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| Sunflower
Movement--A Student-Led Anti Cross-Strait Service Pact Protest
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The U.S. Can Help Calm Taiwan's Political Storm (2014-04-02)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Rupert Hammond-Chambers) By publicly declaring its backing
for Taiwan's bilateral and multilateral economic ambitions—including a bilateral
investment agreement with Washington and a path to participation in TPP—the U.S.
would lend invaluable support to peace and stability cross-Strait
relations.
63 Percent of Public
Believe Student Occupation of LY Good for Democracy (2014-03-28)
(TISR)
According to Taiwan Indicators Survey Research's latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese), 63 percent of survey respondents believe that the recent student
occupation of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan was good for the country's democratic
development. In contrast, 19.6 percent of respondents feel that the occupation
was harmful to Taiwan's democracy.
The Taiwan Protests: Regional and Economic
Implications (2014-04-02)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) The Diplomat speaks with Bonnie Glaser about the
roots of this opposition, and what these protests might mean for cross-strait
relations and Taiwan’s future trade negotiations.
Hundreds of Thousands Protest against Trade Pact in
Taiwan (2014-03-31)
(The
Diplomat, By J. Michael Cole) Protests over a Taiwan-China trade pact continued,
with up to 350,000 attending a rally outside the Presidential
Office.
Cabinet to Assemble Task Force for ‘Civic Constitutional
Meeting’ (2014-03-31)
(CNA)
The Cabinet is set to assemble a task force to evaluate the possibility of
holding a “civic constitutional meeting” as proposed by the protesters against a
trade-in-services agreement with China.
DPP Calls
U.S. Scholar's Views of Student Movement Slander (2014-03-31)
(CNA)
David Brown, an adjunct professor in China studies at the Paul H. Nitze School
of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University, took issue in the
Nelson Report on March 28 with an open letter on the protests issued by DPP
lawmaker Hsiao Bi-khim.
Board Member's Comments on Protests are His Own Opinion:
AIT (2014-04-01)
(CNA)
AIT spokesperson Mark Zimmer stated that recent opinions on the ongoing student
protests expressed by its Board of Trustee member David Brown were made in his
own capacity and were not representative of the AIT.
Ma Mulls National Trade Conference (2014-04-01)
(Taipei
Times) President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration agreed to a request to hold a
national affairs conference on economics and trade in a bid to resolve the
controversies surrounding the cross-strait service trade agreement.
Ex-AIT Chairman Praises Ma on Handling Protests (2014-04-02)
(Taipei
Times) Former American Institute in Taiwan chairman Richard Bush yesterday
praised President Ma Ying-jeou for “trying very hard” to resolve the political
gridlock over the controversial cross-strait service trade
agreement.
DPP to Boycott Pact ‘As Long As Possible’ (2014-04-03)
(China
Post) DPP caucus slammed the ruling Kuomintang for its allegedly illegitimate
decision to review the Cross-Strait Services in Trade Agreement and declared its
own determination to prevent the review from being carried
out.
DPP Tells US It Doesn't Fully Oppose Pact (2014-04-06)
(China
Post) The DPP's mission in the U.S. yesterday issued a statement explaining that
it does not fully oppose the Cross-Strait Trade in Services
Agreement.
Taiwan Speaker Offers Concession to Student
Protestors (2014-04-06)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Eva Dou) In a concession to student protesters, Taiwan
Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng said a review of a contentious services trade
pact with China will be delayed until an oversight mechanism for cross-strait
agreements is enacted.
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| South
China Sea Disputes
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Beijing and Manila in Dispute Over Reef (2014-03-31)
(New
York Times, By Jane Perlez) China accused the Philippines of illegally occupying
Chinese territory after a Filipino vessel outmaneuvered the Chinese Coast Guard
and resupplied a ship that has been stranded for 15 years on the Second Thomas
Shoal.
When Is a Rock Not a Rock? (2014-04-04)
(Foreign
Policy, By Keith Johnson) A diplomatic standoff between China and the
Philippines that flared up two years ago in a dispute over fishing rights at a
tiny shoal in the South China Sea is coming to a head after Manila decided to
ignore Chinese threats and sue Beijing in an international
tribunal.
Ma May Face Questions on China Stance: Academic (2014-04-03)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) A US professor says Washington may ask Taipei to
detail its own claims to the South China Sea and join it in condemning Beijing’s
belligerence.
