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| South
China Sea Disputes and Other Regional Issues
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China Has Installed Radar Systems in Spratlys: US
Report (2016-02-24)
(AP)
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reasserted Beijing’s right to develop
its South China Sea island outposts following a US think tank report that China
has built new radar facilities in the disputed Spratly
Islands.
Possible Radar Suggests Beijing Wants ‘Effective Control’ in South
China Sea (2016-02-24)
(New
York Times, By Michael Forsythe) China may be building a series of radar
facilities on artificial islands in disputed waters in the South China Sea,
which would help it to establish “effective control” over sea and air in one of
the world’s busiest waterways, according to a report issued this
week.
ASEAN Echoes US Over Developments in South China
Sea (2016-02-28)
(Reuters)
The group agreed to seek a meeting between China and ASEAN’s foreign ministers
to discuss the South China Sea and other issues, Cambodian Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong said.
Australia Boosts Defense Spending Amid Rising
Tensions (2016-02-26)
(Reuters)
Australia plans to increase defense spending by nearly A$30 billion (US$21.6
billion) over the next 10 years, seeking to protect its strategic and trade
interests in the Asia-Pacific as the US and its allies grapple with China’s
rising power.
CGA Reveals Troop Numbers in ROC's South China Sea
Islands (2016-02-25)
(China
Post) Nearly 400 Taiwanese coastguardsmen are currently listed as assigned to
Taiwan-controlled islands in the disputed South China Sea, according to public
information recently released by the R.O.C. Coast Guard
Administration.
South Korea Tells China Not to Intervene in Missile-Defense System
Talks (2016-02-25)
(New
York Times, By Choe Sang-hun) Tensions between South Korea and China over how to
deal with the North have flared into an unusually blunt diplomatic dispute, with
Seoul telling Beijing not to meddle in its talks with the United States over the
possible deployment of an American missile-defense system here.
U.S., China Agree to Sanction North Korea on Nuclear
Program (2016-02-25)
(Wall
Street Journal, By Farnaz Fassihi) The U.S. and China agreed to a United Nations
resolution that diplomats said would impose significant new sanctions on North
Korea in response to its recent nuclear and missile tests.
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| East
China Sea Disputes and Japan Policy
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Japan's Foreign Minister Cancels Plans to Visit
China (2016-02-22)
(The
Diplomat, By Ankit Panda) In a manifestation of rising tensions, Japanese
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida is calling off his plans to visit China this
spring, Kyodo News reports, citing Japanese government sources. Kishida’s
decision came after the Chinese government informed Japan that it was not
planning to arrange a visit for Japan’s top diplomat.
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| U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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Chinese Deals Feel the Chill from Washington (2016-02-24)
(New
York Times, By Steven Davidoff Solomon) As growth slows at home, more and more
Chinese companies are looking to do deals in the United States. And they are
increasingly running smack into the American national security apparatus. Such
scrutiny will have implications for United States and China relations, as well
as for mergers and acquisitions more broadly.
Xi Jinping on the Global Stage: Chinese Foreign Policy Under a
Powerful but Exposed Leader (2016-02-25)
(Council
on Foreign Relations, By Robert D. Blackwill and Kurt M. Campbell) Xi's
dominance of the decision-making process has made him a powerful but potentially
exposed leader. To protect his position, Xi will most probably stimulate and
intensify Chinese nationalism—long a pillar of the state's legitimacy—to
compensate for the political harm of a slower economy, to distract the public,
to halt rivals who might use nationalist criticisms against him, and to burnish
his own image.
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| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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China Touts Taiwan Constitution (2016-02-27)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on
Thursday said Beijing did not “care that much” who was in power in Taiwan, but
added that as president-elect Tsai Ing-wen was elected based on Taiwan’s
Constitution, she should abide by it — marking the first time that a Chinese
official has publicly recognized the Constitution.
