Pacific Winds 20230404
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Philippines Announce 4 New Locations to Host U.S. Troops
USNI 20230403
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/03/philippines-announce-4-new-locations-to-host-u-s-troops
New Military Sites Named in the Philippines
US DoD 20230403
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3350297/new-military-sites-named-in-the-philippines/
Japan Plans Military Aid for 4 Countries Under New Framework
Japan News 20230403
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230403-101311/
Japan Hopes Foreign Minister’s China Visit Will Lead to Reciprocal Visits by Leaders
Japan News 20230404
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230404-101398/
China-Japan ties: Beijing rolls out high-level talks for Tokyo foreign minister but little progress, say analysts
SCMP 20230403
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3215803/chinese-premier-li-qiang-urges-japan-rid-relationship-threats-after-tokyo-vowed-tech-restrictions
China’s longest US ambassador vacancy provides latest sign of bleak relations
SCMP 20230403
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3215886/chinas-longest-us-ambassador-vacancy-provides-latest-sign-bleak-relations
Tsai’s activities in US will make it ‘more difficult’ for Biden to engage China
GT 20230403
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288494.shtml
Regional allies on the spot as U.S.-China tensions over Taiwan ramp up
WashTimes 20230403
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/apr/3/regional-allies-spot-us-china-tensions-over-taiwan/
US friendshoring benefits Malaysia, but not something to ‘shout about’
SCMP 20230403
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3215653/western-friendshoring-benefits-malaysia-amid-us-china-rivalry-could-hurt-global-economy-trade
AUKUS ‘opportunity’? New Zealand must consider the impact on its strategic autonomy
SCMP 20230404
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3215612/aukus-opportunity-new-zealand-must-consider-impact-its-strategic-autonomy
RCEP, Maritime Cooperation And Achieving Peace In The South China Sea
Eurasian Review 20230403
https://www.eurasiareview.com/03042023-rcep-maritime-cooperation-and-achieving-peace-in-the-south-china-sea-analysis/
The U.S. Escalates Chips War With China
ORF 20230403
https://www.orfonline.org/research/the-u-s-escalates-chips-war-with-china/
Micron probe by China seen as chips-war retaliation
Asia Times 20230404
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/china-retaliates-us-chip-ban-by-probing-into-micron/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam, where America’s next war may begin
Economist 20230402
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/04/02/guam-where-americas-next-war-may-begin
B-52s Deploy to Andersen for Bomber Task Force Deployment
USAF PacAF 20230403
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3348620/b-52s-deploy-to-andersen-for-bomber-task-force-deployment/
OCW 670 chair: No to NMI as military ‘pleasure ground’
Marianas Variety 20230402
https://www.mvariety.com/news/ocw-670-chair-no-to-nmi-as-military-pleasure-ground/article_425a8176-cefd-11ed-a112-6b13c37e5bfc.html
Island Waves
Ambiguous embrace
Inside Story 20230403
https://insidestory.org.au/ambiguous-embrace/
Solomon Islands and China security pact ‘non-issue’
PINA 20230403
https://pina.com.fj/2023/04/03/solomon-islands-and-china-security-pact-non-issue/
JICA donates 1000 Sorobans for education
Matangi Tonga 20230403
https://matangitonga.to/2023/04/03/jica-donates-1000-sorobans-education
US cranking pressure on China in South China Sea
Asia Times 20230403
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/us-cranking-pressure-on-china-in-south-china-sea/
Malaysia open to talks with Beijing over dispute in South China Sea - PM
Reuters 20230403
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-open-talks-with-beijing-over-dispute-south-china-sea-pm-2023-04-03/
Taiwan
U.S. House speaker to host Taiwan's Tsai on Wednesday in California
Nikkei 20230404
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/U.S.-House-speaker-to-host-Taiwan-s-Tsai-on-Wednesday-in-California
US Foreign Affairs Committee chair will lead delegation to Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230403
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4854252
U.S. military aid policies leave Taiwan in a bind, business council chief says
Japan Times 20230403
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/03/asia-pacific/u-s-taiwan-business-council-interview/
Ma Ying-jeou expresses high expectations for cross-Straits exchanges while meeting with mainland officials in Chongqing
GT 20230403
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288512.shtml
CCP changing up tactics: report
Taipei Times 20230404
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/04/04/2003797295
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230403
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4854144
Capabilities
The PLA Is Contemplating the Meaning of Force Design
USNI Proceedings 2023 April
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/april/pla-contemplating-meaning-force-design
ADAPTING THE ARMY TO STRATEGIC COMPETITION
MWI 20230403
https://mwi.usma.edu/adapting-the-army-to-strategic-competition/
Chinese spy balloon gathered intelligence from sensitive U.S. military sites, despite U.S. efforts to block it
NBC 20230403
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/chinese-spy-balloon-gathered-intelligence-from-sensitive-u-s-military-sites-despite-u-s-efforts/article_eb91b83e-d238-11ed-8908-33d4f03269d1.html
US officials decline to confirm reports that Chinese balloon was able to send data back to Beijing
SCMP 20230404
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3215890/chinese-balloon-was-able-send-intel-us-military-sites-beijing-report-says
Space Force asks industry input for second phase of MEO missile warning/tracking
Breaking Defense 20230403
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/space-force-asks-industry-input-for-second-phase-of-meo-missile-warning-tracking/
Lockheed wins Australia’s biggest ever space contract, worth estimated $4B AUD
Breaking Defense 20230403
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/lockheed-wins-australias-biggest-ever-space-contract-worth-estimated-4b-aud/
Australia must accelerate development of defence technology to deter war
ASPI 20230403
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-must-accelerate-development-of-defence-technology-to-deter-war/
Can Gas-Hauling Cargo Planes Fuel the Air Force in the Pacific?
Air & Space 20230403
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-cargo-fuel/
Maritime Administration moving with ‘all best speed’ on sealift recap, no room for ‘lapses’
Breaking Defense 20230403
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/maritime-administration-moving-with-all-best-speed-on-sealift-recap-no-room-for-lapses/
Navy tests secret Project Overmatch tech with Carl Vinson strike group
Defense News 20230403
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2023/04/03/navy-tests-secret-project-overmatch-tech-with-carl-vinson-strike-group/
Exercises
US, South Korea Start Joint Sea Drills as North Korea Makes Nuclear Threat
Bloomberg 20230403
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-03/us-south-korea-start-joint-sea-drills-as-north-korea-makes-nuclear-threat
Why North Korea responds the way it does to US-ROK exercises
Breaking Defense 20230402
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/why-north-korea-responds-the-way-it-does-to-us-rok-exercises/
PLA Navy stages live-fire drill as Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen transits in the United States
SCMP 20230403
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3215876/pla-navy-stages-live-fire-drill-taiwans-tsai-ing-wen-transits-united-states
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 3, 2023
USNI 20230403
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/03/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-3-2023