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| Regional
Issues
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7 Events of Geopolitical Consequence to Anticipate in Asia in
2016 (2015-12-31)
(The
Diplomat, By Ankit Panda) In January 2016, we’ll see elections in Taiwan, the
formal operational launch of China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the
possible resumption of peace talks between the Afghan government and the
Taliban, the first steps toward renewed comprehensive talks between India and
China, and the possible disintegration of a recently concluded controversial
deal between the Japanese and South Korean governments on comfort women.
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| East
China Sea Disputes and Japan Policy
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South Korea, Japan Agree ‘Comfort Women’ Accord (2015-12-29)
(Reuters)
Japan is to draw on its government budget for a US$8.3 million fund for the
women and is to work with South Korea to run a program to restore their
dignity.
Japan Must Apologize, Compensate: Ma (2015-12-30)
(CNA)
Representative to Japan Shen Ssu-tsun has been ordered to conduct talks with
Tokyo on a deal similar to one struck by Japan and South
Korea.
Japan Agrees to ‘Comfort Women’ Talks: Minister (2015-12-31)
(Taipei
Times) Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin said that Taiwan and Japan have
agreed to begin negotiations over the issue of Taiwanese “comfort women,” adding
that he is confident the talks could yield positive
outcomes.
China and Other Issues between Japan and South
Korea (2016-01-02)
(The
National Interest, By Doug Bandow) The South Korean-Japanese settlement is a
positive step. But while it will ease tensions between America’s two top allies,
it isn’t likely to turn their relationship into a new anti-China axis.
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| U.S.
“Pivot” to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
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China, the U.S. and the Coming Taiwan Transition (2015-12-29)
(The
Diplomat, By Douglas Paal) The impending elections in Taiwan have the potential
to lead to strains at all three corners of the Taiwan-U.S.-China triangle for
the first time in over seven years. Parallel interests in all three leaderships
do not fundamentally clash, leaving space for careful and creative management of
the Taiwan political transition. But there is enough suspicion and mistrust
across the Taiwan Strait that a vicious circle of action and reaction cannot be
ruled out and probably should be subject to active policy prevention.
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| DPP
Searches for New China Stance; Cross-Strait Issues
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Quota for China Students to Rise: Gov't (2015-12-29)
(CNA)
The government announced that it would expand the admission quota for mainland
Chinese students pursuing associate to bachelor's degrees in Taiwan starting
next year.
Taiwan, China Launch New Hotline Following Historic Ma-Xi
Meeting (2015-12-31)
(China
Post) Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia and the head of mainland
China's Taiwan Affairs Office Zhang Zhijun spoke via a newly introduced
telephone hotline for the first time on Wednesday and exchanged New Year's
greetings.
Trade in Goods Talks 'Probably' Before Election (2015-12-31)
(China
Post) Minister of Economic Affairs John Deng confirmed that negotiations on a
cross-strait trade in goods pact would not be held before year's end. Deng,
however, would not rule out negotiations continuing before next year's national
elections on Jan. 16.
Nation Well-Placed to Become Offshore Yuan Trading Hub:
FSC (2015-12-31)
(CNA)
Tseng Ming-chung, chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission, said he is
confident that Taiwan will play a major role in yuan trading, as it is now the
biggest yuan exchange rate futures market, having overtaken Hong Kong, Singapore
and Chicago.
Cross-Strait Aviation Safety Pact Comes into Effect, SEF
Says (2016-01-01)
(Taipei
Times) The Cross-Strait Civilian Flight Safety and Flight Cooperation Accord
went into effect yesterday after a promulgation notice was sent to China’s
ARATS, the Straits Exchange Foundation said.
Government to Open Up Agricultural Market, with
Conditions (2016-01-01)
(China
Post) The types of agricultural products Taiwan will import from China are
restricted to those that are not grown domestically and those that Taiwan
already imports from other countries, Vice Economics Minister Cho Shih-chao
said.
Ma Reiterates Importance of '1992 Consensus' (2016-01-03)
(CNA)
Ma said that his meeting in November with his mainland Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping in Singapore was aimed at establishing a peaceful "cross-strait bridge"
and that whoever is elected as Taiwan's next president can use it as long as
there is respect for the "1992 Consensus" as a "traffic regulation."
