Pacific Winds 20230428
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Yoon says S. Korea will play role as 'compass for freedom' with U.S.
Yonhap 20230428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230428000251315?section=news
America’s Ironclad Alliance With South Korea Is a Touch Rusty
FP 20230427
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/04/27/biden-yoon-summit-north-south-korea-nuclear-assurances/
South Korea ponders the high cost of being America’s friend
FT 20230427
https://www.ft.com/content/d5a05da6-860e-44d9-a42a-99f57ad190e2
China warns US, South Korea against 'provoking confrontation' with North Korea
CNA (SG) 20230427
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-warns-us-south-korea-provoking-north-3448476
US-S.Korea agreements add new danger; ‘extended deterrence’ could trigger ‘another nuclear crisis’ in peninsula
GT 20230427
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289926.shtml
Yoon’s visit to the US verifies an evaluation
GT 20230428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289938.shtml
From Nuclear Power Sharing to Order Building: Transforming the US-South Korean Alliance
Hudson 20230426
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/nuclear-power-sharing-order-building-transforming-us-south-korean-alliance
Trilateral Talks Planned to Boost Deterrence Against North Korea
Japan News 20230427
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230427-106136/
Time for a US-Japan-Taiwan security pact
Asia Times 20230427
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/time-for-a-us-japan-taiwan-security-pact/
Marcos has turned the Philippines towards America – not without risks
Lowy 20230428
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/marcos-has-turned-philippines-towards-america-not-without-risks
Southeast Asia schools Australia on its search for strategic equilibrium
EAF 20230427
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/27/southeast-asia-schools-australia-on-its-search-for-strategic-equilibrium/
Why China’s coercion of Australia failed
ASPI 20230427
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-chinas-coercion-of-australia-failed/
Countering Chinese economic coercion: enhanced cooperation between Australia and Europe
Lowy 20230427
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/countering-chinese-economic-coercion-enhanced-cooperation-between-australia-europe
Economic diplomacy: Friends, rivals and diplomatic gaslighting
Lowy 20230427
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/economic-diplomacy-friends-rivals-diplomatic-gaslighting
Access to China ‘Essential’ as it Develops Chips: ASML CEO
Asia Financial 20230427
https://www.asiafinancial.com/access-to-china-essential-as-it-develops-chips-asml-ceo
ASML, Europe’s Most Valuable Tech Firm, Is at the Heart of the US-China Chip War
Bloomberg 20230426
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-26/asml-europe-s-most-valuable-tech-firm-to-define-us-china-chip-war
For all its protestations, the US is set on decoupling from China – an act that will cause global economic harm
SCMP 20230428
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3218349/all-its-protestations-us-set-decoupling-china-act-will-cause-global-economic-harm
Island Waves
Bringing the Blue Pacific and Indo-Pacific narratives together
Lowy 20230427
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/bringing-blue-pacific-indo-pacific-narratives-together
US President Joe Biden to visit Papua New Guinea on his way to Australia
ABC (AU) 20230427
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-27/us-president-joe-biden-visit-papua-new-guinea-australia/102270686
Senior Chinese diplomat meets politicians from Pacific Islands
Xinhua 20230428
http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2023-04/28/content_85259337.htm
University eyes ties with China
The National (PNG) 20230427
https://www.thenational.com.pg/university-eyes-ties-with-china/
Fiji’s geopolitical tilt
EAF 20230427
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/27/fijis-geopolitical-tilt/
Fiji snub signals Pacific shift away from China
Asia Times 20230427
https://asiatimes.com/2023/04/fiji-snub-signals-pacific-shift-away-from-china/
Inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit to take place in May
Korea Times 20230427
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/04/120_349858.html
U.S. Scoping Mission
Daily Post (VU) 20230427
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/u-s-scoping-mission/article_530e5338-05cd-512f-b528-91d3a458fdff.html
More China aid likely: Qian Bo
Islands Business 20230427
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/china-aid-2/
PRC INTERVENES
Solomon Star 20230427
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/prc-intervenes/
Australian Defence assists HMAF
Matangi Tonga 20230427
https://matangitonga.to/2023/04/27/australian-defence-assists-hmaf
Australia criticised for using aid for Pacific Games support
ABC (AU) 20230427
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/australia-criticised-for-using-aid-for-pacific-games-support-/102270960
Politicians from Pacific Islands hail China's role
China Daily 20230427
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/27/WS6449d89ca310b6054fad0167.html
Tense face-off: Philippines confronts China over sea claims
AP 20230427
https://apnews.com/article/philippines-dispute-south-china-sea-patrol-27ee9778f7302938c5090644e3d153c2
US strengthening military deployment in South China Sea intensifies regional tension: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20230427
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16220632.html
Taiwan
China-focused panel preps proposals to rapidly arm Taiwan
Defense News 20230427
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/04/27/china-focused-panel-preps-proposals-to-rapidly-arm-taiwan/
China demands immediate cease of US arms sales to Taiwan: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20230427
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16220571.html
Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum to feature 25 US companies: source
Taipei Times 20230428
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/04/28/2003798758
Is Beijing ‘Internationalizing’ Cross-Strait Trade?
