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South
China Sea Disputes
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US Pacific Fleet Chief Joins Surveillance of S. China
Sea (2015-07-20) (AP)
In a move likely to irk mainland China, the new U.S. commander of the Pacific
Fleet joined a seven-hour surveillance flight over the disputed South China Sea
over the weekend on board one of America's newest spy
planes.
Chinese State Media to Pacific Fleet: We Won't Be Pushed Around in
South China Sea (2015-07-20) (Foreign
Policy, By David Wertime) On July 20, the website of People’s Daily, which
almost exclusively runs content given prior sanction within the government, ran
an interview whose title said that other countries won’t be able to take
advantage of China in the event of a conflict.
China Could Use Islands against Taiwan: CSIS
Advisor (2015-07-24) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) The US is “quite concerned” the islands will increase
China’s anti-access area-denial and general power-projection capabilities, said
Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
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Diaoyutai
Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
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Surprise: Japan Sees China As Its Main National Security
Threat (2015-07-24) (The
Diplomat, By Franz-Stefan Gady) The cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe approved the 2015 defense white paper, and China’s naval ambitions and its
overall maritime activities remain Japan’s top national security
concern.
Japan-China Maritime Dispute Back in the
Spotlight (2015-07-23) (The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) In the recently-released “Defense of Japan” white
paper, Japan’s Ministry of Defense had a lot to say about China as a security
threat. In one of the more specific criticisms, the paper takes China to task
for its “unilateral development” work in the East China Sea, where Japan and
China have not yet delimited their exclusive economic
zones.
China and Russia to Stage Amphibious Assault Attack in Sea of
Japan (2015-07-20) (The
Diplomat, By Franz-Stefan Gady) Chinese and Russian naval officials have
concluded planning a large joint Sino-Russian maritime exercise to be held in
late August, according to the Russian TASS wire service. India, Japan and US Plan Joint Indian Ocean Naval
Drills (2015-07-24) (Reuters)
Japan is set to take part in joint naval exercises with India and the US in the
Indian Ocean in October, military and diplomatic sources said, a drill that so
riled China eight years ago that Delhi has not since hosted such a multilateral
wargame.
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U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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A Grand Economic Strategy for Dealing with China (2015-07-23) (Foreign
Policy, By Jeffrey E. Garten) In the case of the RMB and the SDR, the box needs
to be bigger than what might seem natural because the internationalization of
China’s currency will overtime transform global finance, and global finance is
the circulatory system of the world economy. I’d advise the United States not to
fight the RMB/SDR issue. Let China in this year. But the issue could be used as
a springboard for much bigger things.
Book Review: ‘The China Challenge’ by Thomas J.
Christensen (2015-07-26) (New
York Times, By Jonathan Mirsky) Beijing should pay attention. It is lucky to
have in Thomas Christensen someone who can be severely critical about what’s
going on inside China, but who wants to deal.
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DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Tsai Favored over
Rivals to Carry out Cross-Strait Political Negotiations (2015-07-14) (TISR)
A plurality of Taiwanese think DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen would do
a better job at managing cross-Strait relations and safeguarding Taiwan’s
sovereignty during political negotiations with Beijing than her KMT competitor
Hung Hsiu-chu and potential candidate James Soong, according to the
latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
Unification Support Dive: Poll (2015-07-26) (Taipei
Times) The latest poll by National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center
showed a record-low 9.1 percent of respondents support unification with China,
and a record-low 3.3 percent regard themselves as Chinese.
‘1992 Consensus’ Written into KMT's New Party
Platform (2015-07-21) (CNA)
The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) has incorporated the "1992 consensus" into its party
platform that was passed at the party's national
congress.
Kinmen Water Deal Not a Security Risk: Official (2015-07-21) (Taipei
Times) A water deal signed with China will help stabilize water supply on Kinmen
and does not pose a national security risk, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs
Yang Wei-fu said.
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PLA,
Military Balance and Arms Sales
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China Improving Anti-Submarine Program: Study (2015-07-24) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) As Taiwan struggles to enhance its submarine fleet,
China is rapidly improving its anti-submarine warfare program, a study from
Stratfor Global Intelligence said.
