Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Monday, 7 November 2011

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Nov. 6, 2011)

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

China in the G20

China to Hold Sway at G20 Cannes Summit By Catherine Bremer(Reuters, Oct. 31, 2011) Efforts to coax China into throwing the euro zone a lifeline will dominate this week’s G20 Summit and leave Beijing holding the cards.

China in the G20: a Balancer and a Responsible Contributor By Wang Yong (PacNet #61, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Nov. 1, 2011) It seems that based on its own interests, China is choosing to become a responsible contributor to global governance and wants to become part of the solution to the current global crisis.

Denying Imbalances, G20 Risks Chaos—Part I By Shen Dingli(YaleGlobal, Nov. 4, 2011) The US focus on currency exchange rates and an undervalued renminbi overlooks fundamental imbalances. Attempts to slow China’s rise with congressional pressure, protectionism or misguided confrontation won’t restore jobs in Europe or the US.

Cross-Strait Issues

Cross-Strait Commission Holds 2nd China Meeting
(CNA, Nov. 2, 2011) A second meeting of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Commission was held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

US Policy

U.S.-Taiwan Relations
(Editorial, VOA, Nov. 2, 2011) The foundation of U.S.-Taiwan is common values and a shared belief in democracy.

US Senator Urges Speedy Visa-waiver Deal Passage
(CNA, Nov. 4, 2011) U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman has asked the Obama administration to speed up the process of granting visa-waiver treatment for Taiwan passport holders, TECRO in Washington said.

Lieberman Calls for US-Taiwan FTA
(Taipei Times, Nov. 4, 2011) Joseph Lieberman said the

needed — in addition to military measures — an ambitious and strategically minded forward-looking trade policy for the Asia-Pacific region.

PLA and Arms Sales

China Plans 2012 Manned Space Flight After Docking Test
(Reuters, Oct. 31, 2011) China will launch up to two manned space mission in 2012 as it hones the skills needed to secure a long-term manned presence in outer space, an official spokeswoman said.

China Spacecraft Make First Successful Docking As Country Pursues Space Station Goal (AP, Nov. 3, 2011) Two unmanned Chinese spacecraft docked above Earth successfully, moving China one step closer to setting up its own space station.

China’s Space Program Bolstered by First Docking By Andrew Jacobs (New York Times, Nov. 4, 2011) Some Western scientists said the successful mission provided stark evidence that the 20-year-old sanctions that limit cooperation between American and Chinese aeronautical engineers had failed.

Loosening Rules, China Allows Facial and Neck Tattoos to Join Army By Michael Wines (New York Times, Nov. 3, 2011) Seeking to broaden its appeal to China’s better-educated and perhaps more hip youth, the People’s Liberation Army has dropped a longtime bar to enlisting in the service: now, recruits can sport tattoos on their faces and necks.

Arms Deliveries to Taiwan Are Lagging: US Draft Study
(Reuters, Nov. 6, 2011) The transfer of U.S. arms to Taiwan, the chief barrier to better U.S.-China ties, is moving at a snail's pace, at least for several major weapons systems, a draft report to the U.S. Congress showed.

Taiwan's 2012 Presidential Electoin and Foreign Relations

Taiwan’s Soong Will Run for President in Blow to Incumbent Ma
(Bloomberg, Nov. 1, 2011)

Taiwan

opposition leader James Soong will join the race for the presidency after gathering enough signatures to qualify, a bid that may siphon pro-China votes away from incumbent Ma Ying-jeou.

Tsai, Ma’s Chances Almost Level: Center
(Taipei Times, Nov. 2, 2011) National Chengchi University’s Prediction Markets Center said that, as of Monday, Tsai was given a 48.9 percent chance of victory, while Ma’s chance stood at 48.4 percent.

Ma Unveils His Nuclear Energy Policy
(Taipei Times, Oct. 4, 2011) President Ma Ying-jeou unveiled his new nuclear energy policy, promising the government would run comprehensive trial operations and meet all safety requirements before beginning operations at the Fourth Nuclear Plant and that the 40-year life-span of the three existing nuclear plants would not be extended.

Taiwan Has High Hopes for APEC Food Emergency Initiative
(The Nation, Nov. 3, 2011) Taiwan hope that all members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will agree to a proposal to create an Apec Food Emergency Response Mechanism to ensure food security for countries affected by natural disasters.

Taiwan to Make Bid to Get in on TPP Talks, Lien Says
(Taipei Times, Nov. 4, 2011) Taiwan would express its willingness to be included in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement launched by the US as a pathway to achieve a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, former vice president Lien Chan said.

UK Official Expresses Support for Taiwan-EU Pact
(CNA, Nov. 5, 2011) UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment Stephen Green expressed his explicit support for

Taiwan

's bid to forge an economic cooperation agreement with the European Union at an annual consultation with Taiwanese officials.

China's Rise and Its Domestic Issues

Flare from Party’s Red Star Signals a Brewing Storm in Beijing By Russell Leigh Moses (China Real Time Report, Nov. 1, 2011) Bo Xilai’s outburst reminds us that the political winds in China have a way of switching suddenly. It might be better for those who think the leadership transition is proceeding on a secure and steady heading to check their compasses again.

A New Theory for China’s Next Generation of Leaders: The Three Blurs? By James T. Areddy (China Real Time Report, Nov. 4, 2011) China’s leaders will no longer be able to draw clear lines between domestic and international policymaking. Also, governing portfolios will overlap, as areas like security crowd into economics. The Internet represents the third leg of the theory, with the virtual world blurring into the real one.

In China, Political Outsiders Turn to Microblog Campaigns By Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times, Nov. 1, 2011) This year’s push by outsiders to infiltrate

China

’s local political process is creating ripples, partly because of the momentum and visibility they are building via Twitter-like services on the Chinese Internet.

Wen Jiabao Reveals His Family Was Persecuted under Mao By Malcolm Moore (Telegraph, Nov. 2, 2011) Wen Jiabao, has revealed how his family were “constantly persecuted” during the darkest years of Chairman Mao’s rule, in a speech that may be a warning to the hardline faction within the Communist party not to repeat the mistakes of history.

Regional Issues

China’s Provocation ‘Sparks Insecurity’ By Yohanna Ririhena(Jakarta Post, Nov. 1, 2011) Last week China’s official media outlet said that nations involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea should “mentally prepare for the sounds of cannons” if they remain at loggerheads with Beijing. This rhetoric has raised eyebrows and has prompted many to justify concerns that China is a real threat to regional security.

Russia’s Role in EAS: Promoting Inter-regional Cooperation By Alica Kizekova (PacNet #62, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Nov. 3, 2011) The Asia-Pacific region has been identified as the world’s new center of gravity. The emerging new architecture revolving around Asian powers has given rise to questions about Russia’s role in the region, given that the Eurasian giant maintains a presence in the Far East.