Taiwan Security Research

Administration Backs Ou on Chinese Trade Remark
(Taipei Times, Jul. 3, 2009) The Presidential Office stood behind Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou after he said that the government did not oppose Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and China establishing economic and trade offices in each other’s countries.

Ties Not Competing with Cross-Strait Relations: Outgoing AIT Chief (China Post, Jul. 3, 2009) The outgoing American Institute in Taiwan director said that ties between Taiwan and the United States are "grounded in the most enduring foundation" and are not in competition with its cross-strait relationship.

Japan May Deploy Troops Near Disputed Islands
(AFP, Jul. 2, 2009) Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman.

Taiwan Will Not Oppose Allies’ China Links
(CNA, Jul. 2, 2009) "With Taiwan also maintaining trade offices in some countries that formally recognize Beijing instead of Taipei, why should we oppose any arrangement between China and Taiwan's diplomatic partners on reciprocal trade offices?" Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco H. L. Ou said.

DPP Seeks to Thwart Gov’t Policy on Chinese Investments
(China Post, Jul. 2, 2009) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party has decided to take action against the government's policy of allowing Chinese capital investments in Taiwan, saying the policy will cause a security breach and harm Taiwan's sovereignty.

US Names New Head of De Facto Taiwan Embassy
(AP, Jul. 1, 2009) The American Institute in Taiwan said William Stanton, currently the No. 2 U.S. diplomat in South Korea, will replace outgoing institute head Stephen Young in August.

Taiwanese Mean Business, While Chinese See Family
(China Post, Jul. 1, 2009) About two-thirds of Taiwanese see China as a business partner or a friend at most, preferring to maintain at a certain distance, while over half of Chinese view their cross-strait counterparts as family, a survey shows.

Taiwan Opens Door for Chinese Investment
(AP, Jun. 30, 2009) Taiwan has opened up key parts of its manufacturing and service sectors to Chinese investment as another barrier falls between the once bitter foes.

Lee Shocks DPP with China Remarks
(China Post, Jun. 30, 2009) Ex-President Lee Teng-hui publicly voiced his support for deepening Taiwan's relations and exchanges with China, sending shock waves through political circles and triggering mixed comments from heavyweights of the opposition DPP.

Executive Yuan Approves Merger
(Taipei Times, Jun. 30, 2009) The Executive Yuan approved the merger of Tainan County and Tainan City as a single municipality and endorsed the initial review last Tuesday.

Ma Embarks on Central American Diplomatic Tour
(China Post, Jun. 30, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou departed for a visit to two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America.

Opposition DPP Calls for Balanced External Relations
(China Post, Jun. 29, 2009) Taiwan should clearly define its relations with China while maintaining a balanced development of its overall external ties without singularly focusing on links with China, Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party said.

ECFA Crucial to Taiwan’s Competitiveness: SEF Chairman
(CNA, Jun. 28, 2009) The signing of an economic cooperation framework agreement with China is crucial to Taiwan's ability to compete with other countries on an equal basis, SEF Chairman P.K. Chiang said.

F-16 Fighter Jet Sale Still on the Table: Outgoing AIT Chief
(China Post, Jun. 27, 2009) Washington is still considering whether to sell advanced F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan military, the top U.S. official on the island said.

US Talks ‘Disappoint’ Chinese Official
(Taipei Times, Jun. 27, 2009) Washington sources told the Taipei Times that Wang Yi, director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, left Washington “disappointed” following a meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg this week, during which he tried to persuade the US to end arms sales to Taiwan.

DPP Chair Launches Drive for Ex-President’s Release
(CNA, Jun. 26, 2009) Opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen joined a group of academics and social activists to initiate a drive calling for an end to what they argue is the “unjustified detention” of former President Chen Shui-bian.

MOUs on Three Financial Sectors to be Inked: FSC
(China Post, Jun. 26, 2009) Both sides of the Taiwan Straits are very likely to sign a MOU on cooperation in the three sectors of banking, insurance and securities simultaneously, probably in July or August, Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission said.

China’s Rogue Regimes Play Up By Brian McCartan
(Asia Times, Jul. 3, 2009) Arms shipments, cooperation on underground tunneling and a budding nuclear relationship between North Korea and Myanmar threatens to destabilize Southeast Asia's security balance and raise the ire of China, both countries' powerful neighbor and ally.

China Offers Risky Drip Line to Recession-Hit Taiwan By Ralph Jennings and Lee Chyen Yee (Reuters, Jul. 2, 2009) Recession-hit Taiwan has begun to depend so heavily on economic powerhouse China that the island's leadership risks being seen as beholden to Beijing and will have to tread carefully so as not to upset its political rival.

Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy March Draws Thousands By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Jul. 2, 2009) Thousands of people joined a pro-democracy march, although the turnout fell short of a candlelight vigil held nearly four weeks ago to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing.

China Web Controversy Highlights Public Role By Joe McDonald
(AP, Jul 1, 2009) Beijing's retreat on its latest Internet-censorship effort highlights the rise of China's increasingly tech-savvy, vocal public as a factor in the authoritarian government's decisions.

After Outcry, China Delays Requirement for Web-Filtering Software By Michael Wines (New York Times, Jul. 1, 2009) Facing strong resistance at home and abroad, China on Tuesday delayed enforcement of a new rule requiring manufacturers to install Internet filtering software on all new computers.

China’s Information Dam
(Editorial, Washington Post, Jun. 29, 2009) It may not be companies' job to fix the Chinese government. But if they choose to do business in China, it is their job to serve the Chinese people.

China Trade Helps Shield N. Korea By Blaine Harden
(Washington Post, Jun. 27, 2009) By funneling hard currency to the military, Chinese enterprises seem to be insulating the confrontational core of Kim's government from the international consequences of its behavior.

Will Digital Dissent Win in Iran and China?
(Editorial, Christian Science Monitor, Jun. 24, 2009) Not every digital battle for freedom will be won. China may yet get its software filter while Iran has largely suppressed both the protesters and most of their digital links to one another and to the world. At least, though, the world now knows of this suppression of ideas and actions.

Beijing Adds Curbs on Access to Internet By Keith Bradsher
(New York Times, Jun. 26, 2009) It is the latest move in what the ministry calls an antipornography campaign that many China experts see as a harbinger of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression and dissent.

Chinese Dissident Charged with Subversion By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Jun. 25, 2009) One of China’s best-known dissidents, Liu Xiaobo, has been arrested for “activities aimed at subversion,” state media and human rights groups said, in the latest sign of a hardening of government policy toward dissent.

A Chinese Turn to Mahan? By James Holmes and Toshi Yoshihara
(China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jun. 24, 2009) If Chinese scholars and seafarers continue ignoring the cooperative strands of Mahanian thought, Chinese strategy will incline toward naval competition and conflict. On the other hand, a China whose leadership fully grasps the logic governing Mahanian theory may prove less contentious.

Chinese ASBM Development: Knowns and Unknowns By Andrew S. Erickson (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jun. 24, 2009) There have been many Western reports that China is developing an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) based on its CSS-5/DF-21D solid propellant medium-range ballistic missile.

As China Stirs Economy, Some See Protectionism By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Jun. 24, 2009) Risking the ire of the United States and other trading partners, the Chinese government has quietly started adopting policies aimed at encouraging exports while curbing imports.

Coping with Digital Revolution: China Offers Green Dam, Iran Faces Neda By Guobin Yang (YaleGlobal, Jun. 23, 2009) The global response to China’s filtering software Green Dam Youth Escort and the Iranian election are not only proof of the power of the internet as a democratic form of communication, but also as a lever for democracy itself.

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