Taiwan’s election results raise Chinese expectations
Taiwan President and ruling Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou and his wife, Chou Mei-ching, greet supporters after winning the presidential elections outside the party campaign headquarters in Taipei on 14 January 2012. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Sheryn Lee, ANU

On 14 January, Taiwan’s incumbent president, Ma Ying-jeou, won a second term in office, obtaining 51.6 per cent of the popular vote while Tsai Ing-wen, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opponent, managed 45.6 per cent.

Ma’s party, the Kuomintang (KMT), thus retained control of the Legislative Yuan, securing 64 of the 113 seats. Read more…

China and the US F-16 upgrade sale to Taiwan
An armed US-made F-16 fighter takes off from the highway in Tainan, southern Taiwan, during the Han Kuang drill on April 12, 2011. The Taiwanese air force used a closed-off freeway as a runway in a rare drill simulating a Chinese surprise attack that had wiped out its major airbases. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Sheryn Lee, ANU

The US confirmed last month that it will uphold a commitment to refurbish Taiwan’s aging F-16A/B jet fighter fleet in a US$5.85 billion arms package.

This has once again sparked debate about whether Washington’s continued arms sales to Taipei serve the region’s interests in maintaining the cross-Strait status quo. Read more…

The tenth Shangri-La dialogue
Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, center, speaks to delegates before delivering his keynote address during the final day of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Securities Summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Sunday, June 5, 2011. (Photo: AAP)

Author: Sheryn Lee, ANU

On 4-5 June, Singapore was once again awash with security and defence buzz amid the 10th annual International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue.

While in previous years attention has centred on the keynote address of the US Secretary of Defence, this year’s event was dominated by a first time attendant: the Chinese Defence Minister, General Liang Guanglie. The Chinese General’s appearance heralded the strategic importance of the dialogue as a forum for the world’s leading nations. Read more…

US calculations on the F-16s sale to Taiwan
An air-to-air missile is fired from a Mirage 2000-5 jet of the Taiwan Air Force during a drill. Will their Air Force upgrade with new planes from the US? (Photo: AAP)

Author: Sheryn Lee, ANU

On 25 January, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou revived calls for the purchase of the latest F-16C/D Fighting Falcon jet fighters from the United States, stating that it was crucial for the survival of Taiwan’s sovereignty. Despite the Obama administration’s apparent commitment to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, Washington has deferred sale of the upgraded fighters since Taiwan first formally requested 66 of them in early 2007.

There are signs of changing attitudes within the administration. Read more…