Pacific Winds 20230623
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. cooperation underscores Indo-Pacific commitments
IPDF 20230621
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2023/06/u-s-cooperation-underscores-indo-pacific-commitments/
Biden, Modi to agree on expansion of defense cooperation
Kyodo 20230622
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/06/138324a41a15-biden-modi-to-agree-on-expansion-of-defense-cooperation.html
China’s refusal to reopen US military contact is a calculated move, experts say
S&S 20230622
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-06-22/china-military-contact-blinken-xi-10513741.html
ASEAN easing China stance in lockstep with US
Asia Times 20230622
https://asiatimes.com/2023/06/asean-easing-china-stance-in-lockstep-with-us/
Flurry of diplomatic engagements brings Philippines-US ties back to 'normal' — analysts
PhilStar 20230622
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/06/22/2275749/flurry-diplomatic-engagements-brings-philippines-us-ties-back-normal-analysts
The Philippines Is Leveraging Its Strategic Value to Become an Indo-Pacific Power
The Diplomat 20230621
https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/the-philippines-is-leveraging-its-strategic-value-to-become-an-indo-pacific-power/
New Zealand PM disagrees with Biden, says Xi Jinping not a 'dictator'
Reuters 20230622
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-pm-disagrees-with-biden-says-xi-jinping-not-dictator-2023-06-22/
Blinken’s Beijing Visit: Private Conversations, Public Criticism
RSIS 20230621
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/blinkens-beijing-visit-private-conversations-public-criticism/
Blinken’s trip hasn’t interrupted slide toward war
Asia Times 20230622
https://asiatimes.com/2023/06/blinkens-trip-hasnt-interrupted-slide-toward-war/
Could China’s hardball tactics drive Seoul further towards Washington?
SCMP 20230622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3225009/could-chinas-hardball-tactics-drive-seoul-further-towards-washington
Build ‘constructive’ relationship with China, Tokyo’s chief diplomat urges UK
Politico 20230621
https://www.politico.eu/article/build-constructive-relationship-with-china-tokyos-chief-diplomat-urges-uk/
Presidential official highlights S. Korea's pursuit of role for Indo-Pacific security
Yonhap 20230622
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230622001600325?section=news
THAAD missile system agitates South Korea-China ties
Nikkei 20230622
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/THAAD-missile-system-agitates-South-Korea-China-ties
Sanctions against China in case of a Taiwan war could exact a US$3 trillion toll on global economy, report predicts
SCMP 20230622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3224945/sanctions-against-china-case-taiwan-war-could-exact-us3-trillion-toll-global-economy-report-predicts
Sanctioning China in a Taiwan crisis: Scenarios and risks
Atlantic Council 20230621
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/sanctioning-china-in-a-taiwan-crisis-scenarios-and-risks/
Island Waves
Fiji changes Taiwan diplomatic mission name back to 'trade office'
Taiwan News 20230622
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4925664
Fiji restored Taipei office name on China pressure
Taipei Times 20220623
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/06/23/2003802043
Taiwan suffers another diplomatic blow as Fiji pulls the plug on representative office’s name change
SCMP 20230622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3225029/taiwan-suffers-another-diplomatic-blow-fiji-pulls-plug-representative-offices-name-change
Fiji in BRI Pacific group
Fiji Times 20230622
https://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-in-bri-pacific-group/
Academic says PNG politicians naïve over US defence deals
Radio NZ 20230622
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/492425/academic-says-png-politicians-naive-over-us-defence-deals
US Jets Stop Unscheduled
The National (PNG) 20230622
https://www.thenational.com.pg/us-jets-stop-unscheduled/
"Robbed of our independence" UN hears Pacific pleas for decolonisation
Radio NZ 20230623
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018895517/robbed-of-our-independence-un-hears-pacific-pleas-for-decolonisation
Indonesia creates new committee on Papua after talks with Vanuatu
Radio NZ 20230622
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/492438/indonesia-creates-new-committee-on-papua-after-talks-with-vanuatu
Ruling party demands DP stop scaremongering Pacific island nations over Fukushima release plan
Yonhap 20230622
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230622003800315?section=news
Tokyo solicits new construction bids for Marine runway over Okinawa’s objections
S&S 20230622
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2023-06-22/okinawa-marine-corps-runway-landfill-10513517.html
Taiwan + SCS
Are Taiwanese Confident That Americans Will Defend Them?
