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Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (May 3, 2009)
For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org
Taiwan's International
Relations: WHO Observership,
and Japanese Representative's Gaffe
Taiwan
President: China Okays Island WHO Role
(AP, Apr.
29, 2009) Taiwan's president
announced that China will allow the
island's participation in a key World
Health Organization body, a major goal
in Taipei's campaign for
international recognition.
WHO Confirms
Taiwan to Attend Health Assembly
(Reuters,
May 1, 2009) The World Health
Organization confirmed Taiwan will attend this
month's meeting of its annual
policy-setting assembly where the
outbreak of the new deadly flu strain
will likely top the agenda.
In a Switch,
Taiwan to Take Part in WHO Conference By Jane Rickards (Washington Post, Apr. 30, 2009)
Margaret Chan, the WHO's director
general, issued the formal invitation
Tuesday night, asking Taiwan to send
nonvoting observers to the Geneva
gathering under the banner of
"Chinese Taipei."
WHA Role
Won’t Harm Status: Ma
(China
Post, May 1, 2009) The nation's success
in obtaining the right to attend this
year's World Health Assembly has not
been achieved at the expense of the
country's sovereign status, President
Ma Ying-jeou
stressed.
Ma Looks to
WHA Model for Red Cross Membership
(Taipei Times, May 3,
2009) President Ma Ying-jeou promised to
push for admission of the country’s Red
Cross Society into the International
Committee of the Red Cross following Taiwan’s admission as an
observer at the World Health Assembly.
Treaty
Confirmed Sovereignty: Ma
(Taipei Times, Apr. 29,
2009) The president said it was easy to
read between the lines of the Treaty of
Taipei and see that the ROC government
is the legitimate ruler of Taiwan.
76% in Japan See Good
Relationship
(CNA,
May 2, 2009) Three-quarters of Japanese
responding to a recent poll
commissioned by Taiwan's Ministry of
Foreign Affairs said that bilateral
relations between Taiwan and Japan are
good and over 60 percent indicated they
were interested in visiting Taiwan.
KMT Lawmakers
Call for Recall of Japanese Envoy on Comments
(China Post, May 3, 2009)
Masaki Saito, Japan's Interchange
Association representative in Taipei, must be
considered persona non grata for stating
in public the status of Taiwan has not been
decided, legislators of the ruling
party said.
Third Chiang-Chen
Meeting and Cross-Strait Issues
Taiwan, China
in Landmark Financial Services Deal
(Reuters,
Apr. 26, 2009) Taiwan and China signed
a series of landmark agreements laying
the groundwork for a flood of financial
services investment to flow across the
Taiwan Strait for the first time in six
decades.
Pacts Deepen
Economic Ties, Add Flights
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 27, 2009) Taipei and
Beijing inked three agreements during
the third round of cross-strait
negotiations in China, agreeing to
launch additional regular cross-strait
passenger flights, establish a
financial cooperation mechanism and
join forces to combat crime.
Survey on
Third Chiang-Chen Meeting
(China
Times, Apr. 28, 2009) 43.6% respondents
are satisfied with the result of the
third Chiang-Chen Meeting; meanwhile,
44.9% respondents say they are
satisfied with President Ma’s
performance.
Survey on
ECFA and Issues Associated with
Mainland Capital Investments in Taiwan (MAC, Apr. 20, 2009) A survey
conducted by the Mainland Affairs
Council on ECFA and other issues.
U.S. Policy and U.S.-China
Engagement
An Obama TPR:
Too Little, Too Late? By John Tkacik
(Taipei Times, Apr. 29,
2009) While reports of an imminent Taiwan
Policy Review (TPR) are premature, it
would be a useful exercise as part of a
global strategic review of China’s emerging
pre-eminence.
Strengthen
U.S.-China Trade Ties By Chen Deming
(Wall
Street Journal, Apr. 26, 2009) History
tells us that the more serious a crisis
becomes, the more committed we must be
to openness and cooperation.
Regrettably, however, trade measures by
the U.S. against China are on the rise.
