Pacific Winds 20230415
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
S. Korea, Japan to hold first joint security talks of diplomats, defense officials in 5 yrs
Yonhap 20230414
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230414008600325?section=news
‘China hardliner’ is not a commendatory term
GT 20230415
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289184.shtml
Philippines stoking regional tension with US bases pact, China envoy says
Reuters 20230414
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-stoking-regional-tension-with-us-bases-pact-china-envoy-says-2023-04-14/
China envoy asks Manila to reject Taiwan’s independence claims, stop giving US access to bases
Straits Times 20230414
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/china-envoy-asks-manila-to-reject-taiwan-s-independence-claims-stop-giving-us-access-to-bases
Be wary of "shoulder to shoulder" turning into "picking sides"
China Military 20230414
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16217070.html
No China, no deal: Bid to break sovereign debt logjams gets weary thumbs up
Reuters 20230413
https://www.reuters.com/world/no-china-no-deal-bid-break-sovereign-debt-logjams-gets-weary-thumbs-up-2023-04-13/
US to Push Back Against China Economic Coercion at G-7 Meeting
Bloomberg 20230414
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-14/us-to-push-fight-against-china-economic-coercion-at-g-7-meeting
East Asian economies resist decoupling
East Asia Forum 20230414
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/14/east-asian-economies-resist-decoupling/
Island Waves
A strategy for engaging for small developing states
Lowy 20230414
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/strategy-engaging-small-developing-states
Fiji and China relationship tested as Prime Minister Siteveni Rabuka skips meeting with top Chinese diplomat
ABC (AU) 20230414
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-14/fiji-china-diplomatic-relationship-rabuka/102222728
Attempting to drive a wedge between China and Fiji, US practices ‘Band-Aids’ diplomacy
GT 20230413
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289107.shtml
Taiwan
How Serious Were China’s Latest Military Drills Near Taiwan?
The Diplomat 20230414
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/how-serious-were-chinas-latest-military-drills-near-taiwan/
Risk of Chinese Economic Blockade Has Taiwan Preparing Response
Bloomberg 20230413
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-13/risk-of-chinese-economic-blockade-has-taiwan-preparing-response
Cross-Strait Relations: Ma Ying-jeou’s Visit to China
The Diplomat 20230414
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/cross-strait-relations-ma-ying-jeous-visit-to-china/
What are Australia’s options in a Taiwan contingency?
ASPI 20230414
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/what-are-australias-options-in-a-taiwan-contingency/
Majority of Taiwanese support meeting between president, US speaker
Taiwan News 20230414
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4863756
Americans Warm to U.S. Defense of Taiwan if China Invades
Newsweek 20230414
https://www.newsweek.com/americans-warm-us-defense-taiwan-china-invades-1793738
8 Chinese naval vessels, 4 military aircraft detected around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230414
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4863623
Capabilities
N. Korea says it tested new 'Hwasong-18' solid-fuel ICBM on Thursday
Yonhap 20230414
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230414000400325
North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM, overseen by leader Kim
Kyodo 20230414
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/90c87ba5808d-urgent-n-korea-tested-new-solid-fuel-icbm-on-thurs-kcna.html
North Korea Has Tested Its First Solid Fuel ICBM
The Drive 20230413
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/first-solid-fuel-icbm-tested-by-kim-regime
N. Korea's Kim says new type of ICBM makes rapid progress in nuclear counterattack
Yonhap 20230414
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230414000500325
China successfully conducts land-based, mid-course antiballistic missile test
GT 20230414
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289173.shtml
China Tested New DF-27 Hypersonic ICBM That Can Penetrate Mainland US Defense Systems — Leaked Info
EurAsian Times 20230414
https://eurasiantimes.com/china-tested-new-df-27-hypersonic-icbm-that-can-penetrate/
Pentagon aims to ‘own the technical baseline’ for AI tech, R&D official says
Breaking Defense 20230414
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/exclusive-pentagon-aims-to-own-the-technical-baseline-for-ai-tech-rd-official-says/
New reports explain why security in space is fragile
Space News 20230414
https://spacenews.com/new-reports-explain-why-security-in-space-is-fragile/
As counterspace weapons ‘proliferate,’ the new cold war for space races forward: studies
Breaking Defense 20230414
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/as-counterspace-weapons-proliferate-countries-race-toward-non-destructive-capabilities-study/
Space Threat Assessment 2023
CSIS 20230414
https://www.csis.org/analysis/space-threat-assessment-2023
Navy’s Next Destroyer Is Vital as U.S.–China Tensions Escalate
Heritage 20230414
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/navys-next-destroyer-vital-us-china-tensions-escalate
How much of a threat does Russia’s Pacific fleet pose to the US?
Task & Purpose 20230414
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-pacific-fleet-challenge-united-states/
CRS Report to Congress on Navy Medium Landing Ship
USNI 20230414
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/14/report-to-congress-on-navy-medium-landing-ship
In Navy experiment, commercial satellites serve as key weapons against drug traffickers
Space News 20230414
https://spacenews.com/in-navy-experiment-commercial-satellites-serve-as-key-weapons-against-drug-traffickers/
China's national security authority reveals 'new methods' of criminal activities by overseas anti-China hostile forces
GT 20230414
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289154.shtml
Power
Why China relations need the guardrails on them
AFR 20230414
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/why-china-relations-need-the-guardrails-on-them-20230412-p5czyb
Exercises
Russia’s Pacific Fleet put on high alert for snap drills
AP 20230414
https://apnews.com/article/russia-navy-drills-pacific-fleet-islands-9f2fdb38b1611d5655cef99118ccf47f
Russia conducts surprise inspection of Pacific Fleet
Reuters 20230414
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-puts-pacific-fleet-high-alert-surprise-inspection-2023-04-14/
S. Korea, U.S. stage air drills, involving B-52H bomber, after N. Korea's ICBM launch
Yonhap 20230414
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230414007800325?section=news
US, Japan execute integrated bomber exercise
USAF PacAF 20230414
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3363312/us-japan-execute-integrated-bomber-exercise/
China, Vietnam carry out first joint patrol in Beibu Gulf in 2023
China Military 20230414
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16217077.html