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Daily Memo: Japan's Breakthrough, China's Corruption Charges
AtomicPiss
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By: Geopolitical Futures
Japanese-Taiwanese talks. Officials from Japan’s and Taiwan’s respective ruling parties held long-awaited security talks on Friday, a major if still mostly symbolic breakthrough in Japan’s emergence as a factor in Taiwan’s defense. We were watching closely for signs that the talks touched on areas of tangible bilateral military cooperation. However, they reportedly focused primarily on things like Japan’s need for stable semiconductor supplies and Taiwan’s desire to get folded into the revamped Trans-Pacific Partnership. These topics don’t fit the conventional narratives about the regional balance of power, but trade and supply chain issues are critical nonetheless.
Tiger trapped. China charged a former senior anti-graft inspector with taking at least $71 million in bribes over the course of his career. Anti-corruption purges are not uncommon in China, but this one stands out because the official, Dong Hong, was once a top aide to Vice President Wang Qishan, who was instrumental in President Xi Jinping’s rise and subsequent sweeping anti-corruption campaign. His job heading the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party’s much-feared anti-graft watchdog, made Wang enormously powerful, though his influence has waned somewhat during Xi’s second term due in part to his semi-retirement in line with the party’s age limits.
Support for Ireland. Following a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France supported the EU’s decision not to renegotiate the Northern Ireland protocol. Britain has insisted that the deal be revised, but according to Macron, the bloc remains united in its opposition to the request. Martin is set to meet with the leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to discuss the issue on Friday.
Olive branch. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reportedly said during a Cabinet meeting that his government was getting positive signals from Turkey regarding regional peace and security. He added that his government would respond in kind.
Border security. Bulgaria’s defense minister said an additional 400-700 troops would be deployed to the country’s borders with Greece and Turkey in anticipation of an influx of Afghan migrants. Greece has reportedly increased its own border security, installing more cameras and monitoring devices and increasing the frequency of patrols.
Intel talks. Sudan’s army chief of staff and the head of Saudi Arabia’s military intelligence met on Thursday to discuss intelligence cooperation. Riyadh has expressed interest in increasing military cooperation with other Red Sea states to maintain security and to combat piracy in the region.
Japanese-Taiwanese talks. Officials from Japan’s and Taiwan’s respective ruling parties held long-awaited security talks on Friday, a major if still mostly symbolic breakthrough in Japan’s emergence as a factor in Taiwan’s defense. We were watching closely for signs that the talks touched on areas of tangible bilateral military cooperation. However, they reportedly focused primarily on things like Japan’s need for stable semiconductor supplies and Taiwan’s desire to get folded into the revamped Trans-Pacific Partnership. These topics don’t fit the conventional narratives about the regional balance of power, but trade and supply chain issues are critical nonetheless.
Tiger trapped. China charged a former senior anti-graft inspector with taking at least $71 million in bribes over the course of his career. Anti-corruption purges are not uncommon in China, but this one stands out because the official, Dong Hong, was once a top aide to Vice President Wang Qishan, who was instrumental in President Xi Jinping’s rise and subsequent sweeping anti-corruption campaign. His job heading the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Communist Party’s much-feared anti-graft watchdog, made Wang enormously powerful, though his influence has waned somewhat during Xi’s second term due in part to his semi-retirement in line with the party’s age limits.
Support for Ireland. Following a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France supported the EU’s decision not to renegotiate the Northern Ireland protocol. Britain has insisted that the deal be revised, but according to Macron, the bloc remains united in its opposition to the request. Martin is set to meet with the leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to discuss the issue on Friday.
Olive branch. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reportedly said during a Cabinet meeting that his government was getting positive signals from Turkey regarding regional peace and security. He added that his government would respond in kind.
Border security. Bulgaria’s defense minister said an additional 400-700 troops would be deployed to the country’s borders with Greece and Turkey in anticipation of an influx of Afghan migrants. Greece has reportedly increased its own border security, installing more cameras and monitoring devices and increasing the frequency of patrols.
Intel talks. Sudan’s army chief of staff and the head of Saudi Arabia’s military intelligence met on Thursday to discuss intelligence cooperation. Riyadh has expressed interest in increasing military cooperation with other Red Sea states to maintain security and to combat piracy in the region.