Oh, no, WaPo has caught on to the so-called Korean Wave (which is one year later than The New York Times, in turn at least a year late to the actual phenomenon). Some choice bits:
Thin and gorgeous in a slinky black dress, Mikimoto pearls and a low-slung diamond Tiffany pendant, 26-year-old Kazumi Yoshimura already […]

Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China, which generated much controversy about the state and direction of the Chinese government, economy and society. When the “China Rising” theme was in vogue among Asia watchers and the mainstream media five years ago, his was one of few public voices expressing […]

Why is Taiwan being left out? Some choice bits from the Weekly Standard:
Yet, although Washington and Tokyo are expected to use the occasion to tout progress on nearly all major strategic questions, the two allies will almost certainly remain silent on one pressing issue: Taiwan’s increasingly uncertain role in their East Asian security architecture. […]

WaPo says that China is quietly lowering tension with Taiwan.
First, the good cop:
Gradually and without fanfare, China has substantially softened its stand on Taiwan, according to senior officials and diplomats. President Hu Jintao, they said, has begun to play down China’s long-standing vow to recover the self-ruled island by force if necessary and shifted […]

A Taiwanese businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to acting as a covert agent for the Chinese government and trying to buy sophisticated military parts and weapons, including an F-16 fighter jet engine and cruise missiles.
Reports Fox News (you can read the whole thing here; h/t Simon World). Boy, a Taiwanese! So this guy betrayed his […]

Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) is firing a salvo across as President Hu of China visits Washington (read about his visit to the Gates home for a feast here).
The following was forwarded to me just now:
Chabot Moves to Lift Travel Limitations on Taiwan’s Leaders
Democratically Elected, ‘Partners in Freedom’ Must Be Welcome in the USA
WASHINGTON, DC […]

Back in the old days when Taiwan was less democratic, some Taiwanese elites used to say, if only half in jest, that the goal of the Taiwanese government was for Taiwan to become America’s 51st state.
That is what came to my mind when I read the alleged legal justification for why Taiwan is actually […]

There might have been a coup attempt in Taiwan in the aftermath of the bitter 2004 election. (Why are elections getting bitter everywhere, by the way?)
The nation’s top military leader yesterday threw his weight behind claims of a coup plot by pan-blue supporters after the bitterly disputed presidential election in 2004.
During a legislative hearing, […]

If you’ll just help us out with North Korea, we’ll do our best to “restrain” Taiwan:
President Hu Jintao of China reacted sharply on Tuesday to the decision by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to terminate the island’s unification council, calling it “a grave provocation” and “a dangerous step on the road toward Taiwan independence.”
Mr. […]