Pacific Winds 20230519

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

May 18, 2023

Alliances

Biden administration looking at arranging high-profile visits to China by senior officials
CNN 20230517
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/17/politics/biden-administration-china-visits/index.html

Deepening Suspicions and Limited Diplomacy
CFR 20230517
https://www.cfr.org/blog/deepening-suspicions-and-limited-diplomacy

ASEAN doubles down on non-alignment amid US-China tensions
Asia Times 20230518
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/asean-doubles-down-on-non-alignment-amid-us-china-tensions/

S’pore has to be consistent, credible and principled in navigating China-US rivalry: DPM Lawrence Wong
Straits Times 20230518
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/be-consistent-credible-and-principled-to-navigate-china-us-rivalry-lawrence-wong-says-of-singapore

Japan, Britain to deepen ties on security, technology amid China rise
Kyodo 20230518
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/5cdf1225cb86-japan-britain-to-deepen-ties-on-security-technology-amid-china-rise.html

Japan signs 'historic' defense accord with UK, bringing uncertainty to region
GT 20230518
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290961.shtml

Navigating the strange minilateralverse of madness
Lowy 20230518
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/navigating-strange-minilateralverse-madness

New PH-US defense guidelines reaffirm provisions of 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty
Rappler 20230518
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/new-philippines-united-states-defense-guidelines-reaffirm-provisions-1951-mutual-defense-treaty/

Remembering Australia’s “other” alliance
Lowy 20230518
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/remembering-australia-s-other-alliance

Biden not to issue apology in Hiroshima for U.S. use of atomic bomb
Kyodo 20230518
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/c89d25ee10b8-biden-not-to-issue-apology-in-hiroshima-for-us-use-of-atomic-bomb.html

Biden and Kishida meet, seeking unified G-7 policies on China
Nikkei 20230518
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/G-7-in-Japan/Biden-and-Kishida-meet-seeking-unified-G-7-policies-on-China

China to Be 'Key' on G-7's Hiroshima Agenda: NSC's Kirby
Bloomberg 20230518
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-05-18/china-to-be-key-on-g-7-s-hiroshima-agenda-nsc-s-kirby-video

China releases report unveiling dark side of US coercive diplomacy ahead of G7 summit
GT 20230518
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290976.shtml

The G7 Hiroshima Summit: Unpacking Economic Security Concerns about China
CSIS 20230518
https://www.csis.org/analysis/g7-hiroshima-summit-unpacking-economic-security-concerns-about-china

US default, China decoupling hang heavy over Hiroshima
Asia Times 20230518
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/us-default-china-decoupling-hang-heavy-over-hiroshima/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

US missile defense project on Guam is ‘not going fast enough,’ security experts say
S&S 20230518
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-18/guam-360-missile-defense-threats-10154526.html

Biden envoy gets two of three north Pacific nations to sign deals
Radio NZ 20230518
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/490147/biden-envoy-gets-two-of-three-north-pacific-nations-to-sign-deals

Island Waves

Taiwan

Could the US missile defence system used by Ukraine help Taiwan? Analysts are split
SCMP 20230519
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3221064/could-us-missile-defence-system-used-ukraine-help-taiwan-analysts-are-split

Chinese mainland calls Taiwan's DPP authorities 'real threat' to cross-Strait peace
Xinhua 20230518
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2023-05/18/content_85373692.htm

U.S., Japan leaders determined to maintain peace in Taiwan Strait
CNA (TW) 20230518
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202305180024

China urges G7 members to stop making provocations on Taiwan question
China Military 20230518
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16225224.html

Legislative Speaker You meets Pelosi, McCaul in Washington
CNA (TW) 20230518
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202305180011

Capabilities

New Pentagon Missile Defense Radar Is Delayed and Over Budget, GAO Says
Bloomberg 20230518
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-18/lockheed-missile-defense-radar-delayed-and-over-budget-gao-says?srnd=economics-v2#xj4y7vzkg

Missile Defense: Annual Goals Unmet for Deliveries and Testing
GAO 20230518
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-106011.pdf

Work on 3-km runway, pier in progress at EDCA site
Inquirer (PH) 20230518
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1770654/work-on-3-km-runway-pier-in-progress-at-edca-site

Australia to Provide Surveillance Drones to Philippines Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Diplomat 20230518
https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/australia-to-provide-surveillance-drones-to-philippines-amid-south-china-sea-tensions/

Former defence chief Angus Houston hits out at China, warns of 'miscalculation' leading to possible military conflict
ABC (AU) 20230519
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-18/former-defence-chief-angus-houston-hits-out-at-china/102365210

Pentagon seeks authority to transfer nuclear submarines to Australia
Defense News 20230517
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2023/05/17/pentagon-seeks-authority-to-transfer-nuclear-submarines-to-australia/

Britain to send an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific in 2025
Defense News 20230518
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/05/18/britain-to-send-an-aircraft-carrier-to-the-indo-pacific-in-2025/

South Korea-US Alliance Is at a Critical Juncture for Cybersecurity Cooperation
The Diplomat 20230517
https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/south-korea-us-alliance-is-at-a-critical-juncture-for-cybersecurity-cooperation/

S. Korea warns of firm response to N. Korea's spy satellite provocation
Yonhap 20230518
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230518006600325?section=news

Japan Calls Pyongyang Satellite a ‘Provocation’
Yomiuri 20230518
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20230518-110364/

S Korea’s call for nuclear weapons has quieted – for now
Asia Times 20230518
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/s-koreas-call-for-nuclear-weapons-has-quieted-for-now/

Japan Can’t Pass the Buck Anymore
NYTimes 20230518
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/opinion/japan-united-states-china-military.html

Tokyo Issues New Crisis Guideline for the Japan Coast Guard
The Diplomat 20230518
https://thediplomat.com/2023/05/tokyo-issues-new-crisis-guideline-for-the-japan-coast-guard/

US Navy shipbuilding too little, too late to catch China
Asia Times 20230518
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/us-navy-shipbuilding-too-little-too-late-to-catch-china/

China's Navy is Larger than the US Navy... But is it Superior? US Navy vs. PLA Navy
Warrior Maven 20230518
https://warriormaven.com/china/chinas-navy-is-larger-than-the-us-navy-but-is-it-better

USAF Looks to Fill Intelligence Gaps from Space
Air & Space 20230517
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/isr-aircraft-retire-air-force-intelligence-officer-space/

Space Force delivers second U.S. payload to be hosted on Japanese satellite
Space News 20230518
https://spacenews.com/space-force-delivers-second-u-s-payload-to-be-hosted-on-japanese-satellite/
US DoD Release: https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3399860/us-space-force-sends-two-space-domain-awareness-sensors-to-japan/

New Zealand unveils defense budget, with Army in the lead
Defense News 20230518
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/05/18/new-zealand-unveils-defense-budget-with-army-in-the-lead/

RISKS OF URBAN WARFARE ARE HIGH IN INDO-PACIFIC
AUSA 20230517
https://www.ausa.org/news/risks-urban-warfare-are-high-indo-pacific

Lawmakers rev up support for Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 in letter to appropriators
Breaking Defense 20230518
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/lawmakers-rev-up-support-for-marine-corps-force-design-2030-in-letter-to-appropriators/

Air Force’s next-generation fighter will be selected in 2024
Breaking Defense 20230518
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/the-air-forces-next-generation-fighter-will-be-selected-in-2024/

Exercises

Japan-circling PLA Navy flotilla completes 'routine drills,' shows capabilities of national defense
GT 20230518
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1290962.shtml

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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