Pacific Winds 20230402
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
France Joins AUKUS Submarine Program
Naval News 20230401
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/france-joins-aukus-submarine-program/
U.S. calls for joint G-7 action against China's economic bullying
Nikkei 20230402
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/U.S.-calls-for-joint-G-7-action-against-China-s-economic-bullying
Singapore and China taking 'next step forward' after elevating bilateral ties: PM Lee
CNA 20230401
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-china-ties-upgraded-relations-pm-lee-hsien-loong-li-qiang-3390376
Divided world needs new ground rules so that global trade can continue apace: PM Lee
Straits Times 20230402
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/divided-world-needs-new-ground-rules-so-that-global-trade-can-continue-apace-pm-lee
Pacific trade deal is more useful to Joe Biden than it is to the UK’s economy
Guardian 20230401
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/01/pacific-trade-deal-is-more-useful-to-joe-biden-than-it-is-to-the-uks-economy
Taiwan could join CPTPP before China due to semiconductor sector, reliability
Taiwan News 20230401
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4853276
Why is Britain joining a trans-Pacific trade pact?
Indian Express 20230401
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/britain-joining-trans-pacific-trade-pact-8532399/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Multibillion-Dollar Guam Defense Poses New Missile Defense Challenges
Aviation Week 20230330
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/multibillion-dollar-guam-defense-poses-new-missile-defense
Island Waves
U.S. to open Vanuatu embassy in latest move to counter China in Pacific
Reuters 20230331
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-plans-open-embassy-south-pacific-island-nation-vanuatu-2023-03-31/
NZ Foreign Minister launches Pangpang Reforestation Project
Daily Post (VU) 20230401
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/nz-foreign-minister-launches-pangpang-reforestation-project/article_683f39c7-b373-5969-94c5-0444b8d5596b.html
Taiwan
The Clock Has Run out on Ma Ying-jeou’s Cross-Strait Approach
The Diplomat 20230331
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/the-clock-has-run-out-on-ma-ying-jeous-cross-strait-approach/
Taiwan’s Tsai Meets With Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries
Bloomberg 20230331
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-31/taiwan-s-tsai-meets-with-top-house-democrat-hakeem-jeffries
Taiwan says 10 Chinese aircraft crossed Taiwan Strait median line
Reuters 20230401
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-says-10-chinese-aircraft-crossed-taiwan-strait-median-line-2023-04-01/
Capabilities
US Should Consider Expanding Nuclear Arsenal to Cope with China and Russia, Study Says
Air & Space 20230331
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-consider-expanding-nuclear-arsenal-china-russia/
China Develops New ‘Starlink Killer’ Anti-Satellite Microwave Weapon That Can Cut Taiwan From US During War
EurAsian Times 20230401
https://eurasiantimes.com/china-develops-new-starlink-killer-anti-satellite-microwave-weapon/
Japan Unleashes ‘Laser Weapons’ To Counter Hostile UAVs; China Flashes Naval Variant Of WZ-7 Drone
EurAsian Times 20230401
https://eurasiantimes.com/japan-unleashes-laser-weapons-to-counter-hostile-uavs-china-flashes-naval-variant-of-wz-7-drone/
Stinger Missile-Toting Drone Boats Could Protect Navy Logistics Ships
The Drive 20230331
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/stinger-missile-toting-drone-boats-could-protect-navy-logistics-ships
Army Materiel Command boss says logistics are key to future warfare
Defense News 20230331
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2023/03/31/army-materiel-command-boss-says-logistics-are-key-to-future-warfare/
US hypersonic failure reveals a glaring weakness
Asia Times 20230401
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/us-hypersonic-failure-reveals-a-glaring-weakness/
Romualdez: AFP modernization to boost national peace, stability
PNA 20230331
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198614
China plots 33 spots for regular research ship visits, in Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Pacific and Indian oceans
SCMP 20230401
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3214483/china-plots-33-spots-regular-research-ship-visits-taiwan-strait-south-china-sea-pacific-and-indian
Power
China Draws Lessons From Russia’s Losses in Ukraine, and Its Gains
NYTimes 20230401
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/01/world/asia/china-russia-ukraine-war.html
Asia’s Nuclear Future
The Diplomat 20230401
https://thediplomat.com/2023/03/asias-nuclear-future/
By more than two-to-one, Americans support U.S. government banning TikTok
Pew 20230331
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/03/31/by-a-more-than-two-to-one-margin-americans-support-us-government-banning-tiktok/