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South
China Sea Disputes
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US Group Warns of ‘Storm’ to Hit South China Sea (2015-10-04) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) There is a military storm brewing in the South China
Sea and it will involve Taiwan, a US national defense and strategic planning
consultancy told a Washington conference.
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Diaoyutai
Disputes Resurface
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Interview: Ezra Vogel (2015-09-29) (Asia
Today, By Emanuel Pastreich) The discourse on regional affairs in East Asia is
growing increasingly sophisticated and we find many cosmopolitan people in
China, Japan, and Korea who realize that these countries should work together,
and advocate for collaboration.
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U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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US Admiral Signals Wider Role for Third Fleet (2015-09-28) (Reuters)
A top US Navy admiral wants the powerful Third Fleet to expand its engagement in
the Western Pacific from its headquarters in San Diego, California, by operating
more closely with the Japan-based Seventh Fleet to focus on areas with the
“greatest instability.”
Xi Jinping Burnishes Foreign Policy Credentials Despite Lack of
Achievement at U.S. Summit (2015-10-02) (China
Brief 15(19), Jamestown Foundation, By Willy Lam) Despite a lack of concrete
achievements in his summit with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, Chinese
President Xi Jinping has accomplished a more important goal for his domestic
audience—burnishing his image as a statesman. Chinese Embrace America's Culture but Not Its
Policies (2015-09-29) (New
York Times, By Chris Buckley) In some ways, American cultural influence reaches
into China deeper than ever. Yet studies and surveys show that many Chinese
citizens remain wary of the United States and hostile to Washington’s foreign
intentions, especially when China’s territorial claims and rising influence are
at stake. Chinese Colonel's Hard-Line Views Seep into the
Mainstream (2015-10-03) (New
York Times, By Edward Wong) “There are flames around Asia, and every place could
be a battlefield in the future,” Colonel Liu Mingfu said. “That’s all caused by
the invisible hand of the United States. Without the black hand of the U.S.,
Asia would be more peaceful and stable.” Perception and Misperception in American and Chinese Views of the
Other (2015-09-22) (Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, By Alastair Iain Johnston and Mingming Shen
(Eds)) There are substantial gaps in American and Chinese perceptions of the
basic traits and characteristics that each side exhibits. However, at the
individual level, strong in-group exceptionalism does not necessarily predict
out-group denigration.
Rallying Global Support, Obama Pledges Larger U.S. Role in
Peacekeeping Missions (2015-09-29) (New
York Times, By Somini Sengpta) China has increased its involvement in United
Nations peacekeeping in recent years, including by sending troops to South Sudan
and by insisting, for the first time in a peacekeeping mission, that the mandate
is to protect not just civilians, but also critical infrastructure like oil
fields in which China has a stake.
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DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Unification with China Not on Agenda, Says Taiwan
President (2015-10-02) (Reuters,
By Jean Yoon and J. R. Wu) Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said the island was not
ready to discuss unification with China, sending a firm message to an
increasingly assertive Beijing eager to absorb what it considers a renegade
province.
Lai's Independence Stance Stirs Furor (2015-10-02) (Taipei
Times) The KMT said the DPP is trying to attract both swing and ‘deep-green’
voters by having Tsai and William Lai advocate contradictory
policies. Cross-Strait Relations a Challenge with a Tsai Presidency, Say
Officials (2015-10-03) (China
Post) National security sources named two cross-strait policy areas that could
see new challenges — whether existing and productive talks could carry on
between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for
Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and whether policies regulating Chinese
travelers would see a change.
MAC Minister to Review Issues with His Mainland
Counterpart (2015-10-02) (CNA)
Mainland Affairs Council Minister Hsia Li-yan said that he and his mainland
Chinese counterpart will look into matters related to cross-Taiwan Strait
negotiations during their next meeting in China later this
month.
MAC Targets Year-End Inking of Trade Pact (2015-10-03) (Taipei
Times) Taiwan is hoping to conclude its negotiations with China on a trade in
goods agreement by the end of the year, Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister
Lin Chu-chia said.
