Pacific Winds 20230316
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan PM to announce new plan to promote Indo-Pacific strategy
Kyodo 20230315
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/d31d6bfd2da6-japan-pm-to-announce-new-plan-to-promote-indo-pacific-strategy.html
Yoon’s Unilateral Statesmanship Will Fail Without Reciprocation From Japan
CFR 20230314
https://www.cfr.org/blog/yoons-unilateral-statesmanship-will-fail-without-reciprocation-japan
The Japan-South Korea Thaw Is Far From a Done Deal
The Diplomat 20230315
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/the-japan-south-korea-thaw-is-far-from-a-done-deal/
Yoon Takes ‘Responsibility’ as President to Resolve Wartime Requisitioned Workers Issue with Japan
Japan News 20230315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20230315-97427/
U.S. Welcomes Upcoming Kishida-Yoon Summit
Japan News 20230315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/us-canada/20230315-97360/
South Korea's Yoon says cooperation with Japan vital amid concerns on North Korea, supply chains
Reuters 20230315
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-yoon-says-cooperation-with-japan-vital-amid-concerns-north-korea-2023-03-15/
Japan, South Korea eye resumption of security talks between officials
Kyodo 20230315
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/e6202800766b-urgent-japan-s-korea-to-resume-security-talks-between-officials-source.html
U.S.-British Cooperation Vital to Enhance Deterrence against China
Japan News 20230315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20230315-97370/
AUKUS is underway, but key challenges remain
ASPI 20230316
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-is-underway-but-key-challenges-remain/
Submarine Deal Presents Test for Australia’s Balancing Act With China
WSJ 20230315
https://www.wsj.com/articles/submarine-deal-presents-test-for-australias-balancing-act-with-china-942b73ad
Australia’s AUKUS submarine deal with US, UK harks back to colonial vision of Asia-Pacific
SCMP 20230315
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3213502/australias-aukus-submarine-deal-us-uk-harks-back-colonial-vision-asia-pacific
Illogically and strategically wrong for Australia to position China as an enemy: experts
GT 20230315
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287332.shtml
Sincerity needed to bring China-U.S. relations back to right track: FM spokesperson
Xinhua 20230315
https://english.news.cn/20230315/c82228f011884f2a89a5a653eac1290f/c.html
Forty US senators join push for tougher stance over China's treatment of Hong Kong
Reuters 20230315
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/forty-us-senators-join-push-tougher-stance-over-chinas-treatment-hong-kong-2023-03-15/
Sinophobia will lead to conflict, confrontation: Chinese envoy
Xinhua 20230315
https://english.news.cn/20230315/b2ec9ebda670403083dba6787af9057f/c.html
How China Lost Asia
Project Syndicate 20230315
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/asian-democracies-boost-military-cooperation-with-west-by-yoon-young-kwan-2023-03
Vietnam hedges its bets on the BRI
East Asia Forum 20230315
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/03/15/vietnam-hedges-its-bets-on-the-bri/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Navy awards $2.5B contract, more funds for Guam missile defense sought in 2024
GDP 20230316
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/navy-awards-2-5b-contract-more-funds-for-guam-missile-defense-sought-in-2024/article_a6d2674e-c300-11ed-b180-9fb68ae27372.html
US DoD Release:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3329231//
US-China geopolitics to blame for Micronesia turmoil says analyst
Radio NZ 20230315
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/486030/us-china-geopolitics-to-blame-for-micronesia-turmoil-says-analyst
The inadequacy of the 'defense of Guam'
GDP 20230315
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/the-inadequacy-of-the-defense-of-guam/article_3da2d32e-c208-11ed-bdeb-c3a1a961c749.html
Agile Reaper 23-1 wraps up successful ACE exercise in Guam, Tinian
USAF 20230315
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3329865/agile-reaper-23-1-wraps-up-successful-ace-exercise-in-guam-tinian/
S. Korea joins U.S.-led multinational anti-submarine exercise
Yonhap 20230315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230315008600320?section=news
Island Waves
China, South Pacific trade talks being explored, and the islands want to gauge China’s ‘appetite’
SCMP 20230316
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3213624/china-south-pacific-trade-talks-being-explored-and-islands-want-gauge-chinas-appetite
Japan pulling Pacific island countries into line with aid
China Daily 20230315
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/15/WS641101faa31057c47ebb4736.html
Australia to provide additional support to Fiji
FBCN 20230315
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-to-provide-additional-support-to-fiji/
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka tells Anthony Albanese he backs AUKUS deal
ABC (AU) 20230315
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-15/fiji-pm-rabuka-tells-anthony-albanese-he-backs-aukus-deal-/102098028
Australia PM visits Fiji to discuss nuclear submarines, security
Reuters 20230315
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-pm-visits-fiji-discuss-nuclear-submarines-regional-security-2023-03-15/
