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- EU Foreign and Security Policy Highlights Support for Taiwan (2019-12-05)
(CNA, By Tang Pei-chun and Ko Lin) The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved a resolution on its annual foreign and security policy, part of which highlighted the European Union's (EU) support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations and activities. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Thailand Delays Visa Changes for Taiwanese Travelers Amid Outcry (2019-12-05)
(CNA, By Elaine Hou and Matthew Mazzetta) The Thailand Trade and Economic Office (TTEO) announced Thursday that it will delay changes to the country's visa rules until March 2020 following an outcry against the new rules that would require Taiwanese applicants to provide evidence of their finances. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - U.S. Uighur Bill's Threat to Surveillance Economy Puts China on Offensive (2019-12-05)
(Reuters, By Matt Spetalnick, Patricia Zengerle, and David Brunnstrom) China reacted angrily to President Donald Trump’s approval of legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters last month, but movement on another congressional bill, backing Uighur Muslims in China’s northwest, has cut even closer to the bone and could trigger reprisals and hurt efforts to resolve the U.S.-China trade war. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - China Defense Chief Defends Policy on Hong Kong, Xinjiang (2019-12-05)
(Associated Press) China’s defense minister defended his country’s policy on the controversial issues of Hong Kong and the northwestern territory of Xinjiang in a telephone conversation with his U.S. counterpart. The official Xinhua News Agency said Defense Minister Wei Fenghe also raised the issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea in the Tuesday conversation with Defense Secretary Mark Esper. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Prague Mayor: City Will Sign Sister Pact with Taipei in January (2019-12-03)
(CNA, By Lin Yu-li and Evelyn Kao) Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib announced Monday that he will sign an agreement with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) to forge sisterhood ties between the two cities in January, when Ko is set to visit the Czech Republic capital, according to Czech news agency CTK. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - China Maritime Incursions Near Japan-Held Islands Hit Record (2019-12-05)
(Bloomberg, By Jon Herskovitz) The number of Chinese maritime incursions near Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea soared to a record this year, illustrating simmering tensions between Asia’s two biggest economies. Chinese government ships, including coast guard vessels, have entered what Japan considers its exclusive waters more than 1,000 times this year, according to data from the Japan Coast Guard. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Prosecutors Seek Australia’s Aid in Spy Claims (2019-12-01)
(Taipei Times/CNA) The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office is hoping for help from Australia as it investigates the allegations of self-confessed Chinese spy William Wang Liqiang (王立強), a Ministry of Justice official said yesterday. The ministry official said the office wrote a letter requesting that Australia provide it with a transcript of Wang’s comments given to Australian authorities on his role in reportedly attempting to influence Taiwan’s elections. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Video Shows US State Department Official Refuse to Call Taiwan a Country (2019-12-04)
(Taiwan News, By Keoni Everington) A U.S. State Department official on Monday (Dec. 2) raised concerns about U.S.-Taiwan relations after he refused to refer to Taiwan as a country. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - Taiwan Rated as Only Asian Country Open to Civil Rights (2019-12-04)
(CNA, By Lu Hsin-hui and Joseph Yeh) Taiwan has been rated as the only Asian country with open civic space, in a global report that rates and tracks respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries worldwide, according to the results released Wednesday in Bangkok. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - Taiwan November Exports Seen Rebounding, Inflation at Highest in Five Months - Reuters Poll (2019-12-04)
(Reuters, By Carol Lee and Ben Blanchard) Taiwan’s exports are likely to have rebounded in November after two months of falls, according to a median forecast of 12 analysts polled by Reuters. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - NPP Seeks Probe of Han’s In-Law (2019-12-04)
(Taipei Times, By Ann Maxon) New Power Party (NPP) Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday urged the Control Yuan to investigate Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) father-in-law, Lee Jih-kuei (李日貴), accusing him of illegally occupying more than 1 hectare of public land in Yunlin County with Han’s help. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - DPP Unveils Task Force to Combat Vote-Buying (2019-12-04)
(Taipei Times, By Jason Pan) Former minister of justice Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) was yesterday announced as head of a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) task force to combat false news reports and vote-buying. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - Would-Be Presidential Candidate Indicted for Election Irregularities (2019-12-04)
