Pacific Winds 20230708

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Yellen, in Beijing, Criticizes China’s Treatment of U.S. Companies
NYTimes 20230707
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/business/yellen-china-companies-meetings.html

Yellen urges China to adopt market reforms, insists U.S. not decoupling
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/yellen-urges-china-adopt-market-reforms-insists-us-not-decoupling-2023-07-07/

Yellen tells China's Li U.S. seeks "healthy competition"
Kyodo 20230707
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/8bc5ae77ba2e-us-treasury-chief-yellen-to-meet-with-china-premier-li.html

Chinese Premier Li tells Yellen China-US ties can see ‘more rainbows’ after ‘wind and rain’
GT 20230708
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1293956.shtml

US-China economic rivalry not ‘winner-take-all’, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says
SCMP 20230707
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3226972/us-china-economic-rivalry-not-winner-take-all-us-treasury-secretary-janet-yellen-says

U.S., China should work to dispel dark clouds over ties
Xinhua 20230707
https://english.news.cn/20230707/f2b3bb9d16fc42019fa7d5f14b0ae55a/c.html

Blinken’s visit to China accomplished little but means a lot
ASPI 20230707
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/blinkens-visit-to-china-accomplished-little-but-means-a-lot/

Settling robust US–China guardrails after Blinken’s and Yellen’s China visits
EAF 20230707
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/07/07/settling-robust-us-china-guardrails-after-blinkens-and-yellens-china-visits/

US, China want to reconcile but don’t know how
Asia Times 20230707
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/us-china-want-to-reconcile-but-dont-know-how/

Is US–China decoupling heading in a dangerous direction?
EAF 20230707
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/07/07/is-us-china-decoupling-heading-in-a-dangerous-direction/

S. Korea held regular defense drills around Dokdo last month
Yonhap 20230707
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230707002500325?section=news

Japan protests to South Korea over military drills on disputed islands
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-protests-skorea-over-military-drill-disputed-islands-2023-07-07/

S. Korea-U.S. alliance made 'miracle' of Korea possible: U.S. general
Yonhap 20230707
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230707007900320?section=news

Japan delegation wraps up China visit as nations fine-tune ties 
Japan Times 20230707
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/07/national/japan-delegation-china-visit-ties/

New Zealand PM says 'tough conversations' with China better than no talks
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-pm-says-tough-conversations-with-china-better-than-no-talks-2023-07-07/

Can the United States, South Korea, and Japan boost resilience to economic coercion?
Brookings 20230707
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-the-united-states-south-korea-and-japan-boost-resilience-to-economic-coercion/

France’s Indo-Pacific foray is going full steam ahead
SCMP 20230707
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3226798/frances-indo-pacific-foray-going-full-steam-ahead

Xi Jinping’s Hidden Goals for the PRC Law on Foreign Relations
RCD 20230707
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/07/07/xi_jinpings_hidden_goals_for_the_prc_law_on_foreign_relations_964467.html

PIF panelist hits back at IAEA 'Fukushima is safe' decision
Radio NZ 20230707
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/493335/pif-panelist-hits-back-at-iaea-fukushima-is-safe-decision

DEFER YOUR DECISION
Solomon Star 20230707
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/defer-your-decision/

S. Korea says Fukushima water release to meet int'l standards if carried out as planned
Yonhap 20230707
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230707001052315?section=news

China bans food imports from Fukushima, tightens scrutiny of seafood shipments from other parts of Japan
GT 29230707
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1293947.shtml

IAEA chief Grossi nods to discord among its Fukushima report experts
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/iaea-chief-grossi-hints-disagreement-among-experts-fukushima-report-2023-07-07/

China Quietly Shutting Out Foreign Makers of IT Equipment
Yomiuri 20230707
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20230707-121299/

China’s Premier Li eyes ‘combination of punches’ during critical economic juncture
SCMP 20230707
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3226947/chinas-premier-li-eyes-combination-punches-during-critical-economic-juncture

US Renews Audit Inspection of China Firms as Tensions Mount
Bloomberg 20230707
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-07/us-renews-audit-inspection-of-china-firms-as-tensions-mount

Understanding China’s Gallium Sanctions
CSIS 20230707
https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-chinas-gallium-sanctions

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

The America That Americans Forget
NYTimes Magazine 20230707
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/magazine/guam-american-military.html

‘Putting a nuclear reactor in a potential war zone’
PIT 20230707
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/putting-a-nuclear-reactor-in-a-potential-war-zone

CPA approves LOI for DOD’s $500M Tinian Port project
Saipan Tribune 20230707
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/cpa-approves-loi-for-dods-500m-tinian-port-project/

Civilian-military panel resumes talks on labor and housing solutions for Guam
PIT 20230707
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/civilian-military-panel-resumes-talks-on-labor-and-housing-solutions-for-guam