Helping a Friend: Looking Back on Australia’s Intervention in Solomon Islands
The Diplomat 20230314
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/helping-a-friend-looking-back-on-australias-intervention-in-solomon-islands/
Tonga signs USD10 million grant from ADB
Matangi Tonga 20230315
https://matangitonga.to/2023/03/15/tonga-signs-usd10-million-grant-adb
S. Korea to offer US$200,000 to storm-hit Vanuatu
Yonhap 20230315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230315004700325?section=news
Using aid to shift power paradigms in the Pacific
DevPolicy 20230315
https://devpolicy.org/using-aid-to-shift-power-paradigms-in-the-pacific-20230315/
The Pacific’s Nuclear Legacy in the Context of the Climate Crisis
APLN 20-230315
https://www.apln.network/projects/voices-from-pacific-island-countries/the-pacifics-nuclear-legacy-in-the-context-of-the-climate-crisis
Taiwan
Taiwan presidential candidate pledges to protect against China
Reuters 20230315
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-presidential-candidate-pledges-protect-against-china-2023-03-15/
The United States and stability in the Taiwan Strait
BoS 20230313
https://thebulletin.org/premium/2023-03/the-United-States-and-stability-in-the-Taiwan-Strait/
US assistant secretary reiterates importance of Taiwan Strait peace
Taiwan News 20230315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4835740
Taiwan Learns From Ukraine
GMF 20230314
https://www.gmfus.org/news/taiwan-learns-ukraine
China obstructs new subsea cable to Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4835599
Second US congressional delegation in two months arrives in Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4835845
Taiwan tracks 28 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4835649
Capabilities
Space Force wants to trim missile warning satellite program
Defense News 20230314
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/03/14/space-force-wants-to-trim-missile-warning-satellite-program/
Northrop experimenting with VR, mo-cap tech to help develop next-gen missile warning sats
Breaking Defense 20230315
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/northrop-experimenting-with-vr-mo-cap-tech-to-help-develop-next-gen-missile-warning-sats/
‘We have to adapt’: Marine commandant says future dominance depends on ability to change
S&S 20230314
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2023-03-14/marines-berger-budget-force-design-9495505.html
Naval chief says rising cost cost spurred amphib production pause
Defense News 20230315
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/03/15/naval-chief-says-rising-cost-cost-spurred-amphib-production-pause/
Navy On Path To Violate 31-Amphibious-Ship Requirement in 2024
Defense One 20230314
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/03/navy-path-violate-31-amphibious-ship-requirement-2024/383940/
CRS Report to Congress on Marines’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle
CRS 20230313
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23708121/the-marine-corps-amphibious-combat-vehicle-acv-march-13-2023.pdf
How to save the US Navy
Asia Times 20230315
https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/how-to-save-the-us-navy/
Peninsula Plus: Enhancing U.S.–South Korea Alliance Cooperation on China, Multilateralism, and Military and Security Technologies
CNAS 20230315
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/PeninsulaPlus_Final.pdf
China is determined to thwart AUKUS, driven by distrust and fear of a US nuclear build-up
ABC (AU) 20230315
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-15/why-china-is-determined-to-disrupt-aukus-plans/102087586
Advances in detection technology could render AUKUS submarines useless by 2050
ASPI 20230315
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/advances-in-detection-technology-could-render-aukus-submarines-useless-by-2050/
Australian SSNs will open up opportunities for advanced undersea operations
ASPI 20230315
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-ssns-will-open-up-opportunities-for-advanced-undersea-operations/
DSEI Japan 2023: KHI Unveils New Anti-Ship Missile
Naval News 20230315
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/dsei-japan-2023/2023/03/dsei-japan-2023-khi-unveils-new-anti-ship-missile/
US gets an ‘F’ for erratic, unfocused funding of defense innovation, says Reagan Foundation
Breaking Defense 20230314
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/us-gets-an-f-for-erratic-unfocused-funding-of-defense-innovation-says-reagan-foundation/
Power
A jurisdiction over the high seas
Lowy 20230315
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/jurisdiction-over-high-seas
Exercises
Are US military drills in Asia Pacific a veiled attempt to curb Chinese power?
France24 20230314
https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20230314-are-us-military-drills-in-asia-pacific-a-veiled-attempt-to-curb-chinese-power
13 MED Conducts Expeditionary Strike Force Operations in the South China Sea
USN 20230315
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3329620/13th-meu-conducts-expeditionary-strike-force-operations-in-the-south-china-sea/
Marine Littoral Regiment Concludes Historic Exercise, Set to Join Stand-in Forces: ‘From This Point Forward, We Are Integrating Them into Our Operations’
US IndoPaCom 20230314
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3329010/marine-littoral-regiment-concludes-historic-exercise-set-to-join-stand-in-force/