Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Sunday 9 September 2012


Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Sep. 9, 2012)
For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org
Bo Xilai Scandal and China's Leadership Succession
China Faces New Scandal Over Crash of a Ferrari
(New York Times, Sep. 4, 2012) China’s carefully scripted leadership transition appears to have suffered another glitch: a fatal car crash involving a Ferrari, a privileged son and two women.
Chinese Party Elders Step Back In By Jeremy Page (Wall Street Journal, Sep. 6, 2012) The re-emergence of party "elders" on the political scene highlights a problem for the next generation of leaders due to take over this fall, according to party members, diplomats and political analysts.
Knives Out in Quest for China’s New Leader By Michael Sainsbury(Australian, Sep. 8, 2012) If the pundits are to be believed at least five or six of what is predicted to be a seven-man team have Xi and Jiang's backing, leaving the new boss, rather than the old one, with firm control of the new PBSC.
China President-in-Waiting Signals Quicker Reform--Sources By Chris Buckley (Reuters, Sep. 7, 2012) China’s president-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, has said the ruling Communist Party must embrace reform with fresh vigor to stave off social and economic malaise, sources said.
Police Chief in Bo Scandal Faces Charges in Chengdu By Jeremy Page (Wall Street Journal, Sep. 5, 2012) The move—coming just weeks ahead of a sensitive once-a-decade leadership transition for the world's No. 2 economy—brings the party one step closer to resolving the fate of Mr. Bo Xilai.
South China Sea Disputes
Clinton Urges ASEAN Unity on South China Sea
(AP, Sep. 5, 2012) Southeast Asian states must present a united front to the Chinese in dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea to “literally calm the waters,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.
Legislators Inspect Drill on Taiping
(China Post, Sep. 5, 2012) Lawmakers took an inspection trip to the nation's island territory in the South China Sea for a live-fire drill held on Taiping Island, as a concrete move to assert the country's claims in the region.
Asian Nationalism Rising at Sea By Joseph Nye(Project Syndicate, Sep. 7, 2012) It is time for all countries in East Asia to remember Winston Churchill’s famous advice: “To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.”
Clinton Visited Beijing and Sino-U.S. Engagement
Clinton Begins Asia Trip, Trying to Ease Tension with China By Steven Lee Myers (New York Times, Sep. 2, 2012) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton began a 10-day, 6-nation visit to Asia pledging to broaden American diplomatic, economic and security support in the Pacific, but also offering conciliatory remarks toward China at a time when tensions are rising over territorial disputes.
In Beijing, Clinton Will Push for Talks Over Disputed Islands By Jane Perlez and Steven Lee Myers (New York Times, Sep. 4, 2012) Clinton and her senior aides said the United States would urge China to enter discussions with its neighbors over conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Smiles and Barbs for Clinton in China By Jane Perlez and Steven Lee Myers (New York Times, Sep. 5, 2012) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived to a barrage of unusually harsh coverage in China’s official news media over what they called American meddling in territorial disputes in the region — and then a strikingly warm welcome from the country’s foreign minister.
Hillary Clinton, Top Chinese Officials Air Some Differences By William Wan (Washington Post, Sep. 5, 2012) After a marathon night privately hashing out disagreements between the United States and China, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chinese officials focused their public remarks Wednesday on areas in which the two countries can agree. But the level of division at times was clear.
Clinton Plays Up ‘Frank’ Talks with Beijing By Patrick Barta(Wall Street Journal, Sep. 6, 2012) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton put a positive spin on meetings with Chinese leaders earlier this week that yielded little visible progress on diplomatic disputes, saying the relationship between the two superpowers is mature enough to withstand differences.
U.S., China Need to Boost Dialogue to Resolve Misunderstanding: Experts (Xinhua, Sep. 3, 2012) Washington and Beijing, as the world's top and second biggest economies, should emphasize more on bilateral dialogue to clear up their misunderstanding amid U.S. refocusing on the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. experts said before the upcoming China visits by two senior U.S. officials.
Singaporean Tells China U.S. Is Not in Decline By Jane Perlez(New York Times, Sep. 7, 2012) In an unusual public airing of strategic problems surrounding China’s rise, the prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, warned China on Thursday that it should view the United States not as a declining power, but as a nation with the ability to innovate and bounce back.
China’s Search for a “New Type of Great Power Relationship” By Michael S. Chase (China Brief 12(17), Jamestown Foundation, Sep. 7, 2012) The most problematic aspect of Beijing's vision of a “new type” of U.S.-China relationship is that it appears to require Washington to accommodate China's interests and to do so largely on Beijing's terms—apparently without reciprocal adjustments.
