Pacific Winds 20230406
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
What Nuclear Weapons Sharing Trends Mean for East Asia
The Diplomat 20230404
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/what-nuclear-weapons-sharing-trends-mean-for-east-asia/
A Maturing Pragmatism in Indonesia-Singapore Relations
The Diplomat 20230404
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/a-maturing-pragmatism-in-indonesia-singapore-relations/
With eye on China, Japan to offer military aid to like-minded countries
Japan Times 20230405
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/05/national/japan-official-security-assistance-aid-china/
Japan welcomes increased NATO involvement in Indo-Pacific region
Kyodo 20230405
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/08e96b366c21-japan-welcomes-increased-nato-involvement-in-indo-pacific-region.html
NATO major source of global instability
China Military 20230406
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16214676.html
PH, US set course for defense alliance
Manila Times 20230405
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/04/05/news/ph-us-set-course-for-defense-alliance/1885785
EDCA expansion: Implications for the US-Philippines-China triangle
ORF 20230405
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/edca-expansion/
US tries to lure the Philippines onto anti-China chariot, will Manila take the bait?
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288564.shtml
Philippine, US Reveal Sites of Four Additional EDCA Facilities
The Diplomat 20230404
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/philippine-us-reveal-sites-of-four-additional-edca-facilities/
Development of new EDCA sites to begin soon, more locations ‘possible' – Amb. Romualdez
CNN 20230404
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/4/4/jose-manuel-romualdez-more-edca-sites-possible.html
Aligned but independent
Inquirer (PH) 20230405
https://opinion.inquirer.net/162194/aligned-but-independent
U.S.-China Data War Intensifies as Bilateral Relations Nosedive
Jamestown 20230404
https://jamestown.org/program/u-s-china-data-war-intensifies-as-bilateral-relations-nosedive/
US-Japan Alliance to Do ‘Great Harm’ to China’s Chip Ambitions
Bloomberg 20230405
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-04/us-gets-new-levers-from-japan-to-curb-china-s-chip-ambitions
China lodges lawsuit at WTO against Japan over semiconductor export control measures
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288555.shtml
Australia should treat Chinese companies fairly: senior trade official
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288559.shtml
Macron's visit signals enhanced China-France economic cooperation instead of 'decoupling'
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288562.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Evolving Guam defense system against evolving threats
PIT 20230405
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/evolving-guam-defense-system-against-evolving-threats
B-52s Land on Guam for Latest Bomber Task Force Deployment
Air & Space 20230404
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-52s-guam-bomber-task-force-deployment/
Action in Oceania, view from the West
PIT 20230405
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/action-in-oceania-view-from-the-west
Island Waves
Fiji prime minister investigating China spy claims, says 'survival' is key issue for Pacific nations
ABC (AU) 20230406
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-06/fiji-rabuka-the-pacific-interview/102186064
USA disagrees with Vanuatu-led resolution, says diplomacy best approach
Daily Posy (VU) 20230405
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/usa-disagrees-with-vanuatu-led-resolution-says-diplomacy-best-approach/article_f6e5998d-f813-5d76-aea0-4fca262e293f.html
There’s time for review of Micronesia’s candidate: Palau President Whipps
PINA 20230405
https://pina.com.fj/2023/04/05/theres-time-for-review-of-micronesias-candidate-palau-president-whipps/
Official Intent to Open U.S. Embassy in Port Vila
Daily Post (VU) 20230405
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/official-intent-to-open-u-s-embassy-in-port-vila/article_75af52f2-7b06-5c78-a64e-b76cccb3dfa3.html
Chinese firm gets Cross Island Road Contract
Samoa Observer 20230405
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/102870
Taiwan
Taiwan President Tsai meets US House Speaker McCarthy in LA
Taiwan News 20230406
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4856244
McCarthy Meets With Tsai, Backing Taiwan Amid Rising Tensions With China
NYTimes 20230405
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/us/politics/mccarthy-tsai-taiwan-china.html
Why is China so angry about Taiwan president meeting US Speaker McCarthy?
