Pacific Winds 20230520

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Building a Quad that lasts to the next generation
Lowy 20230519
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/building-quad-lasts-next-generation

US Lawmakers Issue Dire Warnings on China Competition
VoA 20230519
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-lawmakers-issue-dire-warnings-on-china-competition/7099980.html

S.Korea tells China ambassador it hopes for continued economic cooperation
Reuters 20230519
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-finance-minister-china-ambassador-discuss-economic-cooperation-2023-05-19/

China-S Korea: deepening suspicions, limited diplomacy
Asia Times 20230519
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/china-s-korea-deepening-suspicions-limited-diplomacy/

Joint Statement on the official visit to the Philippines of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong
AU MoFA 20230518
https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/joint-statement-official-visit-philippines-australian-foreign-minister-penny-wong

Canada: The Philippines is at the core of our Indo-Pacific Strategy
PhilStar 20230519
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/05/19/2267479/canada-philippines-core-our-indo-pacific-strategy

US default, China decoupling hang heavy over Hiroshima
Asia Times 2230519
https://asiatimes.com/2023/05/us-default-china-decoupling-hang-heavy-over-hiroshima/

Domestic Division Is Dragging Down U.S. Indo-Pacific Policy
FP 20230519
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/19/united-states-indo-pacific-policy-debt-ceiling-washington-polarization-biden/

Biden’s overseas summit cancellations aren’t a big deal
Responsible Statecraft 20230519
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/05/19/bidens-overseas-summit-cancelations-arent-a-big-deal/

Ongoing tug of war as G7 meet and China looks on
Think China 20230519
https://www.thinkchina.sg/ongoing-tug-war-g7-meet-and-china-looks

China, US commerce and trade chiefs to meet next week
Reuters 20230518
https://www.reuters.com/markets/china-us-commerce-ministers-trade-representatives-meet-next-week-chinese-embassy-2023-05-18/

Chinese commerce minister's planned visit to US lifts trade prospects, but 'result depends on sincerity of US'
GT 20230519
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202305/1291021.shtml

US Agrees on Taiwan Trade Terms, Clouding Plans for China Talks
Bloomberg 20230518
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-18/us-and-taiwan-agree-on-trade-initiative-in-bid-for-closer-ties

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Air Force's Waste Blow-Up Choice Flouts NEPA, 9th Circ. Told
Law 360 20230518
https://www.law360.com/nativeamerican/articles/1678849/air-force-s-waste-blow-up-choice-flouts-nepa-9th-circ-told

Palau Compact Review Agreement initialed
Island Times 20230519
https://islandtimes.org/palau-compact-review-agreement-initialed/

Palau inks $900M COFA agreement with US
KUAM 20230519
https://www.kuam.com/story/48935468/palau-inks-dollar900m-cofa-agreement-with-us

Chinese Strategy in the Freely Associated States and American Territories in the Pacific
RAND 20230516
https://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CTA2768-1.html

Utilities, infrastructure projects at Guam's Camp Blaz near completion
PIT 20230519
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/utilities-infrastructure-projects-at-guam-s-camp-blaz-near-completion

$149M Master ID/IQ for Environmental Investigations, NAVFAC (Pacific) awarded
US DoD 20230518
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3400382//

Island Waves + SCS

Blinken to visit Papua New Guinea and sign defense, maritime agreements
Reuters 20230518
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blinken-visit-papua-new-guinea-sign-defense-maritime-agreements-2023-05-18/

Secretary Blinken’s Trip to PNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20230519
https://postcourier.com.pg/secretary-blinkens-trip-to-papua-new-guinea/

Defence Agreement Won’t Impact Bilateral Relationships
PNG Haus Bung 20230519
https://pnghausbung.com/defence-agreement-wont-impact-pngs-bilateral-relationships/

China and Pacific island countries cooperation potential to be unleashed
China Daily 20230519
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/19/WS64672725a310b6054fad4013.html

Pacific isles fear becoming theatre for US-China rivalry
AFP 20230519
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20230519-pacific-isles-fear-becoming-theatre-for-us-china-rivalry

Japan shadows China’s growing Pacific presence
EAF 20230519
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/05/19/japan-shadows-chinas-growing-pacific-presence/

Pasifika will benefit from wider Budget says NZ minister
Radio NZ 20230519
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/490211/pasifika-will-benefit-from-wider-budget-says-nz-minister

Philippine army head sees China threat ‘every day in South China Sea’
Breaking Defense 20230519
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/05/philippine-army-head-sees-china-threat-every-day-in-south-china-sea/

PRC Influence Operations in the Philippines: Can Beijing Flip the South China Sea Script?
Jamestown 20230519
https://jamestown.org/program/prc-influence-operations-in-the-philippines-can-beijing-flip-the-south-china-sea-script/

Vietnam opposes China’s violations in East Sea
Hanoi Times 20230518
https://hanoitimes.vn/vietnam-opposes-chinas-violations-in-east-sea-323745.html

Asia's internet cable projects delayed by South China Sea tensions
Nikkei 20230519
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-Spotlight/Asia-s-internet-cable-projects-delayed-by-South-China-Sea-tensions

Taiwan

Report questions support for US
Taipei Times 20230520
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/05/20/2003800128

Chinese mainland rebukes Taiwan's DPP for seeking foreign favor
China Military 20230520
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16225472.html

Navy establishes rapid response cell to get tech to Ukraine, Taiwan
Defense News 20230519
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/05/19/navy-establishes-rapid-response-cell-to-get-tech-to-ukraine-taiwan/

Trojan-Rigged Phishing Attacks Pepper China-Taiwan Conflict
Dark Reading 20230519
https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/trojan-rigged-phishing-attacks-pepper-china-taiwan-conflict

Capabilities

U.S. Major Combat Operations in the Indo-Pacific
RAND 20230516
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA967-2.html

Rotating fighters on Okinawa give US airpower an advantage in Taiwan conflict, expert says
S&S 20230519
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-05-19/kadena-fighter-jets-taiwan-china-10165554.html

Intelligence leak reveals China’s successful test of a new hypersonic missile
IISS 20230519
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2023/05/intelligence-leak-reveals-chinas-successful-test-of-a-new-hypersonic-missile/

Satellite image shows WZ-8 supersonic drone at Chinese base
Defense News 20230519
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/05/18/satellite-image-shows-wz-8-supersonic-drone-at-chinese-base/

THOR Microwave Anti-Drone System Downs Swarms In Test
The Drive 20230519
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/thor-microwave-anti-drone-system-downs-swarms-in-test

The Air Force’s new directed energy weapon is ready to blast drone swarms out of the sky
Task & Purpose 20230519
https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/air-force-thor-directed-energy-drone-swarm-test/

‘Illegal, malign’: China’s state-sponsored crime stretches across Pacific
SMH 20230520
https://www.smh.com.au/national/illegal-malign-china-s-state-sponsored-crime-stretches-across-pacific-20230517-p5d8xe.html

Power

G7’s renewal marks a new era defined by superpower rivalry
FT 20230518
https://www.ft.com/content/9389cbcd-6ac2-4bba-8c0c-3cb883f81567

Exercises

N. Korea bristles at planned S. Korea-U.S. live-fire drills
Yonhap 20230519
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230519000700325