|
|
| |
| South
China Sea Disputes
| |
|
|
| |
|
Philippine Official Urges China Restraint (2016-04-13)
(AP)
A Philippine diplomat said that any Chinese move to turn a disputed shoal —
where the US Navy recently spotted a suspected Chinese survey ship — into an
island would escalate the disputes in the South China Sea and asked Washington
to convince Beijing not to take that “very provocative”
step.
China Pans G7 Comments (2016-04-13)
(Bloomberg)
The G7 nations should stop inflaming territorial disputes in Asian waters and
focus their energy on dealing with a slumping global economy, China said, in
response to G7 calls for countries to stop land reclamation and militarization
in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Eye on China, U.S. and Philippines Ramp Up Military
Alliance (2016-04-13)
(New
York Times, By Floyd Whaley) After a rocky patch of 25 years, the United States
and the Philippines will solidify a new, increasingly complex military
relationship this week, driven partly by China’s assertive actions in the South
China Sea.
U.S. and Philippines Bolster Air and Sea Patrols in South
China Sea (2016-04-15)
(New
York Times, By Floyd Whaley) Philippine and American forces began conducting
joint naval patrols in the South China Sea last month and will immediately start
air operations over the area, United States Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter
said.
In South China Sea Visit, U.S. Defense Chief Flexes Military
Muscle (2016-04-16)
(New
York Times, By Michael S. Schmidt) Over the last week in Asia, Defense Secretary
Ashton B. Carter has visited two aircraft carriers, revealed new military
agreements with India and the Philippines, and generally signaled that the Obama
administration had decided to lean more on military power to counter China’s
territorial ambitions in the region.
Chinese General Visits Disputed Spratly Island in South China
Sea (2016-04-16)
(New
York Times, By Chris Buckley) China’s most senior uniformed military commander
paid a visit in recent days to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China
Sea, the country’s Ministry of National Defense said.
Any Downgrade of Taiping Island to a ‘Rock’ Illegal:
Ma (2016-04-16)
(CNA)
President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated that Taiwan holds sovereignty over Itu Aba
Island (Taiping Island) and said that any international court ruling that
downgrades the legal status of Itu Aba from an “island” to a “rock” would be
illegal and would hurt Taiwanese sovereignty.
International Scholars Visit Taiping Island in Disputed South China
Sea (2016-04-17)
(CNA)
The Republic of China's government on Friday took several experts on
international law to Taiping Island in the disputed South China Sea, in hopes of
buttressing its case that it is an island under international law.
| |
|
| |
| U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
| |
|
|
| |
|
Did Hillary Clinton's Pivot to Asia Work? (2016-04-15)
(FiveThirtyEight,
By Catherine Putz and Shannon Tiezzi) In Clinton's four years as secretary, she
made 62 visits to Asian countries, accounting for more than a quarter of all of
her trips abroad. Condoleezza Rice, Clinton’s predecessor, made 47 during her
four years as secretary. Not only did Clinton make more visits, she also visited
the region more widely. Rice traveled to 18 Asian countries; Clinton visited
26.
A Dangerous Superpower Showdown Is Brewing: China vs.
America in Asia (2016-04-12)
(The
National Interest, By Hugh White) Others with an interest in Asia’s future — and
that means not just Asians but everyone else as well — ought to ask what
influence can be brought to bear to help manage the transition now underway in
Asia much better than it has been so far.
What Might a New Asian Order Look Like? (2016-04-12)
(The
National Interest, By Robert A. Manning and James Przystup) Perhaps the best
that can be attained is a framework for strategic stability between the United
States and China. In the meantime, to paraphrase Winston Churchill: the existing
security architecture is the worst possible system — except for all the
others.
U.S. and India Agree to Strengthen Military
Ties (2016-04-13)
(New
York Times, By Michael S. Schmidt) The measures announced, however, are largely
symbolic. They provide India with few major military capabilities it does not
already have. And they do not call for concrete actions like joint patrols in
the South China Sea, which China has claimed as its own.
What 2 Russian Jets Can Teach Us about a US-China Clash in the
South China Sea (2016-04-15)
(The
Diplomat, By Steven Stashwick) What the Cold War taught, and these latest
incidents between the United States and Russia demonstrate, is that when
competing navies engage in aggressive posturing and harassment they do not
threaten an undesired escalation or the wider relationship; they are merely a
reflection of that relationship.
Race for Latest Class of Nuclear Arms Threatens to Revive Cold
War (2016-04-17)
(New
York Times, By William J. Broad and David E. Sanger) The United States, Russia
and China are now aggressively pursuing a new generation of smaller, less
destructive nuclear weapons. The buildups threaten to revive a Cold War-era arms
race and unsettle the balance of destructive force among nations that has kept
the nuclear peace for more than a half-century.
| |
|
| |
| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
| |
|
|
| |
|
Taiwan Accuses Kenya of Illegal Deportations As More Are Sent to
China (2016-04-13)
(New
York Times, By Jeffrey Gettleman and Austin Ramzy) China often intervenes to
block international recognition of Taiwan. But such acts generally involve
vetoing Taiwan’s participation in bodies like the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change. Rarely has it meant laying claim to Taiwan
passport holders overseas.
