Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Monday 17 February 2014

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2014-02-16 | NO.18(6) epaper |
China, Taiwan Hold First Direct Talks Since 1949 Split
China, Taiwan Hold First Direct Talks Since 1949 Split (2014-02-11)
(Washington Post, By Simon Denyer) China and Taiwan agreed to establish a formal government-level dialogue for the first time in 65 years, official media reported, after an historic meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.

Wang Pays Homage to ROC Founder Sun (2014-02-13)
(Taipei Times) MAC) Minister Wang Yu-chi paid homage to Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China (ROC), in a visit to Sun’s mausoleum in the Chinese city of Nanjing and mentioned the ROC in his remarks.
Wang, Zhang Discuss Possible Ma-Xi Meet (2014-02-14)
(China Post) MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi met his mainland Chinese counterpart, TAO Director Zhang Zhijun, for the second time during his four-day visit in mainland China, with reports indicating that the two discussed a possible meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping.
Beijing Rejects Ma-Xi Meeting at APEC (2014-02-15)
(Taipei Times) China does not deem it appropriate for the leaders on each side of the Taiwan Strait to meet at the APEC forum later this year, MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi in Taipei cited his Chinese counterpart as saying.
Analysts Say Political Cross-Strait Ties Still a Way off (2014-02-10)
(AFP, By Benjamin Yeh) China and Taiwan are gearing up for their first government-to-government meeting in more than six decades, but analysts say renewed political ties between the former bitter rivals may still be a long way off.
A Limited Cross-Strait Opening (2014-02-10)
(Wall Street Journal, By Jon Sullivan) Sensitivities on both sides mean this meeting will be carefully stage-managed, leaving room for each to claim success. Behind the empty pronouncements, however, the visit is a first step toward normal contacts and opens the way for meetings at the highest level. That outcome is positive for all who have a stake in a stable cross-Strait relationship.
An Offer They Can't Refuse (2014-02-12)
(Foreign Policy, By Isaac Stone Fish) As China continues to expand in influence, the world increasingly sees the Middle Kingdom, rather than the United States, as the future. When large numbers of Taiwanese begin to do the same, that's checkmate.
US Keeps Low-Key Stance on Wang-Zhang Meeting (2014-02-13)
(Taipei Times, By William Lowther) A Washington source with close ties to the administration of US President Barack Obama told the Taipei Times that there had been discussions with Taipei before the meeting and that the US expected to receive a full background briefing on the outcome.
Meeting Establishes Cross-Strait Mechanism (2014-02-15)
(Taipei Times, By Wang Kao-Cheng) The much-anticipated meeting between MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi and his Chinese counterpart, TAO Minister Zhang Zhijun is important to the development of cross-strait relations for a number of reasons.
China Moving to Accept Independence: Blumenthal (2014-02-15)
(Taipei Times, By William Lowther) This week’s talks between Taipei and Beijing constitute a precedent and US policymakers should insist that China now work out its differences with Taiwan on a “government-to-government” basis, AEI director of Asian studies Dan Blumenthal said.

Wang, Ma Administration Made Mistakes: Opposition (2014-02-15)
(Taipei Times) MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi and President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration committed several fatal mistakes during Wang’s landmark visit to China, the DPP said.

South China Sea Disputes
US Challenges China's Nine-Dash Line Claim (2014-02-12)
(The Diplomat, By Zachary Keck) In recent weeks the Obama administration has done an about face on its position toward Asia’s sovereignty disputes, and is now actively challenging China on its nine-dash line claim to most of the South China Sea.

‘Nine-Dash’ Line Talks Needed: Academic (2014-02-12)
(Taipei Times, By William Lowther) A leading US academic with close ties to the White House is urging the US to open talks with Taiwan on the “nine-dash line.”
Work with China on Sea Claims, Academics Say (2014-02-14)
(Taipei Times) Cross-strait academics called on cooperation between Taiwan and China in the compilation of literature to establish a legal basis for their respective sovereignty claims over the South China Sea — which are nearly identical — in a recently published joint research report.

