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U.S.
Pivot to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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China-U.S. Military Ties on the Upswing (2013-09-27) (China
Brief 13(19), Jamestown Foundation, By Richard Weitz) There are reasons for
pessimism about the possibility of a deep China-U.S. defense partnership.
Chinese analysts focus on the process rather than concrete outcomes. There is
also a sense that the burden is on the United States to avoid the logic of
confrontation by accommodating Chinese interests regarding territorial disputes,
human rights and other issues. US Pivot Undermined by Cuts: Analysts (2013-09-27) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Budget cuts have left US President Barack Obama’s
“pivot” to Asia without any real teeth and may in the process have increased
Taiwan’s vulnerability, a team of US military experts said.
US Pivot to Asia Running Out of Steam:
Analysts (2013-09-29) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) The US has dismissed criticism that US President
Barack Obama’s much-publicized pivot toward Asia is running out of
steam.
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DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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APEC Addition Sparks Ma-Xi Meeting Speculation (2013-09-25) (Taipei
Times) In a breach of precedent, MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi will join Taiwan’s
delegation to the APEC summit next month in Indonesia led by former vice
president Vincent Siew, sparking speculation that his trip was a prelude to
cross-strait political talks.
KMT-CCP Forum to Open in China in Oct. (2013-09-26) (CNA)
Meanwhile, Yang Yi, spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, announced in
Beijing that a cross-strait peace forum — the first of its kind — will take
place Oct. 11-12 in Shanghai, in which the participants will discuss issues
concerning political relations between Taiwan and China, foreign affairs, safety
and mutual trust and a peace structure.
DPP Meeting on PRC Policy Fails to Reach a
Consensus (2013-09-27) (Taipei
Times) The DPP's discussion of its Taiwan independence policy again ended
without a consensus, but participants agreed that the party should engage
Beijing and establish an inter-party “constitutional consensus,” before forging
closer ties with China.
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Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Ma Holds Policy Meeting without Wang Jin-pyng (2013-09-24) (Taipei
Times) KMT caucus whip Lin Hung-chih took Wang’s place at the meeting, and the
Presidential Office said Ma would not change his stance.
Taiwan Only ‘Guest’ Due to China: ICAO (2013-09-26) (Taipei
Times) China opposed Taiwan participating in the aviation authority as an
observer and proposed guest status instead, squeezing Taiwan’s international
space. Aussie New PM Willing to Talk Free Trade: MOFA (2013-09-26) (CNA)
The new government of Australia has said it is willing to begin free trade talks
with Taiwan, a sign that the new administration will be more friendly toward
Taiwan than its predecessor, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said.
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Bo
Xilai's Verdict; China's Domestic Issues
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Xi Comes Out on Top After Bo Verdict (2013-09-22) (Wall
Street Journal, By Jeremy Page) The return of charismatic, strongman politics to
China, reversing a trend toward collective, consensus-based leadership since Mr.
Deng's death in 1997 may well prove to be the most important legacy of the Bo
scandal. China's Xi Stamps Authority on Party with Bo
Verdict (2013-09-23) (Reuters,
By Benjamin Kang Lim and Adam Rose) With ousted senior politician Bo Xilai
jailed for life, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stamped his authority on the
Communist Party by effectively warning he will not tolerate dissent as he seeks
to push through tough economic reforms.
Bo Xilai Conviction Will Do Little to Curb
Corruption (2013-09-24) (YaleGlobal,
By Zhiwu Chen) So far, President Xi Jinping is following old trends, doing more
to crack down on media reports and citizen debate than propose reforms that
might curb corruption.
The Legacy of Bo Xilai (2013-09-25) (The
Diplomat, By Minxin Pei) The most striking irony of the Bo Xilai saga is that
while the antagonist is headed to jail, perhaps for a long time, part of his
political legacy has not only survived his fall, but also become an essential
element of the party’s new strategy. Pursuing Graft Cases at Higher Levels, Chinese Leader Risk
Unsettling Elites (2013-09-26) (New
York Times, By Chris Buckley) Xi Jinping must now decide how much further he is
willing to pursue other high-level corruption investigations that could either
strengthen his authority or unleash risky instabilities within the political
elite.
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Regional
Issues
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Taiwan-Philippines Talks Postponed (2013-09-28) (China
Post) The new round of fishery talks with the Philippines that was originally
set to be held in mid-September has been temporarily postponed due to Manila's
internal problems, a MOFA official said. Japan's Leader Gives No Ground in Island Dispute (2013-09-28) (New
York Times, By Rick Gladstone) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan rejected any
concession in a standoff with China over a group of islands claimed by both
countries, declining to even acknowledge that the islands are
disputed.
China Bans Items for Export to North Korea, Fearing Their
Use in Weapons (2013-09-25) (New
York Times, By Jane Perlez) In a sign of growing concern about North Korea’s
nuclear ambitions, China published a long list of equipment and chemical
substances to be banned from export to North Korea for fear they could be used
in adding to its increasingly sophisticated nuclear weapons programs.
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