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Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
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Japan and U.S. Set New Rules for Military
Cooperation (2015-04-28)
(New
York Times, By Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael R. Gordon) President Obama and
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan have reached an accord to tighten defense
cooperation, as both leaders move to counter rising military threats from
China.
Kerry Renews US' Commitment to Japan's
Security (2015-04-29)
(Reuters)
US Secretary of State John Kerry told Japanese leaders that Washington’s treaty
commitments to Japan’s security remain “iron-clad” and cover all territories
under Tokyo’s administration, including islands in the East China Sea that
Taiwan and China also claim.
China Decries New US-Japan Defense Guidelines (2015-05-01)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) The vociferous reaction of China is only to be
expected, but Japan and the United States both apparently tried to do damage
control by briefing China on the new defense guidelines.
China, Be Afraid: The Mighty U.S.-Japan Alliance Is Going
Global (2015-05-01)
(National
Interests, By Nick Bisley) The reality is that Japan’s defense capacity is
severely constrained. There’s not a great deal Japan can actually do that far
from its shores.
China Takes Stock of U.S.-Japan Alliance As Abe Speaks to
Congress (2015-05-01)
(China
Brief 15(9), Jamestown Foundation, By Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga) The People's
Daily published an article focusing first and foremost on the issue of Abe’s
historical memory, but, notably, there was little direct editorial commentary on
his speech.
A Closer Look at the New US-Japan Defense
Guidelines (2015-05-01)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) The
Diplomat speaks
with Japanese MOFA press secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura about what the guidelines
really mean.
Shinzo Abe's Speech to Congress Brings Military Alliance
Closer (2015-04-30)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Toko Sekiguchi and Yuka Hayashi) Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe’s visit to Washington, D.C. and his speech to Congress will help
bolster the U.S.-Japan military alliance, analysts said, although the lack of
significant new language on Japan’s wartime actions left some
disappointed.
Shinzo Abe's Sorry Apology (2015-05-01)
(Foreign
Policy, By Sung-yoon Lee and Zach Przystup) Abe’s visit will likely grow into a
diplomatic irritant for U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration because of
the prime minister’s omissions and equivocations related to Japan’s war crimes
against other Asian countries in the first half of the 20th century.
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| U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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Where Do We Draw the Line on Balancing China? (2015-04-27)
(Foreign
Policy, By Stephen M. Walt) From Beijing’s perspective, a deteriorating
relationship with Washington is something to be avoided, especially when Chinese
exports to the United States are about twice as large (as a percentage of GDP)
as U.S. exports to China. Both countries have an interest in maintaining
mutually beneficial economic ties, but China needs them even more than the
United States does.
Related:
-A
New U.S. Grand Strategy towards China
Once Concerned, China Is Quiet about Trans-Pacific Trade
Deal (2015-04-29)
(New
York Times, By Keith Bradsher) Senior Chinese officials have started to soften
on the Trans-Pacific Partnership in recent months. In October, Zhu Guangyao, a
vice finance minister, said that the pact would be “incomplete” without China,
and hinted that China might want to participate someday.
China Lurks As US Ties with Thailand Splinter, Military Experts
Say (2015-04-11)
(Stars
and Stripes, By Wyatt Olson) America’s alliance with Thailand — its oldest
treaty partner in Asia — is splintering as a result of blinkered diplomacy over
the year-old military coup there, say two former U.S. military officers with
long experience working in that country. And they warn that China is quickly
filling the void.
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| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Tsai's ‘Status Quo’ Views ‘Interesting,’ US Official
Says (2015-04-29)
(Taipei
Times) Comments by DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen on cross-strait issues were
“interesting” and “constructive,” and Washington looks forward to hearing more
from her, US Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Asia
Evan Medeiros said.
DPP's China Policy Draws Fire (2015-04-30)
(Taipei
Times) Taiwanese independence movement leader Koo Kwang-ming lashed out at DPP
Chairperson and presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s announcement that
maintaining the “status quo” would be her China policy.
