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Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Feb. 22, 2009)
For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org
CECA and Cross-Strait Issues
CECA Won’t Be Signed at Meet:
SEF Head
(China
Post, Feb. 19, 2009) Taiwan and China will not sign a Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation Agreement during their planned
third round of negotiations, Chiang Pin-kung,
chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation,
reiterated.
Exclusive Ma Ying-jeou
Interview: Nothing to Fear from CECA with Beijing:
Ma (Taipei Times, Feb. 20,
2009) The government’s cross-strait policies have
prompted concerns over the potential impact on Taiwan’s sovereignty. In an interview,
President Ma responded to his critics.
Taiwan, China Negotiating a
Landmark Free-Trade Agreement By Ariana Eunjung Cha (Washington Post, Feb. 21, 2009) Taiwan and China are negotiating a wide-ranging
free-trade agreement that represents an important
step toward the possibility of unification of the
longtime adversaries.
China to Lend Taiwan Forbidden
City Relics As Ties Thaw
(Reuters,
Feb. 16, 2009) China will lend long-time rival
Taiwan 29 relics from Beijing's Forbidden City, state
media said, 60 years after defeated Nationalists
fled to the island taking similar treasures with them.
Clinton's
Visit to China, U.S.
Policy and U.S.-China Engagement
Optimism
Grows for U.S.-China Military Talks By Mark McDonald and Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Feb. 19, 2009) The commander of
American forces in the Pacific said that he hoped a visit to the region
by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton would lead to a resumption
of high-level military exchanges with China.
U.S.-China
Trade Ties Erode Amid Accusations
(Washington Post, Feb. 20, 2009) The global financial crisis is
bringing out the worst in the trade relationship between the United States and China.
China
Hopes for Continuity As Clinton Visit By Christopher Bodeen
(AP, Feb. 18, 2009) When it comes to China, however, it appears to be business as usual. And
as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes her first visit as
secretary of state this weekend, that's exactly what China wants.
Secretary
Clinton’s Asia Trip: Getting China Right By Stephen Yates and Walter Lohman (WebMemo #2301,
Heritage Foundation, Feb. 18, 2009) In the end, the most important
advice for getting China right is the simplest: speak plainly while seeking
results.
Clinton
Turns to Economic Crisis in China Talks
(Bloomberg, Feb. 21, 2009) Clinton
said that U.S. concerns over human rights in China will not preclude
her from seeking cooperation on urgent issues, from ending a recession
in the U.S. to curbing climate change, terrorism and nuclear
proliferation.
Clinton
Paints China Policy with a Green Hue By Mark Landler
(New York Times, Feb. 22, 2009) For
Mrs. Clinton, the two-day stop in Beijing at the end of a weeklong
Asian tour, represents an effort to put her own stamp on a relationship
that was dominated by the Treasury Department in the latter years of
the Bush administration.
Arms Sales
US Policy
on Arms Sales Unchanged, Clinton Says
(Taipei Times, Feb. 18, 2009) US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed that there would be no
change in Washington’s policy on arms sales to Taiwan under the
administration of US President Barack Obama.
U.S. Set
to Refurbish Planes for Taiwan
(Reuters, Feb. 21, 2009) The U.S.
Navy said it had reached a tentative deal to refurbish 12 maritime
patrol aircraft for a long-awaited transfer to Taiwan as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in China.
Taiwan's Domestic Issues
Taiwan’s Democratic
Test Continues By Christopher Walker and Sarah Cook (Taipei Times, Feb. 17,
2009) Since shedding authoritarian rule two decades ago, Taiwan has achieved commendable progress in democracy. On
a recent visit, however, it was clear that while democracy continues to
flourish, a number of serious concerns have arisen.
Case
Against Ex-Leader Stirs Unease in Taiwan By Keith Bradsher
(New York Times, Feb. 21, 2009) Legal
experts here and around the world cite the skit, perceived as
prosecutors mocking their prisoner, as one of several incidents that
raise troubling questions about whether the rule of law is being
followed in the proceedings against Mr. Chen.
Taiwan
GDP to Contract 2.97%
(China Post, Feb. 19, 2009) The Cabinet-level Directorate
General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics forecast Taiwan's GDP would shrink by 2.97 percent in 2009.
DPP Calls
for Cabinet Reshuffle Over Economy
(China Post, Feb. 22, 2009) The leader of the main
opposition party yesterday urged President Ma Ying-jeou
to reshuffle the Cabinet in order to rescue Taiwan's worsening economy.
China's Rise and Domestic Issues
China’s
‘Soft-Power’ Strategy Threatened by Obama, Slow Growth
(Bloomberg, Feb. 17, 2009) Now
China’s gains as a regional partner and potential counter to U.S.
influence are threatened by a slowdown in growth and President Barack Obama’s pledge
to reverse Bush-era policies that diminished America’s authority.
Beijing
Launches Diplomatic Blitz to Steal Obama’s Thunder By Willy Lam (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Feb. 20 ,2009) Beijing has unleashed an unprecedented diplomatic blitz
while the new Obama administration battles
doubts about its stimulus packages to salvage the struggling American
economy.
Regional Issues and Japan Policy
Chinese
Officials Protest Sinking of Cargo Ship by Russians
(New York Times, Feb. 21, 2009) A
senior Chinese Foreign Ministry official said Friday that Russia had an unacceptable response after one of its
warships sank a Chinese cargo vessel last Saturday.
Japan
Fishing Talks to be Resumed After 4-Year Hiatus
(CNA, Feb. 18, 2009) Taiwan and
Japan will hold their 16th round of fisheries talks late this month
in Taipei to search for a solution to fishing rights issues in
disputed waters,Tsai Ming-yao, secretary-general of the quasi official
Association of East Asian Relations (AEAR), said.
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