Pacific Winds 20230504

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

May 03, 2023

Alliances

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

$59 Million, Gone: How Bikini Atoll Leaders Blew Through U.S. Trust Fund
NYTimes 20230503
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/world/asia/bikini-atoll-resettlement-fund.html

US Coast Guard backs CPA request for add’l funding
Saipan Tribune 20230504
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/us-coast-guard-backs-cpa-request-for-addl-funding/

Emory S. Land Makes Port Call in Saipan
USN PacFlt 20230503
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/3383691/emory-s-land-makes-port-call-in-saipan/

B-52 bombers return home after BTF deployment in the Pacific
USAF AAFB 20230502
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Features/Article/3382330/b-52-bombers-return-home-after-btf-deployment-in-the-pacific/

Maintainer camaraderie leads to strategic deterrence in the Indo Pacific
USAF AAFB 20230502
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Features/Article/3382345/maintainer-camaraderie-leads-to-strategic-deterrence-in-the-indo-pacific/

U.S. strengthens military presence on Guam, Tinian
IPDF 20230502
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2023/05/u-s-strengthens-military-presence-on-guam-tinian/

Public comments sought for Guam missile defense system
KUAM 20230503
https://www.kuam.com/story/48837400/public-comments-sought-for-guam-missile-defense-system

Island Waves

Brotherson names four ministers for proposed new govt
Radio NZ 20230503
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/489183/brotherson-names-four-ministers-for-proposed-new-govt

America is back to the South Pacific with only exploitation and the shadow of war
GT 20230503
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290061.shtml

PNG hopes to sign defence agreement during Biden visit
Islands Business 20230503
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/png-biden-visit-2/

US set to open Tonga embassy in May as Pacific push ramps up
Guardian 20230503
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/03/us-set-to-open-tonga-embassy-in-may-as-pacific-push-ramps-up

US' planned embassy in Tonga a latest move to 'counter China influence'
GT 20230503
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290081.shtml

China’s Police Deals in the Pacific Get Pushback From the U.S. and Its Allies
WSJ 20230503
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-police-deals-in-the-pacific-get-pushback-from-the-u-s-and-its-allies-bb1ddfb0

Chinese Military Base In Solomon Islands Would Leave Australia Defenseless, ‘War Gaming’ Exercise Reveals
Eurasian Times 20230503
https://eurasiantimes.com/chinese-military-base-in-solomon-islands-would-leave-australia/

US stands with Philippines against Chinese 'intimidation' in S. China Sea - official
Reuters 20230503
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-stands-with-philippines-against-chinese-intimidation-s-china-sea-official-2023-05-03/

Austin to Marcos: We have your back in South China Sea, elsewhere in region
GMA 20230504
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/868916/austin-to-marcos-we-have-your-back-in-south-china-sea-elsewhere/story/

The Risks of Playing a Maritime Game of Chicken
RSIS 20230502
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/the-risks-of-playing-a-maritime-game-of-chicken/#.ZFHiQuxBz0o

David vs. Goliath: Southeast Asia Can Resist China’s Gray Zone Aggression in the South China Sea . . . with Help
USNI Proceedings 2023 May
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/may/david-vs-goliath-southeast-asia-can-resist-chinas-gray-zone

Taiwan

Chinese invasion of Taiwan not as easy as it seems
Taiwan News 20230503
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4881274

US defense contractors want deeper cooperation with Taiwan
S&S (AP) 20230503
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-03/us-defense-contractors-cooperation-taiwan-9995852.html

A group of US defense contractors are demanding more Taiwan cooperation and calling on Biden to deliver a promised $19 billion
Fortune 20230503
https://fortune.com/2023/05/03/us-defense-contractors-former-marines-cooperation-taiwan/

Taiwan seeks US help for new jets
Taipei Times 20230504
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/05/04/2003799117

F-16V deliveries to Taiwan postponed until late 2024
Taiwan News 20230504
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4881415

US-Taiwan trade negotiations should be updated ‘soon’, White House official says
SCMP 20230504
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3219313/washington-taipei-trade-negotiations-should-be-updated-soon-us-official-says

West should view China's threat to Taiwan as 'threats against us all': Czech foreign minister
WashExam 20230502
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/china-taiwan-us-europe-threat

China sends 27 military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230503
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4880857

Capabilities

China’s Korla site laser-focused on US spy satellites
Asia Times 20230503
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/chinas-korla-site-laser-focused-on-us-spy-satellites/

How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now
Breaking Defense 20230503
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/how-space-force-nro-are-sharing-the-ground-tracking-mission-for-now/

Lockheed, Raytheon to develop ground systems for nuclear-hardened satellite communications
Space News 20230503
https://spacenews.com/lockheed-raytheon-to-develop-ground-systems-for-nuclear-hardened-satellite-communications/

Air Force to launch Link 16 tactical communications cubesat
Space News 20230503
https://spacenews.com/air-force-to-launch-link-16-tactical-communications-cubesat/

Sustaining the Chinese Navy’s Operations at Sea: Bigger Fists, Growing Legs
FPRI 20230503
https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/05/sustaining-the-chinese-navys-operations-at-sea-bigger-fists-growing-legs/

US Navy Is Hobbled by Failures as the Risk of Conflict With China Looms
Bloomberg 20230503
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-02/us-navy-hobbled-by-failures-as-china-conflict-risk-looms

Where’d the Money Go? Lawmakers Press Air Force on Planned Radar Plane
Defense One 20230502
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/05/whered-money-go-lawmaker-press-air-force-planned-radar-plane/385903/

Fleet Forces chief wants to make a smaller Navy more lethal
Defense News 20230503
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/05/03/fleet-forces-chief-wants-to-make-a-smaller-navy-more-lethal/

THE NEED TO INVEST IN LONG-RANGE FIRES
WOTR 20230503
https://warontherocks.com/2023/05/the-need-to-invest-in-long-range-fires/

Classified AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missiles To Arm Future Air Force Drones
The Drive 20230502
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/classified-aim-260-air-to-air-missiles-to-arm-future-air-force-drones

U.S. and Philippines to share real-time military intel on China
Nikkei 20230504
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-and-Philippines-to-share-real-time-military-intel-on-China

Remote launch kit tested for tactical weapon system
Redstone Rocket (MDA) 20230503
https://www.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_8d5491c0-e966-11ed-8fdc-f73388d26e27.html

Power

War in Asia would be far more damaging than Ukraine war, says Ng Eng Hen
Straits Times 20230503
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/war-in-asia-would-be-far-more-damaging-than-ukraine-war-says-ng-eng-hen

U.S.-China war would be ‘disastrous for us all,’ Singapore’s defense minister warns
Japan Times 20230503
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/03/asia-pacific/singapore-defense-minister-china/

On deterrence
ASPI 20230503
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/on-deterrence/

The Consequences of Underestimating China
The Nation 20230503
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/china-taiwan-geopolitics-eurasia/

Exercises

Guard Soldiers provide short-range air defense at Exercise Balikatan
USA 20230503
https://www.army.mil/article/266353/guard_provides_short_range_air_defense_at_exercise_balikatan

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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