Diaoyutai Disputes Resurface
Ma to Make Flying Visit to Pengjia Islet This Month
(Taipei Times, Sep. 5, 2012) The Presidential Office confirmed that President Ma Ying-jeou plans to visit Pengjia Islet, situated just over 76 nautical miles east of the Diaoyutai Islands, later this month.
China Reacts Angrily to Japanese Plan to Buy Disputed Islands
(Telegraph, Sep. 5, 2012) China warned that it would take all “necessary measures” to thwart a Japanese plan to buy a disputed chain f islands.
Ma to Visit Islet Near Tiaoyutais on Friday: Presidential Office
(China Post, Sep. 6, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou's inspection tour to an islet located north of Taiwan near the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands will take place this Friday, the Presidential Office announced.
Japan Said to Have Tentative Deal to Buy 3 Disputed Islands from Private Owners (New York Times, Sep. 7, 2012) The Japanese government has struck a tentative agreement to buy three uninhabited islands that are part of a chain at the center of a heated territorial dispute with China, a person close to the talks said.
Ma Seeks Trilateral Tiaoyutais Dialogue
(China Post, Sep. 8, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou called for the establishment of a three-way dialogue mechanism between Taiwan, mainland China and Japan in order to peacefully resolve the long-simmering sovereignty row over the Tiaoyutai Islands during his visit to a Taiwan-controlled islet near the disputed island chain.
Lawmakers Press Ma on Diaoyutais
(Taipei Times, Sep. 8, 2012) Opposition lawmakers have dismissed President Ma Ying-jeou’s trip to Pengjia Islet.
Ma’s Peace Initiative ‘Sensible’: Ex-AIT Director
(CNA, Sep. 9, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou's peace initiative on the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea is “sensible” and is “the only way out,” Douglas Paal said.
Cross-Strait Issues
Current Cross-Strait Policy to Stay After Power Transition: Hu Jintao (CNA, Sep. 8, 2012) Outgoing Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Russia that Beijing's current policy to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait will continue after he steps down.
Taiwan-China Economic Ties to Deepen with Yuan Pact By Faith Hung (Reuters, Sep. 7, 2012) China and Taiwan’s agreement on a clearing system for each other’s currency marks the start of the final stage of an economic integration that has drawn Taiwan closer to its one-time political foe and lifted trade to over $160 billion annually.
PLA and Military Balance
China Aiming 200 More Missiles at Taiwan: MND
(Taipei Times, Sep. 4, 2012) A military report indicates that China has boosted its arsenal to 1,600 missiles, with its new advanced, medium-range DF-16 missiles among them.
Armed Forces Outline Wartime Plans
(Taipei Times, Sep. 3, 2012) Asymmetrical warfare, mobile land-based long-range precision strike capability and multi-functional unmanned aerial vehicles are to make up the principle focus of the military, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Defense Ministry Increases Budget for Cyberwarfare
(Taipei Times, Sep. 3, 2012) With increasing numbers of cyberattacks targeting Taiwan, the US and Japan being traced back to China, the government has increased its budget for cyberwarfare capabilities, the Ministry of National Defense said.
Taiwan to Build Six Minehunting Navy Ships
(Taipei Times, Sep. 5, 2012) Naval experts believe China could try to choke off shipping to Taiwan in the opening round of hostilities, and are seeking ways to counter this.
Taiwan Must Rethink Naval Strategy: Expert By William Lowther(Taipei Times, Sep. 9, 2012) With China now believed to be working on a new guided-missile destroyer, a US military expert is advising Taiwan to rethink the island’s naval strategy.
Taiwan's Foreign Relations
Hu Says China to Study Taipei’s Aviation Body Bid
(Taipei Times, Sep. 8, 2012) Chinese President Hu Jin-tao said that China would “seriously study” the possibility of helping Taiwan participate in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “in an appropriate way.
Democrats Outline Policy on Asia-Pacific, Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Sep. 6, 2012) The Republicans’ policy platform is considered slightly stronger on Taiwan, with more direct lauguage on Taiwan and a pledge to defend it if attacked.
China's Rise and Its Domestic Issues
Plan for Change in Schools Stirs Protest in Hong Kong By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Sep. 4, 2012) A plan by the Hong Kong government to require schools to teach courses in contemporary Chinese history has set off an acrimonious dispute here with political implications.
Hong Kong Retreats on ‘National Education’ Plan By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Sep. 9, 2012) Faced with tens of thousands of protesters contending that a Beijing-backed plan for “moral and national education” amounted to brainwashing and political indoctrination, Hong Kong’s chief executive backpedaled and revoked a 2015 deadline for every school to start teaching it.
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Regards,
Taiwan Security Research: http://www.taiwansecurity.org/
Taipei Forum: http://www.taipeiforum.org.tw/
Posted by Roberto Abraham Scaruffi at 19:41