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Riz Khan
Obama's cross-straits conundrum
Have warming ties between China and Taiwan created a dilemma for US-China relations?
Last Modified: 23 Nov 2009 07:29 GMT



Watch part two

Warming ties between China and Taiwan have paradoxically created a dilemma for US-China relations. 

Taiwan wants to upgrade its ageing military hardware by buying dozens of F16 fighter jets from the US.

This is required to provide Taiwan with sufficient capacity to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. 

But China strongly opposes the $4.9bn deal proposed by Taiwan's supporters in the US congress. 

If Barack Obama, the US president, approves the controversial sale, the US' relationship with China could suffer - just at a time when the US badly needs its support on contentious international issues like North Korea and Iran.

On Tuesday's show we look at how Taipei's current pro-Beijing stance is affecting international political dynamics, and ask: Do improving relations with China impact Taiwan's chances of remaining forever separate from the mainland?  

Riz is joined by Dr. Bob Yang, the president of the Formosa Association for Public Affairs, and Bonnie S. Glaser, a senior fellow with the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies.

This episode of the Riz Khan show can be seen live on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 2030GMT with repeats on Wednesday at 0030GMT, 0530GMT and 1130GMT.
Source:
Al Jazeera
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