Leading Indicators: Off-the-Radar News Roundup

- Taiwan's vice defense minister emphasized that Taiwan will maintain defense capabilities against a potential Chinese attack, after controversial remarks by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou raised questions about a fundamental shift in Taiwan's defense posture. In an interview with CNN, Ma said," We will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan." The opposition claimed it was a change in policy, while Ma's supporters suggested it was a prediction reflecting improved relations between Taiwan and the mainland.

- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama formally ruled out the possibility of entirely relocating the Futenma air base outside of the Okinawa prefecture. Hatoyama blamed the decision on the need to maintain effective military deterrence, and apologized to the people of Okinawa for the confusion caused by his handling of the relocation, which was a central DPJ campaign promise. For Hatoyama, this marks the tragic phase of what had to date been low comedy. For the U.S., this could very well represent a pyrrhic victory, as it clearly illustrated that for Tokyo, Washington's intransigence on the issue took precedence over domestic Japanese intransigence. That's liable to leave a nasty after-taste. ...