Pacific Winds 20230315
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Joint Leaders Statement on AUKUS
US White House 20230313
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/13/joint-leaders-statement-on-aukus-2/
Japan and South Korea: a logical but uneasy alignment
Lowy 20230314
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/japan-south-korea-logical-uneasy-alignment
US-led alliances slowly but surely encircling China
Asia Times 20230314
https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/us-led-alliances-slowly-but-surely-encircling-china/
Indo-Pacific is focus of Washington’s diplomatic strategy, US official says
SCMP 20230315
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3213532/indo-pacific-focus-washingtons-diplomatic-strategy-us-official-says
South Korean chip equipment industry alarmed amid US-China's tech power struggle
DigiTimes 20230313
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20230310PD204/chip-war-memory-chips-south-korea.html
UK-Canada trade chiefs to meet after ‘sour’ Indo-Pacific talks
Politico 20230313
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-canada-trade-chiefs-meet-badenoch-ng-trans-pacific/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Palau to receive $890M from $7.1B allocated under new compact agreements
Island Times 20230314
https://islandtimes.org/palau-to-receive-890m-from-7-1b-allocated-under-new-compact-agreements/
Military projects take up construction resources from outside the fence
GDP 20230315
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/military-projects-take-up-construction-resources-from-outside-the-fence/article_457614ec-b972-11ed-ad12-f7dc65132fe8.html
Defense department makes case to beef up Guam's missile defense
KUAM 20230314
https://www.kuam.com/story/48542501/defense-department-makes-case-to-beef-up-guams-missile-defense
China says it respects Micronesia, after outgoing president's scathing letter on Beijing's diplomacy
ABC (AU) 20230312
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/fsm-china-analysis/102087432
Island Waves
Will ex-Nauru President Baron Waqa's appointment as next Pacific Islands Forum boss do more harm than good?
Radio NZ 20230314
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/485956/will-ex-nauru-president-baron-waqa-s-appointment-as-next-pacific-islands-forum-boss-do-more-harm-than-good
Expert views on Australia’s new aid strategy
DevPolicy 20230314
https://devpolicy.org/expert-views-on-australias-new-aid-strategy-20230314/
Australian PM mounts diplomatic blitz to calm AUKUS fears, visit Fiji tomorrow
Islands Business 20230314
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/aukus-2/
China to further assist Fiji’s economic growth
FBCN 20230313
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-to-further-assist-fijis-economic-growth/
Samoa, Fiji welcome China-aided agricultural technical assistance
CGTN 20230314
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-03-14/Samoa-Fiji-welcome-China-aided-agricultural-technical-assistance-1ia3Vyu9Xgs/index.html
Transparency Dialogue to Counter Corruption in the Pacific
Solomon Star 20230314
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/transparency-dialogue-to-counter-corruption-in-the-pacific/12471
China, ASEAN countries agree on marine cooperation projects in South China Sea: FM spokesperson
China Military 20230315
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16209359.html
China exerts control over internet cable projects in South China Sea
FT 20230314
https://www.ft.com/content/89bc954d-64ed-4d80-bb8f-9f1852ec4eb1
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono concerned about lack of missile defense for Hawaii
Star Advertiser 20230314
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/03/14/hawaii-news/u-s-sen-mazie-hirono-concerned-about-lack-of-missile-defense-for-hawaii/
Taiwan
Taiwan unveils its new combat and surveillance drones as China threat grows
CNN 20230314
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/14/asia/taiwan-china-military-drones-unveiled-hnk-intl/index.html
Taking page from Ukraine, Taiwan shows off new killer drones
Japan Times 20230314
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/14/asia-pacific/taiwan-drones-ukraine-china/
Taiwan to start deploying low earth orbit satellite network amid war risk
Taiwan News 20230314
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4834260
US would destroy Taiwan's semiconductor factories rather than letting them fall into China's hands, a former national security adviser says
BI 20230313
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-would-destroy-taiwan-semiconductor-factories-avoid-china-trump-adviser-2023-3
Taiwan and the Integrated Review: More than a mere mention
Geostrategy 20230314