Time for
Joint Sino-US Action Is Here By Dennis V. Hickey
(China Daily, Apr. 29,
2009) As we celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the establishment of
formal diplomatic ties, the US and
China should seize the opportunity to
help the international community
resolve the pressing issues.
Maritime
Confrontation Highlights Troubled State
of China-U.S. Defense Diplomacy By Richard Weitz (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Apr. 30, 2009) The
Impeccable incident is another sign
that, despite years of
military-to-military talks, the Chinese
and American defense communities still
fundamentally disagree regarding how to
manage bilateral relations in ways that
eschew acute confrontations.
PLA and Regional Security Concerns
China Concerns Shape New Paper on Defense By Greg Ansley
(New Zealand
Herald, Apr. 27, 2009) Australia is about to release a new
defense white paper shaped by growing concerns about the
rise of China and emerging threats to the nation's maritime
approaches and trade routes.
Australia Tries to Placate China over Navy Expansion By Rob Taylor (Reuters, May 1, 2009) Australia sought to reassure China that plans to double its attack
submarine fleet and buy warships capable of carrying
ballistic missile shields in a $72 billion military upgrade
were not aimed at Beijing.
Impeccable Affair and Renewed Rivalry in the South China
Sea By Ian Storey (China Brief, Jamestown
Foundation, Apr. 30, 2009) Over the past two years the
South China Sea dispute has moved from the back to the
middle burner of Asian security issues; if present trends
continue, it may not be long before it is seen once again
as a major potential regional flashpoint.
China's Rise and Domestic Issues
China Can’t Have It Both Ways
(Editorial,
New York Times, Apr. 26, 2009) As it carves out an ever
greater role in the world, Beijing will have to learn
that it cannot have it both ways. China cannot be the aggrieved victim in
the morning and the bully in the afternoon.
China Tries to Wriggle Out of the US Dollar Trap By Wenran Jiang
(YaleGlobal, Apr. 29, 2009) China is
employing a multi-pronged approach to reduce its US
dollar exposure by seeking to foster greater use of its
domestic currency, the RMB, in trade agreements and by
making purchases or direct investments in natural resources
and hard assets.
Regional Issues and Japan
Policy
Despite Setback, Asean Has Important Role By Simon Tay
(YaleGlobal, Apr. 27, 2009) Asean fosters coordination and
stability not only among its members through agreements
and summits, but also by bringing nations such as
China, Japan, and South Korea into a forum for dialogue
and consultation on regional issues.
India Upset with China Over Sri Lanka Crisis
(Times of India, Apr. 26, 2009) China's declaration of support for the
Sri Lankan government against the LTTE, apart from
sticking out like a sore thumb in the eyes of the
world, has further fuelled India’s mortal distrust of its largest
and most powerful neighbor.
China Tires of Pyongyang’s Antics By Shen Dingli
(Asia Times,
Apr. 28, 2009) If North Korea continues to recklessly
jeopardize China's legitimate security interests
while still receiving Chinese aid, Beijing will inevitably be forced to
review its relationship with Pyongyang.
Russia and China Announce New Era of Military Cooperation
(Times, Apr.
29, 2009) Russia and China announced plans for an intensified
programme of military
cooperation as part of a burgeoning “strategic
partnership.”
China, Iran Hit for Nuke Secrecy
(Japan
Times, Apr. 28, 2009) Shedding light on China and
Iran's secretive nuclear arms programs is key to
advancing global disarmament, Foreign Minister Hirofumi
Nakasone
said in Tokyo.
Japan, China Summit to Focus on Positive, Not
Feuds By Yoko Kubota (Reuters, Apr. 28,
2009) Leaders of Japan and China will be seeking to send an upbeat
economic message when they meet this week, tiptoeing
around a feud over a Tokyo shrine for war dead.
Japan and China Talk Up Cooperation, Sidestep Tensions By Yoko Kubota (Reuters, Apr. 30,
2009) Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso
held out agreements on fighting the financial crisis,
global warming and swine flu as evidence of deepening
ties with sometime rival China, sidestepping tensions over the past.
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