Marines Return with Task Force Koa Moana
Island Times 20230707
https://islandtimes.org/marines-return-with-task-force-koa-moana/

Plan calls for feds to help pay $7B for Guam's underground power lines
PIT 20230707
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/plan-calls-for-feds-to-help-pay-7b-for-guam-s-underground-power-lines

Moylan says he'll fight to have Guam included in $6.6B proposed COFA funding
KUAM 20230707
https://www.kuam.com/story/49164889/moylan-says-hell-fight-to-have-guam-included-in-dollar66b-proposed-cofa-funding

Island Waves

Geopolitical duel in the Pacific: Solomon Islands security at risk as Australia and China compete
Lowy 20230707
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/geopolitical-duel-pacific-solomon-islands-security-risk-australia-china-compete

Solomon Islands leader to make week-long visit to China as ties burgeon
RFA 20230707
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/pacific/solomon-pm-china-07072023032138.html

Hawkeye 360 satellites to monitor illegal fishing in Pacific Islands
Space News 20230706
https://spacenews.com/hawkeye-360-satellites-to-monitor-illegal-fishing-in-pacific-islands/

RAAF team delivers critical training in Fiji
Islands Business 20230707
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/raaf-team-delivers-critical-training-in-fiji/

Seven new vehicles handed over to RSIPF
Solomon Star 20230707
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/seven-new-vehicles-handed-over-to-rsipf/

US confirms resident ambassador for Samoa
Samoa Observer 20230707
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/104445

Philippines raises alarm over increase in Chinese boats in disputed sea
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-raises-alarm-over-increase-chinese-boats-disputed-sea-2023-07-07/

US calls out China for 'irresponsible' behavior vs Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal
PhilStar 20230707
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/07/2279348/us-calls-out-china-irresponsible-behavior-vs-philippine-vessels-ayungin-shoal

Taiwan + SCS

China aims to sap Taiwan morale with 'escape plan' misinformation
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-aims-sap-taiwan-morale-with-escape-plan-misinformation-sources-2023-07-07/

Deputy regional leader of Taiwan condemned after article reveals diehard separatist stance
GT 20230708
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1293962.shtml

Taiwan Has a Big National-Security Risk: It Imports 97% of Its Energy
WSJ 20230707
https://www.wsj.com/articles/taiwan-has-a-big-national-security-risk-it-imports-97-of-its-energy-f1faced

AIT rejects Chinese complaints about Taiwan arms deals
Taiwan News 20230707
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4938364

Taiwan tracks 15 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230707
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4938176

Philippines raises alarm over increase in Chinese boats in disputed sea
Reuters 20230707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-raises-alarm-over-increase-chinese-boats-disputed-sea-2023-07-07/

Philippine Forces Spot 48 Chinese Fishing Vessels Guarded by Warships in Its EEZ
USNI 20230707
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/07/philippine-forces-spots-48-chinese-fishing-vessels-guarded-by-warships-in-its-eez

Dangerous maneuvers? China says its coast guard 'professional, restrained' in Ayungin
ABS-CBN 20230707
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/07/23/china-says-coast-guard-professional-restrained-in-ayungin

Capabilities

Air Force’s largest-ever mobility exercise to prove prowess in Pacific
Defense News 20230706
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2023/07/06/air-forces-largest-ever-mobility-exercise-to-prove-prowess-in-pacific/

U.S., International partners kick-off Exercise Mobility Guardian 2023
US IndoPaCom 20230706
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3450510/us-international-partners-kick-off-exercise-mobility-guardian-2023/

Navy Intel Brief Urges Robust Challenge to China
Air & Space 20230706
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/intel-challenge-china/

KJ-600: The Eye in the Sky for China’s Future Carriers
The Diplomat 20230706
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/kj-600-the-eye-in-the-sky-for-chinas-future-carriers/

First meeting of NCG to be held in Seoul this month, involving senior officials: presidential office
Yonhap 20230708
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230708000651325?section=news

House lawmakers tee up dueling AUKUS sub transfer amendments
Breaking defense 20230707
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/house-lawmakers-tee-up-dueling-aukus-sub-transfer-amendments/

DND tells Chinese envoy: Strong AFP is PH's ‘bedrock’ for regional stability amid external threat
Manila Bulletin 20230707
https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/7/dnd-tells-chinese-envoy-strong-afp-is-ph-s-bedrock-for-regional-stability-amid-external-threats

Establish Integration Metrics to Prioritize “Glue” for All-Domain Operations
Hudson 20230706
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/establish-integration-metrics-prioritize-glue-all-domain-operations-bryan-clark-dan-patt

Exercises

US stirs up trouble to serve its ends in Western Pacific region
China Military 20230707
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16235662.html