Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Sunday 29 July 2012


Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Jul. 29, 2012)
For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org
Dear TSR readers,
TSR and TSR weekly reports have been maintained through the Windows Office Word 1997-2003 compatible version since the website's establishment. This outdated operating mode has led to increasingly severe compatibility problems with readers' browsing systems, as witnessed in the rising number of readers who reported difficulty in reading the weekly reports in past few months. The good news is that we are undertaking a major overhaul of the TSR website, including the way the weekly report is produced. The new website is slated to be online in this September, and we expect the new weekly report to be free of the current compatibility problem. TSR apologizes for the inconvenience at the moment and beg all readers' forgiveness and patience during this transition period.
As always, thank you for your continuous support of TSR.
Very respectfully,
Dalton Lin
Bo Xilai Scandal and China's Leadership Succession
China’s Hu Calls for Party Unity As Succession Looms By Chris Buckley (Reuters, Jul. 24, 2012) Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for unity in the ruling Communist Party and unflinching backing for economic reforms.
China Charges Wife of Ousted Party Leader in Briton’s Death
(New York Times, Jul. 27, 2012) Gu Kailai, the wife of the disgraced political leader Bo Xilai, has been charged with the intentional homicide of a British businessman.
South China Sea Disputes
China Sends Troops to Disputed Islands
(New York Times, Jul. 24, 2012) China’s Central Military Commission has approved the deployment of a garrison of soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army to guard disputed islands claimed by China and Vietnam in the South China Sea.
Cannons and Mortars to Be Deployed on Taiping in South China Sea: MND (China Post, Jul. 25, 2012) Taiwan's MND confirmed that it will complete the installation of a certain number of cannons and mortars on Taiping Island in the South China Sea next month in a move to enhance its military presence in the disputed seas amid the escalating conflict over the region.
Nations at Impasse Over South China Sea, Group Warns By Jane Perlez (New York Times, Jul. 25, 2012) The disputes between China and four of its Southeast Asian neighbors over claims in the South China Sea have become so intense, the prospect of open conflict is becoming more likely, an International Crisis Group report says.
China’s Military Moment By Jim Holmes(Foreign Policy, Jul. 26, 2012) Beijing may have concluded that patient diplomacy will forfeit its destiny in the South China Sea. In Chinese eyes, it's better to act now -- and preempt the competition. The lesson of 1974: Timing is everything.
Sino-U.S. Engagement
China an Eager Host to Donilon By Jane Perlez(New York Times, Jul. 26, 2012) The Obama administration’s national security adviser, Thomas E. Donilon, ended two days of talks with China’s top leaders, a visit that was freighted as much with domestic politics in both the United States and China as with foreign policy.
US Urges Beijing to Improve Rights and Permit Dissent
(AP, Jul. 27, 2012) The US said the human rights situation in China was deteriorating and it was time for its authoritarian government to allow dissent.
Taiwan Lifts US Beef Ban
Beef Ban to Be Lifted by Order or Draft: KMT
(China Post, Jul. 23, 2012) KMT Secretary-General Lin Join-sane told KMT officials that the ractopamine ban will be lifted, if not during this week's extraordinary legislative session then by executive order.
DPP Won’t Filibuster Ractopamine Vote, May Battle Stock Gains Tax (China Post, Jul. 24, 2012) The DPP caucus said that it won't filibuster the vote on ractopamine, but that it may balk against the Kuomintang's stock gains tax draft.
Legislature Votes to Lift US Beef Ban
(China Post, Jul. 26, 2012) The Legislative Yuan lifted Taiwan's ban on beef imports containing ractopamine in a finale to a divisive and months-long national debate.
Taiwan Asks to Resume Long-stalled Trade Talks with US
(CNA. Jul. 27, 2012) Taiwan's representative office in the United States has asked the U.S. to resume long-stalled trade talks after the Legislature passed an amendment to a food safety act to lift a an on imports of U.S. beef containing ractopamine.