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| PLA,
Military Balance and Arms Sales
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China Says It Is Building Its Second Aircraft
Carrier (2016-01-01)
(New
York Times, By Chris Buckley) China is building a second aircraft carrier, the
country’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed. But unlike the first, this one
will be produced entirely using China’s own designs and technology, the ministry
said.
China Unveils New Military Units (2016-01-03)
(AFP)
China has unveiled changes to the structure of its military, adding three new
units, described by Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a major policy decision to
realize the Chinese dream of a strong army,” state media reported.
Candidates Address Issue of Arms
Procurement (2015-12-28)
(CNA)
The presidential candidates of both the ruling Kuomintang and the opposition DPP
have advocated that Taiwan must develop its own defense industry.
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| Taiwan's
Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
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Nearly Half of
Taiwanese Favor Tsai-Chen Ticket--TISR Survey (2016-12-14)
(TISR)
Nearly half of Taiwanese prefer Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential
candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her vice presidential candidate Chen Chien-jen
(陳建仁) to their Kuomintang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) rivals, according
to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
2016 Elections: Candidates Debate Pork, Trade,
China (2015-12-28)
(Taipei
Times) Tsai Ing-wen said that, if elected, she would use Japan’s and South
Korea’s legal limits on the amount of leanness-enhancing additives as a
reference while setting the nation’s own limit.
Tsai Shows Weakness in China and Diplomatic
Issues (2015-12-28)
(CNA)
Tsai emphasized her rational and open attitudes toward cross-strait talks while
differentiating herself from the KMT's pro-China positions. Yet she was still
squaring the circle in a dance of words that were sometimes too complicated for
her own good.
Support for Tsai Slides, Chu and Soong Get Boost (2015-12-30)
(Taipei
Times) DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s support rating has declined
noticeably following Sunday’s televised presidential debate, while those of the
other two candidates have increased mildly, according to a survey released by
the Cross-Strait Policy Association.
Plurality of Taiwanese
Still Favor Tsai-Chen Ticket--TISR Survey (2016-12-31)
(TISR) A
plurality of Taiwanese prefer Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential
candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and her vice presidential candidate Chen Chien-jen
(陳建仁) to their Kuomintang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) rivals, according
to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
Pig Farmers Threaten Protest Over US Pork (2015-12-31)
(China
Post) Taiwan's pig farmers said they would launch a nationwide protest if the
central government lifts import barriers on U.S. pork containing
ractopamine.
Candidates Spar on Pork, Vote-Buying (2016-01-03)
(Taipei
Times) The three presidential candidates crossed words in the second and final
televised debate, with DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen continuing to question KMT
candidate Eric Chu over campaign irregularities and the controversial KMT party
assets issue, while Chu questioned Tsai’s stance on importing US pork products
and PFP candidate James Soong asked Tsai and Chu to clarify their stances on
cross-strait economic exchanges.
Candidates Vow to Expand Nation's Int'l
Space (2015-12-28)
(CNA)
When asked what methods she will use to develop Taiwan's relations with foreign
countries and expand its international space, Tsai Ing-wen said that a
diplomatic truce between Taiwan and China over the past few years has confused
Taiwan's diplomats as to what their duties entail.
Ma Blasts Tsai Over ‘Diplomatic Truce’ (2015-12-30)
(Taipei
Times) President Ma Ying-jeou lashed out at DPP presidential candidate Tsai
Ing-wen for challenging his “diplomatic truce” policy, saying whoever opposed it
has clearly forgotten the lessons of history.
Ma Promotes 'Viable Diplomacy,' China Ties in New Year's
Speech (2016-01-02)
(CNA)
President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday that the policy of "viable diplomacy" he has
advocated over the past seven years has been a success and has won respect from
the international community.
Papua New Guinea Opens Up Representative Office in
Taiwan (2016-01-01)
(CNA)
The Papua New Guinea Trade Office in Taiwan opened Thursday, which will
strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in areas such as
trade, business, investment and tourism, the MOFA said.
Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, First Half of December 2015 (2016-12-14)
(TISR)
President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating dropped 1.5 percentage points over the
first ten days of December, according to the latestTaiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
Taiwan Mood Barometer
Survey, Second Half of December 2015 (2016-12-31)
(TISR)
President Ma Ying-jeou's approval rating rose 2.4 percentage points over the
latter part of December, according to the latest Taiwan Mood
Barometer Survey (in
Chinese).
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