Pacific Winds 20230506
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
N. Korea intensifies criticism of S. Korea-U.S. deterrence plan
Yonhap 20230505
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230505000600325
Experts: China Finds Threat in Latest Move By US-South Korea Alliance
VoA 20230504
https://www.voanews.com/a/experts-china-finds-threat-in-latest-move-by-us-south-korea-alliance-/7079459.html
A Conversation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines
CSIS 20230505
https://www.csis.org/analysis/conversation-president-ferdinand-marcos-jr-philippines
Marcos wraps up US trip with a deeper alliance – and reassurances for China
Straits Times 20230506
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/marcos-wraps-up-us-trip-with-deepened-alliance-and-reassurances-for-china
Manila urged not to tow US military moves
China Daily 20230505
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/05/WS64545a6da310b6054fad12ac.html
Philippines warned of being dragged into Taiwan Straits situation by domineering US
GT 20230506
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290194.shtml
'Lethality at a distance': The West's bolstered defence alliance sends an unmistakable message to our enemies
Sky (AU) 20230506
https://www.skynews.com.au/insights-and-analysis/lethality-at-a-distance-the-wests-bolstered-defence-alliance-sends-an-unmistakable-message-to-our-enemies/news-story/cc4f0dcd4b4655569adc96d6babbcf60
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang urges neighbours to keep their distance from US
SCMP 20230505
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3219587/chinese-foreign-minister-qin-gang-urges-neighbours-keep-their-distance-us
China stresses strategic autonomy, security cooperation at SCO meeting
GT 20230505
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290192.shtml
US climate envoy Kerry says China has invited him for talks
Reuters 20230504
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-climate-envoy-kerry-says-china-has-invited-him-talks-2023-05-03/
Kishida seeks to 'add momentum' to Seoul ties as regular diplomacy resumes
Japan Times 20230505
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/05/national/kishida-south-korea-shuttle-diplomacy/
Successful U.S.–South Korean Summit Strengthened the Alliance
Heritage 20230505
https://www.heritage.org/asia/report/successful-us-south-korean-summit-strengthened-the-alliance
South Korea pushes back against Chinese economic coercion
EAF 20230505
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/05/05/south-korea-pushes-back-against-chinese-economic-coercion/
US puts China’s ‘economic coercion’ on table for Apec trade meeting alongside pandemic and war disruptions
SCMP 20230505
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3219447/us-puts-chinas-economic-coercion-table-apec-trade-meeting-alongside-pandemic-and-war-disruptions
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Plans say Guam’s new missile-defense system will be spread across island
S&S 20230505
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-05/guam-360-degree-missile-defense-10018746.html
Military to study impact of new missile system
PDN 20230505
https://www.guampdn.com/news/military-to-study-impact-of-new-missile-system/article_349f2fb8-eae2-11ed-bb4c-e7d871b19009.html
Taiwan gives $150K to Palau K9 program
Island Times 20230505
https://islandtimes.org/taiwan-gives-150k-to-palau-k9-program/
Island Waves
Will Labor rebuild Australia’s aid program, and how?