TIFA Talks Await Beef Standard: Gov’t
(CNA, Jul. 28, 2012) Long-stalled trade talks between the United States and Taiwan will restart once Taiwan formally sets a standard for the maximum amount of a banned veterinary drug that can be allowed in beef, a Taiwanese diplomat said.
Cross-Strait Issues
Ma Stands by ‘One China’ Principle Ahead of Forum
(Taipei Times, Jul. 27, 2012) The government will continue to promote cross-strait relations under the “one China” principle, with “one China” referring to the Republic of China, President Ma Ying-jeou said.
Wu Lauds DPP’s China Department
(Taipei Times, Jul. 29, 2012) While stressing the “one China” principle, Wu did not touch on comments he made during a meeting with Hu in March, when he said that cross-strait matters should be handled under the banner of “one country, two areas”
DPP Is Firm on China Name Issue
(Taipei Times, Jul. 23, 2012) The DPP intends to keep ‘China’ in the names of two departments, not ‘cross-strait,’ as Beijing wishes.
DPP Set to Reinstate China Department
(Taipei Times, Jul. 25, 2012) The DPP is expected to reinstate the Department of China Affairs as its “first step toward positive and active engagement with China,” DPP spokesperson said.
DPP to Reinstate China Affairs Body, Su Says
(Taipei Times, Jul. 26, 2012) “We have to improve mutual understanding through dialogue; to ensure democratic development peacefully and to determine Taiwan’s future with democracy. That is what I call the Taiwan Consensus,” Su told a press conference.
Educational Détente across Taiwan Strait By Naomi Rovnick(New York Times, Jul. 26, 2012) Allowing young people who could eventually rise to influential positions in Communist-ruled China to immerse themselves in Taiwan society, officials in Taiwan say, should enhance sympathy for the mainland’s democratic neighbor.
Arms Sales
Taiwan Mulls Buying Used M1 Tanks
(Taipei Times, Jul. 24, 2012) Taiwan has been trying to procure the Abrams battle tank since the early 2000s, but critics say that it is unsuited to the nation’s mountainous terrain.
Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
Ma Administration Hurt by Graft: Poll
(Taipei Times, Jul. 23, 2012) The survey by Taiwan Thinktank showed that Ma’s approval ratings remained low at 23.4 percent, while 65.3 percent of the respondents were not satisfied with the president’s performance.
Most Taiwanese Do Not Trust Ma, Wu or Senior Officials: Survey
(Taipei Times, Jul. 28, 2012) A majority of respondents found neither President Ma Ying-jeou nor Vice President Wu Den-yih credible and do not trust the fairness of law enforcement officials, according to the results of a survey carried out by Taiwan Indicate Survey Research (Chinese).
Taipei and Manila to Study Proposed Economic Pact
(CNA, Jul. 23, 2012) Taiwan and the Philippines will conduct separate feasibility studies on a proposed bilateral economic partnership agreement, an official from Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research said.
Taiwan Needs to Step Up Trade Talks: Ma
(China Post, Jul. 29, 2012) President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan aims to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership to improve its competitiveness.
Panama Recognizes Taiwanese Ambassador After Six Months
(China Post, Jul. 25, 2012) Foreign Minister Timothy Yang confirmed that Panama's president has finally recognized Taiwan's new ambassador to the Central American ally Monday after a six-month wait.
China's Rise and Its Domestic Issues
Indonesia Joins Yuan Bandwagon
(Wall Street Journal, Jul. 23, 2012) Indonesia's central bank has begun buying yuan-denominated bonds issued in mainland China, joining a growing number of countries moving to add the Chinese currency to their foreign-exchange reserves.
Waste Project Is Abandoned Following Protests in China
(New York Times, Jul. 29, 2012) China’s authorities face a mounting pattern of protests against pollution, and in particular, against industrial plants that locals can single out during the planning stage or in the early days of construction.
Posted by Roberto Abraham Scaruffi at 19:57