|
| |
Taiwan's
9-in-1 Elections
| |
| |
Future Society Indicator for Politics (2014-12-08) (Taipei
Times, By Wang Yeh-lih) This time, a group of independent voters joined forces
with DPP supporters to deliver a rout for the KMT and to hand the DPP 13 cities
and counties, plus Taipei. However, that does not mean that this coalition will
necessarily identify themselves with the DPP over the long term.
Constitutional Reforms to be Pushed (2014-12-12) (Taipei
Times) KMT legislators were joined by colleagues from across party lines in
proposing changes to the Constitution as a way of resolving the nation’s
constitutional-political impasse, presidential unaccountability and the lack of
a communication mechanism between the ruling and opposition
parties. Chu to Run for KMT Chiar, Not President (2014-12-13) (China
Post) Newly re-elected New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu confirmed via his Facebook
page that he will not join the much anticipated 2016 presidential election,
although he will run for Kuomintang party chairman. New Taipei Mayor Proposes Vote on Parliamentary
System (2014-12-13) (CNA)
New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu proposed putting a possible constitutional amendment
to adopt a parliamentary system to a public vote in 2016 to coincide with the
next presidential election. US May Assist KMT After Defeat at Polls: Academic (2014-12-08) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) A specialist in US-Taiwan relations suggested that
Washington might try to help the KMT recover from its crushing defeat in Nov.
29’s nine-in-one elections.
Taiwan a ‘Flashpoint’: US Group (2014-12-10) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Taiwan is poised to become a “worrisome flashpoint”
in US-China relations, according to a Washington think
tank.
HK Protests Had Little Effect on Taiwan: Scholars (2014-12-13) (CNA)
Alan Romberg said it is Taiwan's development that has had more of an impact on
Hong Kong, pointing to the student-led Sunflower Movement that occupied Taiwan's
Legislature in March.
| |
| |
South
China Sea Disputes
| |
| |
China Details Objections to Arbitration in Dispute with
Philippines (2014-12-08) (Wall
Street Journal, By Jeremy Page and James T. Areddy) Even though China has not
yet chosen to participate directly, the position paper is a positive development
in that the Chinese appear to be taking the tribunal and its dispute resolution
powers more seriously than in the past.
Beijing's
& Washington's Dueling South China Sea Paper (2014-12-09) (PacNet
#87, Pacific Forum, CSIS, By Gregory B. Poling) Policymakers in Beijing and
Washington recognize the value of occupying the legal high ground in the South
China Sea and are eager to influence the arbitral tribunal even if they are not
directly engaging in the case.
| |
| |
Diaoyutai
Disputes Resurface
| |
| |
Detente for China and Japan (2014-12-09) (New
York Times, By Akio Takahara) Greater understanding between the two peoples will
help Abe and Xi deflect pressure from nationalists.
| |
| |
Cross-Strait
Issues
| |
| |
More than Half of
Taiwanese Favor Cross-Strait Agreement Supervision Act and Rep Offices in
2015 (2014-12-11) As
part of the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese), participants were asked whether or not they thought the following
items related to cross-Strait affairs should be completed next year (the
corresponding percentage represents respondents answering in the
affirmative):
No Way Out without Free Trade: ARATS
Chief (2014-12-10) (China
Post) Chen Deming, president of China's Association for Relations Across the
Taiwan Straits, hopes that based on the previously established foundation,
Taiwan and China can continue to strengthen their
exchange.
China Will Wait 2 Years for Taiwan (2014-12-11) (China
Post) When asked by media if China would be waiting for Taiwan to pass the
Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement, Chen Deming, president of China's
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, confirmed the sentiment
though he emphasized that the time frame would be within two years and not after
two years. ARATS Chief Optimistic about Cross-Strait Future (2014-12-14) (China
Post) China's top negotiator with Taiwan expressed optimism about cross-strait
relations as he continued a round-the-island visit.
Offshore Islands to Ease Chinese Travel from Jan.
1 (2014-12-11) (CNA)
Chinese visitors to Taiwan's outlying islands will no longer have to apply for
travel permits in advance starting Jan. 1 next year, in a campaign aimed at
promoting tourism in those areas, the Interior Ministry
announced. Beijing Set to Ramp Up the Pressure on Ma, US Congressional Report
Says (2014-12-13) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Beijing might increase pressure for political and
military negotiations with Taiwan, a report by the US Congressional Research
Service said.
| |
| |
PLA
and Military Balance
| |
| |
China Ready to Arm Stealth Subs with Nuclear
Missiles (2014-12-10) (Bloomberg)
China is preparing to arm its stealthiest submarines with nuclear missiles that
could reach the US, cloaking its arsenal with the invisibility needed to
retaliate in the event of an enemy strike.
Taiwan's Defense Ability Bolstered with UAV
Fleet (2014-12-10) (Taipei
Times) The nation’s defense and air reconnaissance capabilities have been
significantly enhanced with UAVs and other cutting-edge systems and devices,
which were unveiled by the Chungshan Institute of Science &
Technology.
Domestically Manufactured Submarine Prototype Possible by 2024, MND
Says (2014-12-11) (Taipei
Times) MND estimates that design blueprints for a domestically manufactured
prototype submarine could be drawn up between 2016 and 2019, with a domestically
manufactured prototype possible as soon as 2024. Officials Admit That Research Boat Was Used by
Military (2014-12-11) (Taipei
Times) The Executive Yuan admitted that the Ocean Researcher V — the nation’s
largest maritime research vessel — which sank near Penghu in October, had
carried out secret missions for the military. Navy Unveils New ‘Aircraft Carrier-Killing’ War
Vessel (2014-12-12) (Taipei
Times) The navy unveiled a high-speed warship called the Tuo Jiang-class
Corvette that officials said will reinforce the nation’s maritime defense
capabilities and serve as a strong deterrent against enemy intrusion into
Taiwanese waters.
| |
| |
China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
| |
| |
Hong Kong Police Haul Away Demonstrators from Rally
Site (2014-12-12) (AFP)
Hong Kong police dismantled the city's main pro-democracy site, clearing tents
and barricades after more than two months of rallies and leading away more than
100 demonstrators, who vowed their struggle lives on.
Hong Kong Protesters Lose a Last Bastion, But Vow to Come
on (2014-12-13) (New
York Times, By Chris Buckley and Keith Bradsher) Even in their defeat, the
protesters, most of them college students, left with a new sense of political
identity, a willingness to challenge the almighty power holders in
Beijing. China Sets Economic Reform Targets for 2015 (2014-12-12) (The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) China concluded its Central Economic Work
Conference, putting in place a roadmap for furthering the economic reforms first
called for at last year’s Third Plenum.
Executive
Editor: Dalton Lin
| |
|
|
|