brief 11(18), Jamestown Foundation, Sep. 30, 2011) Recently, a number of Chinese analysts have argued U.S. diplomatic and military actions in the region reflect what they see as a desire to ensure that China’s emergence will not challenge U.S. interests.

PLA and Military Balance

China Lanuches 1st Space Station Module
(AP, Sep. 30, 2011) China launched an experimental module to lay the groundwork for a future space station, underscoring its ambitions to become a major space power over the coming decade.

In Taiwan Military, Chinese Spy Stirs Unease By Andrew Higgins(Washington Post, Sep. 28, 2011) Lo’s spying on behalf of Beijing, which went on for at least seven years, has stirred deep unease, not only because he had access to secrets but also because of his background.

Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations

Ma Unveils His ‘Golden 10-Year’ Prospects Outline
(Taipei Times, Sep. 30, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou unveiled his “golden 10-year” prospects, pledging to lead Taiwan into a peaceful and prosperous decade by revitalizing the economy and seeking peaceful cross-strait relations, if re-elected.

A Potential Spoiler Roils Taiwan Presidential Race By Jenny Hsu(China Realtime Report, Sep. 28, 2011) Having already disrupted one Taiwan election, in 2000, seasoned politician James Soong could be set to complicate another one.

Changing Taiwan Faces New Challenges By Cindy Sui(BBC, Sep. 30, 2011) The challenge for Taiwan is to not only continue to assert its place on the international stage and push for inclusion in world bodies, such as the World Health Organization, but also to open up trade links with other countries.

Timing Not Right for Taiwan FTA: EU
(Taipei Times, Sep. 29, 2011) An EU commissioner said that the timing was not right for the EU to start negotiations with Taiwan on a free-trade agreement amid concerns over the repercussions of such talks on cross-strait relations and the EU’s relations with China.

UN Observer Status Not Top of Agenda: MOFA
(China Post, Sep. 30, 2011) Applying for observer status at the United Nations is not currently on Taiwan's top agenda, Foreign Minister Timothy Yang said.

Visa-Waiver Talks with US Enter Final Stages: Envoy
(CNA. Oct. 1, 2011) Taiwan's application to participate in the United States' visa-waiver program is entering the final stages, said Leo Lee, Taiwan's deputy representative to the U.S.

US Trade Delegation Holds Talks
(Taipei Times, Oct. 1, 2011) A delegation led by US Deputy Assistant Trade Representative for China and Taiwan Affairs Eric Altbach held working-level meetings with their Taiwanese counterparts in Taipei.

China's Rise and Its Domestic Issues

China Begins to Watch Out By Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore(Inter Press Service, Sep. 29, 2011) The government is leading a high-profile campaign against corruption amid growing public frustration. But despite the crackdown, bribery and graft are still widespread in massive state-run corporations, with a lack of free media or independent courts paving the way for abuse.

Dissident Fights PRC in Web School
(China Post, Oct. 2, 2011) Pro-democracy movement activist Wang Dan established in Taiwan, the online branch of the “New School for Democracy,” an education center aimed at spreading the concept of democracy via online lectures.

Public Security Officially Joins the Blogosphere By Peter Mattis(China Brief 11(18), Jamestown Foundation, Sep. 30, 2011) The Ministry of Public Security announced the national launch of "police microblogging construction" (gong’an weibo jianshe) as the newest element in its social management toolkit and public security informationization.

Regional Issues and Japan Policy

Japan, Philippines Tighten Defense Ties
(Wall Street Journal, Sep. 27, 2011) Japan and the Philippines agreed on Tuesday to strengthen maritime security ties, while also underscoring the importance of preserving peace and stability in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with China.

China Warns Asia Not to Hide Behind U.S. Security Umbrella
(Bloomberg, Sep. 28, 2011) Asian countries should be on guard against the “danger” of feeling they can “do whatever they want” because of the U.S. military presence in the region, the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily said in a commentary.

Chinese Analyst Calls for War in South China Sea
(Taipei Times, Sep. 30, 2011) The comments came after an editorial published in the Global Times called on the Beijing government to declare war on Vietnam and the Philippines, two countries that have been proactive in defending their claims over the islets.