Weekly310110

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Jan. 31, 2010)

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

U.S. Approves Arms Sales to Taiwan

White House OKs Taiwan Arms Package
(Washington Times, Jan. 26, 2010) The Obama administration has agreed to sell a new package of arms to Taiwan in a move that is expected to be met with an angry response from China, according to U.S. officials.

Inside the Ring: Taiwan Air Threats By Bill Gertz
(Washington Times, Jan. 28, 2010) Included in the Obama administration's latest arms package for Taiwan will be authorization for a joint U.S.-Taiwan feasibility study on bolstering air power against the threats to the island posed by Chinese missiles and aircraft.

China Issues Warning Over US Arms Sales to Taiwan
(AP, Jan. 26, 2010) Contacts with China's military would likely be the first to suffer if Beijing moves to retaliate over upcoming U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

U.S. Approval of Arms Sales to Taiwan Angers China
(New York Times, Jan. 30, 2010) The Obama administration has approved an arms sales package to Taiwan worth more than $6 billion, a move that has enraged China and may complicate President Obama’s effort to enlist Beijing’s cooperation on Iran.

U.S. Deal with Taiwan Has China Retaliating
(New York Times, Jan. 31, 2010) The Chinese government announced an unusually broad series of retaliatory measures in response to the latest United States arms sales to Taiwan, including sanctions against American companies that supply the weapon systems for the arms sales.

China’s Strident Tone Raises Concerns among Western Governments, Analysts By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Jan. 31, 2010) China's indignant reaction to the announcement of U.S. plans to sell weapons to Taiwan appears to be in keeping with a new triumphalist attitude from Beijing that is worrying governments and analysts across the globe.

Cross-Strait Issues

ECFA Talks Set for 26th
(China Post, Jan. 25, 2010) The first round of formal negotiations on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China will take place in Beijing on Jan. 26.

China, Taiwan to Speed Up Broad Trade Pact
(Reuters, Jan. 27, 2010) China and Taiwan agreed to speed up the process of negotiating a broad free trade-style at preliminary talks this week, a Beijing official said.

Taiwan Tourism Growth Tops Asia on China Boom: Report
(AFP, Jan. 30, 2010) Tourism grew in Taiwan faster than anywhere else in Asia last year on the back of an influx of Chinese visitors, a report said.

Too Early for Offices: SEF Chairman
(Taipei Times, Jan. 31, 2010) SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kun said that it would be too early for the foundation and China’s ARATS to set up offices on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

U.S. Policy and U.S.-China Engagement

Taiwan’s Loss of Independence a Threat to US: Expert By William Lowther (Taipei Times, Jan. 27, 2010) Nancy Tucker, an expert on Taiwan at Georgetown University in Washington, said that the US' place in Asia would “never be the same again.”

China Steps Up Defense of Internet Controls By Chris Buckley
(Reuters, Jan. 25, 2010) China widened its attack against U.S. criticisms of Internet censorship, raising the stakes in a dispute that has put Google in the middle of a political quarrel between the two global powers.

Why Google Can Say No to China By Scott Moskowitz
(Boston Globe, Jan. 30, 2010) No brand is more synonymous with globalization and openness than Google. If Google departs China, it will represent a stunning failure on the part of the government to win an invitation for its people to that all-important global party.

Clinton Warns China on Iran Sanctions By Mark Landler
(New York Times, Jan. 30, 2010) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned China that it would face economic insecurity and diplomatic isolation if it did not sign on to tough new sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.

PLA

China, US, Russia in Cyber Arms Race: Net Security Chief
(AFP, Jan. 28, 2010) China, the United States and Russia are among 20 countries locked in a cyberspace arms race and gearing up for possible Internet hostilities, according to the head of web security firm McAfee.

China’s Anti-Piracy Role off Somalia Expands
(BBC, Jan. 29, 2010) China has agreed to join an international naval operation to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.

Taiwan's Domestic Issues and Foreign Relations

Survey on Performance of President Ma Ying-jeou and His Administration (GVSRC, Jan. 23, 2010) 23.2 percent of the polled were satisfied with Ma’s performance while 66.3 percent not.

Taiwan Seeks to Join P4 Trade Group
(CNA, Jan. 30, 2010) Taiwan will continue its efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPPA), despite several unsuccessful bids, the director-general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade said.

China's Rise and Domestic Issues

Confucius vs. Avatar: And the Winner Is… By Mary Kay Magistad
(YaleGlobal, Jan. 25, 2010) Beijing did not admit censorship was at play. In the end, if the government were trying to squelch Avatar and the themes likely to lead to unrest, it proved unsuccessful – the film was brought back by popular demand.

China Sets Up Energy Agency Headed by PM
(AP, Jan. 28, 2010) China has set up a government agency headed by Premier Wen Jiabao to better coordinate energy policy.

As Hong Kong’s Political System Stalls, So Does Its Democracy Movement By Keith Bradsher (New York Times, Jan. 28, 2010) The political system in Hong Kong is increasingly paralyzed; at the same time, the pro-democracy movement here has splintered, weakening its ability to press for changes.

Regional Issues and Japan Policy

China Casts Nervous Eye at Erstwhile Ally Myanmar By Ben Blanchard (Reuters, Jan. 25, 2010) China's fear is that the kind of unrest seen last August in Kokang will be repeated with any one of a number of different ethnic rebel militias, and spill into its territory again.

Economic Realities Limit Japan’s Security Options By Robert Madsen and Brad Glosserman (PacNet #2, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Jan. 19, 2010) The Hatoyama government’s desire to “rebalance” Japan’s foreign policy have triggered alarms and raised fears of a rupture, but those fears are misplaced.