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South
China Sea Disputes
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The Philippines’ Search for Strategic Partners (2013-07-23) (The
Diplomat, By Julio Amador III) The Philippines has initiated strategic
partnerships with Japan and Australia that seek to elevate bilateral ties that
prioritize security cooperation. With the elevation of bilateral relations to a
strategic level, Manila expects closer cooperation especially in military and
maritime matters. Philippines Pushes Back against China (2013-07-23) (Washington
Post, By Chico Harlan) The Philippines has set off on a risky mission to do what
no nation in the region has managed to do: thwart China in its drive to control
the vast waters around it.
New China Coast Guard Expected to Do More
Patrolling (2013-07-24) (AFP)
China’s new unified coast guard agency has gone into operation, state media
reported amid maritime disputes with its neighbors, and experts said more ships
will be armed as a result. U.S., Japan Seeks to Calm Asia Territorial
Tensions (2013-07-28) (Wall
Street Journal, By Natasha Brereton-Fukui and Gaurav Raghuvanshi) U.S. Vice
President Joseph Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used visits to
Singapore to press for rapid action to ease escalating tensions in disputed
Asian waters where China is increasingly asserting territorial
claims.
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U.S.
Pivot to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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Vietnam's President Heads to Washington (2013-07-23) (Wall
Street Journal, By Nguyen Pham Muoi) Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang
embarked on his first-ever visit to Washington, where he and President Obama
will work to bolster economic and military ties--even as those relations will be
tested by U.S. concerns over Vietnam's human-rights
record. Obama and Vietnam’s Leader Pledge Deeper Ties (2013-07-26) (New
York Times, By Mark Landler) It was the first visit of a Vietnamese leader to
the White House during the Obama administration, and it took on an even greater
strategic resonance, given Mr. Obama’s determination to increase the United
States’ presence in Asia. Wheels Up! Has Obama Really Pivoted to Asia? (2013-07-23) (The
Diplomat, By Phillip Saunders and Katrina Fung) At least when measured by the
time senior U.S. officials are spending in Asia, the pivot is real.
US Lawmakers Call for Strategic Review of Pivot (2013-07-25) (The
Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) A bipartisan group of U.S. Congress members are
calling on the Obama administration to issue a strategic document articulating
the pivot or “rebalance” to Asia. Want World Domination? Size Matters (2013-07-28) (New
York Times, By Richard N. Rosecrance) The underlying reason for bridging the
narrowing “Atlantic Channel” is that power is shifting east, and there is a need
to reconsolidate the West. Paradoxically, closer ties with Europe will be the
means by which Mr. Obama carries out his “pivot to Asia.”
New Chinese Thinking on Sino-U.S.
Relations? (2013-07-26) (China
Brief 13(15), Jamestown Foundation, By Richard Weitz) Chinese experts
acknowledge that Sino-American differences over Japan, North Korea, Taiwan and
other critical issues remain managed rather than resolved—priming the potential
for a sharp downturn in ties should one of these issues explode.
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DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Statement
on the "DPP's Expanded Conference on China Policy" (in
Chinese) (2013-07-25) (Taipei
Forum, By Su Chi) The "1992 Consensus" was indeed a term invented by me in April
2000, on the eve of DPP's assuming [the presidential]
office. KMT Beyond '1992 Consensus': DPP (2013-07-26) (Taipei
Times) The DPP held a forum on how to deal with the ‘1992 consensus,’ but
participants said the KMT has already moved on to accepting a ‘one China’
framework.
Ma Tilts to China's Consensus: DPP (2013-07-23) (Taipei
Times) Ma Ying-jeou wrote to Xi Jinping to say the two sides ‘reached a
consensus in 1992’ to insist on the ‘one China’ principle in a reversal of
earlier interpretations. China Praises Ma's 'One China' Remark (2013-07-26) (Taipei
Times) Chinese officials gave high praise to the KMT's statement that both sides
of the Taiwan Strait should implement the “one China” principle in their legal
and political systems, and conduct cross-strait relations with the principle as
its basis. Ma Says He Will Only Talk with Xi 'As President' (2013-07-27) (Taipei
Times) Any meeting would be contingent on Ma being present in his capacity as
president of the Republic of China, he said in an interview.
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Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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KMT Mulling Tying Its Chairmanship to Presidential
Office (2013-07-22) (Taipei
Times) KMT Central Standing Committee is willing to consider revising the
party’s charter to automatically give the post of party chairman to the nation’s
president if the KMT holds the presidency.
Taiwan Debates Medical Parole for
Ex-Leader (2013-07-22) (New
York Times, By Austin Ramzy) Always divisive in office, Chen Shui-bian is now a
center of controversy in prison, as an emotional debate unfolds on Taiwan over
whether he should be granted medical parole. Top US Diplomat Touts Taiwan Ties As 'Very
Important' (2013-07-24) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said that Washington had “very important”
unofficial relations with Taiwan.
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China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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The Myth of China's Economic Reform (2013-07-18) (Bloomberg,
By William Pesek) Can we please have a moratorium on the word “Likonomics”?
Premier Li Keqiang’s plans to overhaul the Chinese economy have hardly earned
such a grand moniker yet.
How Much Slowdown Can Beijing Tolerate? (2013-07-22) (The
Diplomat, Minxin Pei) Less informed observers give more weight to the CCP’s fear
of mass uprising in economically distressful times. They overlook the regime’s
enormous capacity for repression. What Chinese top leaders really fear is the
impact of a slowing economy on elite unity. China Must Deepen Reforms to Meet Economic Challenges:
President (2013-07-23) (Reuters)
China must deepen reforms to address a slew of challenges confronting it,
President Xi Jinping said in comments published on Tuesday that emphasize the
government's determination to restructure the slowing economy.
Beijing Prepares Ground for Bo Xilai's 'Trial of
Century' (2013-07-24) (Washington
Post, By Simon Denyer) China’s government is preparing the ground for the
long-awaited trial of disgraced Communist Party regional kingpin Bo Xilai, as
different factions within the party press for a speedy resolution of the case
and unite behind relatively modest charges of bribery and
embezzlement.
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Regional
Issues
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South Koreans Ask U.S. to Reconsider Timing of Military
Handoff (2013-07-23) (New
York Times) South Korea, reluctant to weaken its strong relationship with the
American military, has asked the United States to reconsider the timing of a
plan to cede to Seoul the responsibility for control of the South Korean
military in case of war. North Korean Leader Supports Resumption of Nuclear Talks, State
Media Say (2013-07-27) (New
York Times, By Choe Sang-hun and Chris Buckley) The North Korean leader, Kim
Jong-un, used his meeting with the visiting vice president of China this week to
stress a “blood” alliance with Beijing, and expressed his support for
reconvening six-nation talks on ending the North’s nuclear weapons
program. China Debates
DPRK Policy (2013-07-22) (PacNet
#55, Pacific Forum, CSIS, By Ren Xiao) China is bound to adjust its North Korean
policies, but it doesn’t mean Beijing will side with
the US, Japan, and South Korea. Rather, it will respond to the North’s extreme
moves that offend China's interests and will make the North correct those
moves.
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