The Diplomat 20230426
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/is-beijing-internationalizing-cross-strait-trade/
Founder of Taiwan's Foxconn says China won't attack if he's president
Reuters 20230427
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/founder-taiwans-foxconn-says-china-wont-attack-if-hes-president-2023-04-27/
China sends 12 military aircraft, 4 naval vessels around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230427
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4875678
Capabilities
Possible Refueling at Yongbyon’s 5 MWe Reactor
38 North 20230426
https://www.38north.org/2023/04/possible-refueling-at-yongbyons-5-mwe-reactor/
N. Korea says space program 'indispensable' for national development
Yonhap 20230427
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230427007900325
US and South Korea to share nuclear planning amid North Korea's threat
ABC (AU) 20230428
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-27/south-korea-us-make-nuclear-planning-deal/102275406
Yoon says U.S. to regularly deploy strategic assets to Korean Peninsula
Yonhap 20230427
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230427001200315?input=tw
Calls for South Korean nuclear arsenal unlikely to fade despite US deal
Reuters 20230427
https://www.reuters.com/world/calls-south-korean-nuclear-arsenal-unlikely-fade-despite-us-deal-analysts-say-2023-04-27/
Will US reassurance be enough to halt South Korea’s nuclear ambition?
Lowy 20230427
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/will-us-reassurance-be-enough-halt-south-korea-s-nuclear-ambition
U.S. pledges stronger nuclear deterrence, but is South Korea buying it?
Japan Times 20230427
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/27/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/biden-yoon-washington-declaration-analysis/
Is the US' pledge to share nuclear planning insights with South Korea enough to deter North Korean threat?
CNA (SG) 20230427
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/united-states-pledge-nuclear-planning-insights-south-korea-deter-north-korea-biden-yoon-meeting-3448471
S. Korea, US nuclear agreement big ‘first step,’ but might not curb long-term nuclear aspirations
Breaking Defense 20230427
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/s-korea-us-nuclear-agreement-big-first-step-but-might-not-curb-long-term-nuclear-aspirations/
S. Korea completes project to improve command system against ballistic missiles
Yonhap 20230427
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230427006400325
Shandong Carrier Group returns to port: What does its deployment mean?
Taiwan News 20230427
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4874696
Air Force Plan For An Indo-Pac Tanker Will Transform The Aerial Refueling Fleet
Forbes 20230427
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2023/04/27/air-force-plan-for-an-indo-pac-tanker-will-transform-the-aerial-refueling-fleet/?sh=620d72fd4808
Boeing’s tanker losses top $7 billion
Defense News 20230427
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/04/27/boeings-tanker-losses-top-7-billion/
Days from Retirement, Hinote Warns That Air Force Modernization ‘Could Come Off the Rails’
Air & Space 20230426
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/retirement-hinote-air-force-modernization/
DoD approves next step for GPI to defend against hypersonic missiles
Breaking Defense 20230427
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/dod-approves-next-step-for-gpi-to-defend-against-hypersonic-missiles/
Australia aims to start making guided missiles within two years
Reuters 20230426
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-aims-start-making-guided-missiles-within-two-years-2023-04-26/
China's Secretive Quest for Heavier Artillery
Defense One 20230427
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/04/chinas-secretive-quest-heavier-artillery/385709/
Kill Chain Tested At First-Ever Balikatan SINKEX
Naval News 20230427
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/kill-chain-tested-at-first-ever-balikatan-sinkex/
Power
GEOPOLITICAL RISKS LURK AS SOUTH KOREA RAMPS UP ARMS EXPORTS
USSC 20230427
https://www.ussc.edu.au/analysis/geopolitical-risks-lurk-as-south-korea-ramps-up-arms-exports
Bad Blood: The TTX for the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
CNAS 20230427
https://www.cnas.org/publications/congressional-testimony/bad-blood-ttx
Exercises
‘We mean business’: US, Filipino forces practice air assaults on small islands south of Taiwan
S&S 20230427
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-04-27/balikatan-philippines-air-assault-taiwan-china-9934054.html
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Conducts Sensing Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations during Balikatan 2023
US IndoPaCom 20230427
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3377172/13th-marine-expeditionary-unit-conducts-sensing-expeditionary-advanced-base-ope/
Events
US-Taiwan relations: Will China’s challenge lead to a crisis?
Brookings 1 May 2023 2-3 PM
https://www.brookings.edu/events/u-s-taiwan-relations-will-chinas-challenge-lead-to-a-crisis/