China to Prosecute Taiwanese in Fraud Case Despite
Acquittals in Kenya (2016-04-14)
(New
York Times, By Dan Levin) The Chinese government announced that a group of
Taiwanese citizens who were deported to China from Kenya would be prosecuted on
charges of telecommunications fraud despite having been acquitted of the same
charges by a Kenyan court this month.
Justice Ministry to Send Delegation to China (2016-04-16)
(Taipei
Times, By Jason Pan) The government is to send an official delegation to China
on Monday to meet with Chinese authorities over the criminal investigation of 54
Taiwanese suspects deported from Kenya and detained in Beijing on charges of
engaging in telephone fraud.
Taiwan Asks Malaysia Not to Send Suspects to
China (2016-04-16)
(Taipei
Times, By Abraham Gerber and Alison Hsiao) A legislator said that Beijing was
trying to stop Malaysia from sending 52 Taiwanese fraud suspects back to Taiwan.
Last night, 20 returned.
China Criticizes Taiwan for Releasing Fraud
Suspects (2016-04-17)
(AP,
By Gerry Shih) A Chinese spokesman criticized Taiwan after the self-ruled island
released 20 fraud suspects just one day after they were deported from Malaysia,
citing a lack of evidence.
Lin Taps Future Heads of Defense, Foreign Affairs (2016-04-16)
(CNA)
David Lee, a seasoned diplomat who is currently the representative to Australia,
is to take over the foreign affairs portfolio, while another experienced
diplomat, Katharine Chang, is to head the Mainland Affairs
Council.
Taiwan Banks' Yuan Deposits Down for 2nd Straight
Month (2016-04-17)
(CNA)
Chinese yuan-denominated deposits held by banks operating in Taiwan fell for the
second consecutive month in March in the wake of the Chinese currency's
depreciation against the U.S. dollar, according to the central bank.
| |
|
| |
| Military
Balance and Arms Sales
| |
|
|
| |
|
Taiwan Denies Role in Spy Case Involving U.S. Navy
Officer (2016-04-13)
(New
York Times, By Austin Ramzy) Taiwan’s military denied any involvement in the
case of a United States naval officer under investigation on suspicion of
providing secret information to Taiwan or China.
China May Be the Big Winner in the Pentagon's Newest Spying
Scandal (2016-04-13)
(Foreign
Policy, By Dan de Luce, Elias Groll, and Paul McLeary) It’s not clear if the
naval flight officer at the center of the scandal, Lt. Cmdr. Edward Lin, meant
to help Beijing when he allegedly began slipping secrets to Taiwan. U.S.
authorities haven’t yet made public — and may not themselves know — whether they
believe Lin was knowingly providing intelligence to China, or whether the
information he allegedly gave Taiwan was stolen by Chinese spies inside Taiwan’s
security services.
Watch Out: China and Russia Are Working Together at
Sea (2016-04-13)
(The
National Interest, By Lyle J. Goldstein) Joint Sino-Russian naval drills on an
unprecedented and growing scale during 2014 and 2015 imply a new level of
seriousness.
Monday's Air Defense Drill to Stop N. Taiwan
Traffic (2016-04-17)
(CNA)
An annual air defense drill during which people are required to stay indoors and
traffic controls are imposed will be held in seven cities and counties in
Northern Taiwan, the National Police Agency said.
| |
|
| |
| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
| |
|
|
| |
|
Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, First Half of April 2016 (2016-04-14)
(TISR)
President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating rose 1 percentage point over the first
ten days of March, according to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
Tsai's Inaugural Speech Should Focus on Internal Affairs:
Survey (2016-04-15)
(CNA)
The poll conducted by the Taipei based Cross-Strait Policy Association shows
that 63.7 percent of those surveyed said Tsai should give weight to internal
affairs in her speech, while 19.6 percent said the emphasis should be on
cross-strait links, and 16.7 percent did not specify their stance.
Tsai Briefed on Defense during MND Visit (2016-04-15)
(China
Post, By Joseph Yeh) President-elect Tsai Ing-wen was given a closed-door
in-depth briefing on the country's national defense affairs during a visit to
the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Taipei.
US Congress Marks Taiwan Relations Act
Anniversary (2016-04-14)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) Members of the US Congress celebrated the 37th
anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act this week, issuing
statements proclaiming that Taiwan and the US shared a “continuing and growing”
partnership.
DPP Elaborates on Its ‘New Southbound Policy’ (2016-04-14)
(Taipei
Times) The DPP elaborated on its “new southbound policy” at its Central Standing
Committee meeting, with president-elect Tsai Ing-wen underscoring it as “one of
this nation’s crucial policies” for the near future.
Caribbean Nations Will Send Officials to Tsai
Inauguration (2016-04-15)
(China
Post, By Joseph Yeh) All 12 diplomatic allies of the R.O.C. in the Caribbean
region will be sending high-level officials, including presidents and prime
ministers, to join President-elect Tsai Ing-wen's inauguration ceremony next
month, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.
| |
|
|
|
