Pacific Winds 20230419

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

China Must Show Intention to Keep Engaging With US, Blinken Says
Bloomberg 20230418
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-18/china-must-show-intention-to-keep-engaging-with-us-blinken-says

G-7 unified in backing Taiwan peace, urges China to act responsibly
Kyodo 20230418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/3ccc09468600-g-7-top-diplomats-to-back-taiwan-peace-as-3-day-talks-end-in-japan.html

China strongly opposes joint communiqué of G7 foreign ministers meeting
GT 20230418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289362.shtml

G7 Japan 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Communiqué
US DoS 20230418
https://www.state.gov/g7-japan-2023-foreign-ministers-communique/

DOD Officials Detail Progress With Indo-Pacific Allies, Friends
US DoD 20230418
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3365566/dod-officials-detail-progress-with-indo-pacific-allies-friends/

U.S. admiral: Risk of war with China is growing
WashTimes 20230418
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/apr/18/us-admiral-risk-war-china-growing/

Is the US Going Too Far in Its Alliance With the Philippines?
The Diplomat 20230417
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/is-the-us-going-too-far-in-its-alliance-with-the-philippines/

Scolding Isn’t a Foreign Policy
Hudson 20230417
https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/scolding-isnt-foreign-policy

Wong’s way through a contested Indo-Pacific region
AFR 20230418
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/wong-s-way-through-a-contested-indo-pacific-region-20230417-p5d0xu

Pacific Responses to AUKUS a Mix of Unease and Understanding
The Diplomat 20230418
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/pacific-responses-to-aukus-a-mix-of-unease-and-understanding/

Approach with caution: why NZ should be wary of buying into the AUKUS security pact
The Conversation 20230418
https://theconversation.com/approach-with-caution-why-nz-should-be-wary-of-buying-into-the-aukus-security-pact-203915

G7 Ministers Support IAEA Review of Fukushima’s Treated Water Release
Japan News 20230418
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230418-104185/

Japan’s Fukushima water release plan falls short of full G7 support
Islands Business 20230418
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/japans-fukushima-water-release-plan-falls-short-of-full-g7-support/

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to boost communications amid ‘complex and serious’ changes
SCMP 20230418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3217450/chinese-president-xi-jinping-urges-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-boost-communications-amid-complex

US poisons ties with 'nonsense charges'; its China policy increasingly self-contradictory
GT 20230418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289384.shtml

China’s Economic Outlook, Blinken in Vietnam, and the PRC’s Defense Posture
Hudson 20230418
https://www.hudson.org/global-economy/china-insider-19-chinas-economic-outlook-blinken-vietnam-prcs-defense-posture

Australia, China agriculture ministers meet amid diplomatic thaw
Reuters 20230418
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-china-agriculture-ministers-meet-amid-diplomatic-thaw-2023-04-18/

Fentanyl, Russia trade spark new Sino-US friction
Asia Times 20230418
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/fentanyl-russia-trade-spark-new-sino-us-friction/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Chinese aircraft carrier and 4 warships threaten Guam as strike force sails near US territory in drill encircling Taiwan
U.S. Sun 20230418
https://www.the-sun.com/news/7903078/chinese-aircraft-carrier-warships-threaten-guam-drill-encircling-taiwan/

ROC (Taiwan) Fleet of Friendship makes its 16th visit to Palau
Island Times 20230418
https://islandtimes.org/roc-taiwan-fleet-of-friendship-makes-its-16th-visit-to-palau/

Palau stands with Taiwan on freedom to choose partners
Taiwan News 20230418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4867305

Dover AFB supports US Navy MQ-4C Triton mission in Guam
Seapower 20230417
https://seapowermagazine.org/dover-afb-supports-us-navy-mq-4c-triton-mission-in-guam/

Island Waves

PM’s ultimatum for evidence, apology over UK newspaper article lapses today
Daily Post (VU) 20230418
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/pm-s-ultimatum-for-evidence-apology-over-uk-newspaper-article-lapses-today/article_1ac1cf99-f73b-5ead-9054-4145dabcec4e.html

Boosting Solomons ties 'crucial' for Pacific prosperity
AAP 20230418
https://www.corowafreepress.com.au/national/boosting-solomons-ties-crucial-for-pacific-prosperity/

Pacific blitz continues with New Caledonia, Tuvalu trip
PINA 20230418
https://pina.com.fj/2023/04/18/pacific-blitz-continues-with-new-caledonia-tuvalu-trip/

Yoon to host inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit in May
Yonhap 20230418
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230418006200315?section=news

Oscar Temaru's Tavini Huiraatira party wins round one of French Polynesia's territorial elections
Radio NZ 20230418
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/488142/oscar-temaru-s-tavini-huiraatira-party-wins-round-one-of-french-polynesia-s-territorial-elections

Coast Guard cutter changes command in Honolulu en route to South China Sea
S&S 20230418
https://www.stripes.com/branches/coast_guard/2023-04-18/coast-guard-cutter-stratton-command-change-honolulu-south-china-sea-9841731.html

