Pacific Winds 20230326
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Little room for maneuver as U.S.-China ties slide further
Reuters 20230325
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-china-diplomacy/little-room-for-maneuver-as-u-s-china-ties-slide-further-idUSL8N35V6QV
Joint exercises with Asia-Pacific partners have become common practice in competition between Washington and Beijing
SCMP 20230325
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3214154/china-us-draw-regional-forces-scale-mutual-deterrence
New Zealand raises concerns with China on South China Sea, Taiwan
Reuters 20230325
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-raises-concerns-with-china-south-china-sea-taiwan-2023-03-25/
Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Chinese counterpart
NZ MoFA 20230325
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-foreign-affairs-meets-chinese-counterpart
China, Philippines Open Bilateral ‘Consultative’ Talks in Manila
The Diplomat 20230324
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/china-philippines-open-bilateral-consultative-talks-in-manila/
Upgraded Philippines-US Military Cooperation May Cause a Setback in China-Philippines Relations
The Diplomat 20230324
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/upgraded-philippines-us-military-cooperation-may-cause-a-setback-in-china-philippines-relations/
Are our leaders and media bowing to America?
Manila Times 20230326
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/03/26/opinion/columns/are-our-leaders-and-media-bowing-to-america/1884373
Kishida nixed China envoy farewell meeting amid strained ties
Kyodo 20230325
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/dad9d006bbe9-kishida-nixed-china-envoy-farewell-meeting-amid-strained-ties.html
China urges US to stop treating Chinese firms as security threats
Straits Times 20230325
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-calls-on-us-to-stop-unfounded-allegations-against-chinese-firms
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
An Anxious Asia Arms for a War It Hopes to Prevent
NYTimes 20230325
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/world/asia/asia-china-military-war.html
Tinian, Guam, Cope North 23 as the foil for this piece.
Island Waves
US Peace Corps volunteers return to Tonga
Matangi Tonga 202030325
https://matangitonga.to/2023/03/24/us-peace-corps-volunteers-return-tonga
Taiwan Tensions Fuel Anxiety on Japan’s Tiny Yonaguni Island
VoA 20230324
https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-tensions-fuel-anxiety-on-japan-s-tiny-yonaguni-island-/7019581.html
Taiwan
China thinks it’s diplomatically isolating Taiwan. It isn’t
CNN 20230324
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/24/asia/taiwan-diplomatic-allies-support-analysis-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
Strategic competition casts doubt on One China policy
East Asia Forum 20230324
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/03/24/strategic-competition-casts-doubt-on-one-china-policy/
Japan, Taiwan military cooperation ‘essential’: VP Lai
Taipei Times 20230326
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/03/26/2003796752
Juggled plan for McCarthy-Tsai meeting does Taiwan no favors
Nikkei 20230325
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Juggled-plan-for-McCarthy-Tsai-meeting-does-Taiwan-no-favors
Capabilities
Japan eyes upgrading Aegis ships to take Tomahawk missiles by FY 2027
Kyodo 20230325
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/5576a551e674-japan-eyes-upgrading-aegis-ships-with-tomahawk-missiles-by-fy-2027.html
US Air Force wants money to speed E-7 purchases in FY24 wish list
Defense News 20230324
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/03/24/us-air-force-wants-money-to-speed-e-7-purchases-in-fy24-wish-list/
China's rocket launches more than quadruple over decade: survey
Kyodo 20230325
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/6a2ec396d6a6-chinas-rocket-launches-more-than-quadruple-over-decade-survey.html
China’s J-20 Fighters ‘Fail’ To Break Through Air Defense Bubble; Gets Caught In The Web In Late-Night Simulation Drills
EurAsian Times 20230324
https://eurasiantimes.com/chinas-j-20-fails-to-break-through-air-defense-bubble/
Exercises
Eyeing China, US and EU conclude first-ever joint naval exercise touting ‘high seas freedom of navigation’
SCMP 20230325
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3214815/eyeing-china-us-and-eu-conclude-first-ever-joint-naval-exercise-touting-high-seas-freedom-navigation