US Admiral Assures Philippines of Help in Disputed Sea
 (2014-02-13)
(Reuters) The United States will come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of conflict with China over disputed waters in the South China Sea, the commander of the U.S. Navy said.

China Urges U.S. to Stay Out of Its Dispute with the Philippines
 (2014-02-14)
(Wall Street Journal, By Josh Chin) China urged the U.S. to stay out of Beijing's territorial spat with the Philippines, hitting back at an American admiral's pledge of U.S. assistance to Manila in the event of Chinese military aggression. 
Diaoyutai Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
Abe Should Visit Nanjing Instead of Yasukuni (2014-02-11)
(Japan Times, By Ramesh Thakur) To ease tensions in East Asia and stop the talk of war, Japan’s prime minister could visit Nanjing and US president could visit Hiroshima. 
U.S. Pivot to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
Slouching towards Offshore Balancing (2014-02-10)
(The Diplomat, By James R. Holmes) Offshore balancers contend that extending security guarantees to allies like Japan or Taiwan, America exposes itself to needless dangers — in particular, war with a rival great power. Better to retire offshore, abjuring overseas entanglements, than risk such a bloodletting.
Book Review: ‘The Contest of the Century,’ by Geoff Dyer (2014-02-10)
(Wall Street Journal, By Ali Wyne) The real prize in U.S.-China competition would be the "new model of great-power relations" that President Obama and President Xi have proposed. One hopes that historians of a century hence will commend the two countries for inaugurating a new era of international relations.
Taipei's Trade Epiphany (2014-02-12)
(Wall Street Journal, By David Feith) Given the economic and strategic stakes, it's encouraging that leaders in Taipei have begun a TPP preparedness program despite the inevitable political difficulty.
Obama's Pacific Wager (2014-02-14)
(Foreign Policy, By James Traub) The world, and not just Asia, has begun to lose faith in Obama's leadership, and in America's. The TPP, if it passes, will be an unarguable demonstration of American leadership, and its indispensable role in the world. If it fails, it will confirm their worst fears.

Obama to Visit East Asia amid Cracking Tensions (2014-02-13)
(Wall Street Journal, By Josh Chin, Alastair Gale, and George Hishiyama) U.S. President Barack Obama will encounter a host of security tensions when he makes a tour of four East Asian nations in late April, the first time the president is visiting the region since China and Japan clashed over an air-defense zone established by Beijing.
DPP Searches for New China Stance
Hsieh Unveils His DPP Campaign Platform (2014-02-14)
(Taipei Times) Former premier Frank Hsieh unveiled his campaign platform for the DPP chairmanship election in May, focusing on three key areas — a feasible China policy, party reform and central government reform. 
Military Balance and Arms Sales
215,000-Man Military Still Too Large: President (2014-02-14)
(CNA) Despite efforts to streamline the nation's armed forces, the 215,000-man strong military is still too large at 0.9 percent of Taiwan's total population, according to President Ma Ying-jeou. 
Taiwan's Domestic Issues
Party Identification Tracking Analysis in Taiwan, January 2014 (2014-02-11)
(TISR) Taiwan Indicators Survey Research released its January survey results (in Chinese) on the public's party identities. Of those surveyed, 27.9% self-identified as supporters of the KMT or other Pan-Blue parties, 28.8% expressed support for the DPP or other Pan-Green parties, and 40.8% self-identified as independent.

Free Press Groups Warn of China's Influence on Hong Kong and Taiwan Media
 (2014-02-12)
(Sinosphere, By Austin Ramzy) Press freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan is under increasing pressure from China, as news outlets curtail coverage that might anger government officials or trigger businesses to pull advertising. 
Regional Issues
China Set to Press North Korea Further on Nuclear Aims, Kerry Says (2014-02-15)
(New York Times, By Michael R. Gordon) After a day of meetings with senior Chinese officials, Secretary of State John Kerry asserted that China was prepared to step up the pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.