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| South
China Sea Disputes
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South China Sea: How We Got to This Stage (2016-05-09)
(The
National Interest, By Fu Ying and Wu Shicun) It must be admitted that despite a
continuing tug-of-war in the South China Sea, the general situation was under
control before 2009. Soon thereafter, things became more complicated, mostly due
to an official deadline set by the UN Commission on the Limits of the
Continental Shelf, according to which relevant states should submit claims over
a continental shelf extending the 200 nautical miles from its territorial sea by
May 15, 2009. An even greater factor is the introduction of the American
Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy.
US Warship Sails by Disputed South China Sea Reef (2016-05-14)
(Reuters)
The operation was undertaken to ‘challenge excessive maritime claims’ by Taiwan,
China and Vietnam, the US Department of Defense said.
Mainland China, US to Work Out Mechanism for S. China
Sea (2016-05-14)
(AP,
By Christopher Bodeen) Seeking to calm escalating tensions in the South China
Sea, top generals from mainland China and the U.S. spoke by phone and said they
were ready to work out an effective mechanism to prevent confrontation and
maintain stability in the region.
Taiwanese Group Enters South China Sea Legal Fray (2016-05-11)
(Reuters)
Last month, the judges allowed written evidence from the government-linked
Chinese (Taiwan) Society of International Law to be submitted, even though
Taiwan is neither a member of the UN nor a signatory to the UNCLOS, legal and
diplomatic sources said.
Philippines Rejects Invitation to Taiping: Foreign
Ministry (2016-05-14)
(China
Post, By Joseph Yeh) The Philippine government has officially rejected President
Ma Ying-jeou's invitation to send representatives to a Taiwan-controlled island
in the South China Sea, the Taiwan government announced.
Office Confirms Warship Docking at Itu Aba Island (2016-05-15)
(Taipei
Times, By Jason Pan) Military officials confirmed that Republic of China Navy
warships have docked at a recently completed pier on Itu Aba Island in the South
China Sea, and said the pier would also be able to accommodate the 10,000-tonne
Panshih fast combat support ship.
Rodrigo Duterte, Poised to Lead Philippines, Is Expected to Take
New Approach to China (2016-05-11)
(New
York Times, By Richard C. Paddock) Rodrigo Duterte, poised to be the
Philippines’ next president, has signaled that he will try a new approach toward
China by emphasizing economic ties.
This Critical American Ally Is Struggling with China's South China
Sea Moves (2016-05-12)
(The
National Interest, By Tom Switzer) For Australia, the key is to balance China’s
right to an enhanced regional profile with our own interests and commitments.
Upholding the rules and customs of the open seas is an important priority. So,
too, is not overreacting to some modest muscle flexing on China’s part.
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| East
China Sea Disputes and Japan Policy
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Taiwan, Japan to Seek Bilateral Talks on Fishing
Spat (2016-05-10)
(The
Diplomat, By Mina Pollmann) Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Javier Hou stated
that the Ministry hopes to resolve the issue through peaceful means and that
Japan also appears willing to address the issue through bilateral talks. He
said, “We hope rational dialogue will lead to a resolution that both sides find
satisfactory.”
Rock, Atoll, Island: Okinotori Debate (2016-05-13)
(Taipei
Times, By Song Yann-huei) Japan has the right to call Okinotori an island, but
if it wants to claim an exclusive economic zone it must correctly interpret and
apply the regulations of Article 121, Clause 3 of UNCLOS. Japan ratified the
UNCLOS in 1996 and it is thus binding.
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| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Make No Concessions to China, Groups Tell Tsai (2016-05-10)
(Taipei
Times, By Chung Li-hua) Pro-independence groups urged president-elect Tsai
Ing-wen not to make any concessions to China and to assert Taiwanese identity by
focusing her inauguration speech on public opinion rather than “China policy” as
her predecessor did.
Beijing Wants Tsai to Fail: US Analyst (2016-05-12)
(Taipei
Times, By William Lowther) “It is not in their interests to have them succeed
and this will shape the approach that Beijing takes to Taiwan in the future,”
said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies.
Beijing Urged to Give the New Government ‘Space’ (2016-05-13)
(Taipei
Times, By Loa Iok-sin) Former Straits Exchange Foundation chairman Hung
Chi-chang urged Beijing to give the incoming DPP government more space, even if
president-elect Tsai Ing-wen does not mention the so-called “1992 consensus” in
her inaugural address on Friday next week.
US Reiterates It Opposes Taiwan Independence (2016-05-15)
(China
Post) Washington has reiterated that it does not support Taiwan's independence
in a Pentagon report to the U.S. Congress on military developments in
China.
Tourism Sector Fearing Impact of DPP Inauguration (2016-05-10)
(CNA)
With the pro-independence DPP set to take the helm of the government, fears are
mounting in Taiwan's tourism industry that cross-Taiwan Strait relations could
take a turn for the worse and deal a heavy blow to the sector, the Economic
Daily News said.
Cross-Strait CEO Summit Set for Nov. in Kinmen,
Xiamen (2016-05-11)
(CNA)
The 2016 Cross-Strait CEO Summit (CSCS) will be held in November in Kinmen and
Xiamen, a senior official of the CSCS on the Taiwanese side said.
