CHINA 

“Is Taiwan Part of the ‘Chinese Dream?’” Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2013.

Ever since President Xi Jinping made it clear that the “Chinese Dream” would be at the center of his 10-year term, the world has been scrambling to work out exactly what the “dream” is. “China’s dream won’t be realized until Taiwan, which was separated from the mainland when the losing side in a civil war fled there in 1949, [returns] back into the fold.”

“China’s Foreign Ministry sets up cyber security office.” Xinhuanet, June 14, 2013.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up an office responsible mainly for diplomatic activities regarding cyber affairs. China believes that cyberspace needs neither fighting nor hegemony, but it does need regulations and cooperation.

RUSSIA

“G20 summits: Russia and Turkey react with fury to spying revelations.” The Guardian, June 17, 2013.

Mere days before the opening of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, The Guardian released NSA documents showing that U.S. spies had intercepted communications between former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and other top Russian officials during the 2009 G-20 summit in London, casting another shadow of mistrust on already troubled U.S.-Russia relations.

“U.S. and Russia sign pact to create communication link on cyber security.” Washington Post, June 17, 2013.

The U.S. and Russia agreed to open communication links on cybersecurity, including the refitting of a Cold War-era “hotline” to serve as a direct line of contact between the U.S. cybersecurity coordinator and his or her Russian counterpart. The agreement was announced Monday at the G8 summit.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

“Why You Shouldn’t Get Too Excited About Rouhani.” The Atlantic, June 17, 2013.

The election of moderate candidate Hassan Rouhani to the Iranian presidency inspired hope that Iran may be headed in a more constructive direction, particularly with respect to its nuclear program. Mark Dubowitz of The Atlantic warns, however, that Rouhani is in fact a loyal devotee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate sway in policymaking, and that his demonstrated approach to nuclear negotiation is more deceptive than conciliatory.

“Russia signals nuclear arms cuts will not come easy.” Reuters, June 19, 2013.

Speaking in Berlin this week, President Obama called on Russia to agree to further nuclear arms reduction agreements with the U.S. The appeal was met with a chilly reception in Russia, where Vladimir Putin expressed concerns over U.S. and NATO deployments of anti-missile shields and the development of high-precision non-nuclear weapons, which Russia fears may “disturb the strategic balance.”

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Compiled by Haolin Liu and Andi Zhou.