(CNA, By Flor Wang and Huang Huiu-min) Huang Jung-chang (黃榮章), who heads a political party that advocates Taiwan's unification with China, was indicted Wednesday for seeking to purchase petition signature forms after registering to take part in the Jan. 11 presidential race. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - KMT Demands Japan Envoy's Resignation Over Internet Troll Ties (2019-12-04)
(CNA, By Yang Ming-chu and Joseph Yeh) A group of opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Taipei city councilors demanded the resignation Wednesday of the nation's top envoy to Japan, former Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), after one of his former election campaign staffers was indicted Monday. <Accessed 2019-12-04> - Protesters Return to Hong Kong’s Streets (2019-12-02)
(Taipei Times) Thousands took to Hong Kong’s streets yesterday in a new wave of pro-democracy protests, but police fired tear gas after some demonstrators hurled bricks and smoke bombs, breaking a pause in violence that has persisted during the six-month-long movement. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Beijing Wants Rollback on US Tariffs (2019-12-02)
(Taipei Times/Reuters) Beijing is insisting US tariffs must be rolled back as part of any phase one trade deal with Washington, the Global Times newspaper said yesterday, citing unnamed sources, amid continued uncertainty on whether the two sides can strike a deal. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Postal Workers Protest in Taipei to Demand Equal Pay (2019-12-02)
(Taipei Times, By Shelley Shan) About 500 Taiwan Postal Workers’ Union members protested outside the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taipei yesterday, demanding that employees of Chunghwa Post Co doing the same jobs be paid equally. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Ex-Defense Chief Calls for Swift Passage of Anti-Infiltration Law (2019-12-02)
(CNA, By Fang Cheng-hsiang and Joseph Yeh) A former defense minister of Taiwan on Monday called on lawmakers to swiftly pass an anti-infiltration law to prevent Chinese interference in the nation's politics. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Taiwan-Japan Hold Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation in Taipei (2019-12-02)
(CNA, By Emerson Lim) Taiwan and Japan on Monday held their annual dialogue on maritime cooperation in Taipei, focusing on such topics as maritime safety, scientific research, ocean environment protection and fisheries cooperation. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Han Sues NPP Lawmaker Over Influence Peddling Allegations (2019-12-02)
(CNA, By Wang Cheng-chung and Joseph Yeh) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) on Monday filed a lawsuit against New Power Party (NPP) Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) after the latter accused him of influence peddling to help a company owned by Han's father-in-law in southern Yunlin County 20 years ago when he was a lawmaker. <Accessed 2019-12-02>
- What the 'Power of Siberia' Tells Us About China-Russia Relations (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Francesco Sassi) The increasing energy interdependency between Moscow and Beijing is key to understanding the long-term relationship between the two governments. However, the energy partnership does not stop with the Power of Siberia, as Beijing is an outstanding partner for Moscow’s efforts in developing its Arctic resource base as well. <Accessed 2019-12-08> - Hong Kong's Protest: Look Beyond Tiananmen 2.0 (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Victoria Tin-bor Hui) The process of radicalizing peaceful demonstrators has various steps, and the first move by Beijing has often been to refuse to make concessions, thereby forcing the opposition to either abandon their demands or to step up their actions. At Tiananmen Square, students escalated by going on a hunger strike. In Hong Kong, the government’s unresponsiveness to multiple peaceful marches gave rise to the protest slogan: “It is [you] who taught us that peaceful demonstrations are ineffective.” <Accessed 2019-12-08> - New Military Vehicles Put China-Thailand Defense Relations into Focus (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Prashanth Parameswaran) Nonetheless, the development reinforced the fact that despite lingering challenges and uncertainties, certain avenues in China-Thailand defense collaboration continue to be advanced. How both sides look to continue to operationalize areas of cooperation they have talked about previously will be an aspect in Sino-Thailand defense relations to watch into next year. <Accessed 2019-12-08> - China: Argentina's Last Resort (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Antonio C. Hsiang) With the BRI being expanded to Latin America and Washington appearing content to cede leadership in the region to China, the only sure thing is that Argentina faces great economic uncertainty in the short run, with long-run outcomes hanging in the balance. Argentina may provide a testing ground for China’s alternative model for development, which is very different from the Western model. <Accessed 2019-12-08> - Exploring China's New Narrative on Democracy (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Jo Kim) According to Xi’s definition, “whole-process democracy” means that “all major legislative decisions are made after going through procedures and democratic deliberations to make sure the decision-making is sound and democratic.” By this explanation, it is apparent the leadership is defining its governance using the traditional philosophy of “benevolent rule” (仁政), which refers to the ruling government having the virtue of benevolence and governing based on love and care for the people. <Accessed 2019-12-08> - Russia, China's Neighborhood Energy Alternative (2019-12-08)