DPP Says New Government Will Maintain ‘Status
Quo’ (2016-02-27)
(Taipei
Times) In response to a call by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi for
president-elect Tsai Ing-wen to abide by Taiwan’s Constitution, which says both
Taiwan and China are parts of the Republic of China, the DPP reiterated that it
would maintain the cross-strait “status quo” within the constitutional
framework.
China Acknowledgment Helps Ties: Ma (2016-02-28)
(Taipei
Times) The Presidential Office said Ma made it clear to Xi at their meeting last
year that the Constitution does not allow for ‘two Chinas’ or Taiwanese
independence.
US Urges China to Remain Flexible in Cross-Strait
Ties (2016-02-28)
(CNA)
US National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs Daniel
Kritenbrink reiterated US calls for China to show flexibility in its relations
with Taiwan, but did not comment on the latest remarks by Chinese Minister for
Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, which were seen by some in Taiwan as
conciliatory.
TAO Warns Against Destabilization of ‘Status
Quo’ (2016-02-25)
(Taipei
Times) China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng’s proposal
that Sun Yat-sen be removed as the nation’s founding father is a move aimed at
de-sinicization that threatens the “status quo” of peaceful development on both
sides of the Taiwan Strait.
New Government to Welcome Tourists ‘from All
Countries’ (2016-02-26)
(Taipei
Times) The Democratic Progressive Party said that it welcomes tourists not only
from China, but from all countries.
Chinese Investment in Taiwan Increases 38 Percent in
January (2016-02-24)
(China
Post) Taiwan's investment regulator approved 21 direct investment projects in
Taiwan from mainland China totaling US$6.405 million in January — nearly a
38-percent increase compared to the same month a year ago.
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| Military
Balance and Arms Sales
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US Has Taiwan's Back: Admiral (2016-02-25)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) “We continue supporting Taiwan’s security. Continued
arms sales to Taiwan are an important part of that policy and help ensure the
preservation of democratic government institutions,” Admiral Harry Harris, head
of the US Pacific Command, said.
US Not Cowed by China's Military Ramp-up: Carter (2016-02-28)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) “Our treaty obligations to Taiwan are very strong —
we’re constantly adjusting them,” Carter testified before the US House Committee
on Appropriations.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Taiwan's 'Third Force' Makes Its Presence Known in
Legislature (2016-02-24)
(The
Diplomat, By Linda van der Horst) It still remains to be seen how the NPP’s
legislators perform as the new “third force” voice in parliament. But Huang’s
questioning on issues of nuclear waste and labor laws on Friday is perhaps only
the beginning of the NPP’s active role as watchdog in
parliament.
DPP Urges Passage of Transition Bill (2016-02-24)
(Taipei
Times) DPP reiterated the urgency of passing a presidential transition act,
following its meeting with representatives from the Presidential Office on
Friday last week.
Taiwanese Presidential Transition Needs Less
Turbulance (2016-02-18)
(PacNet
#21, Pacific Forum CSIS, By Harry Krejsa) Tsai and her team will need an
exceptionally smooth transition in the months between now and her May
inauguration. Yet she will require specific tools to do so – including a
desperately-needed modern presidential transition law modeled after the United
States, a politically inclusive Cabinet, and, crucially, the support of those Ma
Ing-jeou administration officials who helped stabilize cross-strait
relations.
DPP Think Tank Member ‘reassures‘ US about Tsai,
DPP (2016-02-24)
(CNA)
Taiwan will not be a “troublemaker” in the Asia-Pacific region under the next
DPP administration, a member of the DPP’s New Frontier Foundation think tank
said in Washington.
Office for External Trade Talks to Be Set Up:
President-Elect (2016-02-25)
(CNA)
President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said that after her administration assumes office
May 20, it will set up an office under the Executive Yuan that will be in charge
of external trade negotiations.
Many Laws, Policies Must Change Before Taiwan Can Join TPP: Tsai
Ing-wen (2016-02-25)
(Taipei
Times) President-elect Tsai Ing-wen said that the most important issue for the
nation to deal with in its attempt to join the TPP is to adjust its industrial
and trade policies, as well as its laws.
