Pacific Winds 20230502

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Biden to Meet Marcos in Washington as Tensions Grow With China
NYTimes 20230501
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/us/politics/biden-marcos-philippines-china.html

Marcos: Philippines won’t be ‘staging point’ for military action in Indo-Pacific
Rappler 20230501
https://www.rappler.com/nation/ferdinand-marcos-jr-says-philippines-not-staging-point-military-action-indo-pacific/

Marcos Jr treads a fine line over military ties as he heads to US
Al Jazeera 20230501
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/1/marcos-jr-treads-a-fine-line-over-military-ties-as-he-heads-to-us

Marcos Jr in US with money, guns and China on his mind
Asia Times 20230501
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/marcos-jr-in-us-with-money-guns-and-china-on-his-mind/

Marcos in the White House: Manila back in Washington’s arms
Rappler 20230501
https://www.rappler.com/nation/agenda-top-issues-marcos-jr-official-visit-united-states-2023/

Manila should be cautious about smoke-and-mirrors US commitment
GT 20230501
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290012.shtml

Independence or becoming an appendage: the Philippines’ foreign policy at crossroads
GT 20230501
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1289999.shtml

Background Press Call on the Upcoming Visit of President Marcos of the Philippines
US White House 20230501
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/05/01/background-press-call-on-the-uhttps://www.csis.org/analysis/assessment-president-yoons-state-visit-white-housepcoming-visit-of-president-marcos-of-the-philippines/

The Washington Declaration Is a Software Upgrade for the U.S.-South Korea Alliance
Carnegie 20230501
https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/05/01/washington-declaration-is-software-upgrade-for-u.s.-south-korea-alliance-pub-89648

An Assessment of President Yoon’s State Visit to the White House
CSIS 20230501
https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessment-president-yoons-state-visit-white-house

Taking Stock Of The U.S.-South Korea Summit
Forbes 20230501
https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottasnyder/2023/05/01/taking-stock-of-the-us-south-korea-summit/?sh=214df5e57d05

U.S., Japan, South Korea to hold 3-way summit in Hiroshima
Kyodo 20230501
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/b06f5838572b-us-japan-s-korea-to-hold-3-way-summit-in-hiroshima.html

Australia’s narrow understanding of China is of its own making
EAF 20230501
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/05/01/australias-narrow-understanding-of-china-is-of-its-own-making/

Asian Development Bank calls on countries to fight protectionism as US-China ties sour
FT 20230501
https://www.ft.com/content/12474c13-1789-4534-8481-ad7035843fc7

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Palau to receive double what US originally promised in new Compact
Radio NZ 20230501
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/489038/palau-to-receive-double-what-us-originally-promised-in-new-compact

Governor: Guam to seek full reimbursement of costs for hosting FAS migrants
PDN 20230501
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-guam-to-seek-full-reimbursement-of-costs-for-hosting-fas-migrants/article_e814a6e4-e7f5-11ed-ad2c-33110a461678.html

How Australian fighter jets worth $90MILLION each are collecting dust in a shed in the middle of the Pacific... while nation launches biggest shake-up of its defence force in decades
Daily Mail (UK) 20230501
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12019117/Ex-RAAF-F-18-Hornets-left-rust-Guam-useless-defence-expert-Malcolm-Davis-says.html

Considerations moving forward
PIT (JRM) 20230501
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/considerations-moving-forward

Island Waves

JAPAN’S MARITIME SECURITY COOPERATION OFFER REBUFFED
Solomon Star 20230501
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/japans-maritime-security-cooperation-offer-rebuffed/

Rabuka explains Fiji's stance on China relationship
FBCN 20230502
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rabuka-explains-fijis-stance-on-chinas-relationship/

Why Australia would be smart to recruit soldiers in the Pacific – a Fijian who served in the British Army explains
The Conversation 20230501
https://theconversation.com/why-australia-would-be-smart-to-recruit-soldiers-in-the-pacific-a-fijian-who-served-in-the-british-army-explains-204748

Might the politics of the South China Sea weaken the high seas treaty?
ASPI 20230501
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/might-the-politics-of-the-south-china-sea-weaken-the-high-seas-treaty/

