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Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Jan. 25, 2009)
For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org
Cross-Strait Issues
Cross-Strait Relations:
“Ascend the Heights and Take a Long-term
Perspective” By Alan D.
Romberg (China Leadership Monitor,
Winter, 2009) Although Taiwan faced economic
challenges during this period akin to those faced
by everyone else, and although these contributed to
deepening political divisions and turmoil over
cross-Strait relations, in fact, those relations
were moving ahead well.
U.S. Policy
Too Early
to Tell How New US Team Will Handle Ties
(Taipei Times, Jan. 23, 2009) It is
too early to tell how Washington will handle military cooperation with
Taiwan under US President Barack Obama, but bilateral relations are improving
steadily, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.
US Will
Back Taiwan’s Bid for More Space: Clinton
(Taipei Times, Jan. 24, 2009) The administration of US
President Barack Obama
will continue to support Taiwan’s efforts to gain more international
space, including becoming an observer at the World Health Assembly, US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a recent statement.
U.S.-China Engagement
Relations
with China Could Test Obama By Ian Johnson
(Wall Street Journal, Jan. 22, 2009)
As the Obama administration wrestles with
trouble spots around the world, it is likely to see China as an oasis
of calm. That could be deceptive.
China
Tells United States to Handle Ties with Care
(Reuters, Jan. 24, 2009) China's Foreign Minister has urged U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton to be careful with sensitive issues that could
strain ties.
China
Jittery about Obama Amid Signs of Harder Line By Mark Landler (New York Times, Jan. 24, 2009) Timothy F. Geithner’s assertion that China “manipulates”
its currency has complicated a crucial front in President Obama’s efforts to improve America’s relations with
the world.
China
Rejects Currency Manipulation Charge
(New York Times, Jan. 25, 2009) The
central bank of China rejected an
accusation by President Obama’s
nominee for Treasury secretary that China was manipulating its currency
to give it an unfair advantage in exporting goods.
Sino-American
Soundings By Richard Halloran
(Washington Times, Jan. 25, 2009) Buried in Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton's testimony in her confirmation hearing before Congress
was a subtle challenge to China
wrapped in an evident preface to President Barack
Obama's emerging policy toward Beijing.
China's Defense White Paper and PLA
White
Paper: China’s National Defense in 2008
(Information Office of the State
Council of the People’s Republic of China, Jan. 21, 2009) China is still confronted with long-term, complicated,
and diverse security threats and challenges. Issues of existence
security and development security, traditional security threats and
non-traditional security threats, and domestic security and
international security are interwoven and interactive.
China
Fears Containment As Defense Spending Rises By Ben Balnchard (Reuters, Jan. 19, 2009) China
fears containment abroad and separatist groups at home, a defense
policy paper said, justifying a drive to increase military spending and
push the People's Liberation Army into a high-tech era.
China
Calls for Better Military Ties under Obama By Tini Tran
(AP, Jan. 20, 2009) China
urged President-elect Barack Obama to work with Beijing to improve its occasionally tense military
relationship with the United
States, calling on the Pentagon to "remove
obstacles."
China’s
Military Awaits New Satellites By Peter J. Brown
(Asia Times, Jan. 22, 2009) China wants to become the next big player in Global
Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. China will complete its new Beidou
2 or "Compass" GNSS consisting of 30 more satellites before
2015.
New
Advances in PLA Battlefield Aerospace and ISR By Martin Andrew (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jan. 22, 2009) A profound
transformation is taking place in Chinese battlefield aerospace, the PLA’s informationalized
battlefield program is assisting its armed forces in attaining
information domination on the battlefield.
China’s
Modern Muscle on Parade By Antoaneta Bezlova
(Inter Press Service, Jan. 24, 2009)
For a country which strives to reassure its neighbors about the
peaceful intentions of its global ascendance, the celebrations for
modern China's founding provide the ideal legitimate platform
to showcase its expanding military strength.
Military Balance
Defense
Chief Balks at Sending Naval Vessels to Gulf of Aden
(CNA, Jan. 19, 2009) Minister of
National Defense Chen Chao-min said that it
will be rather difficult to dispatch naval vessels to the Gulf of
Aden to
protect Taiwanese ships from Somalian pirates
operating there.
MND
Considers Troop Cuts As Ties with China Imporve
(China Post, Jan. 20, 2009) The
Ministry of National Defense will proceed with a plan to slash the
number of troops as relations with China improve and modern weapons technologies are
introduced.
Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations
President
Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating after Eight Months in Office (GVSRC, Jan. 17, 2009) 28.7% of Taiwanese people
approve of President Ma Ying-jeou’s
performance after his eight months in office, and 57.3% don’t.
UK Shows
Concern about Taiwanese Judicial Impartiality
(Taipei Times, Jan. 20, 2009) The UK
is concerned about judicial impartiality in the ongoing corruption case
against former president Chen Shui-bian, but
expressed confidence that President Ma Ying-jeou
was actively working toward the interests of Taiwan.
Eroding
Justice: Open Letter No. 3
(Taipei
Times, Jan. 21, 2009) We the undersigned, scholars and writers from the
US, Canada, Europe and Australia, consider ourselves long-time supporters of a
democratic Taiwan. We write to express our concern regarding the
erosion of the judicial system in Taiwan during the past few months.
Political
Corruption in Taiwan
(The Economist, Jan. 22, 2009) Mr Chen’s trial is a test for Taiwan’s two-decade-old democracy. Many are heartened
that a former president can stand trial like a common citizen; critics,
however, say recent judicial proceedings have been marred by sloppy
improprieties.
Ex-President’s
Son Pleads Guilty
(China Post, Jan. 22, 2009) Former
President Chen Shui-bian's son,
daughter-in-law, and brother-in-law all pleaded guilty to engaging in
money laundering operations during a Taipei District Court hearing.
Taiwan to Woo Japan in
2009
(Reuters, Jan. 21, 2009) Taiwan will
try to improve relations with Japan following strained ties with its
former colonial ruler since President Ma Ying-jeou
came to office, the government said.
Taiwan
Win Landmark Access to WHO amid China Thaw
(Reuters, Jan. 22, 2009) The World
Health Organization opened a formal line of communication with Taiwan this month, one of the clearest signs yet that the
island's detente with political rival China is working.
China's Rise and Domestic Issues
“Erroneous”
Western Democracy Not for China Says Official
(Reuters, Jan. 18, 2009) China must
build defenses against "erroneous" ideas involving
Western-style democracy, a top government official said in comments
published on Sunday, shooting down recent calls by dissidents for
political reform.
China’s
Economy Slowed Sharply in 4th Quarter
(AP, Jan. 22, 2009) China's economic slump deepened in the fourth quarter
as the impact of the global crisis spread, adding to the threat of
more heavy job losses and possible unrest.
Regional Issues
Recent
Trends in Russo-Chinese Military Relations By Stephen Blank (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jan. 22,
2009) Moscow’s arms sales to China is falling victim to its angst
at the United States and its arms producers’ need for cash even as
it builds up a formidable military force that it knows one day
could be deployed against it.
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