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China & Taiwan
DECEMBER 2009
The New York Times 21/12/2009
Taiwan Protests Flare Over Visit of China Envoy to Sign Accords
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN — Tens of thousands of opposition demonstrators marched in the central city of Taichung on Sunday, a day before the arrival of a senior mainland Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin.
The New York Times 16/12/2009
Arms Sales to Taiwan Will Proceed, U.S. Says
BEIJING — The Obama administration will proceed with arms sales to Taiwan despite recent protests by Chinese officials, an American official said Tuesday.
The New York Times 12/12/2009
US upsets China with plan for arms sale to Taiwan
A DAY after Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, the US looks set to sell a fresh batch of weapons to Taiwan - further straining ties with China.
China & Taiwan
OCTOBER 2009
The Australian 28/10/2009
China and Taiwan set to bargain on trade pact
AFTER a remarkable 18 months of detente in one of the world's potential flashpoints, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have said they are ready to sit down and begin negotiations on a trade treaty that is expected to look similar to that which China has with Hong Kong.
Asia Times Online 24/10/2009
Taiwan plays the 'democracy card'
By Erdong Chen
Thanks to a series of political reforms implemented by then-president Chiang Ching-kuo in the late 1980s, Taiwan has gradually become a liberal democracy. In the recent two decades, it saw its first democratically elected president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996, the first directly elected non-Kuomingtang (KMT) president, Chen Shui-bian, in 2000, as well as the second democratic power transition with the election of the current KMT president, Ma Ying-jeou, in 2008.
Asia Times Online 22/10/2009
SINOGRAPH
Ten years to tackle the Taiwan equation
By Francesco Sisci
BEIJING - The ongoing military dialogue between the United States and China is certainly the most sensitive and politically important concern of the two countries. It is the punctus puncti (the point of the point), as scholastic Medieval theologians would put it - the one thing that, if fixed, would put every other topic in place. This is a complicated and delicate matter, but, at least according to recent reports, two issues particularly stick out - the reciprocal rules of conduct during surveillance missions and arms sales to Taiwan.
The New York Times 7/10/2009
Taiwan and China
HONG KONG — Taiwan’s position as a de facto independent state seems to be morphing very slowly toward the “one country, two systems” status of Hong Kong. The process is not irreversible but the sentiments of those of mainland origin in the governing Nationalist Party, along with the self-interest of business groups and a widespread sense of economic vulnerability are all pushing the island toward accommodation with Beijing.
The Age 2/10/2009
China courts Taiwan amid milestone celebration
PRESIDENT Hu Jintao yesterday took new steps to woo Taiwan towards reunification and also to assert his leadership over the military, as China hosted a mass parade yesterday to celebrate its 60th birthday. About 300 Taiwanese delegates were reportedly invited to watch the parade, broadcast on Taiwanese TV for the first time.
China & Taiwan
SEPTEMBER 2009
Asia Times Online 30/9/2009
Taiwan, China tread carefully
By Cindy Sui
TAIPEI - Sixty years after Taiwan split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949, there are still no clear signs of how the two sides will resolve their dispute over the island's status, but as mainland China celebrates its victory in the war on October 1, the indications are stronger than ever that both sides are aiming for a peaceful solution, analysts say.
China & Taiwan
JULY 2009
The New York Times 28/7/2009
Chinese President Congratulates Taiwan Leader
BEIJING — President Hu Jintao of China congratulated on Monday the Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou after his election this weekend as chief of Taiwan’s governing party, a victory that analysts said could bolster Mr. Ma’s efforts to pursue engagement and economic ties with China.
China & Taiwan
JUNE 2009
Asia Times Online 2/6/2009
Cross-strait ties grow amid storms
By Terry Cooke
Against the backdrop of the reeling global economy, Taiwan-China [1] rapprochement has shown steady and, at times, dramatic progress. The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) put forward by Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) administration under President Ma Ying-jeou is being used by Taipei and Beijing as the main harness for moving bilateral relations forward.
China & Taiwan
MAY 2009
The New York Times 27/5/2009
Chinese President Meets Leader of Taiwanese Party
BEIJING — President Hu Jintao of China hosted the leader of Taiwan’s governing party in Beijing on Tuesday, as both sides promised closer economic ties and a continued thaw in relations between the rivals.
Asia Times Online 19/5/2009
A healthy turn for Taiwan-China ties
By Jian Junbo
Taiwan was formally invited at the end of April to join the WHA, the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed, as an observer. It is attending the event under the name "Chinese Taipei". While its attendance has been hailed on the island as a breakthrough in its drive for greater international space, it is essentially an outcome of better relations between mainland China and Taiwan.
