Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Monday 5 October 2015

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2015-10-06 | NO.19(40) epaper |
South China Sea Disputes
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. 
Diaoyutai Disputes Resurface
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. 
U.S. “Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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.
DPP Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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.
PLA, Military Balance and Arms Sales
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.
Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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. 
China's Rise and Its Domestic Issues
The ‘Gatekeeper’ in Xi Jinping's Inner Circle (2015-10-03)
(Sinosphere, By Edward Wong) There are about 300 people from the General Office who “play an important role in pushing paperwork and decision documents to Xi and act as the staff of the N.S.C.,” David M. Lampton wrote in a paper on the National Security Commission this year.

Contact: Dalton Lin, Executive Editor
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