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| Ukraine's
Lessons
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Will China Support Russia in the Ukraine Crisis? (2014-03-07)
(The
Feed, By Walter Russell Mead) A slew of articles and editorials in Chinese
government-run newspapers urge Beijing to firmly support Russia over Europe and
the U.S.
With Allies Like These, Who Needs Rivals?: China Maintains Studied
Ambiguity on Ukraine as Russia Claims ‘Concordance of Views’ (2014-03-06)
(China
Brief 14(5), Jamestown Foundation, By David Cohen) China has studiously avoided
endorsing Russia’s views of the Ukraine crisis in public, and rather appears to
be pursuing a neutrality that will permit it to deal easily with any government
that establishes power in Kiev.
Taiwan: Why China Backs Russia on Ukraine (2014-03-10)
(The
Diplomat, By James R. Holmes) Russia’s intervention in Ukraine could well
reinforce the precedent that big powers may manage their environs by force. That
would provide political top cover for China should it opt to use force against
Taiwan at some future time.
Ukraine--A Case for Chinese Involvement (2014-03-10)
(The
Diplomat, By Andong Peng) China is mistaken to sit back and do nothing on
Ukraine, because there is something at stake. There is one issue which it cares
deeply about: Taiwan. And the Russian seizure of the Crimea provides an
interesting template for China as to how eventual reunification might take place
in the “worst case” scenario, namely through force.
In the Battle for Crimea, China Wins (2014-03-12)
(Foreign
Policy, By Geoff Dyer) Even if the situation in Ukraine is resolved relatively
quickly and U.S. relations with Russia do not completely fall apart, Obama will
now spend a lot more of his time in office focusing on Europe, and top-level
attention to Asia will drop.
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| South
China Sea Disputes
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Second Thomas Shoal Tensions Intensify (2014-03-13)
(The
Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) The U.S. has criticized China for provoking the
Philippines in the Second Thomas Shoal even as Manila air-lifted supplies to its
marines stationed on the disputed reef.
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| Diaoyutai
Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
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Apology to Comfort Women Will Not be Revised: Japan
PM (2014-03-15)
(AFP)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that his government would not revise a
landmark 1993 “comfort women” apology and said he was “deeply pained” by the
suffering of women drawn into a system of wartime brothels.
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| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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China's ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Trap (2014-03-12)
(Wall
Street Journal) Beijing's unmet promises to Hong Kong are a lesson for
Taiwan.
Cross-Strait Pact Sparks Legislative
Tussle (2014-03-13)
(China
Post) The legislative deliberation for the Cross-Strait Trade in Services
Agreement failed to be processed due to physical altercations and non-stop
disputes between ruling party and opposition lawmakers.
Most Support Line-by-Line Cross-Strait Review (2014-03-14)
(Taipei
Times) A clause-by-clause review of the cross-strait service trade pact was
supported by a majority of respondents in a poll.
DPP Cross-Strait Policies Unpopular: Survey (2014-03-14)
(China
Post) The DPP released a recent cross-strait survey in its China Affairs
Committee meeting that sparked debate, with many criticizing the party for
trying to “boycott” all China-related issues.
Su Says DPP Has Become More Flexible on China (2014-03-15)
(Taipei
Times) DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang said the party does not “oppose everything
related to China” as many people believe and has begun adjusting its China
policy to make it more flexible and able to adapt to the changing dynamics of
cross-strait relations.
China ‘Salami-Slicing’ toward Unification, Glaser
Says (2014-03-15)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) “A combination of economic carrots and political
pressure is being used to persuade the people of Taiwan to forgo the option of
independence and reunify with the mainland,” Bonnie Glaser said.
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| PLA,
Military Balance and Arms Sales
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China Says Military Needs to Defend National
Interests (2014-03-12)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Brian Spegele) President Xi Jinping called on China's armed
forces to staunchly defend national interests, while warning military leaders
that China would have to bear greater responsibility as its military might
grows.