Reuters 20230404
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/why-is-china-so-angry-about-taiwan-president-meeting-us-speaker-mccarthy-2023-04-04/
China sends special patrol into Taiwan Strait ahead of Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy
S&S 20230405
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-04-05/china-taiwan-strait-patrol-tsai-mccarthy-9709008.html
China sends carrier group off Taiwan coast ahead of US meeting
Reuters 20230405
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-sends-carrier-group-off-taiwan-coast-ahead-us-meeting-2023-04-05/
PLA Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong sails past Taiwan island, starts 1st far sea drill in West Pacific
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288580.shtml
Military closely watching Chinese drill
Taipei Times 20230406
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/04/06/2003797399
PLA vows to safeguard sovereignty ahead of Tsai-McCarthy meet
GT 20230405
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1288554.shtml
For McCarthy and Taiwan’s leader, visit marks historic first
AP 20230405
https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-president-tsai-mccarthy-china-4c733ac48cecdb3cc1ec1d3910027d3d
Tsai-McCarthy meeting will escalate US-China tensions
Responsible Statecraft 20230405
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/04/05/tsai-mccarthy-meeting-will-escalate-us-china-tensions/
How Will China Respond to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen’s Visit to the United States?
CFR 20230406
https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-will-china-respond-taiwans-president-tsai-ing-wens-visit-united-states
China’s Warnings Loom Over Speaker McCarthy’s Meeting With Taiwan’s Leader
WSJ 20230405
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-warnings-loom-over-speaker-mccarthys-meeting-with-taiwans-leader-ca4e8062
Taiwan president discusses 'regional situation' ahead of McCarthy meeting
Reuters 20230405
https://www.reuters.com/world/taiwan-president-discusses-regional-situation-ahead-mccarthy-meeting-2023-04-05/
Taiwan’s deepening political divide over the US and China
FT 20230404
https://www.ft.com/content/b625d080-5d48-4374-b1d7-9d668530eb3a
When might US political support be unwelcome in Taiwan?
Brookings 20230405
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/04/05/when-might-us-political-support-be-unwelcome-in-taiwan/
Unpacking Beijing’s Narrative on Taiwan
ISDP 2023 April
https://www.isdp.eu/publication/unpacking-beijings-narrative-on-taiwan/
Chubb’s Evan Greenberg urges US to ‘tone down’ Taiwan rhetoric
FT 20230405
https://www.ft.com/content/a31dae29-67a0-401b-8682-8174e29ea212
China's latest drills attempt to eliminate 'median line:' Expert
CNA (TW) 20230405
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202304050017
Capabilities
China’s Massive Fleet Of Radar Planes And The Strategy Behind It
The Drive 20230405
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/chinas-massive-fleet-of-radar-planes-and-the-strategy-behind-it
Navy Carrier-Based Drones Will Be Able To Be Controlled By The Air Force
The Drive 20230405
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-carrier-based-drones-will-be-able-to-be-controlled-by-the-air-force
NAVAIR Sees AI as Future of Air Wing
Seapower 20230405
https://seapowermagazine.org/navair-sees-ai-as-future-of-air-wing/
Navy, Marines race for better at-sea connectivity using clouds
Breaking Defense 20230405
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/not-awesome-navy-coast-guard-race-for-better-at-sea-connectivity-using-clouds/
How the Marines will use uncrewed tech, according to acquisitions boss
Defense News 202030405
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/04/05/how-the-marines-will-use-uncrewed-tech-according-to-acquisitions-boss/
Navy Blasts Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target With SM-2 Missiles In Impressive Video
The Drive 20230404
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navy-blasts-supersonic-sea-skimming-target-with-sm-2-missiles-in-impressive-video
US Navy Looks To Drastically Increase Missile Production
Naval News 20230405
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sea-air-space-2023/2023/04/navy-looks-to-drastically-increase-missile-production/
Balloon Espionage
Hudson 20230405
https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/balloon-espionage
China intensifies nuclear strike threat in South China Sea
Asia Times 20230405
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/china-intensifies-nuclear-strike-threat-in-south-china-sea/
Power
China’s war labyrinth
Asia Times 20230405
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/chinas-war-labyrinth/
China is its own worst enemy
Lowy 20230406
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-its-own-worst-enemy
America’s will in Taiwan is at stake in Ukraine
Asia Times 20230405
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/americas-will-in-taiwan-is-at-stake-in-ukraine/
Exercises
Big Balikatan: Annual US-Philippines exercise to be bigger than ever
Military Times 20230405
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2023/04/05/big-balikatan-annual-us-philippines-exercise-to-be-bigger-than-ever/
US, Japan, South Korea Conduct Joint Anti-submarine Exercise
The Diplomat 20230405
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/us-japan-south-korea-conduct-joint-anti-submarine-exercise/
S. Korea, U.S. hold air drills involving B-52H strategic bomber: defense ministry
Yonhap 20230405
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230405006751325?section=news
Events
A Conversation with USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer
CSIS 6 April 2023 2:30-3:30 PM EDT
https://www.csis.org/events/conversation-usaid-assistant-administrator-michael-schiffer