After West PH Sea near-collision, Marcos tells China: Form communications team
Rappler 20230501
https://www.rappler.com/nation/ferdinand-marcos-jr-tells-china-form-communications-team-after-near-collision/

Philippines, China to discuss fishing rights in South China Sea - Marcos
Reuters 20230501
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-china-discuss-fishing-rights-south-china-sea-marcos-2023-05-01/

Hawaii occupies unique place in US-South Korea alliance
S&S 20230501
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-01/hawaii-us-south-korea-alliance-9978918.html

Taiwan

Taiwan's Foreign Minister predicts China will launch cross-strait attack in 2027, sounds alarm on Beijing's coalition of 'rogue' states
Sky (AU) 20230501
https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/taiwans-foreign-minister-predicts-china-will-launch-crossstrait-attack-in-2027-sounds-alarm-on-beijings-coalition-of-rogue-states/news-story/922c92add278307f12461f456c48f180

Clearing America’s Mind on Taiwan
The China Wire 20230430
https://www.thewirechina.com/2023/04/30/clearing-americas-mind-on-taiwan/

Asahi poll: 56% want only SDF rear support to U.S. in event of Taiwan crisis
Asahi 20230501
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14898395

U.S. concern about Chinese threat is bipartisan: Bolton
CNA (TW) 20230501
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202305010008

Bold action needed to deter China’s invasion of Taiwan
WashTimes 20230501
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/may/1/bold-action-needed-to-deter-chinas-invasion-of-tai/

US Army special forces train to defend Taiwan during Chinese invasion
Taiwan News 20230501
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4879221

China, US saber-rattling 'important' to show commitment to Taiwan: experts
Fox 20230501
https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-us-saber-rattling-important-show-commitment-taiwan-experts

Is the Taiwan Strait open to international vessels under international law?
AMN 20230430
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/04/is-the-taiwan-strait-open-to-international-vessels-under-international-law/

Capabilities

N. Korea slams allies' deterrence plan as 'legal justification' for strategic asset dispatch
Yonhap 20230501
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230501000800325?section=news

Is America postured for a fight in the Indo-Pacific?
Defense News 20230501
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/05/01/is-america-postured-for-a-fight-in-the-indo-pacific/

Will the Pacific military buildup prevent — or provoke — a war?
WaPo 20230501
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/01/philippines-taiwan-american-military-china/

Refreshed US-Philippine relations revive fighter jet training paused 3 decades ago
S&S 20230501
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-01/philippines-fighter-jet-airpower-drills-9975093.html

How Enemy’s LRPF Affects USMC Contested Logistics
Naval Nes 20230501
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/04/how-enemys-lrpf-affects-usmc-contested-logistics/

XI JINPING’S WORST NIGHTMARE: A POTEMKIN PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY
WOTR 20230501
https://warontherocks.com/2023/05/xi-jinpings-worst-nightmare-a-potemkin-peoples-liberation-army/

China revises conscription law, eyeing Taiwan conflict
Nikkei 20230501
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/China-revises-conscription-law-eyeing-Taiwan-conflict

Airship Spotted Outside Giant Secretive Hangar In China
The Drive 20230501
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/airship-spotted-outside-giant-secretive-hangar-in-china

Never-before-seen Chinese military blimp caught on satellite images of remote desert base
CNN 20230501
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/01/politics/chinese-military-blimp-satellite-secret-desert-base/index.html

Beijing’s Hypocrisy Hits New High With Missile Defenses
Heritage 20230501
https://www.heritage.org/missile-defense/commentary/beijings-hypocrisy-hits-new-high-missile-defenses

Long-Range Navy Shipbuilding Plan Fails on Multiple Levels
Heritage 20230501
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/long-range-navy-shipbuilding-plan-fails-multiple-levels

WAR IN 2050: THE ARMY’S OPERATING CONCEPT AFTER NEXT
MWI 20230501
https://mwi.usma.edu/war-in-2050-the-armys-operating-concept-after-next/

Lawmakers raise concerns about new plan to procure national security launch services
Space News 20230501
https://spacenews.com/lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-new-plan-to-procure-national-security-launch-services/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 1, 2023
USNI 20230501
https://news.usni.org/2023/05/01/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-may-1-2023