US Support for Taiwan's TPP Bid 'Conditional on Pork
Issue' (2016-02-27)
(CNA)
Premier Simon Chang said that the United States has lent "conditional" support
to Taiwan's membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with opening Taiwan's
market to U.S. pork being one of the conditions.
Taiwan's
TPP Odyssey (2016-02-27)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) Domestic issues (like pork imports) pose just as
much of a challenge to Taiwan’s TPP dreams as Beijing
does.
Manufacturing Sector Slide Continues (2016-02-24)
(Taipei
Times) The nation’s manufacturing production value plunged 10.84 percent
year-on-year to NT$12.86 trillion (US$384.1 billion) last year, dragged down by
sluggish demand for consumer electronics worldwide and the falling price of
crude oil, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.
Foreign Orders Plunge in January for 10th Straight Month: Economics
Ministry (2016-02-25)
(China
Post) Due to slow growth and weak smartphone sales, foreign orders tumbled for
the 10th straight month in January to 12.4 percent, the Economics Ministry
reported.
Taiwan, Myanmar Scheduled to Hold Second Bilateral Business Council
Meeting, Says Official (2016-02-25)
(CNA)
Taiwan and Myanmar are scheduled to have their second joint business council
meeting in the first half of 2016 to explore opportunities for strengthened
bilateral economic ties, a Taiwanese foreign affairs official has
said.
Ma to Meet with Allies in Trip to Central America (2016-02-27)
(Taipei
Times) Local media have been rife with speculation that the president is unable
to make transit stops in the US’ east due to his visit to Itu Aba.
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| China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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A Looming Crisis for China's Legal System (2016-02-22)
(Foreign
Policy, By Jerome A. Cohen) The party’s role in criminal justice has become
particularly evident in the current anti-corruption drive. In dealing with its
approximately 90 million members, the party has been more important than the
formal criminal justice system.
China's Excess Production Has Intensified Slowdown,
Business Group Says (2016-02-23)
(New
York Times, By Javier C. Hernandez) The failure of Chinese leaders to tackle the
problem of excess industrial production has intensified an economic slowdown in
the country and threatens to wreak havoc on global markets, a prominent European
business association said in a new report.
As China's Economic Picture Turns Uglier, Beijing Applies
Airbrush (2016-02-26)
(New
York Times, By Edward Wong and Neil Gough) As financial and economic troubles
threaten to undermine confidence in the Communist Party, Beijing is tightening
the flow of economic information and even criminalizing commentary that
officials believe could hurt stocks or the currency.
China Earmarks $15.3 Billion to Combat Unemployment from Industrial
Reform (2016-02-26)
(The
Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) China is preemptively moving to blunt the impact
its supply-side reforms will have on the labor market. According to Feng Fei, a
vice minister in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China
is setting up a fund worth 100 billion renminbi ($15.3 billion) to assist
workers who lose their jobs as a side effect of China’s quest to reduce
industrial overcapacity and eliminate “zombie companies.”
China Gives Glimpse of Its Solution to Economic
Problems (2016-02-26)
(New
York Times, By Keith Bradsher) Speaking to leaders of the world’s biggest banks
and institutional investors at a financial conference, officials described how
they would use government deficit spending to spur growth. A senior Chinese
central banker also pledged to preserve the value of China’s currency by firmly
tying its value to a range of other currencies.
G-20, Rejecting Major Policy Shifts, Plays Up Basic
Strengths (2016-02-28)
(New
York Times, By Keith Bradsher) The ministers turned aside suggestions that they
embark on any radical changes in policy, like realigning the exchange rates of
major currencies. They endorsed instead a stepped-up combination of monetary
policies, government spending and structural changes.
Xi Jinping's Virtual Political Reality (2016-02-27)
(The
Diplomat, By Elizabeth Economy) Xi wants a mirror that only reflects back what
he wants to see, not reality. Alternatively, perhaps Xi sees reality but he is
worried that if others see it, there will be growing doubt about the
leadership’s capabilities, even more capital flight, and greater social
unrest.
Contact:
Dalton Lin, Executive Editor
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