Tsai Rejects Ma's Criticism, Says He Is Out of
Touch (2015-04-30)
(Taipei
Times) In response to President Ma Ying-jeou’s request that she elaborate on her
cross-strait agenda, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said that she has explained it
well already and criticized Ma for not knowing about the public’s real
concerns.
DPP Rejects Unofficial Ties with CCP:
Spokesperson (2015-05-03)
(Taipei
Times) Responding to KMT Chairman Eric Chu’s statement that the DPP is failing
to develop a DPP-CCP relationship, the DPP reiterated its stance that
cross-strait ties should be based on a government-to-government
relationship.
‘1992 Consensus’ Foundation for Ties: Ma (2015-04-30)
(Taipei
Times) President Ma Ying-jeou said that the so-called "1992 Consensus" as the
“political basis” for cross-strait interaction is
“irreplaceable.”
Gov't Touts Benefits of ‘1992 Consensus’ (2015-05-03)
(CNA)
The Presidential Office reiterated the importance of the so-called “1992
Consensus,” saying that the consensus has brought about a “super-stable status
quo” of cross-Taiwan Strait peaceful development over the past seven
years.
Chu, Xi to Discuss Strengthening ‘1992 Consensus’ (2015-05-02)
(China
Post) KMT Chairman Eric Chu said that he will address strengthening the
so-called “1992 Consensus” while meeting with mainland Chinese leader Xi
Jinping.
Discussion of Peace Pact Not on Xi Agenda: Chu (2015-05-03)
(China
Post) KMT Chairman Eric Chu said he will not touch on the possibility of signing
a cross-strait peace agreement in his upcoming meet with his Chinese Communist
Party counterpart Xi Jinping.
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| PLA,
Military Balance and Arms Sales
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Chinese and Russian Navies to Hold Joint Drills in
Mediterranenean (2015-05-01)
(New
York Times, By Jane Perlez) The Chinese Navy will hold joint exercises with
Russia in the Mediterranean in May, China’s Defense Ministry said, a further
indication of the closer ties between the two countries and of the navy’s
increasing ambitions.
Air Force Rejects ‘False’ and ‘Unfounded’ Reports of China
Locking on to a Fighter (2015-04-28)
(Taipei
Times) The air force rejected as false and unfounded media reports suggesting
that one of its Indigenous Defense Fighter jets had been automatically tracked
by the People’s Liberation Army’s missile defense system during a routine patrol
last year.
Game Change in the Western Pacific Region and ROC's Self-Defense
Effort (2015-05-01)
(China
Brief 15(9), Jamestown Foundation, By Andrew Nien-Dzu Yang) Both the United
States and Taiwan should seek a window of opportunity to reset U.S.-Taiwan
defense communication to evaluate Taiwan’s military transformation, based on the
2013 QDR, and at the same time identify areas of military and security
cooperation to strengthen Taiwan’s traditional share of the regional security
responsibility, namely TADIZ, to fill the gap in the U.S. efforts to rebalance
toward Asia.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Parties Unveil Constitutional Reform Plans (2015-05-02)
(Taipei
Times) The Chinese Nationalist Party and the Democratic Progressive Party
caucuses unveiled their respective proposed amendments to the
Constitution.
Parties, Groups Reach Accord on Amending
Constitution (2015-05-03)
(Taipei
Times) A number of political parties and civic groups have reached agreement on
a two-stage constitutional reform process that aims to defer the most
controversial issues until a second round.
Philippines Trade Expands, Trade Value Doubles:
MOEA (2015-04-28)
(Manila
Times/TNS, By Catherine S. Valente) After years of strengthening economic
relations, Taiwan and the Philippines are expected to continue experiencing
increasing amounts of bilateral trade, according to Taiwan's Ministry of
Economic Affairs, with trade volume between the two countries doubling from
US$6.05 billion in 2009 to nearly US$12 billion in 2014.
Nepal Turns Down Offer of Help (2015-04-28)
(Taipei
Times) Nepal has declined Taiwan’s offer of help with search-and-rescue efforts
after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the Himalayan country on Saturday, Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Kao said.
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