Tea Leaves Round Up

What's causing a storm in a cup in the news today?

• China throws teddy out of the pram and argues that the other children in the sandpit are ganging up on it. I'd have some sympathy if they didn't claim to be playing harmoniously with the other kids whilst further moving the line in the sand that marks what part of the box is their sole concern and area of jurisdiction.
• DPP leader Tsai on the defensive and offensive against Presidential Office attempts to paint her as vacillating on ECFA.
• That NT$3600 vote-buying scam economic stimulus measure? Verdict: Epic Fail. Except that it was also Epic Success in that it a) raised public confidence b) increased benefits to low-income families and c) generated a higher international visibility for the country. How to turn bad news into pseudo good news all in one quickly sidelined and forgotten piece of copy.
• We all know its coming. ECFA to be rammed through the legislature likely on August 16th. So much for transparency, accountability and legislative oversight.