China & Taiwan
APRIL 2009
The New York Times 30/4/2009
Taiwan Takes Step Forward at U.N. Health Agency
HONG KONG — President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan announced Wednesday that Chinese officials had dropped their objections to Taiwan’s participation as an observer at a United Nations body, a step forward in Taiwan’s effort to win greater international recognition.
China & Taiwan
MARCH 2009
The International Herald Tribune 6/3/2009
A muted call from China to Taiwan
In his opening speech to the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Wen clearly signaled the Chinese leadership's support for a series of economic measures that negotiators from Beijing and Taipei were already trying to work out. These include the gradual integration of banking and other financial services across the Taiwan Strait, and the drafting of a "comprehensive agreement on economic cooperation" that could eventually become the basis for a possible free-trade agreement.
The Age 6/3/2009
Beijing 'ready to talk' with Taiwan
Christopher Bodeen, Beijing
BEIJING is ready to hold talks with Taiwan on political and military issues aimed at ending hostility, says Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. In a work report he delivered at the opening of the annual session of parliament yesterday, Mr Wen cheered a significant improvement in ties and a major reduction in tensions in the past year.
China & Taiwan
FEBRUARY 2009
Asia Times Online 13/2/2009
China's defense: The view from Taiwan
By Cheng-yi Lin
Beijing published the 2008 edition of "China's National Defense" (hereafter White Paper) on the cusp of US President Barack Obama's historic inauguration on January 20. … Most importantly, the White Paper reveals that Beijing's threat perception in the Taiwan Strait has been greatly reduced. The White Paper, however, explicitly said that China's military capabilities will continue to grow even as the Taiwan issue thaws, verifying that a Chinese national security strategy looking beyond Taiwan is taking shape.
China & Taiwan
JANUARY 2009
Asia Times Online 17/1/2009
A return to dark days in Taiwan
By Stephen A Nelson
TORONTO, Canada - In a world rife with deadly terrorist strikes in India, anti-government riots in Thailand and civil wars in the Middle East, it may be hard for the rest of the world (even in Asia) to see Taiwan's struggle for democracy as anything more than a tempest in a China teapot. And certainly a worldwide economic crisis has eclipsed concerns for Taiwan's future possibility as a separate state with de facto independence from China.
International Herald Tribune 9/1/2009
Taiwan grows somber as exports plummet
Taiwan's economic slowdown has snowballed with alarming speed. Exports, which were still growing fast as recently as August, have tumbled in the past few months. Meanwhile, the jobless rate has jumped to a five-year high, with many workers becoming semi-employed as manufacturers force workers to take unpaid leave as many as three days a week. The numbers could be a harbinger for other export-dependent Asian economies like Japan, South Korea and China, which are already showing similar signs of weakness.
Asia Times Online 8/1/2009
A check sheet for Obama's Taiwan test
By Bonnie S Glaser
Taiwan remains one of the most sensitive and divisive issues between the United States and China. What should Chinese President Hu Jintao expect from Barack Obama when he is president on this critical issue? Until the new president is sworn in and key personnel are confirmed, the new administration’s policy will remain uncertain. Below are eight policy objectives that are likely to be pursued by the Obama administration.
The Age 1/1/2009
Beijing-Taipei ties on the mend
Chinese President Hu Jintao called yesterday for military exchanges with Taiwan, in another sign of rapidly improving ties between the former arch enemies. "The two sides can pick the right time to engage in exchanges on military issues and explore setting up a military and security mechanism to build mutual trust," Mr Hu said.
China & Taiwan
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2008
Asia Times Online 19/12/2008
China, Taiwan tiptoe towards detente
By Erdong Chen
In Asia, gifts matter. Consider the gift exchange during the recent high-level chat between Taiwan's new President Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Yunlin. Chen is the chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), Beijing's primary negotiation body with Taiwan. He recently went to Taipei for five intensive days as the highest profile mainland visitor in the last 60 years. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been avoiding direct confrontation on sensitive issues like sovereignty these days, focusing instead on economic reciprocity.