(The Diplomat, By Eleanor Albert) With regard to Russia, China’s main objectives can be understood as follows: (1) boosting economic interdependence with its neighbor to stabilize and pacify China’s periphery; and (2) further integrating Russia not only within the region, but also within an emerging multilateral regional institutional architecture, by and large led by China. <Accessed 2019-12-08> - Is This Central Asia's ASEAN Moment? (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By S. Frederick Starr) In short, they pledged to develop in Central Asia something akin to ASEAN, the Nordic Council, the Vishegrad Group, or Mercosur. After centuries of being played against one another, the Central Asian states have linked arms to advance their common welfare. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Can China's "New Idea" Work in the Middle East? (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Wang Jin) Four points of common understanding were shared among the attendees, including goals to set up a new security concept that is collective, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable; to realize the final peace between Palestine and Israel (among other regional issues) in a just and equal manner; to highlight and implement the role of “development” in the Middle East management; and to encourage and facilitate mutual dialogue and understanding between different civilizations over counterterrorism and counterextremism, and thereby eliminate double standards in international and regional affairs. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - China and US Clash Over Xinjiang, Hong Kong Bills (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Yanan Wang and Dake Kang) After Trump signed bills mandating sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials, an annual review of Hong Kong’s favorable trade status, and a ban on exporting nonlethal munitions to Hong Kong police, China retaliated Monday by suspending U.S. military ship and aircraft visits to Hong Kong. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Sweet and Sour: China in Ghana (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Joseph Hammond) “I am very skeptical of China’s role in Ghana and their adherence to the win-win principle,” says Abraham Odom, a member of parliament from NPP party, one of the two main parties in Ghana. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Hong Kong's Carrie Lam Fears Violence is on Upswing Again (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Ken Moritsugu) “We have freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, religious freedom – we enjoy a high degree of freedom in many areas,” Lam said. “There’s an overseas government that interfered with Hong Kong affairs, and that is most regrettable.” <Accessed 2019-12-06> - What Do Germans Think of Berlin's China Policy? (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Joshua Webb) As Germany’s partners both in Europe and across the Indo-Pacific region are calling on Berlin to increase its engagement across the region, policymakers in Berlin face the choice of explaining to an anxious electorate why and how Berlin ought to defend its interests, lest they look back in the not-too-distant future and realize they missed their chance. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Imagery Suggests China Deployed Surveillance Aerostat to Mischief Reef in South China Sea (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Ankit Panda) Recently published satellite images indicate that China may have deployed a tethered aerostat to Mischief Reef, the site of one of its artificial island bases in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - 4 Lessons for India From China's October 2019 Military Parade (2019-12-06)
(The Diplomat, By Suyash Desai) Although policymakers and military leaders across the world were keeping a close eye on China’s military display, perhaps those in India should have been paying the most attention. The parade was not directed at India, but New Delhi can learn a lot from China’s use of military modernization and its ongoing defense reforms. <Accessed 2019-12-06> - Taiwan's Election Thrown Into Turmoil after Claims by Alleged Chinese Spy (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Nick Aspinwall) Wang’s allegations reveal a campaign of infiltration in media and universities in both Hong Kong and Taiwan, including efforts to support Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintang (KMT) challenger to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. China has denied the claims and said Wang is not a spy, claiming he had previously been convicted of fraud. <Accessed 2019-12-03> - Trump Signs Bills in Support of Hong Kong; China Warns of Consequences (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat By Associated Press) China’s foreign ministry called the laws a “naked hegemonic action” that seriously interfered in Hong Kong and China’s internal affairs, violated international law and “fundamental norms of international relations.” <Accessed 2019-12-03> - US Senate Hearing Raises Alarm Over China's Talent Recruitment Plans (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Bonnie Girard) One hearing witness stated, “What’s particularly striking is that many American institutions have no idea that their own faculty