U.S. sells weapons to Taiwan, angering China

The Obama administration announced Friday the sale of $6 billion worth of anti-missile systems, helicopters, mine-sweeping ships and communications equipment to Taiwan in a long-expected move that sparked an angry protest from China. While the US has an important interest in ensuring the survival of a democratic government in Taiwan, it is also in the interest of the US to foster a peaceful resolution of Taiwan’s international status.

China's vice minister of foreign affairs, He Yafei, said Friday that Beijing was "strongly indignant" about the arms sales to Taiwan and warned that they would have a "serious negative impact" on U.S.-China cooperation.

However, The United States says weapons sales to Taiwan help to maintain stability in East Asia by making it more difficult for Beijing to bully Taiwan. The United States is legally obligated to provide weapons for Taiwan's defense, under the Taiwan Relations Act.

It seems that such a move has exacerbated other issues in which China and the U.S. are at odds such as how to deal with Iran's nuclear program, issues involving Internet freedom and how Beijing is treating Western businesses. Despite an intense effort by The Obama administration to improve ties with Beijing, the sale of weapons to Taiwan seems to only heighten tensions between countries and complicates future issues. How will such a move impact future dialogue between the U.S. and China?

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8489301.stm

China's Top Ten (Known) Cyber Attacks

At once hilarious and alarming.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/01/22/the_top_10_chinese_cyber_attacks_that_we_know_of

North and South Korea back at it

In contrast to hopes that six-party talks would continue, North Korea and South Korea have started making vague threats at each other.

To summarize, South Korea stated publicly that if it believed that North Korea was planning a nuclear attack, they would launch a pre-emptive attack against their nuclear facilities. In response, Pyongyang said that any indication that Seoul was preparing to do so would be treated as an act of war and would "be met with swift and decisive military action".

Article.

2010: Drug Related Violence on the Rise

The start of 2010 has shown that drug cartel related violence has not slowed down in Mexico. With 69 drug related murders in one day, the start of the year isn't boding well for Mexico's War on Drugs. Though President Calderon announced his war on drug cartels in 2006 the violence over drugs is escalating--and not just with mere numbers. Drug lords are committing more grotesque crimes and murders than ever before, fueling even further fear. Many seem to blame the demand from the United States for drugs and the high levels of unemployment in Mexico as causes for the rise in violence.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/11/world/AP-LT-Drug-War-Mexico.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=drug%20traffikcing&st=cse

Where Russia Meets China

So interesting it should be mandatory