https://www.geostrategy.org.uk/britains-world/taiwan-and-the-integrated-review-more-than-a-mere-mention/
China opposes UK's Integrated Review hyping Taiwan question
GT 20230314
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287265.shtml
Capabilities
N. Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: S. Korean military
Yonhap 20230314
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230314001051325?section=news
North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles After Threat to US
Bloomberg 20230313
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-13/north-korea-fires-suspected-missile-after-warning-us-on-military-drills
Monitoring missile launches a ‘complex beast,’ says Space Force commander in South Korea
S&S 20230313
https://www.stripes.com/branches/space_force/2023-03-13/space-force-korea-missile-launches-9478287.html
How Some U.S. Satellite Data Could Aid Japan and South Korea Against North Korea
Carnegie 20230314
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/03/14/how-some-u.s.-satellite-data-could-aid-japan-and-south-korea-against-north-korea-pub-89264
Missile Defense Agency requests $10.9B in FY24, and tens of billions more after that
Breaking Defense 20230313
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/missile-defense-agency-requests-10-9b-in-fy24-and-tens-of-billions-more-after-that/
Missile Defense Agency Officials Hold a Press Briefing on President Biden's Fiscal 2024 Missile Defense Budget
US DoD 20230314
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3328637/missile-defense-agency-officials-hold-a-press-briefing-on-president-bidens-fisc/
Pentagon’s historic R&D request has billions for advanced networks, AI
Defense News 20230313
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2023/03/13/pentagons-historic-rd-request-has-billions-for-advanced-networks-ai/
How AUKUS fits into the complex U.S. strategy for the Pacific
WaPo 20230313
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/13/us-submarine-deal-strategy-pacific-china/
U.S. guards undersea superiority with Australia-U.K. nuclear sub deal
Nikkei 20230315
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-guards-undersea-superiority-with-Australia-U.K.-nuclear-sub-deal
US and Allies Unveil Submarine Deal to Counter China in Pacific
Bloomberg 20230313
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-13/us-and-allies-unveil-submarine-deal-to-counter-china-in-pacific
AUKUS Plan Looks to Shore up Deterrence, Promote Stability
US DoD 20230314
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3328430/aukus-plan-looks-to-shore-up-deterrence-promote-stability/
THE AUKUS NUCLEAR POWERED SUBMARINE
AU DoD 20230313
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23706945/the-aukus-nuclear-powered-submarine-pathway.pdf
China expected to prepare for AUKUS nuclear submarine program with underwater buildups
GT 20230314
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287263.shtml
US and UK jump-start Australia’s nuclear submarine program
ASPI 20230314
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-and-uk-jump-start-australias-nuclear-submarine-program/
Leaders unveil a circuitous path to nuke-powered Australian subs
Defense News 20230313
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/03/13/leaders-unveil-a-circuitous-path-to-nuke-powered-australian-subs/
The US, UK and Australia Send China a Message
Bloomberg 20230313
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-03-13/us-uk-australian-nuclear-submarine-accord-sends-message-to-china
Nuclear submarine deal will deeply impact the Australian Defence Force. Has the government got it right?
ABC (AU) 20230314
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-14/nuclear-submarine-aukus-how-cost-impact-military-capability/102089496
With AUKUS, Australia has wedded itself to a risky US policy on China – and turned a deaf ear to the region
The Conversation 20230314
https://theconversation.com/with-aukus-australia-has-wedded-itself-to-a-risky-us-policy-on-china-and-turned-a-deaf-ear-to-the-region-201757
Australia’s ambitious nuclear submarine plan faces potentially insurmountable hurdles
Straits Times 20230315
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-s-ambitious-nuclear-submarine-plan-faces-potentially-insurmountable-hurdles
AUKUS deal: Australia has ‘a lot to do’ in Southeast Asia to calm concerns over submarines, analysts say
SCMP 20230314
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3213494/australia-has-lot-do-southeast-asia-calm-concerns-over-aukus-submarines-say-analysts
‘AUKUS created for fighting’: Push for Indonesia to refuse access to subs
SMH 20230314
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/aukus-created-for-fighting-push-for-indonesia-to-refuse-access-to-subs-20230314-p5crzz.html?btis=
AUKUS: Flawed by Design?