have a laboratory in China,” much less that their faculty are spending a substantial amount of time in that Chinese lab. <Accessed 2019-12-03> - America's New Hong Kong Human Rights Act May be Provocative, But It's Not Surprising (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Joe Renouard) Some aspects of the new law are unremarkable. It restates plenty of existing policy language, such as its many references to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law as the foundation for Hong Kong’s status based on the “one country, two systems” principle. Its general goals are also consistent with the longstanding U.S. claim that democracy and human rights are integral parts of the nation’s relationship with Hong Kong. <Accessed 2019-12-03> - Can China Lead the Fight on Climate Change? (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Iza Ding) Like Han Solo, China has been thrust into leading a fight it was not ready for. Can it lead? If so, how? <Accessed 2019-12-03> - CCP Influence Operations and Taiwan's 2020 Elections (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Russell Hsiao) A series of investigative reports and declassified government disclosures in recent years confirmed that the CCP is engaging in political warfare as part of a broader influence campaign against Taiwan – all with the goal to manipulate the island democracy in ways that will have implications well beyond Taiwan. <Accessed 2019-12-03> - China Releases Professor, But Travel Concerns Persist (2019-12-03)
(The Diplomat, By Shin Kawashima) A similar situation applies to intellectuals in China. That is to say, daily educational and research activities are monitored and if any problems arise, the authorities issue them with a warning, which in some cases leads to detention and arrest. This means that the actions taken against Chinese people in China also apply to foreigners who have entered China and Chinese people who conduct research activities overseas. <Accessed 2019-12-03> - Taiwanese, Belizean Arrested in China for Supporting Hong Kong Protests (2019-11-30)
(South China Morning Post, By Phoebe Zhang) Chinese authorities have confirmed the arrest of two overseas passport holders for their roles in supporting Hong Kong protests, mainland media reported on Saturday. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Vietnam and China Promise to Keep Talking as They Look to Settle Differences over South China Sea (2019-11-29)
(South China Morning Post, By Laura Zhou) China and Vietnam said that they would continue to look for ways to peacefully resolve their conflict over the South China Sea at the end of a three-day meeting to discuss border issues. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Hong Kong Can Rely on European Union’s Support in ‘Difficult Times’ (2019-11-28)
(South China Morning Post, By Keegan Elmer) Hong Kong can rely on the support of the European Union in troubled times, a visiting EU delegation to the city said on Thursday, after talks with local politicians. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - China Wrestles with International Role as It Vows to Take Lead in Realising Climate Change Accord (2019-11-28)
(South China Morning Post, By Echo Xie) Ahead of a United Nations summit next week, China pledged on Wednesday to take the lead in ensuring a key global climate change accord can be put into practice. But experts said the country’s different international profiles – including being the largest developing country, the biggest economy after the United States, and the biggest greenhouse gas emitter – complicated Beijing’s leadership in the multilateral negotiations. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - Beijing Accuses Taiwan’s Ruling Democratic Progressive Party of Using Spy Allegations for Political Gain (2019-11-27)
(South China Morning Post, By Linda Lew) Beijing has accused Taipei of trying to deceive the Taiwanese public for political gain by launching an investigation into allegations made by Wang Liqiang, the self-proclaimed Chinese spy who is seeking asylum in Australia. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - New Shine on US-Taiwan Ties with Trip by Top Pentagon Brass (2019-11-26)
(South China Morning Post, By Lawrence Chung) The United States has sent a senior Pentagon official to Taiwan amid concerns that Beijing is trying to influence the island’s presidential election, which takes place in January. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - The Identity Politics Driving the Japan–South Korea Trade War (2019-11-25)
(East Asia Forum, By Wrenn Yennie Lindgren, Eun Hee Woo, Ulv Hanssen, and Petter Y. Lindgren) To end the conflict, Japan must acknowledge that South Korea is a democracy with independent courts, even when these courts do not rule in Japan’s favour. South Korea needs to recognise Japan’s peace identity and that post-war Japan has played a positive role for world peace. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - A Divided Europe’s China Challenge (2019-11-26)
(East Asia Forum, By Philippe Le Corre) As China’s cash machine shows signs of slowing down, pragmatic Europeans should regroup and offer China alternatives to US President Donald Trump’s zero-sum approach to economic relations. <Accessed 2019-12-02> - PacNet #61 – Beijing’s “Asian NATO” Maxim on Quad is Structural (2019-11-22)
(Pacific Forum, By Jagannath Panda) What is, however, important to note is that Beijing’s perception of the Quad is linked to a number of other regional structural parameters beyond the construct of the Indo-Pacific. <Accessed 2019-12-02>
