Pacific Winds 20230328
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
As China lashes out at US democracy summit, analysts warn of more division
SCMP 20230327
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3215020/china-lashes-out-us-democracy-summit-analysts-warn-more-division
Why is Biden doing another pointless Summit for Democracy?
Responsible Statecraft 20230327
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/03/27/why-is-biden-doing-another-pointless-summit-for-democracy/
Japan, South Korea mull 1st security talks in 5 years in April
Kyodo 20230327
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/6d78f606781a-urgent-japan-s-korea-mull-1st-security-talks-in-5-years-in-april-source.html
Japan and South Korea’s rapprochement still begs questions
East Asia Forum 20230327
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/03/27/japan-and-south-koreas-rapprochement-still-begs-questions/
China, Singapore to strengthen economic ties
GT 20230327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1288045.shtml
New Zealand security chiefs increasingly concerned about foreign interference
Reuters 20230326
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nz-security-chiefs-increasingly-concerned-about-foreign-interference-2023-03-26/
Chinese experts remain cautious about China-US ties amid complex signals
GT 20230327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1288049.shtml
Senior US official’s China trip seen as ‘beneficial’ but no icebreaker
SCMP 20230327
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3215033/senior-us-officials-china-trip-seen-beneficial-no-ice-breaker
U.S. Congress to invite South Korea's Yoon for address with eye on China
Nikkei 20230328
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/U.S.-Congress-to-invite-South-Korea-s-Yoon-for-address-with-eye-on-China
The AUKUS Submarine Deal Highlights a Tectonic Shift in the U.S.-Australia Alliance
Carnegie 20230327
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/03/27/aukus-submarine-deal-highlights-tectonic-shift-in-u.s.-australia-alliance-pub-89383
In seeking to curb China, AUKUS may well have launched a new cold war – and an arms race
SCMP 20230328
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3214795/seeking-curb-china-aukus-may-well-have-launched-new-cold-war-and-arms-race
THE QUAD’S PUBLIC GOODS APPROACH: COUNTERING THE BRI
9DashLine 20230323
https://www.9dashline.com/article/the-quads-public-goods-approach-countering-the-bri
China says detained Japan firm employee suspected of espionage
Reuters 20230327
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-detained-japan-firm-employee-suspected-espionage-2023-03-27/
Japan demands release of national detained in China: top spokesman
Kyodo 20230327
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/43bc3ac94d9d-japan-demands-release-of-national-detained-in-china-top-spokesman.html
China urged to build stronger supply chain role like Apple to counter US decoupling
SCMP 20230327
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3214904/china-urged-build-stronger-supply-chain-role-apple-counter-us-decoupling
US corporates and China hug awkwardly in Beijing
Reuters 20230327
https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/us-corporates-china-hug-awkwardly-beijing-2023-03-27/
AUKUS and GCAP set new Indo-Pacific security template
Nikkei 20230328
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/AUKUS-and-GCAP-set-new-Indo-Pacific-security-template
Belittling China-Australia economic complementarity shows the West’s anxiety
GT 20230327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1288058.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Taiwan and the United States Share Key Interests in the North Pacific
USIP 20230327
https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/03/taiwan-and-united-states-share-key-interests-north-pacific
Island Waves
Vanuatu calls on major polluters to back UN resolution clearing path for legal ruling on climate change
ABC (AU) 20230327
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/vanuatu-pushes-for-icj-resolution-on-climate-change/102151660
The big idea floated by a tiny nation that could be a winner all round
SMH 20230328
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-big-idea-floated-by-a-tiny-nation-that-could-be-a-winner-all-round-20230326-p5cveo.html
ENGAGEMENT COMPLETED
Solomon Star 20230327
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/engagement-completed/
Solomon Islands advances Maritime Security Strategy with support from New Zealand
Solomon Star 20230327
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/solomon-islands-advances-maritime-security-strategy-with-support-from-new-zealand/
Vietnam sends ship to track Chinese vessel patrolling Russian gas field in EEZ