Taiwan

Taiwan to Buy 400 US Anti-Ship Missiles Intended to Repel a China Invasion
Bloomberg 20230417
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-17/taiwan-to-buy-400-us-anti-ship-missiles-intended-to-repel-a-china-invasion

Reported US anti-ship missile sales to island of Taiwan slammed as ‘playing with fire’
GT 20230418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289355.shtml

Blinken says G7 'united' on Taiwan issue
NHK 20230418
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2408/

Taiwan’s Presidential Trips Show its Marginalisation in Debates About its Future
AIIA 20230418
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/taiwans-presidential-trips-show-its-marginalisation-in-debates-about-its-future/

Fear of China Is Pitting Taiwan’s People Against Each Other
NYTimes 20230418
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/opinion/taiwan-china-war-us.html

Taiwanese Public Opinion on the Chinese and US Military Presence in the Taiwan Strait
Cambridge University Press 20230417
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/china-quarterly/article/taiwanese-public-opinion-on-the-chinese-and-us-military-presence-in-the-taiwan-strait/B247FA56913E3D10D6512F931815FE8F

US commander pushes back against colleagues ‘guessing’ Taiwan invasion date
FT 20230418
https://www.ft.com/content/753bec2b-9c55-49a8-9d34-7c286af505f3

There is 'no situation' where Taiwan can defend itself against China the way Ukraine has fought against Russia, says APAC security expert
BI 20230417
https://www.businessinsider.com/taiwan-cant-defend-against-china-without-direct-american-help-2023-4

Taiwan-China military conflict is not inescapable
Taiwan News 20230418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4867306

China sends 12 military aircraft, 4 ships around Taiwan, issues navigation warning in Yellow Sea
Taiwan News 20230418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4866732

Capabilities

Leaders Detail U.S. Advantage in Indo-Pacific
US DoD 20230418
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3366693/leaders-detail-us-advantage-in-indo-pacific/

Nuclear-powered submarines are vital to Australia’s defence
ASPI 20230418
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-powered-submarines-are-vital-to-australias-defence/

How Japan could quickly build up its submarine force
ASPI 20230418
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-japan-could-quickly-build-up-its-submarine-force/

Navy unveils shipbuilding plan: Virginias to replace subs sold to Aussies, but impacts of AUKUS unknown
Breaking Defense 20230418
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/navy-unveils-shipbuilding-plan-virginias-to-replace-subs-sold-to-aussies-but-impacts-of-aukus-unknown/

Navy long-range plan shows minimal growth in many warship programs
Defense News 20230418
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/04/18/navy-long-range-plan-shows-minimal-growth-in-many-warship-programs/

Hypersonic Capabilities and Allies
RCD 20230418
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/04/18/hypersonic_capabilities_and_allies_894334.html

Seven Critical Technologies for Winning the Next War
CSIS 20230418
https://www.csis.org/analysis/seven-critical-technologies-winning-next-war

Japan's new military assistance mechanism reveals ulterior motives
China Military 20230418
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16218034.html

U.S. deterring conflict in Indo-Pacific amid N. Korean missile provocations: U.S. commanders
Yonhap 20230418
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230419000200325

As UN Security Council Dithers, North Korea Progresses on WMD
VoA 20230417
https://www.voanews.com/a/as-un-security-council-dithers-north-korea-progresses-on-wmd/7054582.html

SPACECOM sets key requirements for space, including ‘combat power’
Breaking Defense 20230418
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/spacecom-sets-key-requirements-for-space-including-combat-power/

U.S. SPACECOM tries to satisfy global military demand for satellite services
Space News 20230418
https://spacenews.com/u-s-spacecom-tries-to-satisfy-global-military-demand-for-satellite-services/

‘Substantial, full-spectrum’ classified capability should be online by 2026, Space Force chief says
Breaking Defense 20230418
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/substantial-full-spectrum-classified-capability-should-be-online-by-2026-space-force-chief-says/

Space Force sees increase in foreign military sales requests
Defense News 20230418
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/04/18/space-force-sees-increase-in-foreign-military-sales-requests/

INTEGRATING DETERRENCE INTO DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
USSC 20230418
https://www.ussc.edu.au/analysis/integrating-deterrence-into-defence-science-and-technology-cooperation

Coast Guard:Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Foreign Port Security Assessment Program
GAO-23-105385 20230418
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105385

Power

How to Survive a Great-Power Competition
FP May-June 2023
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/beijing-survive-great-power-competition

Exercises

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Back in South China Sea, Chinese Carrier Still on Pacific Patrol
USNI 20230417
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/17/nimitz-carrier-strike-group-back-in-south-china-sea-chinese-carrier-still-on-pacific-patrol

China's aircraft carrier Shandong holds intensive drills comparable with Liaoning in West Pacific
GT 20230418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289366.shtml

Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023
JMSDF 20230418
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202304/20230418_en.pdf

US, Australia to hold largest-ever Talisman Sabre military drills this summer
S&S 20230418
https://www.stripes.com/newsletters/weekly-update/2023-04-18/talisman-sabre-military-exercise-australia-9837547.html