Pacific Winds 20230429

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Philippines’ President Marcos Bound for Washington Next Week
The Diplomat 20230428
https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/philippines-president-marcos-bound-for-washington-next-week/

Marcos and Biden to discuss ‘evolution’ of U.S.-Philippine defense pacts
Japan Times 20230428
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/28/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/us-philippines-summit-preview-china/

US seeks to ‘de-risk’ its relationship with China, national security adviser says
SCMP 20230428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3218656/us-seeks-de-risk-its-relationship-china-national-security-adviser-says

Australia’s Defence Strategic Review: Forging Partnerships and Self Reliance
AIIA 20230428
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/australias-defence-strategic-review-forging-partnerships-and-self-reliance/

Japan Diet OKs defense cooperation pacts with Australia, Britain
Kyodo 20230428
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/2ace780e96ff-japan-diet-oks-defense-cooperation-pacts-with-australia-britain.html

South Korean-American pie: Unpacking the US-South Korea summit
Brookings 20230428
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/04/28/south-korean-american-pie-unpacking-the-us-south-korea-summit/

What the Biden-Yoon summit left out
Responsible Statecraft 20230428
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/04/28/what-the-biden-yoon-summit-left-out/

New Chinese envoy to Japan says bilateral ties at "critical juncture"
Kyodo 20230428
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/48054d4bc3e6-new-chinese-envoy-to-japan-says-bilateral-ties-at-critical-juncture.html

China lodges serious representations with S.Korea over joint statement with U.S.
Reuters 20230428
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-lodges-serious-representations-with-skorea-over-joint-statement-with-us-2023-04-28/

Japan to relist South Korea as preferred trade country amid thaw in ties
Japan Times 20230428
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/28/national/south-korea-whitelist-return/

Japan begins process to put S. Korea back on export 'white list'
Yonhap 20230428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230428010200320?section=news

Chinese trade groups oppose Japan’s chip export curb plan, vow countermeasures
GT 20230429
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289966.shtml

Germany’s possible restriction on semiconductor chemicals exports to Beijing would undermine the positive direction of China-EU ties: experts
GT 20230428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289952.shtml

Washington’s ‘de-risking’ of China ties might be just ‘decoupling’ in disguise
GT 20230428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289958.shtml

Tomayto or tomahto? You say decoupling, but I say de-risking
SCMP 20230428
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3218783/tomayto-or-tomahto-you-say-decoupling-i-say-de-risking

US House votes to repeal Biden tariff waiver on solar panels from 4 Southeast Asian nations
SCMP 20230428
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3218822/us-house-votes-repeal-biden-tariff-waiver-solar-panels-4-southeast-asian-nations

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Taiwan deputy foreign minister heads to Marshall Islands
Taiwan News 20230428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4877223

Navy announces next JRM commander
KUAM 20230428
https://www.kuam.com/story/48807054/navy-announces-next-jrm-commander

Island Waves

President of US may visit PNG
The National (PNG) 20230428
https://www.thenational.com.pg/president-of-us-may-visit-png/

Restarting search and rescue cooperation in the South China Sea
EAF 20230428
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/04/28/restarting-search-and-rescue-cooperation-in-the-south-china-sea/

Philippines reports "confrontation" with Chinese vessels in South China Sea
Reuters 20230428
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-reports-confrontation-with-chinese-vessels-south-china-sea-2023-04-28/

China expresses strong protest over Philippine vessels’ intrusion, says Chinese coast guard’s response ‘professional’, ‘restrained’
GT 20230428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289950.shtml

Taiwan

China says Taiwan inviting 'wolves' with US defence industry forum
Reuters 20230427
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-taiwan-inviting-wolves-with-us-defence-industry-forum-2023-04-27/

Defense spokesperson warns Taiwan's DPP against 'inviting wolf into house'
Xinhua 20230428
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2023-04/28/content_85259512.htm

The Challenges of Deterrence in the Taiwan Strait
AEI 20230428
https://www.aei.org/research-products/testimony/the-challenges-of-deterrence-in-the-taiwan-strait/

Taiwan's submarine prototype to be launched in September
Taiwan News 20230428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4876942

Chinese TB-001 combat drone flies around Taiwan, says island’s military
Guardian 20230428
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/28/chinese-tb-001-combat-drone-flies-around-taiwan-says-islands-military

Chinese TB-001 Scorpion Drone ‘Encircled’ Taiwan
The Drive 20230428
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/chinese-tb-001-scorpion-drone-encircled-taiwan

Analyzing the Chinese drone flight that circled Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4877330

U.S. Navy P-8 Flies Over Taiwan Strait, Causing China to Scramble
USNI 20230428
https://news.usni.org/2023/04/28/u-s-navy-p-8-flies-over-taiwan-strait-causing-china-to-scramble

PLA Eastern Theater Command tracks, monitors US warplane’s flight over Taiwan Straits
GT 20230428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289945.shtml

China flies 38 warplanes near Taiwan, 6 navy vessels in area
S&S (AP) 20230428
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-04-27/china-warplanes-taiwan-navy-vessels-9945173.html

Capabilities

Washington Declaration will help deter N. Korean threat but not a 'nuclear sharing' agreement: U.S. official
Yonhap 20230428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230428003200325?section=news

Presidential office urges against 'obsessing' over use of term 'nuclear sharing'
Yonhap 20230429
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230429000200315?section=news

Yoon warns of 'overwhelming' response to N. Korea's nuclear weapons use
Yonhap 20230428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230428000551315

Planned U.S. nuclear submarine visit does not breach 1991 denuclearization declaration: ministry
Yonhap 20230428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230428005700325

U.S. considers landing bombers in South Korea: Air Force general
Nikkei 20230428
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-considers-landing-bombers-in-South-Korea-Air-Force-general

South Korea to Develop Hypersonic Missile Defense System
Defense Post 20230428
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/04/28/south-korea-hypersonic-missile-defense/

How three space agencies are collaborating on next-gen missile warning
Defense News 20230428
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/04/28/how-three-space-agencies-are-collaborating-on-next-gen-missile-warning/

U.S. Navy announces swap of Japan-based aircraft carriers in 2024
Nikkei 20230428
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-Navy-announces-swap-of-Japan-based-aircraft-carriers-in-2024

Exercises

Japan wary of China, Russia military presence in updated ocean policy
Kyodo 20230428
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/c9ef2f01d30f-japan-wary-of-china-russia-military-presence-in-updated-ocean-policy.html

Indo-Pacific Deployment of JMSDF endangers regional security
China Military 20230428
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16220908.html