Ministry of National Defense Tops 70% of Recruitment
Goal (2015-07-22) (Taipei
Times) The Ministry of National Defense released figures indicating it has
reached 71 percent of this year’s recruitment target as it shifts to an
all-volunteer force.
China Simulates Attack on Presidential Office (2015-07-23) (Taipei
Times) China’s CCTV released footage of the maneuvers, which the Ministry of
National Defense said hurt cross-strait relations and were unacceptable.
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Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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KMT Makes Hung Nomination Official (2015-07-20) (Taipei
Times) The KMT's national congress officially endorsed Deputy Legislative
Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu as its presidential candidate, putting an end to months of
speculation about Hung’s candidacy, which until yesterday was rumored to be
facing opposition within the party. Tsai Would Enjoy Significant Margin against Hung:
Poll (2015-07-20) (Taipei
Times) DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen would lead her KMT opponent,
Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu, by nearly 30 percentage points if they
are the only two participants in next year’s presidential election, according to
a poll released by the Taiwan Thinktank. Taiwan Chooses Vulnerability (2015-07-22) (Wall
Street Journal) Taiwan is debating big issues these days as it prepares to elect
a new president in January. Yet it’s having all too little debate about the
importance of domestic nuclear-energy production. Taiwanese leaders across the
political spectrum are instead playing to popular but shortsighted anti-nuclear
fervor. Taiwan Has Its Own Textbook Controversy Brewing (2015-07-27) (Foreign
Policy, By Grace Tsoi) A new history curriculum for Taiwanese high school
students, due to launch in August, is part of a larger forthcoming education
reform. But critics argue that the new history guidelines are an attempt by the
ruling Kuomintang, the island’s Chinese Nationalist political party, to sidle up
to mainland China and win new voters over to the KMT side. Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, First Half of July 2015 (2015-07-14) (TISR)
President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating dropped 4.2 percentage points over the
first 10 days of July, according to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
Monterey Talks Held at Pentagon: Report (2015-07-21) (China
Post) A high-level annual Taiwan-U.S. security meeting, known as the "Monterey
Talks" is currently being held at the Pentagon, the headquarters of the United
States Department of Defense, a local media source
reported.
President Urges Speed on EU Trade Deal (2015-07-22) (China
Post) President Ma Ying-jeou called for the rapid conclusion of a trade
agreement between the European Union and Taiwan during a meeting with a visiting
European Parliament delegation. State Visit Will Build Ties, Boost Trade: Honduras
Leader (2015-07-25) (China
Post) The state visit to the R.O.C is meant to further solidify bilateral ties
while promoting closer trade and investment, visiting Honduran President Juan
Orlando Hernandez said.
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China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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Top Chinese Officials Is Ousted from Communist
Party (2015-07-21) (New
York Times, By Dan Levin) A top aide to China’s former president Hu Jintao who
will face prosecution on corruption charges has been expelled from the Communist
Party and removed from public office, Chinese state news media
reported.
New US$100 Billion BRICS Bank Opens in Shanghai (2015-07-22) (AFP)
The NDB’s Web site calls it an alternative to the US-led World Bank and IMF,
although China’s finance minister downplayed that. OBOR Should be Strongly Considered: TAIRTA Head (2015-07-24) (China
Post) Taiwan's economy relies heavily on exports, and the nation should actively
participate in regional economic integration, including Beijing's "One Belt, One
Road" (OBOR) initiative, said Francis Liang, chairman of the Taiwan External
Trade Development Council. China's Global Ambitions, with Loans and Strings
Attached (2015-07-26) (New
York Times, By Clifford Krauss and Keith Bradsher) China has invested billions
outward, using its economic clout to win diplomatic allies and secure natural
resources around the world. The World According to China (2015-07-24) (New
York Times, By Gregor Aisch, Josh Keller, and K.K. Rebecca Lai) China’s enormous
overseas spending has helped it displace the United States and Europe as the
leading financial power in large parts of the developing world. Contact:
Dalton Lin, Executive Editor
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