Lowy 20230505
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/budget-time-will-labor-rebuild-australia-s-aid-program-how
PNG Trade office in China eyed
Islands Business 20230505
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/png-trade-in-china/
US embassy to implement new strategy in helping PNG
The National (PNG) 20230505
https://www.thenational.com.pg/us-embassy-to-implement-new-strategy-in-helping-png/
US Aust Air Force in Low Flying Exercise over PNG
Post Cuouier (PNG) 20230505
https://postcourier.com.pg/us-aust-air-force-in-low-flying-exercise-over-png/
China Reaffirms Healthy Relations With Fiji, Visits AG Turaga
Fiji Sun 20230505
https://fijisun.com.fj/2023/05/05/china-reaffirms-healthy-relations-with-fiji-visits-ag-turaga/
South Korea Can Play a More Active Role in the South China Sea
The Diplomat 20230504
https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/south-korea-can-play-a-more-active-role-in-the-south-china-sea/
Vietnam seeks safer maritime security partnerships
EAF 20230505
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/05/05/vietnam-seeks-safer-maritime-security-partnerships/
Taiwan
US Sets $500 Million for Taiwan Arms on Ukraine-Style Fast Track
Bloomberg 20230505
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-05/us-sets-500-million-for-taiwan-arms-on-ukraine-style-fast-track
Taiwan to receive early delivery of 18 extra HIMARS systems in 2026
Taiwan News 20230505
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4883328
Top US lawmaker raises concerns over KMT presidential election victory
Taiwan News 20230505
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4883322
LDP Lawmakers Meet with Tsai during Taiwan Visit
Yomiuri 20230505
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230505-107857/
Nationalism versus liberalism: A South Korean view of Taiwan issues
Brookings 20230505
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2023/05/05/nationalism-versus-liberalism-a-south-korean-view-of-taiwan-issues/
U.S. is turning Taiwan into "powder keg": FM spokesperson
Cihia Military 20230505
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16222103.html
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230505
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4883046
Capabilities
US Can’t Use Philippines Bases for China Offensive, Marcos Says
Bloomberg 20230504
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-04/us-can-t-use-philippines-bases-for-china-offensive-marcos-says
Marcos says Philippines bases could be 'useful' if Taiwan attacked
Reuters 20230505
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/marcos-says-philippines-bases-could-be-useful-if-taiwan-attacked-2023-05-05/
Why nuclear arms debate in South Korea cannot be underestimated
Nikkei 20230505
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/Why-nuclear-arms-debate-in-South-Korea-cannot-be-underestimated
US gunning for China with next-gen, hit-to-kill air missile
Asia Times 20230505
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/us-gunning-for-china-with-next-gen-hit-to-kill-air-missile/
Australia Getting U.S. Containerized Submarine-Tracking Sonar System
The Drive 20230505
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/australia-getting-u-s-containerized-submarine-tracking-sonar-system
China's aircraft carriers play 'theatrical' role but pose little threat yet
Reuters 20230505
https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-aircraft-carriers-play-theatrical-role-pose-little-threat-yet-2023-05-05/
China’s defence spending growth continues apace
ASPI 20230505
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-defence-spending-growth-continues-apace/
‘We’re not backing down’: PH message to China is now louder
Inquirer (PH) 20230505
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/214529/were-not-backing-down-ph-message-to-china-is-now-louder
In a rare move, House Oversight lawmakers to hear from Navy program executives on shipbuilding
Breaking Defense 20230505
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/in-a-rare-move-house-oversight-lawmakers-to-hear-from-navy-program-executives-on-shipbuilding/
Study says US spy satellites approaching China’s high-value space assets a ‘threat to security’
SCMP 20230505
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3219350/too-often-too-close-study-says-us-spy-satellites-approaching-chinas-high-value-space-assets-threat
MDA Spending Resources on Hypersonic & Midcourse Systems, Guam Defense in Protection Efforts
GovConWire 20230504
https://www.govconwire.com/2023/05/mda-spending-resources-on-hypersonic-and-midcourse-systems-guam-defense-in-protec/
DoD spending on commercial space services negligible, despite growing Space Force budget
Space News 20230505
https://spacenews.com/dod-spending-on-commercial-space-services-negligible-despite-growing-space-force-budget/
Power
As China extends ‘global legal reach’, US should more actively engage to counter influence, top panel hears
SCMP 20230505
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3219441/china-extends-global-legal-reach-us-should-more-actively-engage-counter-influence-top-panel-hears
The President Can’t Counter China on His Own
FA 20230504
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/president-biden-counter-china-congress-american-bipartisan
Talk of a US-China war: How frightening?
Think China 20230505
https://www.thinkchina.sg/talk-us-china-war-how-frightening
Exercises
German Navy Announces New Pacific Deployments as Global Navy Chiefs Call for More Pacific Cooperation
USNI 20230504
https://news.usni.org/2023/05/04/german-navy-announces-new-pacific-deployments-as-global-navy-chiefs-call-for-more-pacific-cooperation
Events
How to Deter China from Invading Taiwan?
ISDP 31 May 2023 4:30-6:30 PM JST
https://www.isdp.eu/event/how-to-deter-china-from-invading-taiwan/