Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Monday 28 April 2014

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2014-04-27 | NO.18(16) epaper |
South China Sea Disputes and Other Regional Issues
Pacific Navies Agree on Code of Conduct for Unplanned Encounters (2014-04-22)
(Wall Street Journal, By Jeremy Page) Asia Pacific naval chiefs approved the region's first code of conduct for unplanned encounters between navy ships and aircraft in an effort to prevent maritime tensions from flaring into conflict.

China Won't Necessarily Observe New Conduct Code for Navies (2014-04-23)
(Wall Street Journal, By Jeremy Page) Beijing won't necessarily observe a new code of conduct for naval encounters when its ships meet foreign ones in disputed areas of the East and South China seas, according to a senior Chinese naval officer involved in negotiations on the subject.
China's Dismaying New Claims in the South China Sea (2014-04-24)
(Wall Street Journal, By Moeldoko) Indonesia will strengthen its military forces in the Natuna Islands now that Beijing wants to take them over.
Marine Accord Expected (2014-04-27)
(Taipei Times) Taiwan and the Philippines are expected to sign an agreement soon to facilitate maritime law enforcement cooperation, the Philippines’ representative to Taiwan said.

Diaoyutai Disputes Resurface and Japan Policy
Japan Ups Surveillance against China: Reports (2014-04-21)
(AFP) Japan bolstered its military surveillance capabilities in the southern island region of Okinawa over the weekend, reports said.

America Should Step Back from the East China Sea Dispute (2014-04-23)
(New York Times, By Wu Xinbo) Japan should take the first step and acknowledge that the sovereignty of the islands is in dispute. Were Tokyo to take this leap, Beijing could then suggest shelving the disagreement altogether.
Negotiating Asia's Troubled Waters (2014-04-23)
(New York Times, By Michael J. Green) Any American plan to ease the strain between Japan and China should convince Beijing that coercion will no longer work — but that dialogue and confidence building measures might.

U.S. Pivot to Asia and Sino-U.S. Engagement
US-Japan Treaty Applied to Islands: Obama (2014-04-24)
(AP) US President Barack Obama confirmed that the US’ mutual security treaty with Japan applies to the islands at the center of a territorial dispute between China and Japan.
Obama Says Pact Obliges U.S. to Protect Japan in Islands Fight (2014-04-25)
(New York Times, By Mark Landler) President Obama offered a security blanket to Japan, declaring that the United States was obligated by a defense treaty to protect Japan in its confrontation with China over islands in the East China Sea.

‘Breakthrough’ in US-Japan TPP Talks (2014-04-26)
(AFP, By Stephen Collinson) U.S. officials declared a “breakthrough” after round-the-clock talks with Japan on a trade pact, despite failing to clinch a deal that would have raised hopes of a wider pan-Pacific agreement.
On a Trip That Avoids Beijing, Obama Keeps His Eyes on China (2014-04-27)
(New York Times, By Mark Landler) On every stop of his Asian journey in the past week, President Obama has spoken to two audiences: America’s allies and China. The balancing act has become even trickier because of the sharp deterioration in America’s relations with Russia.

Obama's China Challenge (2014-04-22)
(Wall Street Journal) Like Russia in Eastern Europe, China is trying to rewrite the international order to dominate the Western Pacific. And like Vladimir Putin, Beijing's leaders will press their advantage against weaker powers unless America makes clear by word and deed that it will push back.
Mr. Obama: Focus on Alliance Management, Not Rebalancing Rhetoric (2014-04-21)
(PacNet #32, Pacific Forum, CSIS, By Jeffrey W. Hornung) Many of Washington’s allies’ anxieties are, at their core, alliance issues rather than rebalance issues.

Don't Be a Menace to South (China Sea)
 (2014-04-21)
(Foreign Policy, By Jim Steinberg and Mike O'Hanlon) To manage the Sino-U.S. security dilemma, the United States needs a clear strategy. We propose one entitled "Resolve and Reassure." 
Sunflower Movement--A Student-Led Anti Cross-Strait Service Pact Protest
All FTA Talks Shelved Over Service Pact Protests: Minister (2014-04-22)
(CNA) All free trade negotiations with Taiwan planned for this year have been shelved by “other countries” because of unrest over the services pact with China, Economics Minister Chang Chia-juch said, though he refused to name any specific countries.
Ex-AIT Director's Views on Pact Do Not Represent US Stance: AIT (2014-04-22)
(CNA) The views of a former U.S. envoy to Taiwan on a trade in-services pact between Taiwan and China does not reflect the United States government's position, the AIT said.
Taiwan's TPP Bid Not Impacted by Pact Delay: US (2014-04-22)
(China Post) The Legislative Yuan's delay in passing a cross-strait agreement on trade in services has little affect on Taiwan's bid to join a regional trade bloc, a visiting U.S official said.

US Reiterates Stance on Taiwan's TPP Bid (2014-04-23)
(CNA) When Zimmer was asked whether China would be a factor that affects Taiwan's TPP bid, Zimmer, the AIT spokesman, said “we don't know yet.”
Official Says Stalling of Cross-Strait Pact Will Affect Taiwan's TPP Bid (2014-04-25)
(China Post) A Ministry of Economic Affairs official insisted that delaying the Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement will affect Taiwan's bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Military Balance and Arms Sales
Han Kuang War Games to Focus on Invasion: Ministry (2014-04-23)
(Taipei Times) The computer-aided war-games portion of the annual Han Kuang military exercises will be held next month and the drill will focus on a simulation of a battle group of the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, attacking Taiwan’s east coast.

Apache Crash Lands in Taoyuan County (2014-04-26)
(Taipei Times) An army AH-64E Apache helicopter crashed into a residential area in Taoyuan County during a routine training flight.
Taiwan's Foreign Relations
Nation Stepping Up Its Efforts to Join Proposed TPP Bloc (2014-04-25)
(Taipei Times) The vice minister of economic affairs said that Malaysia is concerned about tariffs, and Chile, Peru and Australia are worried about agriculture.