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- Trump Muses Privately About Ending Postwar Japan Defense Pact (2019-06-24)
(Bloomberg, By Jennifer Jacobs) President Donald Trump has recently mused to confidants about withdrawing from a longstanding defense treaty with Japan, according to three people familiar with the matter, in his latest complaint about what he sees as unfair U.S. security pacts. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - Tsai Leading in Three-Way Presidential Poll (2019-06-25)
(Taipei Times, By Yang Chun-hui and Sherry Hsiao) Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is currently leading in a three-way presidential poll between herself, independent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, and Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) primary candidate. Tsai is polling at 36.9% of votes while Han and Ko would receive 29.4% and 27.5% respectively. The survey also found that Tsai's approval rating, especially regarding her foreign policy, has improved. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - Chinese Aircraft Carrier Passes Through Taiwan Strait (2019-06-25)
(CNA, By Joseph Yeh) While returning from a mission in the South China Sea on Tuesday, China's aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait, according to the Taiwanese military. The aircraft carrier passed by Japanese islands earlier this month on its way to Chinese naval exercises in the Pacific Ocean. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - China, US Trade Officials Talk Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting (2019-06-25)
(Al Jazeera, By Staff Writer) Chinese Vice Premier Liu He spoke with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin via telephone on Monday. The conversation comes just days before President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump are expected to meet at the G20 summit later this week. The ongoing China-U.S. trade war will be a central topic of the meeting. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - No Change in U.S. Stance on Arms Sales to Taiwan: AIT (2019-06-25)
(CNA, By Joseph Yeh) A spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to continuing arms sales to Taiwan. The announcement comes amidst reports that the United States intended to temporarily halt arms sales to Taiwan in order to reach a trade deal with China. The AIT spokesperson stated that the U.S. will continue to act based upon the Taiwan Relations Act. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - Tsai Urged to Speak Up for HK Ahead of Extradition Bill Protest (2019-06-25)
(CNA, By Stacy Hsu) Hong Kong citizens delivered a petition to the Presidential Office of Taiwan on Tuesday to urge President Tsai Ing-wen to directly voice her support of Hong Kong protesters before the G20 summit later this week. China's assistant foreign minister has already stated that China will not allow talk of Hong Kong at the summit. The Presidential Office stated that Taiwan will continue to show concern for Hong Kong "in an appropriate manner." <Accessed 2019-06-25> - Protesters Gather in Taipei, Asking 'Red Media' to Leave Taiwan (2019-06-23)
(CNA, By Stacy Hsu) Thousands of people gathered in Taipei this Sunday to protest "red media" outlets, believed to be influenced or controlled by China. Protesters claimed that China utilizes "red media" outlets as a way to spread false information with the purpose of pursuing China's goals regarding Taiwan, such as undermining the island's democracy. Protesters urged the Taiwanese government to take concrete action against the suspected media companies and outlets. <Accessed 2019-06-24> - Taipei Mayor to Attend Twin-City Forum in Shanghai Next Month (2019-06-23)
(CNA, By Liang Pei-chi and Emerson Lim) Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je will be traveling to Shanghai this July for the annual Taipei-Shanghai City Forum. The forum is meant to strengthen cooperation and increase exchanges between the two cities. This year's forum will focus on biotechnology, medical technology, cultural exchange, entrepreneurship, and smart city development, according to a Taipei city spokesman. <Accessed 2019-06-24> - Hong Kong Protests Give Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen a Boost as Elections Approach (2019-06-23)
(CNBC, By Huileng Tan)
The controversy surrounding recent Hong Kong protests over a proposed extradition bill have propelled cross-Strait relations as an issue at the forefront of of the upcoming Taiwanese presidential election. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen has been outspoken against the ‘one country, two systems’ and in support of the Hong Kong protests. This support for Hong Kong may have helped boost her domestic support, propelling her to win the Democratic Progressive Party’s nomination. The DPP has also gained favor in recent opinion polls overall. <Accessed 2019-06-24> - Solomon Islands Plans Due Diligence Tour on Taiwan Ties (2019-06-24)
(Reuters, By Tom Westbrook)
A delegation from the Solomon Islands sent by Prime minister Manasseh Sogavare will visit Beijing, Taipei, and surrounding island nations which receive aid from China as it reviews its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The delegation leader, John Moffat Fugui, said Monday that they will observe the development relationship between China and the countries to evaluate whether switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China would be more beneficial to the small island state. <Accessed 2019-06-24> - Belize National Security Minister Visits Taiwan (2019-06-24)