Asia Times Online 13/11/2008
Taiwan nabs an ex-president
By Cindy Sui
TAIPEI - While the media focus on the high-profile detention of Taiwan's former president Chen Shui-bian over suspicions of corruption, his alleged wrongdoings show that the island's 12-year-old democracy still has some way to go. Chen is the first former or incumbent Taiwanese president to be detained. He is the island’s second democratically elected leader
Asia Times Online 8/11/2008
China's envoy takes Taiwan in his stride
By Cindy Sui
TAIPEI - China's envoy Chen Yunlin left Taiwan on Friday, wrapping up a tumultuous visit marred by violent protests. It was Chen's first visit to Taiwan - and with it he became the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since 1949. Aside from departing with signed agreements, Chen may also return to the mainland with a more realistic understanding of China's uphill battle to win the hearts of Taiwanese people. During his five-day visit, Chen went out of his way to try to leave a good impression.
International Herald Tribune 7/11/2008
Taiwan president and Chinese envoy meet
President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan met with a senior Chinese envoy in Taipei on Thursday in a bid to improve diplomatic ties between their governments after the envoy signed transportation and trade agreements earlier in the week with Taiwanese negotiators.The meeting was one of the highest-level exchanges between officials from mainland China and Taiwan since 1949, when the Kuomintang, the party led by Chiang Kai-shek, lost the Chinese civil war to the Communists and retreated to Taiwan. Ma is a member of the Kuomintang, or KMT.
Asia Times Online 5/11/2008
Big step across the Taiwan Strait
By Brad Glosserman and Bonnie Glaser
Chinese and Taiwanese are watching closely this week as Chen Yulin makes a five-day visit to Taipei. As head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), the semi-official body in Beijing that manages relations with Taipei, Chen is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since 1949. His trip is a significant step forward for the tempestuous cross-strait relationship. Since Ma Ying-jeou took office as president of Taiwan earlier this year, Taipei and Beijing have tried - with some success - to rebuild relations.
International Herald Tribune 5/11/2008
Taiwan and China draw closer with new agreements
Chinese and Taiwanese officials signed agreements in Taiwan on Tuesday expanding charter flights, maritime shipping and cooperation on food safety issues, bringing the mainland and island governments closer together as both sides struggle to overcome economicslowdowns. The agreements were finalized on what was the second day of a planned five-day visit to Taiwan by a mainland delegation led by Chen Yunlin, the head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, the main negotiating body for China in matters related toTaiwan
Sydney Morning Herald 3/11/2008
Taiwan, China in fresh talks
TAIPEI: Officials from Taiwan and China will hold talks this week on expanding air and shipping links and postal services, as well as food safety issues. Beijing's top negotiator, Chen Yunlin, will arrive in Taipei today. Mr Chen and his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Ping-kun, met in Beijing in June for the first direct dialogue between the two sides in 10 years.
Asia Times Online 31/10/2008
Ma goes too far, too fast for Taiwan
By Cindy Sui
TAIPEI - The massive anti-China protests in Taiwan's capital last weekend were a reminder to President Ma Ying-jeou that his attempts to forge closer links with China will not be all smooth sailing. Although the protest will not change Ma's China policies, the rally underscores the challenges he faces as a large segment of the population remains deeply wary of the island's longtime rival.
Sydney Morning Herald 22/10/2008
Chinese official attacked in Taiwan by activists
A Chinese official was attacked by Taiwanese independence activists during a visit to the island yesterday.Television footage showed scores of protesters surrounding Zhang Mingqing, the vice-president of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, and later pushing him to the ground when he was visiting a temple in southern Tainan city.
The Australian 11/10/2008
China unlikely to go to war over Taiwan, says defence expert
CHINA is unlikely to be a military threat and the chances of a conflict over Taiwan are diminishing, according to a US defence expert. Jonathan Pollack, professor of Asian and Pacific studies at the US Naval War College, told The Australian that China would become a much more potent military force in the long run.
International Herald Tribune 6/10/2008
China warns U.S. on its arms deal with Taiwan
An announcement that the United States will sell more than $6 billion in advanced weapons to Taiwan elicited strong reactions from leaders in China, with officials in Beijing issuing denunciations and warnings that the weapons deal could worsen relations.
Asia Times Online 4/10/2008
Stormy weather for Taiwan's Ma
By Cindy Sui
TAIPEI - Four months after being sworn in as Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeou faces uphill battles, the biggest of which is how to win over public confidence. His administration has stumbled over the handling of tainted-milk products from mainland China and now it faces economic fallout from recent typhoons. However, many analysts say the setbacks are not expected to affect Ma's continued push for better relations with China. This positive outlook comes even after the handling of the milk crisis, and with reports of smaller-than-expected numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan.