China Pursuing ‘Gunboat Diplomacy,’ US Paper Says (2014-04-05)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) China is pursuing a policy of “gunboat diplomacy” in
the East and South China seas that is destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region, the
Center for a New American Security says in a report.
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| Diaoyutai
Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
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Japan Ends Half-Century Ban on Weapons Exports (2014-04-02)
(New
York Times, By Martin Fackler) The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
discarded a half-century ban on the export of weapons and military hardware, a
move aimed at helping Japan assume a larger regional security role to offset
China’s growing military might.
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| U.S.
Pivot to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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US Swears Asia Pivot Isn't Dead (2014-04-02)
(The
Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) Ahead of his fourth trip to the region, Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel says the US remains committed to the
rebalance.
Heading for Asia, U.S. Defense Secretary Sends a Message to
China (2014-04-03)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Dion Nissenbaum) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the
U.S. is "increasingly concerned" about China's disputes over territory in the
South China Sea and is urging its Asian rival not to use force to pursue its
claims.
U.S. Response to Crimea Worries Japan's Leaders (2014-04-06)
(New
York Times, By Helen Cooper and Martin Fackler) The American response to the
Russian takeover of Crimea, which President Obama has condemned while at the
same time ruling out American military action, has caused deep concern among
already skittish Japanese officials.
U.S. to Deploy 2 More Destroyers to Japan by 2017 (2014-04-06)
(AP)
The U.S. will deploy two additional ballistic missile defense destroyers to
Japan by 2017 as part of an effort to bolster protection from North Korean
missile threats, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said.
Taiwan Can Play Role in US ‘Pivot’: Deputy
Minister (2014-04-04)
(CNA)
Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Andrew Hsia said in Washington, D.C. that his
country can contribute a lot to burden-sharing efforts under the U.S. strategic
rebalance, or “pivot,” toward Asia and will discuss the issue with
Washington.
US Senator Rubio Seeks Answers on the ‘Six
Assurance’ (2014-04-06)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) A US senator is writing to US Secretary of State John
Kerry demanding to know if former US president Ronald Reagan’s “six assurances”
are still in force.
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| Cross-Strait
Issues
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Ex-VP Siew to Meet China Premier at Boao Forum (2014-04-06)
(China
Post) Former Vice President Vincent Siew is expected to meet with Chinese
Premier Li Keqiang at a forum in China later this week amid strong protests in
Taiwan against a cross-strait trade pact.
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| Military
Balance and Arms Sales
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Military's F-16A/B Fighter Jet Fleet to Be Upgraded in
2016 (2014-04-05)
(China
Post) Taiwan's military is expected to upgrade its existing F-16 fleet in 2016
despite recent rumors that the United States could call off the project due to
financial issues, a local newspaper said.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, Second Half of March 2014 (2014-03-28)
(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 last ten days of March. The president's
approval rating dropped 2 percentage points bringing it to 12.3 percent and his
disapproval rating edged up 0.5 percentage point to 75.4 percent.
Taiwan to Ask for US Support on TPP Bid (2014-04-02)
(China
Post) Taiwan will seek U.S. support for the nation's participation in the
proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc at the next round of the bilateral
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement later this week, local official
said.
ROC States Position on TPP Talks with US (2014-04-06)
(CNA)
Vice Economics Minister Cho Shih-chao said that the Taiwanese officials briefed
their U.S. counterparts on reforms undertaken by Taiwan in its bid to join the
U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade bloc.
US Scholar Urges Commission on Taiwan Issues (2014-04-01)
(CNA)
Similar to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission created by
congressional mandate, a commission related to Taiwan would monitor and
investigate national security and trade issues between Taipei and Washington,
said Dennis Hickey, a political science professor at Missouri State University
（TRA
Policy Brief by
Dennis Hickey).
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| China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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Leader of China Aims at Military with Graft Case (2014-04-01)
(New
York Times, By Jonathan Ansfield) Prosecutors accused a former senior military
official of a litany of crimes, including bribery, embezzlement and abuse of
power, presenting a first glimpse of what could be the biggest corruption
scandal to ever engulf the Chinese armed forces.
China's Former Leaders Tell Xi to Halt Anti-Corruption
Campaign (2014-04-04)
(The
Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) Former Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao are
reportedly pushing for an end to Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign.
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