(CNA, By Joseph Yeh)
Belizean Minister of National Security John Saldivar arrived in Taiwan Monday for a five-day visit marking the 30th anniversary of Taiwan-Belize diplomatic relations. During his trip, Saldivar will visit with Taiwan’s National Security Council head, Defense Minister, and Vice Foreign Minister, as well as making a number of military-related visits in order to understand Taiwan’s military and shipbuilding development. <Accessed 2019-06-24> - Hong Kong Protests Flare Anew After Demands Unmet (2019-06-21)
(Associated Press, By Raf Wober) More than a thousand protesters gathered outside the Hong Kong police headquarters on Friday. Protesters demanded that the police apologize for their previous use of force to disperse protesters and that the Hong Kong government completely abandon the extradition bill. Multiple Hong Kong based and international organizations have condemned the government's handling of protests, especially regarding the use of police force on June 12. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Kim, Xi Reach Consensus, to Develop Relations No Matter the International Situation: KCNA (2019-06-21)
(Reuters, By Joyce Lee and Hayoung Choi) Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his two day trip to North Korea on Friday, the first trip to North Korea by a Chinese president in fourteen years. North Korea state media reported that Xi and Kim Jong Un agreed to continue to develop cooperative bilateral relations, regardless of the international situation. The meetings come just weeks before the G20 summit in Japan. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Departing Guatemalan Diplomat Urged to Continue Support for Taiwan (2019-06-21)
(CNA, By Stacy Hsu) Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen called on the departing Guatemalan Ambassador to Taiwan Olga Maria Aguja Zuniga to continue to support Guatemala - Taiwan ties in her new position as consultant to Guatemala's foreign ministry. Tsai credited Aguja with key bilateral exchanges between the two states, including a Taiwanese state visit to Guatemala in 2017. Guatemala's new ambassador to Taiwan is currently awaiting Taiwanese approval. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Taiwan ‘Watching’ as Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Sails into South China Sea (2019-06-20)
(South China Morning Post, By Lawrence Chung)
Taiwan’s defense ministry said that it used its intelligence to know the precise location and movements the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning as it sails through the South China Sea. Japanese defense officials also said they were monitoring the mission, which Chinese officials said was a routine training exercise. <Accessed 2019-06-21> - Cabinet Approves Projects to Boost Investment in Taiwan (2019-06-20)
(CNA, By Ku Chuan and Evelyn Kao) To help Taiwanese businesses cushion the impact of the trade conflict between the United States and China, the Executive Yuan launched an action plan Jan. 1 that allocated NT$20 billion in loans and subsidies to cover the 1.5 percent bank service charge for firms investing in Taiwan. <Accessed 2019-06-21> - Taiwan Denies Donating NT$1 Billion in Support of Hong Kong Protest (2019-06-20)
(CNA, By Huang Li-yun, Wen Kuei-hsiang, Yu-Hsiang, and Chung Yu-chen)
The Presidential Office on Thursday denied online rumors that the Taiwan government had donated NT$1 billion to support recent Hong Kong protests. Spokesperson Ting Yun-kung called the allegation “totally fake” and said that the Presidential Office has asked the police to investigate the source of the false information. <Accessed 2019-06-21>
- Xi Jinping's Busy G-20 Summit (2019-06-26)
(The Diplomat, By Eleanor Albert) The world will be watching in anticipation on the planned sit-down between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at the upcoming G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. Xi will also be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to finalize a joint cooperation on giant panda breeding research and South Korean President Moon Jae-in to discuss further on North Korean denuclearization. <Accessed 2019-06-26> - China's Long, Hot Summer of Censorship (2019-06-26)
(The Diplomat, By Sarah Cook) China is set to boost its censorship efforts in light of the recent protest in Hong Kong and the availability of sophisticated information-control system. For instance, China's popular social media applications imposed penalties to prevent information about the Tiananmen Square massacre from spreading. Despite China censoring information within the country, several recent data show that the Chinese people would like to know what the Chinese government is not telling them. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - A World Safe for Autocracy? China’s Rise and the Future of Global Politics (2019-06-11)
(Foreign Affairs, By Jessica Chen Weiss) Since 2012, China’s growing authoritarianism and resurgent state dominance over the economy have dashed Western hopes that China would eventually embrace liberalism. And China’s actions abroad have offered alternatives to U.S.-led international institutions, made the world safer for other authoritarian governments, and undermined liberal values. But those developments reflect less a grand strategic effort to undermine democracy and spread autocracy than the Chinese leadership’s desire to secure its position at home and abroad. - Hong Kong's Protesters Live Up to Their City's Heritage (2019-06-24)
