Taiwan – #AllTheNews

China’s Li predicts ‘difficult battle’ for growth

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While warning that China faced “more and tougher problems,” including weak export demand, Li said he was confident that stable growth could be maintained.

The prime minister, who is the country’s top economic official, announced a growth target of 6.5 to 7 percent – down on last year’s aim of “about 7 percent.”

“The larger the economy grows, the greater the difficulty of achieving growth,” Li told delegates at the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s nominal parliament.

Li’s speech at the Great Hall of the People, lasting nearly two hours, was punctuated by polite choreographed applause. The assembly of almost 3,000 delegates routinely endorses ruling Communist party plans in near unanimous votes.

“China will face more and tougher problems and challenges in its development this year, so we must be fully prepared to fight a difficult battle,” said Li in his budget report, adding that the government would increase projected spending to allow a fiscal deficit of 3 percent.

http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-li-predicts-difficult-battle-for-growth/a-19096112

Xi tells Taiwan to stop dreaming of independence

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned Taiwan not to aspire for independence. His unambiguous assertion comes at a time when a new government that has put the exercise of sovereignty on its agenda has been voted into power in Taipei.

We will resolutely contain ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist activities in any form,” President Xi was quoted as saying during his meeting with lawmakers from Shanghai, who had arrived to participate in the annual session of the National People’s Congress, the country’s Parliament.

“We will safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never allow the historical tragedy of national secession to happen again. This is the common wish and firm will of all Chinese people. It is also our solemn commitment and our responsibility to history and the people.” “Our policy toward Taiwan,” Mr. Xi told legislators, “is clear and consistent, and it will not change along with the change in Taiwan’s political situation.”

Mr. Xi’s blunt warning follows the landslide election of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan’s President. Her position has been strengthened by the strong showing of her Democratic Progressive Party in the parliamentary polls.

Ms. Tsai, who replaces China-friendly Nationalist Party President Ma Ying-jeou, will not assume office till May. Her predecessor steered a series of agreements with China during his eight years in power, resulting in closer economic ties.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/xi-tells-taiwan-to-stop-dreaming-of-independence/article8321934.ece

Japan: The Next Major Player in the Taiwan Strait

In his recent talk with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China’s Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office Zhang Zhijun reiterated Beijing’s cross-Strait policy. Beijing will continue to uphold the 1992 Consensus, which accepts “one China” but allows strategic uncertainty surrounding its precise definition, resolutely opposes to any form of secessionist activities seeking Taiwan independence and firmly safeguards national sovereignty and territorial integrity. As Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen and her traditionally pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still decline to accept the “One-China” principle of the 1992 consensus, the future of cross-strait relations is fraught with uncertainty. While it is important for the DPP to find “a mutually acceptable mode of interaction between Taiwan and the mainland,” changes of the strategic situation in the Asia-Pacific region and the close people-to-people relations between Taiwan and Japan have given Tsai Ing-wen a new opportunity to cooperate with Japan in the cross-Strait issues, which currently involve only Taiwan, China and the United States.

http://www.nationalinterest.org/blog/japan-the-next-major-player-the-taiwan-strait-15343

OBAMA EXPECTED TO MOVE ON TAIWAN ARMS SALES BEFORE YEAR-END

Obama Expected to Move on Taiwan Arms Sales Before Year-end

We’re expecting an announcement as early as this week,” a Republican congressional aide said. Another congressional aide said the notification from the administration was expected “any time now”.

The sale would mark the first time in four years that the United States has shipped arms to Taiwan, the longest gap in such arms sales in nearly four decades.

Obama Expected to Move on Taiwan Arms Sales Before Year-end

Powerful storm hits Taiwan, millions without power, six dead

A powerful typhoon battered Taiwan on Saturday with strong wind and torrential rain, cutting power to 3.62 million households as the death toll rose to six.

Four people were missing and 101 were injured, authorities said. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled and more than 9,900 people were evacuated from their homes.

Television footage trees uprooted and power poles toppled over, a moped being swept into the air by wind and shipping containers piled on top of each other at a port.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/08/us-taiwan-typhoon-idUSKCN0QD03V20150808

Typhoon Soudelor Kills 6 in Taiwan and Leaves Millions Without Power

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/world/asia/typhoon-soudelor-kills-6-in-taiwan-and-leaves-millions-without-power.html

China warns Taiwan against return to ‘evil ways’ of independence

China’s top policy maker on Taiwan warned the self-ruled island on Thursday it would soon have to choose between continuing the peaceful development of ties, or returning to the “evil ways” of independence, which would threaten the peace.

The harsh comments came as a 73-year-old Taiwan politician announced he would run for president in January, likely acting as a spoiler boosting the chances of an independence-leaning opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival to win.

http://news.yahoo.com/taiwan-splinter-candidate-soong-likely-spoiler-boosting-opposition-065425639.html

BEIJING WARNS TAIWAN AGAINST RETURN TO ‘EVIL WAYS’ OF INDEPENDENCE

The entry of James Soong, chairman of the Taiwan’s People First Party, could make the task of retaining power harder for the ruling Nationalist Party, which is unpopular over a perceived creeping dependence on China.

http://www.infowars.com/beijing-warns-taiwan-against-return-to-evil-ways-of-independence/