Pacific Winds 20230321
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Kishida meets Modi in India, flags 'new plan' for Indo-Pacific
Nikkei 20230320
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Kishida-meets-Modi-in-India-flags-new-plan-for-Indo-Pacific
Kishida uses India trip to push ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ vision
Japan Times 20230320
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/20/national/kishida-india-indo-pacific-vision/
Japan plans $75 bln investment across Indo-Pacific to counter China
Reuters 20230320
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-announces-75-bln-new-plan-counter-china-indo-pacific-2023-03-20/
Kishida Looks to Convince India to Get Tough on Russia
Bloomberg 20230320
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/japan-s-kishida-looks-to-convince-india-to-get-tough-on-russia
Kishida's India visit raises concerns of bloc confrontation
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287628.shtml
Kishida's India trip carries ambitious geopolitical dream too big for his boots
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287617.shtml
Why China and Russia Are Closer Than Ever
NYTimes 20230320
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/world/asia/china-russia-ties.html
China's President Xi Jinping meets with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow
ABC (AU) 20230321
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-21/putin-xi-meet-in-moscow/102122336
Xi's visit expected to herald greater progress in China-Russia ties in new era
Xinhua 20230320
https://english.news.cn/20230320/e4adc67219c240eba7cb3380a3303017/c.html
President Xi's Russia visit demonstrates a right path of state-to-state interactions
GT 20230321
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287650.shtml
Xi’s visit warmly welcomed by Russia, ‘brings hope of peace for Ukraine crisis’
GT 2023032o
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287625.shtml
AUKUS and JAPHUS: Containing China?
Inquirer 20230321
https://opinion.inquirer.net/161840/aukus-and-japhus-containing-china
S. Korea expresses regret over 'distorted' reports on Yoon-Kishida summit
Yonhap 20230320
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230320007000315?section=news
Biz communities hail Yoon-Kishida summit as 'turning point' in bilateral ties
Yonhap 20230320
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230320006300320?section=news
Canada seeking to set up 4-way framework with Japan, South Korea, U.S.
Kyodo 20230320
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/cbb9745cb144-breaking-news-canada-seeking-to-set-up-4-way-framework-with-japan-s-korea-us.html
Democracy Sausage: AUKUS and the US alliance
ANU Reporter 20230320
https://reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/democracy-sausage-aukus-and-the-us-alliance-with-hugh-white
Anti-China movement in the US faces insurmountable problems in the longer run
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287616.shtml
Biden administration holds second round of IPEF talks in Bali
Reuters 20230319
https://www.reuters.com/business/biden-administration-holds-second-round-ipef-talks-bali-2023-03-19/
US seeks to push forward IPEF, but encounters growing resistance
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287626.shtml
Island Waves
Japan, US and Chinese delegations visit Solomon Islands within days of one another
ABC (AU) 20230320
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/solomon-islands-diplomatic-visit-japan-us-china/102118518
Japan Foreign Minister Visits Solomon Islands For 1st Time
Japan News 20230320
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230320-98572/
Japan Eyes Cooperation with Solomon Islands over Indo-Pacific
Japan News 20230320
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230320-98492/
Solomon Islands concerned with Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear treated water into the Pacific Ocean
PINA 20230320
https://pina.com.fj/2023/03/20/solomon-islands-concerned-with-japans-plan-to-discharge-nuclear-treated-water-into-the-pacific-ocean/
Pacific Leader Criticizes US and Allies’ New Strategic Language
Bloomberg 20230320
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/pacific-leader-criticizes-us-and-allies-new-strategic-language
AUKUS in the Pacific: Calm with undercurrents
Lowy 20230320
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/aukus-pacific-calm-undercurrents
Pacific Ministers call for fossil fuel free Pacific
Pasifika News 20230320
https://pasifika.news/2023/03/pacific-ministers-call-for-fossil-fuel-free-pacific/
As officials break ground for Basa airbase rehab, specific EDCA sites dangled again
PhilStar 20230320
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/03/20/2253105/officials-break-ground-basa-airbase-rehab-specific-edca-sites-dangled-again
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
Chinese ships, including one armed with a machine gun, repeatedly enter Japanese waters
S&S 20230320
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-03-20/china-coast-guard-senkakus-japan-9549173.html