China's Military Modernization: Why It Doesn't Mean What You Think
It Means (2014-03-13)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) The modernization of China’s military technology is
important, no doubt. But the reforms to the military’s very structure, from
increasing coordination between the army, navy, and air force to consolidating
control of China’s military regions, could have an even bigger impact on the
security situation in the Asia-Pacific.
Taiwan Would Not Survive Month of Attack, NSB
Says (2014-03-11)
(Taipei
Times) Tsai Der-sheng contradicted the defense minister, saying the nation might
not last a month against China unless the public was willing to resist an
invasion.
Fifteen Cases of Spying Uncovered in Past Year:
Report (2014-03-12)
(Taipei
Times) Fifteen cases of alleged Chinese espionage activities have been uncovered
over the past year, of which 90 percent involved either active military
personnel or retired military officers.
Why Spy on Taiwan When Taiwan Gives away Information for
Free? (2014-03-12)
(The
Diplomat, By J. Michael Cole) According to the island’s top intelligence chief,
government agencies giving loads of confidential information to the Chinese —
for free.
Defense Officials ‘in Panic’ about US Defunding of F-16 Upgrade: US
Report (2014-03-10)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) US magazine Defense News reported that MND officials
were “embarrassed and beginning to panic” over the Pentagon’s decision not to
fund upgrades for 300 US F-16 jets.
No Extra Cost for F-16 Refit: US Official (2014-03-16)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) The US is committed to Taiwan’s F-16 refit, the US
deputy secretary of state for East Asia said, amid criticism that the US is
pandering to China’s whims.
Taiwan Receives First ‘Carrier Killer’ Ship (2014-03-14)
(The
Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) The first of Taiwan’s so-called “carrier killer”
ships was delivered to the Republic of China Navy, according to local
media.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, First Half of March 2014 (2014-03-13)
(TISR)
According to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese), President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating decreased while his
disapproval number increased over the first ten days of March. The president's
approval rating shed 0.2 percentage point bringing it to 14.3 percent and his
disapproval rating rose 1.3 percentage points to 74.9 percent.
Tsai Yin-Wen Announces Bid for DPP Chair (2014-03-16)
(Taipei
Times) Former DPP chairperson Tsai Ing-wen announced a bid to run for the post
again.
Navy Can Use Ports in Malaysia during Search: David
Lin (2014-03-13)
(Taipei
Times) A Taiwanese navy frigate and coast guard vessels that have been
dispatched to help search for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane can dock at
Malaysian ports to refuel and take on supplies, Foreign Minister David Lin
said.
Relations ‘Stable’: Official (2014-03-13)
(Taipei
Times) Security reports saying that Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic
allies were “vacuous” and subject to China’s diplomatic chokehold serve a
“warning,” but ties to the nation’s 22 diplomatic allies remain stable, Minister
of Foreign Affairs David Lin said.
Shen Lyu-Shun Appointed Representative to the US (2014-03-16)
(Taipei
Times) The newly appointed representative to the US said he has some ‘old
friends’ still serving in US Congress, which he believes will be helpful to his
job.
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| China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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Wang Yi Outlines China's Foreign Policy Vision (2014-03-11)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) Other countries may not like what a confident
Chinese foreign policy looks like—these nations would probably use the word
“assertive” or even “aggressive” rather than confident—but they had best get
used to it. Wang Yi’s press conference made it clear that China’s foreign policy
is not going to change course, but merely push further down the path already
laid in 2013.
5 Foreign Policy Takeaways from Li Keqiang's Work
Report (2014-03-10)
(The
Diplomat, By Mu Chunshan) Through comparison and observation, we can see that Li
hinted at a lot of new foreign policy ideas in his first government work report.
For those interested in China’s foreign policy, these are points deserving
special attention.
China's Central Bank Allows Its Currency More
Volatility (2014-03-16)
(New
York Times, By David Barboza) In the latest sign that China is loosening its
tight grip over the economy, the government said that the value of its currency
would now be allowed to fluctuate more widely against the United States
dollar.
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