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| PLA
and Military Balance
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The Pentagon's 2016 China Military Report: What You Need to
Know (2016-05-14)
(The
National Interest, By Andrew S. Erickson) The Pentagon report rightly
highlighted growing concern about Beijing’s mounting maritime coercion, but
passed up a rare chance to connect it with a potent player flouting the rules of
the game. China’s Maritime Militia, the irregular frontline sea force of “Little
Blue Men” trolling for territorial claims, receives nary a
mention.
ROC to Start Upgrade of Its F-16 Jets in 2017:
AIDC (2016-05-09)
(CNA)
An upgrade of Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter planes will begin in early 2017,
shortly after the completion of a hangar that is being built for that purpose,
according to the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp.
Increase Military Spending, US Says (2016-05-15)
(Taipei
Times, By Sean Lin) A US official urged Taiwan to invest in asymmetric and
innovative capabilities and concepts to account for a natural disparity in
size.
Scale of Cyberattack Reaches 'Quasi-War' Level:
MOTC (2016-05-12)
(CNA)
Taiwan is encountering frequent cyberattacks, with the scale reaching the level
of a "quasi war," the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said,
although other Cabinet officials said that the situation is under
control.
Chinese Hackers Prowling Taiwan's Systems: Chang (2016-05-15)
(Taipei
Times, By Chung Li-hua and Jake Chung) Taiwan’s information security systems
found traces of Chinese hackers every time a cross-strait negotiation event
occurred over the past eight years, primarily in the systems of the Ministry of
Economic Affairs, Premier Simon Chang said.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Exports Continue Decline, Shrinking 6.5% Last
Month (2016-05-10)
(Taipei
Times, By Crystal Hsu) The downturn has now continued for 15 consecutive months,
longer than the trough following the 2008-2009 worldwide financial crisis, as
international trade is in the doldrums and the nation’s exporters have failed to
introduce game-changing innovations or tap new markets.
Pig Farmers Call on President-Elect to 'Show Integrity' on US Pork
Issue (2016-05-13)
(China
Post, By Enru Lin) Pig farmers called on President-elect Tsai Ing-wen to "show
integrity" and maintain her past opposition to U.S. pork containing
ractopamine.
Kaohsiung Mayor Against US Pork Imports (2016-05-14)
(China
Post, By Yuan-Ming Chiao) Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu said that government
bans on U.S. pork imports containing the leanness enhancing agent ractopamine
should remain until comprehensive measures are put in place to safeguard public
health.
Ministry Completes Registration Process for WHA
Meeting (2016-05-11)
(CNA)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government has completed registration
for this year’s World Health Assembly after its representatives submitted two
letters in person responding to the WHO’s invitation.
US State Department ‘Strongly’ Supports WHA
Participation (2016-05-11)
(CNA)
The US said it is pleased to see Taiwan has received an invitation to this
year’s World Health Assembly, but avoided commenting on the WHO’s mention of the
“one China” principle in the invitation letter.
'One China' Principle Linked to WHA Participation:
TAO (2016-05-12)
(China
Post, By Yuan-Ming Chiao) Mainland China called any challenge to the "One China"
principle "unsustainable" following remarks made by the DPP stating that
Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly had nothing to do with U.N.
General Assembly Resolution 2758.
Tsai Congratulates Philippines' Duterte on Election
Win (2016-05-12)
(CNA)
President-elect Tsai Ing-wen congratulated Rodrigo Duterte Wednesday on winning
the Philippine presidential election and expressed hope for advancing bilateral
exchanges in investment, culture and tourism.
Former Foreign Minister to Lead New 'Go-South'
Office (2016-05-13)
(CNA)
President-in-waiting Tsai Ing-wen announced at a regular meeting of the DPP
Central Standing Committee that after she assumes office May 20, the new
southward policy office will be established, with James Huang serving as
director.
Most Taiwanese Happy with Ma's 'Viable Diplomacy' (2016-05-13)
(CNA)
ore than 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey are satisfied with the
achievements of President Ma Ying-jeou's "viable diplomacy," which has helped
expand the number of countries that grant visa privileges to Taiwanese passport
holders.
Taiwan's Diplomatic
Partners in the Global Community After the DPP Returns to
Power (2016-05-09)
(ITAS,
By Dennis Van Vranken Hickey) It is noteworthy that diplomatic allies provide
Taipei’s top leadership with a convenient rationale (an excuse) for making
“transit stops” in the US while journeying to countries in the global south.
Taiwan’s leaders have used these “rests” to hold candid discussions with many of
the most important players in American government.
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| China's
Rise and Its Domestic Issues
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China's Middle-Class Anxieties (2016-05-10)
(New
York Times, By Murong Xuecun) Ultimately, too many middle-class people benefit
from the system. Nearly half of the urban middle class are employed by
government organizations or state-owned enterprises. Their misgivings with the
government come from something they can’t divest: their
identity.
Apple's $1 Billion Investment May Ease Ties with
China (2016-05-14)
(New
York Times, By Paul Mozur and Mike Isaac) Apple’s surprising interest in the
company, called Didi Chuxing, and its out-of-character willingness to publicize
the news Thursday evening could go a long way toward showing the Chinese
government it is interested in supporting local business.
Anticorruption Campaign in China Snares Former Top Party
Official (2016-05-14)
(New
York Times, By Edward Wong) Chinese prosecutors have charged one of the
Communist Party’s top former officials, Ling Jihua, with taking bribes,
illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power, according to a report on
Friday by Xinhua, the state news agency.
Contact:
Dalton Lin, Executive Editor
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