Taiwan Security Research

ECFA Core Issue at Talks: SEF Chairman
(Taipei Times, Feb. 9, 2010) “The core negotiations this year will be on the ECFA, followed by intellectual property rights and avoidance of dual taxation,” Chiang said.

Taiwanese Exports Climb by Most in More Than 30 Years
(Bloomberg, Feb. 9, 2010) Taiwan's exports climbed in January by the most in more than 30 years as holiday spending in China before the Lunar New Year fueled demand for the island's computers and mobile phones.

China Allegedly Blacklists Canadian University
(Global Times, Feb. 9, 2010) China's Ministry of Education refused to immediately comment on media reports of its decision to remove Canada's University of Calgary from a list of accredited schools because the latter bestowed an honorary degree on the Dalai Lama last year.

DPP Presses for Legislative Task Force on Cross-Strait Affairs
(CNA, Feb. 8, 2010) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party reiterated Monday what it sees as the importance of setting up a legislative task force to oversee cross-Taiwan Strait affairs.

Taiwan to Seek More Arms from the U.S.
(AFP, Feb. 8, 2010) Taiwan's national defense minister has vowed to seek more weaponry from the United States, which he said would give the island greater confidence in pushing for rapprochement talks with China.

‘Economist’ Urges Washington to Stand Up to China
(Taipei Times, Feb. 7. 2010) The strength of Sino-US relations is vital to global peace and prosperity, The Economist said in its latest issue, adding that the US and other countries must at the same time “stand firmer” against Beijing’s whims and wants.

Dalai Lama to Visit White House: US Official
(AFP, Feb. 6, 2010) The US risked inflaming a row on multiple fronts with China on Thursday, saying the Dalai Lama would visit the White House this month despite Beijing’s fierce protests.

Taiwan Air Force to Get 3 Helicopters from Europe
(AFP, Feb. 4, 2010) Taiwan said Friday its air force would get three rescue helicopters from Airbus sister company Eurocopter, in a development observers warned could worsen Chinese anger over military sales to the island.

Ma Meets Japan Envoy, Calls for FTA
(Taipei Times, Feb. 5, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou met the new Japanese representative to Taiwan, Tadashi Imai, and expressed the hope that Taipei and Tokyo could sign a free-trade agreement (FTA).

Taiwan May Announce Relaxing of China LCD Limit Controls
(Bloomberg, Feb. 4, 2010) Taiwan may announce a decision to relax restrictions on flat-panel display makers investing in China over the next two weeks, an economy ministry official said.

Ex-President Chen Shui-bian Indicted Again
(China Post, Feb. 3, 2010) Former President, Chen Shui-bian, who has been convicted on corruption charges, was indicted again on charges of abetting his subordinates to give false testimony.

DPP to Boycott MAC Briefing on ECFA
(CNA, Feb. 2, 2010) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party legislative caucus said that its members will not attend a briefing on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China given by Mainland Affairs Council.

China’s Interests May Limit Sanctions on US Firms
(AP, Feb. 1, 2010) China's threats to punish U.S. companies involved in a major arms sale to Taiwan are raising questions over whether Beijing could pull it off without undermining its own aviation industries.

New Joint Study Fails to Bridge Divide between Japan and China on Nanjing (AFP, Feb. 1, 2010) Japanese and Chinese academics published the results of a three-year joint study that showed they could not resolve differences on controversial modern events including the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.

U.S.-China Growing Pains By Fareed Zakaria
(Washington Post, Feb. 8, 2010) Despite the recent squall in U.S.-Chinese relations, both countries have powerful reasons to cooperate with one another. These have grown over the past two decades, a progression that both countries seem to recognize.

Why China Is Stoking War of Words with US By Bill Emmott
(The Times, Feb. 8, 2010) Beijing’s belligerence is a diversionary tactic. There’s nothing like nationalist outrage to sweeten unpopular economic reform.

China’s Hawks Demand Cold War on the US By Michael Sheridan
(The Times, Feb. 7, 2010) More than half of Chinese people questioned in a poll believe China and America are heading for a new “cold war.”

Approval Ratings for President Ma Ying-jeou’s Performance
(TVBS, Feb. 3, 2010) 26% of respondents were satisfied with President Ma’s performance while 50% not.

What is the U.S. Really Selling Taiwan?
(Editorial, China Post, Feb. 6, 2010) The weapons systems Taiwan is getting from the U.S. may just be toys, or a Linus blanket that makes us feel safe.

Will Japan Emerge from Its Shell?—Part II By Daniel Sneider
(YaleGlobal, Feb. 5, 2010) Japan’s new tack not only has caught the US flat-footed, but also has other countries in the Asia Pacific worried. Most importantly, Tokyo seems to be making uncharacteristically friendly overtures to Beijing. But it would be wrong to assume that Sino-Japan relations are really much improved.

Transatlantic, Meet Pacific: China’s Bold Stance at Munich Security Conference By Robert Marquand (Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 5, 2010) In front of 300 diplomats, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said the US was violating international law by a proposed arms sale to Taiwan, and defended Chinese TV and radio as more reliable than Western media.

U.S. Officials Hopeful China Will Make Concessions on Currency By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Feb. 5, 2010) Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said that he believed China would allow its currency to appreciate vis-à-vis the dollar.

PLAN Shapes International Perception of Evolving Capabilities By Jesse Karotkin (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Feb. 4, 2010) As the PLAN gears up to undertake unprecedented international missions and in the process execute new capabilities in the coming decades, rather than deny the rapid evolution of PLAN capabilities, Beijing has focused on assuaging concerns over Chinese intentions.

The Politics of Disaster Relief: China, Taiwan and the Haitian Earthquake By Daniel Erikson (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Feb. 4, 2010) Faced with a skeptical audience abroad and a supportive one at home, the Haitian earthquake forced Chinese leaders to navigate the tricky politics of disaster relief.

It’s Time for the Obama Administration to Burst Beijing’s Bubble
(Washington Post, Feb. 4, 2010) China is trying to tilt the balance of power in its direction by forcing the administration to back away from policies and principles the United States has defended for decades. It's essential that Mr. Obama calmly but firmly reject the pressure.

Who Needs Whom More? By Philip Bowring
(New York Times, Feb. 4, 2010) Does President Obama have the guts to start a modest confrontation, like Nixon over gold convertibility in 1971, while he can control events? Or will events overtake leaders in both the U.S. and China?

Currency Dispute Likely to Further Fray U.S.-China Ties By Mark Landler (New York Times, Feb. 4, 2010) The Obama administration is reviving American pressure on China to stop artificially depressing its currency, a policy that fuels its persistent trade gap with the United States.

China’s Defiance on Rights Stirs Fears for Dissident By Andrew Jacobs (New York Times, Feb. 3, 2010) Legal experts say the disappearance of Mr. Gao, whose case has been championed by American lawmakers, several European leaders and the United Nations, represents a disturbing milestone.

US Arms Sales to Taiwan stifle US-China Military Engagement By Peter Ford (Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 2, 2010) To protest the US’s arms sales to Taiwan, China halted contact between the two nations’ militaries, which expanded in recent months to include study tours and naval exercises.

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