Pacific Winds 20230318
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. bets on next 4 years to cement ties between Japan, South Korea
Nikkei 20230318
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Biden-s-Asia-policy/U.S.-bets-on-next-4-years-to-cement-ties-between-Japan-South-Korea
Korea-Japan rapprochement creates new opportunities in the Indo-Pacific
Brookings 20230317
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/03/17/korea-japan-rapprochement-creates-new-opportunities-in-the-indo-pacific/
As Japan and South Korea make amends, the challenge now is to make it last
Straits Times 20230318
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/as-japan-and-s-korea-make-amends-the-challenge-now-is-to-make-it-last
Japan and South Korea Make Nice, but Can It Last?
NYTimes 20230317
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/world/asia/japn-south-korea-relations.html
South Korea seeks scientific analysis before Fukushima water release
Kyodo 20230317
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/f75a30cc2fd4-s-korea-seeks-scientific-analysis-before-fukushima-water-release.html
Public Opinion in S. Korea is Key to Resolving Wartime Requisitioned Workers Issue
Japan Times 20230317
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20230317-97989/
Yoon returns to storm in South Korea after Japan breakthrough
Nikkei 20230317
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Yoon-returns-to-storm-in-South-Korea-after-Japan-breakthrough2
US-China trade ‘becoming less directly interdependent’ amid decoupling despite ‘misleading’ data
SCMP 20230317
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3213917/us-china-trade-becoming-less-directly-interdependent-amid-decoupling-despite-misleading-data
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
As U.S. Grows Guam Presence to Deter China, Wary Locals Are Denied A Choice
Newsweek 20230316
https://www.newsweek.com/us-grows-guam-presence-deter-china-wary-locals-are-denied-choice-1786778
First wave of tech to defend Guam from newer threats due in 2024
Defense News 20230317
https://www.defensenews.com/smr/defending-the-pacific/2023/03/17/first-wave-of-tech-to-defend-guam-from-newer-threats-due-in-2024/
Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson: 'There's no more excess land'
PDN 20230317
https://www.guampdn.com/news/rear-adm-benjamin-nicholson-theres-no-more-excess-land/article_c4595966-c47d-11ed-bd3f-779383a41d48.html
State of emergency declared in Marshall Islands after US grounds Micronesian air freight operator
Radio NZ 20230317
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/486193/state-of-emergency-declared-in-marshall-islands-after-us-grounds-micronesian-air-freight-operator
Micronesia takes on China
The Economist 20230316
https://www.economist.com/asia/2023/03/16/micronesia-takes-on-china
Island Waves
US Indo-Pacific commander: China’s play for Solomon Islands woke up officials
Benar 20230317
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/us-pacific-islands-03172023005000.html
Solomon Islands-Australia Economic Partnership Benefits Timber Smallholders and Creates Jobs
Solomon Times 20230317
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/solomon-islandsaustralia-economic-partnership-benefits-timber-smallholders-and-creates-jobs/12484
Falake signs project for micro hydropower plant
Solomon Star 20230317
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/falake-signs-project-for-micro-hydropower-plant/
ADB visits new USP campus in SI
Solomon Star 20230317
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/adb-visits-new-usp-campus-in-si/
Chinese Relief Supplies Worth Over VT100 Million Arrive
Daily Post (VU) 20230317
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/chinese-relief-supplies-worth-over-vt100-million-arrive/article_59c76519-a7b7-55c2-be06-e50c6e51239b.html
Samoa-Japan trade on a stretchy ride
Samoa Observer 20230318
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/102540
Police Ministry gets new vehicles
Samoa Observer 20230316
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/102539
China reaffirms support for Fiji’s agricultural sector
FBCN 20230317
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-reaffirms-support-for-fijis-agricultural-sector/
China-Tonga cooperation strives for a common and sustainable development
Matangi Tonga 20230317
https://matangitonga.to/2023/03/17/china-tonga-cooperation-strives-common-and-sustainable-development
Vanuatu Policeman ready for landing
ADF 20230317
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-03-17/vanuatu-policeman-ready-landing
High court dismisses Okinawa’s legal challenges to Marine Corps runway
S&S 20230317