(The Diplomat, By Bonnie Girard) The recent protest against the extradition bill demonstrated by the people of Hong Kong is not something new. Over the years, Hong Kongers have voiced for justice, the protection of freedom of speech and press, universal suffrage, and open elections. Hong Kongers' unwavering spirit of activism over the years speaks volume to who the people of Hong Kong really are. <Accessed 2019-06-25> - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: A Vehicle for Cooperation or Competition? (2019-06-22)
(The Diplomat, By Eleanor Albert) During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) annual summit at Bishek, Kyrgyzstan, several of the issues discussed among its members included strengthening regional security, economic integration, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Although China and Russia's relationship appears positive, China's growing presence on the international stage and Russia's relegated position internationally due to its economy might hamper more in-depth cooperation between the two Eurasian countries. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Presidential Hopeful Terry Guo will Step Down as Chairman of Foxconn (2019-06-22)
(The Diplomat, By Johnson Lai) Chairman of Foxconn Terry Guo announced that he will step down as Foxconn's chairman as he prepares for the Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential primary race. Seeing that there are other potential candidates competing, Guo proposed that the KMT should hold debates to select the party's presidential candidate. As a successful Taiwanese businessman and one of Taiwan's richest people, Guo's candidacy might attract Taiwanese who are not happy with the nation's stagnating incomes. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Hong Kong Needs China, and It Needs the World Too (2019-06-22)
(The Diplomat, By He Jun) Just as Hong Kong's economic prosperity is dependable on foreign investments from mainland China, Hong Kong equally needs recognition and support from the international community. For instance, if Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory is abolished, it would greatly affect the economic development of China's southern region, including China as a whole. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Xi's North Korea Visit: All Style, No Substance? (2019-06-22)
(The Diplomat, By Shannon Tiezzi) Despite China's Foreign Ministry calling Chinese President Xi Jinping's North Korea trip as a "very friendly and successful visit", there has been no detail of any agreement reached regarding the China-North Korea bilateral ties. Xi's visit to North Korea is a departure from his normal visits abroad, as there was no signing of memorandum of understanding or public announcements on any agreement between China and North Korea. <Accessed 2019-06-23> - Hong Kong Activists' Deadline Passes Without Government Response (2019-06-21)
(The Diplomat/Associated Press) Despite heavy protests from Hong Kong activists to scrap off the extradition bill, the Hong Kong government decided not to withdraw the bill. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam defended the legislation by remarking that the bill is crucial for Hong Kong to prevent Hong Kong from becoming a place that would attract fugitives. Opponents of the bill argued that the bill could potentially result in unfair trails for critics of the Chinese Communist Party. <Accessed 2019-06-21> - Hong Kong Protests: How Did We Get Here? (2019-06-21)
(The Diplomat, By Florence Mok) Although the recent protest in Hong Kong was sparked by the inability of the Hong Kong government to hand over a Hong Kong national, who was alleged to have murdered her girlfriend, to Taiwan, the roots for the protest go deeper. The recent protests in Hong Kong resulted from a growing distrust between the Hong Kong people and the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing, with tensions between the public and the governments going back to the 1980s. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - Taiwan's President Clears Her Primary Challenge. Will Her Party Get on Board? (2019-06-21)
(The Diplomat, By Nick Aspinwall) As Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen successfully won the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential primary, Tsai continues to face other challenges. Within the DPP, there is still the possibility that Tsai will lose former premier William Lai's supporters to Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. Tsai will also need to fend off China's pressure toward Taiwan, and at the same time ensuring support from the United States. <Accessed 2019-06-22> - The US vs China: A Clash of Self-Images (2019-06-21)
(The Diplomat, By Plamen Tonchev) A global country poll on views of major international players conducted by the BBC World Service two years ago, showed that there exist a gap between "image" and "self image". While 77 percent of Americans and 88 percent of Chinese viewed their countries' role in international affairs positively, the rest of the world did not share their sentiments. <Accessed 2019-06-21> - China's Xi Holds Talks With Kim Jong Un in North Korea (2019-06-20)
(The Diplomat, By Ken Moritsugu) While Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met and talked in Pyongyang, no details have been provided regarding the talks between leaders of both nations. According to a Xinhua commentary, China could be playing a unique and constructive role to reconcile the mistrust between the United States and North Korea. China and North Korea are having separate disputes with the United States. <Accessed 2019-06-21>