Reuters 20230327
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-sends-ship-track-chinese-vessel-patrolling-russian-gas-field-eez-data-2023-03-27/
China vows to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace and cooperation
GT 20230327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1288068.shtml
Taiwan
Former Taiwan president heads to China pledging peace
Reuters 20230327
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/former-taiwan-president-heads-china-pledging-peace-2023-03-27/
Putting President Tsai Ing-wen’s U.S. Transit in Context
CSIS 20230327
https://chinapower.csis.org/taiwan-president-tsai-ing-wen-transit-united-states/
US military personnel reportedly spotted observing Taiwan Army drill
Taiwan News 20230327
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4847971
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese military ships around country
Taiwan News 20230327
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4847532
Capabilities
N. Korea fires 2 SRBMs toward East Sea; U.S. aircraft carrier due in S. Korea for joint training
Yonhap 20230327
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230320001154325?section=news
North Korea's flurry of launches continues as U.S. carrier trains with South
Japan Times 20230327
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/27/asia-pacific/north-korea-missiles-launch-march-27/
SASC seapower chair Kaine: ‘All systems go’ to support Marines’ 31 amphibs
Breaking Defense 20230327
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/sasc-seapower-chair-kaine-all-systems-go-to-support-marines-31-amphibs/
Space Command encourages Congress to uphold Indo-Pacific Command’s $3.5B wish list
Breaking Defense 20230327
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/space-command-encourages-congress-to-uphold-indo-pacific-commands-3-5b-wish-list/
Coast Guard wants $1.6 billion extra to hasten modernization projects
Navy Times 20230327
https://www.navytimes.com/naval/2023/03/27/coast-guard-wants-16-billion-extra-to-hasten-modernization-projects/
US Indo-Pacific Command seeks extra $274 million for cyber
Defense News 20230327
https://www.defensenews.com/cyber/2023/03/27/us-indo-pacific-command-seeks-extra-274-million-for-cyber/
Japan’s new security policies: A long road to full implementation
Brookings 20230327
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/03/27/japans-new-security-policies-a-long-road-to-full-implementation/
Supply chain issues impede mass production of new Chinese engine
Defense News 20230327
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/03/27/supply-chain-issues-impede-mass-production-of-new-chinese-engine/
‘When China Attacks’ – and the US goes down to defeat
Asia Times 20230327
https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/when-china-attacks-and-the-us-goes-down-to-defeat/
Navy Medicine Sets Up New Expeditionary Command in Camp LeJeune
USNI 20230327
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/27/navy-medicine-sets-up-new-expeditionary-command-in-camp-lejeune
Why it’s time for the US Army to divest Iron Dome
Breaking Defense 20230327
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/why-its-time-for-the-us-army-to-divest-iron-dome/
Army taps teams to build new Precision Strike Missile for targets beyond 1,000 km
Breaking Defense 20230327
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/army-taps-teams-to-build-new-precision-strike-missile-for-targets-beyond-1000-km/
Arming Vietnam: Widened International-security Relations in Support of Military-capability Development
IISS 20230320
https://www.iiss.org/blogs/research-paper/2023/03/arming-vietnam
Power
It’s not too late to stop a new cold war
Responsible Statecraft 20230327
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/03/27/its-not-too-late-to-stop-a-new-cold-war/
Department of Defense Support to the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability
US DoD 20230327
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3341540/department-of-defense-support-to-the-us-strategy-to-prevent-conflict-and-promot/
Can the U.S. See the Truth About China?
NYTimes 20230327
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/27/magazine/keyu-jin-interview.html
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 27, 2023
USNI 20230327
https://news.usni.org/2023/03/27/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-27-2023
Elite Army Rangers Train in Hawaii as Pacific Interest Grows
Military.com 20230327
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/03/27/elite-army-rangers-train-hawaii-pacific-interest-grows.html
Events
Strategic Japan 2023: Japan's Realism Diplomacy
CSIS 29 May 20223 10-1130 AM EDT
https://www.csis.org/events/strategic-japan-2023-japans-realism-diplomacy