Weekly150309

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Mar. 15, 2009)

For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org

The 'Impeccable' Incident

China Draws U.S. Protest Over Shadowing of Ships
(Washington Post, Mar. 10, 2009) The White House protested yesterday what military officials called China's harassment and aggressive shadowing of a U.S. Navy ocean surveillance ship in international waters.

China Harassed U.S. Ship, the Pentagon Says By Thom Shanker
(New York Times, Mar. 10, 2009) The United States has lodged a formal protest with the government in Beijing, saying five Chinese ships harassed an American surveillance vessel in international waters.

China Derides Account by the U.S. of Ship Dispute
(Washington Post, Mar. 11, 2009) China on Tuesday rejected accusations that it harassed a U.S. naval ship off one of its southern islands and said the vessel was conducting illegal surveying activities.

Obama Calls for Military Dialogue with China
(New York Times, Mar. 12, 2009) President Obama told China’s foreign minister that their two countries need to raise “the level and frequency” of military dialogue “in order to avoid future incidents.”

China’s Hu Urges Staunch Defense
(Reuters, Mar. 13, 2009) Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the military to “staunchly defend” national sovereignty in comments published days after a brief confrontation with a U.S. Navy ship.

Destroyer to Protect Ship Near China By Ann Scott Tyson
(Washington Post, Mar. 13, 2009) The U.S. Navy has dispatched a guided-missile destroyer to the South China Sea after Chinese ships allegedly harassed an American ship operating there last weekend.

Beijing Sends Patrol Ship to South China Sea
(AFP, Mar. 15, 2009) China has dispatched its most modern patrol ship to the South China Sea, state press said, after an incident with a US naval vessel and a fresh claim by the Philippines to the disputed territory.

U.S.-China Engagement

Will US-China Relations Sink or Swim? By Simon Tisdall
(Guardian, Mar. 10, 2009) This latest spat could serve as a timely reminder of the many fault lines that run through Sino-American relations. If the Obama administration was in danger of glossing over these points of friction, the Impeccable provided a reality check.

Top US, China Diplomats Work to Smooth Relations By Anne Gearan and Pamela Hess (AP, Mar. 11, 2009) The top U.S. and Chinese diplomats will work to keep a confrontation between American and Chinese naval vessels from damaging a relationship that President Barack Obama's new administration deems crucial to confronting the world's toughest crises.

Tempting the Dragon By Mark Valencia
(Far Eastern Economic Review, Mar. 11, 2009) The “harassment” of the U.S. Navy military survey vessel Impeccable operating in China’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea is but the tip of an iceberg of maritime legal differences between China and the U.S.

Chinese FM Warns U.S. on Taiwan
(AFP, Mar. 14, 2009) China's foreign minister warned the United States on Taiwan, saying that Beijing will never compromise despite easing cross-strait tensions.

China Worried about U.S. Debt By Anthony Faiola
(Washington Post, Mar. 14, 2009) Exerting its new influence as the U.S. government's largest creditor, China demanded that the Obama administration "guarantee the safety" of its $1 trillion in American bonds.

Cross-Strait Issues

DPP Caucus Calls for Task Force on China Policies
(Taipei Times, Mar. 9, 2009) The Democratic Progressive Party caucus proposed an interparty legislative task force to monitor the government’s cross-strait policies and interaction with China.

Anti-secession Law ‘Unnecessary’: Ma
(China Post, Mar. 15, 2009) The Taiwan government yesterday urged China to remove its anti-secession law and missiles that are meant to intimidate the island into staying away from the road to independence.

Military Balance and Arms Sales

Taiwan: Military Working on China Contact Body
(AP, Mar. 9, 2009) Taiwan is working on setting up a think tank to coordinate contacts with the Chinese military, a Defense Ministry official said.

U.S. in Deal to Refurbish Aircraft for Taiwan
(Reuters, Mar. 13, 2009) Lockheed Martin Corp is being awarded a much-anticipated U.S. Navy contract to refurbish 12 submarine-hunting aircraft for Taiwan, the Pentagon said.

U.S. Declines to Sell Taiwan F-16 Fighter Jets: Speaker Wang
(Reuters, Mar. 11, 2009) The U.S. government has declined to make a long-awaited sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan for fear of upsetting China, Legislative Yuan speaker said.

Taiwan Renews Push for U.S. F-16 Fighters
(Reuters, Mar. 14, 2009) Taiwan has renewed a drive to buy advanced U.S.-built F-16 fighter aircraft, confronting President Barack Obama with a delicate decision.

Taiwan's Foreign Relations

MOFA Calls on Beijing to Negotiate over WHA Bid
(Taipei Times, Mar. 13, 2009) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Beijing to negotiate with Taiwan on the nation’s bid for observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year.

Taipei, Beijing to Discuss WHA, Ma Says
(Taipei Times, Mar. 14, 2009) The government will conduct negotiations with China at an undisclosed location outside of Taiwan next month about the nation’s bid for observer status at the World Health Assembly, President Ma Ying-jeou said in an interview published.

China's Rise and Domestic Issues

In China, No Plans to Emulate West’s Way
(New York Times, Mar. 10, 2009) China’s second-ranking Communist Party official said that China would never adopt a multiparty political system, separation of powers, a bicameral legislature or an independent judiciary.

Exports Down Sharply for 2nd Month in China
(New York Times, Mar. 12, 2009) China’s exports plunged by a record 25.7 percent last month, but investment spending surged as the country’s stimulus program took hold.

Regional Issues and Japan Policy

Asia Pacific Joint Security Statement Takes Aim at China’s Military Build-up By Greg Sheridan (The Australian, Mar. 9, 2009) The statement commits Australia and ROK to greater co-operation in security and global matters, and provides for substantially enhanced intelligence sharing. Most significantly, it locates the joint security statement in the context of both nations being military allies of the US.

Japan Sends Navy to Join Somalia Anti-Pirate Patrols
(Reuters, Mar. 13, 2009) Japan ordered two naval vessels to join international patrols aimed at curbing pirate attacks off Somalia, after months of deliberations on how to help protect cargo ships without breaching its pacifist constitution.

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