National Interest 20230620
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/are-taiwanese-confident-americans-will-defend-them-206566
US House approves Taiwan trade deal, demands future oversight
SCMP 20230622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3224948/us-house-passes-first-agreement-taiwan-trade-deal-demands-future-oversight
Peace in Taiwan Strait a matter of international concern: AIT chair
CNA (TW) 20230622
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202306220010
US Coast Guard ship transited Taiwan Strait after Blinken's China visit -US Navy
Reuters 20230622
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-coast-guard-ship-transited-taiwan-strait-after-blinkens-china-visit-us-navy-2023-06-22/
Transit of US coast guard ship through Taiwan Straits is purely a publicity stunt, exposing US’ diplomatic duplicity: experts
GT 20230623
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1293014.shtml
Taiwan tracks 29 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230622
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4925615
Capabilities
TACKLING MARITIME SECURITY REQUIRES A REVISED INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY
WOTR 20230622
https://warontherocks.com/2023/06/tackling-maritime-security-requires-a-revised-indo-pacific-strategy/
Navy receives Triton drone with enhanced surveillance abilities ahead of schedule
S&S 20230622
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2023-06-22/navy-triton-drones-northrop-alaska-10512545.html
China Considers Countermeasures to US HIMARS Missile System
The Diplomat 20230622
https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/china-considers-countermeasures-to-us-himars-missile-system/
HASC Seeks Greater Missile Warning and Defense Around the Globe
Air & Space 20230622
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/lawmakers-pentagon-missile-warning-defense/
Space Force missile-warning satellites drawing congressional attention
Space News 20230622
https://spacenews.com/space-force-missile-warning-satellites-drawing-congressional-attention/
HASC Says It Has Limited Insight So Far on How Space Force’s Proliferated LEO Will Meet Combatant Commander Requirements
Defense Daily 20230622
https://www.defensedaily.com/hasc-says-it-has-limited-insight-so-far-on-how-space-forces-proliferated-leo-will-meet-combatant-commander-requirements/space/
Lockheed Is Paying Millions for Overruns on Pentagon’s Missile Defense Radar
Bloomberg 20230622
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-20/lockheed-is-paying-millions-for-overruns-on-missile-defense-radar
ULA’s Delta 4 Heavy launches classified spy satellite
Space News 20230622
https://spacenews.com/ulas-delta-4-heavy-launches-classified-spy-satellite/
Top Marine pushes back on critics’ ‘lack of trust’ in Corps’ overhaul
Marine Corps Times 20230622
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/06/22/top-marine-pushes-back-on-critics-lack-of-trust-in-corps-overhaul/
Nukes, helos and amphibs: House authorizers pass their $874B policy bill 58-1
Breaking Defense 20230622
https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/06/nukes-helos-and-amphibs-house-authorizers-pass-their-874b-policy-bill-58-1/
What challenge does Chinese military spending really pose?
Responsible Statecraft 20230622
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/06/22/what-challenge-does-chinese-military-spending-really-pose/
Power
China’s development, security initiatives seek to displace Western order, US State Department official says
SCMP 20230622
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3224946/chinas-development-security-initiatives-seek-displace-western-order-us-state-department-official
Exercises
US nuclear aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam this weekend
Tuoi-Tre (VN) 20230622
https://tuoitre-vn.translate.goog/tau-san-bay-hat-nhan-my-den-viet-nam-cuoi-tuan-nay-20230622165646535.htm
Nimitz Reports ‘Very Professional’ Interactions Despite US-Chinese Tensions
Defense One 20230622
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/06/nimitz-reports-very-professional-interactions-despite-us-chinese-tensions/387796/