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2023-03-17/okinawa-lawsuit-runway-schwab-futenma-9520171.html
Okinawa simulates evacuating over 100,000 residents, tourists near Taiwan
Nikkei 20230318
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Okinawa-simulates-evacuating-over-100-000-residents-tourists-near-Taiwan
Pentagon: Red Hill Defueling on Track, Joint Task Force Starting Environmental Assessment
S&S 20230317
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/17/pentagon-red-hill-defueling-on-track-joint-task-force-starting-environmental-assessment
Taiwan
U.S., Taiwan Move Closer to Trade, Investment Agreement
WSJ 20230316
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-taiwan-move-closer-to-trade-investment-agreement-a498478
Taiwan must consider ‘very influential’ businesses in US trade talks as Washington seeks to ‘cut red tape’
SCMP 20230317
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3213931/taiwan-must-consider-very-influential-businesses-us-trade-talks-washington-seeks-cut-red-tape
Taiwan 'will not budge' amid Chinese pressure: Foreign minister
CNA (TW) 20230317
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202303170022
Japan deploys new troops to revamped base on island near Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230317
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4838962
Taiwan tracks 15 Chinese military, 3 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230317
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4838321
Capabilities
N. Korea test-fired Hwasong-17 ICBM in warning to enemies holding allied drills: state media
Yonhap 20230317
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230317001052325?section=news
North Korea says it launched Hwasong-17 ICBM as "warning to enemies"
Kyodo 20230317
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/fa17ff0c8570-n-korea-says-it-launched-hwasong-17-icbm-as-warning-to-enemies.html
Chinese study: North Korean missile could reach US in 33 minutes
CNN 20230317
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/03/17/chinese-study-north-korea-missile-us-ripley-dnt-ebof-vpx.cnn
The US must trade muscles for diplomacy to end the North Korean nuclear crisis
BAS 20230316
https://thebulletin.org/2023/03/the-us-must-trade-muscles-for-diplomacy-to-end-the-north-korean-nuclear-crisis/
Japan Faces Readiness Hurdle As it Modernizes Military, Former Defense Chief Says
USNI 20230317
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/17/japan-faces-readiness-hurdle-as-it-modernizes-military-former-defense-chief-says
Australia’s north is key to deepening defence cooperation with Japan
ASPI 20230317
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-north-is-key-to-deepening-defence-cooperation-with-japan/
The limits on Australia’s submarine industry
Lowy 20230317
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/limits-australia-s-submarine-industry
Nuclear-powered sub Boise, docked since 2017, may get funds for overhaul by end of this year
Breaking Defense 20230317
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/nuclear-powered-sub-boise-docked-since-2017-may-get-funds-for-overhaul-by-end-of-this-year/
US-Phl troops prepare for possible war with China
Phil Star 20230318
https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2023/03/18/2252476/us-phl-troops-prepare-possible-war-china
The tiny Philippine island on the frontline of the US-China battle for supremacy
Guardian 20230317
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/18/the-tiny-philippine-island-on-the-frontline-of-the-us-china-battle-for-supremacy
What is ‘deep sensing’ and why is the US Army so focused on it?
Defense News 20230318
https://www.defensenews.com/intel-geoint/2023/03/17/what-is-deep-sensing-and-why-is-the-us-army-so-focused-on-it/
China launches second classified Gaofen-13 remote sensing satellite
Space News 20230317
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-second-classified-gaofen-13-remote-sensing-satellite/
Power
AUKUS: The pillars of Hercules
Lowy 20230317
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/aukus-pillars-hercules
Concern over Indo Pacific friction 'alarming', top U.S. admiral says
Reuters 20230316
https://www.reuters.com/world/concern-over-indo-pacific-friction-alarming-top-us-admiral-says-2023-03-16/
Foreign policy of an anxious adolescent superpower
East Asia Forum 20230317
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/03/17/foreign-policy-of-an-anxious-adolescent-superpower/
Exercises
Air Force F-22 Raptors make their first appearance at Clark Air Base, Philippines
S&S 20230317
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-03-17/f-22-raptors-clark-air-base-philippines-9520042.html