Pacific Winds 20230714
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China's US envoy makes rare Pentagon visit for security-related talks
Reuters 20230712
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/chinas-us-envoy-goes-pentagon-rare-security-related-talks-2023-07-12/
China’s new top envoy to US meets Pentagon official, urging Washington to ‘remove obstacles’ impeding military relations
SCMP 20230713
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3227496/chinas-new-top-envoy-us-meets-pentagon-official-urging-washington-remove-obstacles-impeding-military
Chinese Ambassador’s unusual meeting with Pentagon official reflects US’ urgent need to resume military communication: experts
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294310.shtml
Blinken Meets China’s Top Diplomat in Latest Bid to Ease Tensions
NYTimes 20230713
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/13/world/asia/china-us-blinken-wang-diplomacy.html
Blinken, Wang meet again for talks aimed at managing U.S.-China competition
Reuters 20230714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/blinken-meet-chinas-wang-yi-jakarta-state-department-2023-07-13/
China’s Wang Yi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet for second time in a month, signalling further thaw
SCMP 20230713
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3227552/chinas-wang-yi-us-secretary-state-antony-blinken-meet-second-time-within-month-sign-further-thaw
Wang Yi urges U.S. to take concrete actions to bring China-U.S. relations back to right track
Xinhua 20230714
https://english.news.cn/20230714/4cd417e76e2b4e38a2af52b806aedc20/c.html
Wang, Blinken meet; more high-level talks to be held
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294357.shtml
Foreign Minister Penny Wong meets China's Wang Yi on sidelines of ASEAN summit
ABC (AU) 20230714
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-14/foreign-minister-penny-wong-meet-with-chinas-wang-yi/102600618
British response to China threat ‘completely inadequate,’ damning report warns
Politico 20230713
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-response-to-china-threat-damning-report-warns-intelligence-security-technology/
As Concerns About China Grow, Germany Loosens Its Embrace
WSJ 20230713
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-concerns-about-china-grow-germany-loosens-its-embrace-22662f97
Germany's first "China strategy" hurts its own companies more, has limited impact on bilateral ties
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294331.shtml
Germany unveils strategy on China, trade partner and rival
Reuters 20230713
https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-unveils-strategy-china-trade-partner-rival-2023-07-13/
Japan, NATO interests increasingly align but ties still just symbolic
Kyodo 20230713
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/841550400ab1-focus-japan-nato-interests-increasingly-align-but-ties-still-just-symbolic.html
The lessons of New Zealand’s China diplomacy
ASPI 20230713
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-lessons-of-new-zealands-china-diplomacy/
S. Korea pledges to expand partnership with ASEAN, bolster cooperation with Japan, China
Yonhap 20230713
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230713009751325?section=national/diplomacy
ASEAN expresses ‘grave concern’ over North Korean missile launch
Straits Times 20230713
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/asean-expresses-grave-concern-over-north-korean-missile-launch
The case against Fukushima’s radioactive water release
Asia Times 20230713
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/the-case-against-fukushimas-radioactive-water-release/
Japan makes a promise to South Korea on dumping plan, it’s far from enough
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294344.shtml
China no longer top exporter to U.S. as trade rift widens
Nikkei 20230714
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade/China-no-longer-top-exporter-to-U.S.-as-trade-rift-widens
Top diplomat says China, ASEAN pushing ahead with free trade area talks
Reuters 20230713
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/top-diplomat-says-china-asean-pushing-ahead-with-free-trade-area-talks-2023-07-13/
China’s chip imports slump in first half as US sanctions and ongoing tech war take a toll on trade
SCMP 20230713
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3227596/chinas-chip-imports-slump-first-half-us-sanctions-and-ongoing-tech-war-take-toll-trade
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
House panel seeking analysis of Guam missile defense system
PIT 20230713
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/house-panel-seeking-analysis-of-guam-missile-defense-system
Australia’s reliable ship
MIJ 20230713
https://marshallislandsjournal.com/australias-reliable-ship/
Island Waves
Solomon Islands PM Sogavare insists China has no strategic interest in Pacific after new police pacts signed
ABC (AU) 20230713
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-13/solomon-islands-manasseh-sogavare-beijing-visit-police-agreement/102598356
China's Police Chief Meets With Solomon Islands Counterpart
Solomon Times 20230713
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/chinas-police-chief-meets-with-solomon-islands-counterpart/12725
China-Solomon Islands joint efforts for mutual prosperity deepens, despite unsubstantiated opposition from the West
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294321.shtml
Policing treaty could undermine peace and security in SI & region: Wale
Solomon Star 20230714
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/policing-treaty-could-undermine-peace-and-security-in-si-region-wale/
