Pacific Winds 20230422
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Biden to meet Philippine President at White House on May 1
Reuters 20230421
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/biden-meet-philippine-president-white-house-may-1-2023-04-21/
Biden to meet Philippines’ Marcos at White House as China tensions grow
SCMP 20230421
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3217818/biden-meet-philippines-marcos-white-house-china-tensions-grow
US to focus on national security, not trade, in relations with China
S&S (WaPo) 20230420
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2023-04-20/yellen-speech-us-national-security-china-9865878.html
Singapore-China ties based on independent foreign policy, not ‘skewed view’ of cultural interests: official
SCMP 20230421
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3217728/singapore-china-ties-based-independent-foreign-policy-not-skewed-view-cultural-interests-official
Chinese FM vows greater resolve to safeguard the international order, China’s sovereignty and security at Lanting Forum
GT 20230421
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289556.shtml
Is a US-Vietnam Strategic Partnership Likely to Happen Soon?
The Diplomat 20230421
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/is-a-us-vietnam-strategic-partnership-likely-to-happen-soon/
Trade Envoy Tai: US Not Seeking to 'Decouple' From China
VoA 20230420
https://www.voanews.com/a/trade-envoy-tai-us-not-seeking-to-decouple-from-china-/7059510.html
Risk of US-China decoupling ‘still high’ despite olive branch from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
SCMP 20230421
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3217929/risk-us-china-decoupling-still-high-despite-olive-branch-treasury-secretary-janet-yellen
Taiwan Quietly Urges US to Calm Rhetoric on China Chip Risk
Bloomberg 20230420
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/taiwan-quietly-urges-us-to-calm-rhetoric-on-china-chip-dangers
Yellen’s remarks on China-US economic relations show US ‘saying one thing but doing another’: experts
GT 20230421
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289569.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S. to strike economic deal with Pacific islands to counter China
Nikkei 20230421
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-to-strike-economic-deal-with-Pacific-islands-to-counter-China
Spies or economic refugees? Forum points to US mixed signals on Guam border protection
PDN 20230421
https://www.guampdn.com/news/spies-or-economic-refugees-forum-points-to-us-mixed-signals-on-guam-border-protection/article_386b5fdc-e000-11ed-90cf-eb260be8c7a6.html
CNMI delegate seeks COFA answers from interior secretary
KUAM 20230421
https://www.kuam.com/story/48761008/cnmi-delegate-seeks-cofa-answers-from-interior-secretary
Island Waves
Pacific islands are potential missile launch pads
Australian FA April 2023
https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/articles/extract/2023/04/wake-up-call
‘This Could Be the Same’: China’s Growing Footprint in the Pacific Likened to Pre–Pearl Harbor Japan
National Review 20230421
https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/04/this-could-be-the-same-chinas-growing-footprint-in-the-pacific-likened-to-pre-pearl-harbor-japan/
British foreign minister’s belated visit to the Pacific a welcome counter to Chinese influence
Guardian 20230421
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2023/apr/21/british-foreign-ministers-belated-visit-to-the-pacific-a-welcome-counter-to-chinese-influence
NZ commits $30m to Samoa
Samoa Observer 20230421
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/103130
NZ$30 million partnership to boost Pacific climate action
Matangi Tonga 20230421
https://matangitonga.to/2023/04/21/nz30-million-partnership-boost-pacific-climate-action
Taiwan
China's foreign minister: Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to China
Reuters 20230420
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-foreign-minister-both-sides-taiwan-strait-belong-china-2023-04-21/
Taiwan foreign minister warns of conflict with China in 2027
Guardian 20230421
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/21/taiwan-foreign-minister-warns-of-conflict-with-china-in-2027
Bipartisan bill would ‘arm Taiwan to the teeth’ with US cyber tech
Defense News 20230421
https://www.defensenews.com/cyber/2023/04/21/bipartisan-bill-would-arm-taiwan-to-the-teeth-with-us-cyber-tech/
US army commander highlights Japan's preparations for Taiwan Strait conflict
Taiwan News 20230421
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4870538
U.S. echoes Yoon's remarks on need to preserve peace in Taiwan Strait
Yonhap 20230422
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230422000200325?section=news
Capabilities
N. Korea says its status as nuclear weapons state 'final, irreversible'
Yonhap 20230421
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230421000300325
North Korea looks to spy satellites to bolster surveillance capabilities
Japan Times 20230421
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/21/asia-pacific/north-korea-spy-satellite-constellation/
Allies’ military maneuvers provoke a North Korean response, USFK commander tells lawmakers
S&S 20230421
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-04-21/north-korea-missiles-lacamera-senate-9873053.html
Biden Admin Could Do More to Reassure Seoul Against North Korean Threat, Expert Says
USNI 20230421
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/21/biden-admin-could-do-more-to-reassure-seoul-against-north-korean-threat-expert-says
Philippines now on board with US anti-China security strategy? Not so fast.
Responsible Statecraft 20230421
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/04/21/philippines-now-on-board-with-us-anti-china-security-strategy-not-so-fast/
SUSTAINING DISTRIBUTED FORCES IN A CONFLICT WITH CHINA
WOTR 20230421
https://warontherocks.com/2023/04/sustaining-distributed-forces-in-a-conflict-with-china/
Japan to develop drones to boost maritime security against China
SCMP 20230421
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3217920/japan-develop-drones-boost-maritime-security-against-china
Australia prepares more assertive military stance to deter conflict
Reuters 20230421
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-prepares-more-assertive-military-stance-deter-conflict-2023-04-21/
Army projects drastically cut as Australia fast-tracks massive build-up of land-based missiles in Defence shake-up
ABC (AU) 20230421
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-21/army-projects-drastically-cut-in-defence-shakeup/102254536
All current Type 055 large destroyers enter active PLA Navy service with commissioning of 8th hull Xianyang
GT 20230421
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289571.shtml
China building cyber weapons to hijack enemy satellites, says US leak
FT 20230421
https://www.ft.com/content/881c941a-c46f-4a40-b8d8-9e5c8a6775ba
Leaked US Intel Suggests First Chinese WZ-8 Drone Unit Established
Naval News 20230421
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/leaked-us-intel-suggests-first-chinese-wz-8-drone-unit-established/
China’s new supersonic drone may target Taiwan, Japan and US in Pacific
Asia Times 20230421
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/chinas-new-supersonic-drone-may-target-taiwan-japan-and-us-in-pacific/
Japan to Review Guidelines of Defense Export Framework
Japan News 20230422
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230422-104891/
Power
Crises, competition and Congress: Biden’s 2024 aid budget
DevPolicy 20230421
https://devpolicy.org/bidens-2024-aid-budget-20230421/
Exercises
China Plans to Conduct Intensive Military Drills Amid US Tensions
Bloomberg 20230420
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/china-to-conduct-intensive-military-drills-amid-us-tensions
Aircraft carrier group conducts series of successful exercises
China Military 20230421
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16218933.html
Pentagon 2022 Freedom of Navigation Report
US DoD 20230421
Release: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3370607/dod-releases-fiscal-year-2022-freedom-of-navigation-report/
Report: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23785830/fon-program-report_fy2022.pdf