AEI 20230314
https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/aukus-flawed-by-design/
Can AUKUS really counter China?
Spectator (UK) 20230313
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-aukus-really-counter-china/
Torpedoes ahead!
Inside Story 20230314
https://insidestory.org.au/torpedoes-ahead/
AUKUS nuclear submarine deal loophole prompts proliferation fears
Guardian 20230313
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/aukus-australian-submarine-nuclear-loophole-proliferation-fears
Tell us why high price of nuclear subs is good value for Australia
AFR 20230314
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/tell-us-why-high-price-of-nuclear-subs-is-good-value-for-australia-20230313-p5crke
AUKUS: Many questions, revealing answers
Lowy 20230314
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/aukus-many-questions-revealing-answers
China says AUKUS submarines deal embarks on ‘path of error and danger’
Guardian 20230314
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/14/china-aukus-submarines-deal-embarks-path-error-danger
AUKUS nuclear submarine 'cooperation' reckless acceleration on a dangerous road
China Military 20230314
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16209362.html
Nuclear submarines will turn Australia into a ‘haunted house’
GT 20230314
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287297.shtml
Penny Wong hits back at China’s claim AUKUS nuclear submarines will fuel an arms race
Guardian (AU) 20230314
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/14/penny-wong-hits-back-at-chinas-claim-aukus-nuclear-submarines-will-fuel-an-arms-race
US bid to ‘outcompete’ China yields Pentagon’s largest-ever defence budget
SCMP 20230314
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3213416/us-bid-outcompete-china-yields-pentagons-largest-ever-defence-budget
Military buying more missiles and other weapons to fight China, Russia
Task & P{urpose 20230314
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-military-missiles-munitions-china-russia/
Stop Talking About a ‘Chinese Way of War’
The Diplomat 20230314
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/stop-talking-about-a-chinese-way-of-war/
Japanese missile base to open for business this week on island near Taiwan
S&S 20230314
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-03-14/japan-new-missile-base-taiwan-9488188.html
Navy: OSD Directed Amphib Procurement Pause, Joint Staff Says Current Amphib Force ‘Sufficient’
USNI 20230313
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/13/navy-osd-directed-amphib-procurement-pause-dod-says-current-amphib-force-sufficient
Reviving the Arsenal of Democracy: Steps for Surging Defense Industrial Capacity
CSIS 20230314
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-03/230314_Cook_SurgingDefenseIndustrialCapacity_v6.pdf?VersionId=wh.T8roPLeyF.jkoUEvsbboyh19cc_iT
Lockheed Hints Again At The Existence Of A Secret High Speed Jet
The Drive 20230313
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/lockheed-hints-heavily-again-at-existence-of-secret-high-speed-jet
Is a fall in China’s military exports a sign of stockpiling at home?
SCMP 20230314
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3213383/fall-chinas-military-exports-sign-stockpiling-home
Power
Surge in arms imports to Europe, while US dominance of the global arms trade increases
SIPRI 20230313
https://sipri.org/media/press-release/2023/surge-arms-imports-europe-while-us-dominance-global-arms-trade-increases
The Age of American Naval Dominance Is Over
The Atlantic 20230313
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-age-of-american-naval-dominance-is-over/ar-AA18yGOr
Arm Ukraine or Prepare for China? Wrong Question.
Hudson 20230313
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/arm-ukraine-or-prepare-china-wrong-question
Unanswered Questions about North Korean Leadership
CSIS 20230314
https://www.csis.org/analysis/unanswered-questions-about-north-korean-leadership-0
Exercises
Biggest Philippines, US war games in April to focus on maritime threats amid China tensions
Straits Times 20230315
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/biggest-philippines-us-war-games-to-focus-on-maritime-threats-amid-china-tensions
U.S. forced to intensify joint military drills in response to N. Korean provocations: State Dept.
Yonhap 20230314
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230314000251325?section=news
U.S. sending Marines from mainland, Japan to Korea for joint drills
Yonhap 20230314
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230314005600325
China expresses concerns over large-scale joint military exercise by US, South Korea
GT 20230314
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287258.shtml