China's Pacific Islands envoy to visit Cook Islands amid police plan concern
Reuters 20230713
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-pacific-islands-envoy-visit-cook-islands-amid-police-plan-concern-2023-07-13/
Scramble for the Pacific: Small island states play the new Great Game
CRT (UK) 20230713
https://www.commonwealthroundtable.co.uk/general/eye-on-the-commonwealth/scramble-for-the-pacific-small-island-states-play-the-new-great-game/
Papua New Guinea wants its own ‘Gurkhas’ as US-China tensions rise
Times (UK) 20230713
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/papua-new-guinea-wants-its-own-gurkhas-as-us-china-tensions-rise-crszzjmzw
Western donors accused of using LQBTIQA+ as weapon to access their funding assistance
Solomon Star 20230713
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/western-donors-accused-of-using-lqbtiqa-as-weapon-to-access-their-funding-assistance/
Why China rolled out the red carpet for Okinawa governor
Nikkei 20230713
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/China-up-close/Analysis-Why-China-rolled-out-the-red-carpet-for-Okinawa-governor
Taiwan + SCS
The world after a successful Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Taipei Times 20230714
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/07/14/2003803158
Taiwan tracks 33 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval vessels around nation
Taiwan News 20230713
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4943168
US Navy plane flies through Taiwan Strait after Chinese drills
Reuters 20230713
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-navy-plans-flies-through-taiwan-strait-after-chinese-drills-2023-07-13/
PLA deploys combat aircraft to handle US spy plane’s Taiwan Straits transit following drills
GT 20230713
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294341.shtml
13 Chinese planes cross median line in reaction to U.S. aircraft transit
CNA (TW) 20230713
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202307130018
PLA heard ordering US P-8A sub-hunter to exit Taiwan Strait
Taiwan News 20230713
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4943568
AFP deploys more assets to Kalayaan island group for 'sovereignty patrols'
ABS-CBN 20230713
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/13/23/afp-deploys-additional-assets-to-kalayaan-islands
What the South China Sea code of conduct talks should focus on instead of dispute resolution
SCMP 20230714
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3227449/what-south-china-sea-code-conduct-talks-should-focus-instead-dispute-resolution
COMBATING FISHERIES RELATED CRIME IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA: LEVERAGING MARITIME INFORMATION SHARING CENTERS
CSIS 20230713
https://amti.csis.org/combating-fisheries-related-crime-in-the-south-china-sea-leveraging-maritime-information-sharing-centers/
Capabilities
N. Korea's Kim says to take military offensive measures until U.S. abandons hostile policy against Pyongyang
Yonhap 20230713
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230713000500325
North Korea launched "new-type" ICBM on July 12: country's state media
Kyodo 20230713
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/8fc620805194-update1-n-korea-launched-new-type-icbm-tues-state-media.html
How North Korea’s Fighter Fleet Re-emerged From Obscurity
The Diplomat 20230712
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/how-north-koreas-fighter-fleet-re-emerged-from-obscurity/
U.S. Joint Chiefs pick pursues more Indo-Pacific outposts
Nikkei 20230713
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-Joint-Chiefs-pick-pursues-more-Indo-Pacific-outposts
Navy Testing Secret JADC2 Technologies
National Defense 20230713
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/7/13/navy-testing-secret-jadc2-technologies
HawkEye 360 announces $58 million funding round
Space News 20230713
https://spacenews.com/hawkeye-360-announces-58-million-funding-round/
Private Aerial Refueling Tanker Has Gassed Up An Air Force Plane For The First Time
The Drive 20230713
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/private-aerial-refueling-tanker-has-gassed-up-an-air-force-plane-for-the-first-time
Senate defense panel leaves National Security Space Launch unsecured
Space News 20230713
https://spacenews.com/senate-defense-panel-leaves-national-security-space-launch-unsecured/
DOD Financial Management: Efforts to Address Auditability and Systems Challenges Need to Continue
GAO 20230713
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106941
Power
The Myth of Neutrality
FA 20230612
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/myth-of-neutrality-choose-between-america-china
Accommodation versus Alliance: Japan’s Prospective Grand Strategy in the Sino-US Competition
Nagy 20230713
https://stephennagy0.wordpress.com/2023/07/13/accommodation-versus-alliance-japans-prospective-grand-strategy-in-the-sino-us-competition/
China’s Great Political and Economic Dilemma
RSIS 20230712
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/chinas-great-political-and-economic-dilemma/
Exercises
Air Force general who predicted war with China leads ‘unprecedented’ training exercise
NBC 20230713
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/air-force-general-predicted-war-china-leads-unprecedented-training-exe-rcna93030
S. Korea, U.S. stage air drills, involving B-52H strategic bomber after N.K. ICBM launch
Yonhap 20230713
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230713010100325?section=news
US Marines Showcase Strength And Capabilities With Philippine Marines
Naval News 20230713
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/07/us-marines-showcase-strength-and-capabilities-with-philippine-marines/