Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Monday 2 March 2015

epaper_image
2015-03-02 | NO.19(9) epaper |
South China Sea Disputes
China's Neighbors Bulk Up Militaries  (2015-02-26)
(Wall Street Journal, By Trefor Moss) China’s neighbors are moving forward with the modernization of their militaries with new fighter jets, submarines and other hardware, even as Beijing has tried to tamp down territorial tensions in the region. 
U.S. “Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
Asia's New Triple Alliance (2015-02-24)
(Foreign Policy, By Daniel Twining) Beijing has played its hand badly in recent years, alarming not only U.S.-allied nations but also non-aligned states like India, and nudging them closer to the U.S.-led Asia-Pacific security network.

The Catch-22 in U.S.-Chinese Relations
 (2015-02-22)
(Foreign Affairs, By Stephen Hadley and Paul Haenle) Washington should seize opportunities to improve the quality of cooperation and to operationalize a new model of relations—especially in areas where the United States and China can make progress that benefits the whole world.

The Ultimate Nightmare: Are the U.S. and China Destined for War? (2015-02-27)
(National Interests, By Harry J. Kazianis) While there have been various security dilemmas sprinkled throughout the pages of history, the U.S.-Sino security dilemma introduces a dangerous twist—a reliance on sophisticated types of military technology that rewards the side who strikes first and the hardest across all possible domains of conflict.

Mutual Suspicion Mars Tech Trade with China (2015-02-28)
(New York Times, By Jane Perlez and Paul Mozur) In this tech trade dispute between China and the United States, traditional concerns of market share and protectionism have become intertwined with the thornier issues of national security and espionage.

Meet America's New Public Enemy No. 1 (2015-02-27)
(Foreign Policy, By David Francis) According to a new Gallup poll, 18 percent of the American public now views Russia as the top threat to the nation. Some 15 percent of the public views North Korea as America’s top rival, while just 12 percent views China as the biggest threat.
Cross-Strait Issues
Taiwan Attracting More Emigrants from Hong Kong (2015-02-24)
(CNA) Although the number of people moving out of Hong Kong has been declining, the number of people applying to move to Taiwan has surged sharply, according to data from Hong Kong and Taiwanese authorities.
No Consensus, No M503 Flights: CAA (2015-02-25)
(Taipei Times) The Civil Aeronautics Administration said that Chinese airlines would not begin to use the flight route M503 on Thursday next week if a consensus is not reached between China and Taiwan before then.
Ministry to Keep Eye on Chinese Flights (2015-02-27)
(Taipei Times) Taiwan will closely monitor Chinese flights that are scheduled to start using a contentious new flight route on Thursday next week and may ask for military assistance to warn off planes entering Taipei’s flight information region, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Tseng Dar-jen said.
Officials Dismiss Reported Ma, Xi Meeting Agreement (2015-02-26)
(Taipei Times) Government officials dismissed a reported statement by former MAC vice chairman Chang Hsien-yao that a meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese President Xi Jinping had been arranged in 2013 to take place in August last year.

Constitution Talk Skirts China Ties (2015-02-25)
(Taipei Times) Critics say the discussions of constitutional reform have skirted what they see as problems inherent in the Constitution in defining relations with China.
‘Fifth-Column’ Threat Inflated: Retired Colonel (2015-02-28)
(Taipei Times) Amid concerns over Chinese “fifth-column” units posing as tourists to gather intelligence and conduct covert operations in Taiwan, a retired army colonel said that the public and the Ministry of National Defense should not over-react.
PLA and Military Balance
U.S. Expert Finds Faults in Chinese Military Command (2015-02-23)
(Sinosphere, By Jane Perlez) A former Army attaché at the United States Embassy in Beijing, Dennis J. Blasko, has published a piece on the Chinese military not doing so well, and he draws on the military press for his conclusions.

Clapper Refuses to Discuss PLA Threat
 (2015-02-28)
(Taipei Times, By William Lowther) China continues production of JIN-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The U.S. intelligence community expects China to conduct its first nuclear deterrence patrols this year.

Taiwan's Military Strength Ranked 15th in Global Poll
 (2015-02-28)
(Taipei Times) Taiwan’s military strength ranks 15th in the world and ninth in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of conventional war-making capability across land, sea and air, according to a survey conducted by military Web site Global Firepower. 
Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
More Foreign Graduates Stay for Jobs in Taiwan (2015-02-27)
(Taipei Times) An increasing number of foreign students who graduated from institutions of higher education in Taiwan have chosen to stay for employment as a result of reforms enacted half a year ago.

No Politics in TPP Bid Appraisal: Official
 (2015-02-23)
(CNA) Economic Affairs Minister John Deng has called on the United States and other countries that are negotiating the TPP to set aside geopolitical factors in their consideration of Taiwan's bid to join the multi-national trade agreement, according a Washington media report.

Authorities Monitoring Militant Threat to Taipei (2015-02-27)
(Taipei Times) The government and the military said they are the on alert following an apparent threat the Islamic State group made through a Twitter post, which featured an illustration of Taipei coming under attack, with the landmark Taipei 101 in flames and several other buildings on fire.

Alleged IS Threat Against Taipei Taken Seriously by US (2015-02-27)
(CNA) An alleged terror threat by the extremist group Islamic State against Taipei, posted on Twitter, has been noted and is being taken seriously by the United States, the AIT said.
Lu Promotes Closer Japan Relations (2015-02-24)
(Taipei Times) Given that both Japan and Taiwan are under the pressure of China’s rising global influence, the fact that the US has deliberately ignored Taiwan’s existence, while seeking to regain political influence in Asia, has prompted Japan to keep a close watch on Taiwan’s role in the region.
Marginalizing Taiwan Harms Global Security: Report (2015-03-01)
(Taipei Times, By William Lowther) Taiwan’s exclusion from international security groups has created “blind spots” for terrorists and criminals to exploit, a report from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says.

Executive Editor: Dalton Lin
Previous