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PLA,
Military Balance and Arms Sales
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Could China Be about to Transform Its Military? (2015-09-29) (The
Diplomat, By John Costello) Given recent overseas aggression and a newfound
international assertiveness, Chairman Xi is a leader with an international – and
some would say expansionist – agenda, one that needs a strong military modeled
on proven doctrine and capable of fulfilling key objectives.
China's Search for a “Strategic Air
Force” (2015-10-02) (China
Brief 15(19), Jamestown Foundation, By Michael S. Chase and Christina Garafola)
As Chinese analysts point out, the PLAAF still faces numerous challenges,
including shortcomings in airborne command and control capability, long-range
early warning and reconnaissance capability, long-range strike capability, and
strategic airlift capability, but it is well on the way to becoming a “strategic
air force.”
US Not Living Up to TRA: US House Asia
Chair (2015-10-02) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) The US is not living up to the Taiwan Relations Act,
a leading US representative said.
US-Taiwan Defense Conference to Discuss Submarine
Programs (2015-10-03) (CNA)
The U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2015 will run from Oct. 4-6 in
Williamsburg in the eastern U.S. state of Virginia, and the discussions will be
centered on bilateral defense cooperation, Taiwan's indigenous submarine program
and potential submarine sales to Taiwan.
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Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Tsai Unveils Plan for ‘Asia Silicon Valley’
Initiative (2015-10-02) (Taipei
Times) DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen announced her “Asian Silicon
Valley” initiative, saying that the plan is to create the basis for business
development for the next two decades and would welcome talent from all over the
world, including China. Tsai Ing-Wen's Real Challenge (2015-09-29) (The
Diplomat, By William E. Sharp, Jr.) Much emphasis has been given to how
Taiwanese opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen defines the status quo and how she
views the ’92 Consensus. However, her real challenge will be addressing domestic
politics, not cross-strait relations. KMT Politician Demands Review of Hung's Selection (2015-10-04) (Taipei
Times) KMT sources said “more than half” of the Central Standing Committee
supported convening a provisional party congress to challenge Hung’s
candidacy.
Latest TIFA Talks ‘Productive’: US (2015-10-02) (China
Post) The latest round of trade talks between Taiwan and the U.S. under the
bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement made much ground in a number
of areas on its first day, but both sides have yet to reach consensus on issues
such as U.S. pork imports, said a U.S. trade official. US Pork Issue Clouds Investment Pact Talks (2015-10-02) (Taipei
Times) The likelihood of the US and Taiwan signing a bilateral investment
agreement bears further consideration because of an issue related to US pork
imports, a US trade official said in Taipei. US Says More Work Needed to Resolve Agricultural
Issues (2015-10-04) (CNA)
The United States and Taiwan held in-depth discussions on various agricultural
issues in their latest round of the major trade talks but further effort is
needed to ensure progress on those issues, the American Institute in Taiwan
said. Taiwan-US Ties Review Due: Academics (2015-10-02) (Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Hudson Institute director of Chinese strategy Michael
Pillsbury said that as far as it is known, Taiwan was not a subject of friction
between Xi and US President Barack Obama during their private
talks.
Taiwan Pushing for Establishment of Offices in Southeast
Asia (2015-09-29) (CNA)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promoted a "go south" policy in a pragmatic
manner and has always wanted to set up representative offices in Southeast Asia,
it said Monday amid reports that it could set up an office in Myanmar
soon. Ministry Downplays Pope's Comments about PRC
Relations (2015-09-30) (Taipei
Times) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs downplayed a comment by Pope Francis that
he would like improved relations with China and to visit the country, saying it
is confident that the “feelings of Taiwanese” would be factored into the
Vatican’s dealings with Beijing. Gov't Hopes to Start EU Trade Talks Soon (2015-10-02) (CNA)
President Ma said that since the EU and China have been in talks about an
investment agreement for almost two years, now is a good time for the EU and
Taiwan to start parallel talks on a bilateral investment agreement.
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