Cross-Strait relations

Asia tension could lead to conflict: Philippine FM

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:15:35 +0000

Agence France-Presse

The Philippines on Thursday warned that territorial rows in Asia are "causing considerable tension that could lead to conflict" as several countries face off with China over island claims.

Philippine secretary of foreign affairs Albert del Rosario, speaking at a Tokyo business conference, said China's "nine-dash line claim encompassing almost the entire South China Sea" is "excessive."

Taiwan President Ma sings 2nd-term blues

Kyodo News International — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:20 +0000

Kyodo News International

Monday marked the first anniversary of President Ma Ying-jeous second-term inauguration, but he had little reason to be happy.

He cancelled all activities scheduled Monday for the occasion, citing bad weather. It is the first time such an event was cancelled since he was first elected in 2008.

Since he was reelected in 2012 with a large majority, Ma has suffered a massive reduction in popularity. Polls show his public approval rating at well below 20 percent.

US panel backs Taiwan role at aviation body

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:30:04 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A US Senate committee on Tuesday backed Taiwan's participation at the UN aviation agency, in a small victory for the island whose rivalry with China blocks it from most international bodies.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bill to direct Secretary of State John Kerry to push the International Civil Aviation Organization to grant Taiwan observer status at its September meeting in Montreal.

Hashimoto clarifies remarks on "comfort women" after flak

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:30:16 +0000

Kyodo News International

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto on Wednesday sought to clarify his remarks on a system to recruit women into sexual servitude for Japan's soldiers during World War II, saying he personally does not condone the scheme.

Two days after he made controversial remarks that the so-called comfort women were "necessary to maintain discipline" in the Japanese military, Hashimoto told reporters he simply stated a fact that people at the time had that kind of view.

Japan, Taiwan end joint fishing committee talks without progress

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:39 +0000

Kyodo News International

Members of a Japan-Taiwan joint fisheries committee on Tuesday failed to make progress in their first talks about details of a bilateral fisheries agreement on fishing rights around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Diplomatic sources told Kyodo News that fishermen from Okinawa Prefecture, who also attended the meeting, walked out in protest after their request that the fishing areas Taiwanese trawlers can fish under the agreement be reduced was denied.

China says baseline claims around Senkakus consistent with int'l law

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:17 +0000

Kyodo News International

China said Tuesday its maritime baseline claims around the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are consistent with international law, dismissing a U.S. government report stating otherwise.

China's activities "are consistent with the spirit of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference.

China dismisses U.S. report on its military activities

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:00:03 +0000

Kyodo News International

China dismissed on Tuesday a U.S. government report on Beijing's military activities, claiming Washington appears intended to spread an image of "China threat" by highlighting Beijing's growing assertiveness over the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

With its annual report presented Monday to Congress, the Defense Department "points fingers at China's legitimate and normal defense building and spreads 'China threat' (theory)," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press conference.

Japan, Taiwan form joint fisheries committee

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:16:12 +0000

Kyodo News International

Members of a Japan-Taiwan joint fisheries committee met for the first time in Taipei on Tuesday to discuss issues yet to be decided, including fishing in waters not yet covered by a bilateral fisheries agreement such as waters 12 nautical miles surrounding the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands.

Diplomatic officials said the meeting, held at the Ambassador Hotel in downtown Taipei, could extend until Wednesday if necessary as fishermen in Okinawa Prefecture also attend.

U.S. report highlights China's growing assertiveness over Senkakus

Kyodo News International — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:15:04 +0000

Kyodo News International

The U.S. Defense Department on Monday presented an assessment of Chinese military activity in which it highlighted Beijing's growing assertiveness in relation to its territorial claim to Japanese-controlled islets in the East China Sea.

U.S. "firmly opposes" coercion over territorial claims: official

Kyodo News International — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:39:20 +0000

Kyodo News International

White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon said Wednesday that the United States "firmly opposes" coercion to promote territorial claims in the South and East China Seas.

Although Donilon did not refer to a specific country in his speech in New York, his remarks are apparently aimed at warning against aggressive behavior by China in the region.

"The promise of offshore energy resources is contributing to tensions in the South and East China Seas that will test East Asia's political and security architecture," Donilon said.

Taiwan ex-president scraps plans for Japan visit

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:45:44 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui on Tuesday decided to scrap plans to visit Japan for health reasons, his office said, after his previous trips irked Beijing.

Lee had planned to fly to Japan on May 8 and deliver two speeches during a four-day stay but doctors advised the 90-year-old, who has twice been hospitalised this year, against the trip.

"Doctors said it is not proper for Lee to take a long-distance trip at the moment," office spokesman Wang Yen-chun told AFP, adding that the planned trip was to be postponed indefinitely.

Taiwan leader pledges to abide by 'One China' policy

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:01:01 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou Monday renewed his support for the "One China" policy as the island marked the 20th anniversary of historic talks with former bitter rival China.

Ma, who initiated detente with Beijing when he came to power in 2008 and has seen a marked improvement in relations, pledged to maintain the status quo which he said was to the island's benefit.

Taipei is becoming increasingly reluctant to push for political negotiations with its giant neighbour due to a lack of consensus among its people.

Taiwan ex-agent jailed for spying for China

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:45:23 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A retired Taiwanese intelligence agent has been jailed for six years after luring his colleagues to China to force them to give up sensitive information, a court spokesman and media said Friday.

Tung Chien-nan, a former Investigation Bureau agent, was jailed Thursday for violating national intelligence services law, said a Supreme Court official, who declined to elaborate.

The Liberty Times newspaper said he was recruited by Beijing after he retired and tricked several former military intelligence officers to China under the pretext of doing business.

Top US general reminds China of commitment to Japan

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:45:40 +0000

Agence France-Presse

The top US military officer told China's leaders on Wednesday that Washington is committed to defending Japan, as Beijing and Tokyo engage in intensified rhetoric over a territorial row.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is visiting China just as the dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea is again heating up.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Tuesday to "expel by force" any Chinese landing on the islands, which are administered by Japan as the Senkakus but also claimed by China as the Diaoyus.

Taiwan man contracts H7N9 bird flu, first outside mainland China

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:45:40 +0000

Thomson Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A 53-year-old Taiwan businessman has contracted the H7N9 strain of bird flu while travelling in China, Taiwan's Health Department said on Wednesday, the first reported case outside of mainland China.

The man was hospitalised after becoming ill three days after returning from Suzhou on April 9, Health Department Minister Wen-Ta Chiu told a news conference. Chiu said the patient was diagnosed with the H7N9 virus and was in serious condition.