Taiwan
Taiwan launches annual joint Air Force-Navy warfare drill
CNA (TW) 20230320
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202303200006
Former Taiwan president Ma open to meeting leaders on landmark China trip
Reuters 20230320
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/former-taiwan-president-ma-open-meeting-leaders-landmark-china-trip-2023-03-20/
Ma’s China trip ‘sends wrong signal’
CNA (TW) 20230321
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/03/21/2003796468
Mainland welcomes former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou’s scheduled visit
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287620.shtml
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230320
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4840761
Capabilities
The state of the U.S. Navy as China builds up its naval force and threatens Taiwan
CBS (60Minutes) 20230319
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-navy-readiness-as-china-builds-up-naval-force-threatens-taiwan-60-minutes-2023-03-19/
Kim Jong Un Oversees Test of Missile With Mock Nuclear Warhead
Bloomberg 20230320
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-20/kim-jong-un-oversees-test-of-missile-with-mock-nuclear-warhead?srnd=politics-vp
Silo-Launched Ballistic Missile Capability Likely Tested By North Korea
The Drive 20230320
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/silo-launched-ballistic-missile-capability-likely-tested-by-north-korea
North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Campaign
CSIS 20230320
https://www.csis.org/analysis/north-koreas-ballistic-missile-campaign
North Korea Signals More Provocations, Tensions
Heritage 20230320
https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/north-korea-signals-more-provocations-tensions
US, Japan exploring partnership on hypersonic missile interceptor
Defense News 20230320
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2023/03/20/us-japan-exploring-partnership-on-hypersonic-missile-interceptor/
New UK-Japan-Italy fighter takes shape, with electronics details emerging
Breaking Defense 20230320
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/new-uk-japan-italy-fighter-takes-shape-with-electronics-details-emerging/
Chinese Spy Balloon Prompts $90 Million in New Air Defense Spending
Air & Space 20230320
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/chinese-spy-balloon-new-air-defense-spending/
Space Force seeking $1.2B for ‘Long Range Kill Chains’ target tracking
Defense News 20230320
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2023/03/20/space-force-seeking-12b-for-long-range-kill-chains-target-tracking/
This Is What USAF’s Future E-7 Radar Jet Is Actually Capable Of
The Drive 20230320
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/this-is-what-usafs-future-e-7-radar-jets-are-actually-capable-of
Modern ‘shock and awe’ would be defined by aging jets, new tactics
Defense News 20230320
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2023/03/17/modern-shock-and-awe-would-be-defined-by-aging-jets-new-tactics/
Nuclear-powered submarines and Australia’s non-proliferation obligations
ASPI 20230320
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-powered-submarines-and-australias-non-proliferation-obligations/
Australia, China, AUKUS and the squandered advantage
Lowy 20230320
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-china-aukus-squandered-advantage
Why the US Navy’s budget plan creates uncertainty for shipbuilders
Defense News 20230320
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/03/20/how-the-us-navys-five-year-spending-plan-affects-shipyards-suppliers/
Power
A better Australian statecraft for development policy
DevPolicy 20230320
https://devpolicy.org/a-better-australian-statecraft-for-development-policy-20230320/
How Americans Learned to Stop Worrying and Forgot the Bomb
Common Dreams 20230320
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/dr-strangelove-nuclear-ukraine
Exercises
N. Korea says it conducted 2-day drills simulating tactical nuclear counterattack
Yonhap 20230320
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230320000500325?section=news
China, Cambodia hold first-ever joint maritime military exercises
Reuters 20230320
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-cambodia-hold-first-ever-joint-maritime-military-exercises-2023-03-20/
Chinese, Cambodian warships hold unprecedented drill prior to joint exercise
GT 20230319
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287548.shtml
Peacefully intended China-Cambodia joint exercise unlike US-led confrontational drills in Asia-Pacific
GT 20230320
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1287642.shtml
USS America amphibious assault ship docks in Manila ahead of shoulder-to-shoulder drills
S&S 20230320
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2023-03-20/uss-america-manila-philippines-port-call-9549529.html
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 20, 2023
UNSI 20230320
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/20/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-20-2023