Pacific Winds 20230715
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Biden Maneuvers Around Another China Spying Row to Improve Ties
Bloomberg 20230713
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-14/white-house-sticks-with-china-engagement-despite-new-hack
Recent US diplomacy push aimed at China meant to soften blow of coming hi-tech export limits: analysts
SCMP 20230714
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
US-China relations: we must talk security, Wang Yi tells Antony Blinken
SCMP 20230714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3227695/us-china-relations-we-must-talk-security-wang-yi-tells-blinken
Blinken in Southeast Asia to build support for China rivalry
WaPo 20230714
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/14/blinken-asean-china-myanmar/
In China-US Relations, Trust Is Valuable but Unattainable
The Diplomat 20230714
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/in-china-us-relations-trust-is-valuable-but-unattainable/
U.S., Allies Stick Together to Confront Russia and China—for Now
WSJ 20230714
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-allies-stick-together-to-confront-russia-and-chinafor-now-76156bf7
Germany’s China Strategy Marks a New Approach in EU-China Relations
CSIS 20230714
https://www.csis.org/analysis/germanys-china-strategy-marks-new-approach-eu-china-relations
Nato is clearly trying to start a cold war with China
SCMP 20230715
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3227558/nato-clearly-trying-start-cold-war-china
US Secretary Blinken vows to keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open amid ‘complex’ challenges
Straits Times 20230714
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-secretary-blinken-vows-to-keep-the-indo-pacific-region-free-and-open-amid-complex-challenges
Indonesia's top diplomat warns of 'Cold War in hot places
Nikkei 20230714
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indonesia-s-top-diplomat-warns-of-Cold-War-in-hot-places
Japan, China agree on communication, but at odds on Fukushima water
Kyodo 20230714
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/74c677f28464-japan-china-top-diplomats-meet-expected-to-focus-on-fukushima-water.html
China-Australia relations 'stabilised, improved' - Chinese top diplomat
Reuters 20230714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-australia-relations-stabilised-improved-chinese-top-diplomat-2023-07-14/
Australians Value a Relationship With China, But Still Harbor Concerns About Beijing
The Diplomat 20230715
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/australians-value-a-relationship-with-china-but-still-harbor-concerns-about-beijing/
South Korea asks China to play 'constructive role' against North's threats
Reuters 2030714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-asks-china-play-constructive-role-against-norths-threats-2023-07-14/
Wang Yi warns regional countries against negative trends
Xinhua 20230715
https://english.news.cn/20230715/8c88b222f6774918985de22e6e715da5/c.html
China sends message of cooperation in Jakarta, supports ASEAN centrality
GT 20230714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294399.shtml
The disturbing evolution of China’s foreign policy
ASPI 20230714
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-disturbing-evolution-of-chinas-foreign-policy/
SOUTHEAST ASIA AID MAP
Lowy 20230714
https://seamap.lowyinstitute.org/
No chance China will join Pacific trade pact in near term, Australia warns
Guardian 20230714
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/15/no-chance-china-will-join-pacific-trade-pact-in-near-term-australia-warns
Japan calls on China to approach Fukushima water release in 'scientific manner'
Reuters 20230714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-calls-china-approach-fukushima-water-release-scientific-manner-2023-07-14/
Facts are up against fear ahead of Fukushima water release into the Pacific
Radio NZ 20230714
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/493737/facts-are-up-against-fear-ahead-of-fukushima-water-release-into-the-pacific
Final IAEA report on Fukushima treated water release
AU MoFA 20230714
https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/media-release/final-iaea-report-fukushima-treated-water-release
China’s breakthrough in semiconductor equipment shows US tech blockade is ineffective
GT 20230714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294391.shtml
ASML Faces Tighter Dutch Restrictions on Servicing Chip Equipment in China
Bloomberg 20230714
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-14/asml-faces-tighter-restrictions-on-servicing-chip-gear-in-china
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Marshall Islands seeks more U.S. nuclear legacy funds to settle strategic deal
Reuters 20230713
https://www.reuters.com/world/marshall-islands-seek-more-us-nuclear-legacy-funds-settle-strategic-deal-2023-07-13/
US negotiator says Marshall Islands retreated from $2.3 billion deal
PIT 20230714
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-negotiator-says-marshall-islands-retreated-from-2-3-billion-deal
Testimony given on Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023
KUAM 29230714
https://www.kuam.com/story/49194595/testimony-on-compacts-of-free-association-amendments-act-of-2023
Full Committee Hearing to Receive Testimony Regarding the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023
US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 20230713
https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2023/7/hearing-to-receive-testimony-regarding-the-compact-of-free-association-amendments-act-of-2023
U.S. Army Patriot Missile Live-Fire Exercise at Palau International Airport
Island Times 20230714
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-army-patriot-missile-live-fire-exercise-at-palau-international-airport/
Island Waves
US eyes massive ramp-up in diplomatic personnel and spending at new Pacific island embassies
AP 20230714
https://apnews.com/article/us-tonga-kirbati-vanuatu-solomon-islands-0d32ea1c21ecc4dbbc1288ce6c3b77d3
POLICE COOPERATION PLAN IS TO IMPROVE ROYAL SOLOMON ISLANDS POLICE FORCE
Solomon Star 20230714
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/police-cooperation-plan-is-to-improve-royal-solomon-islands-police-force/
Solomon Islands denies policing deal with China poses ‘threat’ to Pacific security
Guardian 20230714
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/14/solomon-islands-china-policing-deal-pacific-security
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/
Leaked document reveals PNG PM sought NEC approval to support Japan’s nuclear wastewater discharge plan
PINA 20230714
https://pina.com.fj/2023/07/14/leaked-document-reveals-png-pm-sought-nec-approval-to-support-japans-nuclear-wastewater-discharge-plan/
Pacific Islands Forum chair confident in safety of Japan's release into ocean
Radio NZ 20230714
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/493707/pacific-islands-forum-chair-confident-in-safety-of-japan-s-release-into-ocean
Taiwan + SCS
Pentagon’s Top General, Mark Milley, Calls for Faster Weapons Sales to Taiwan
WSJ 20230714
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagons-top-general-mark-milley-calls-for-faster-weapons-sales-to-taiwan-696f6504
China flexes military muscles ahead of Taiwan's war games
Reuters 20230714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-flexes-military-muscles-ahead-taiwans-war-games-2023-07-14/
Exclusive audio recording appears to show PLA sending bilingual warnings to US spy plane
GT 20230714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294383.shtml
Taiwan tracks 30 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230714
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4944279
China drives Japanese fishing ship from contested islands
Reuters 20230714
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-drives-japanese-fishing-ship-contested-islands-2023-07-14/
Japan complains to China, Taiwan after their vessels operate near Senkaku Islands
S&S 20230714
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-14/china-taiwan-japan-senkaku-islands-10735256.html
China and Asean take another step towards South China Sea code of conduct
SCMP 20230714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3227601/china-and-asean-take-another-step-towards-south-china-sea-code-conduct
Beijing urges more cooperation with Hanoi as disputes simmer over South China Sea
SCMP 20230714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3227664/beijing-urges-more-cooperation-hanoi-disputes-simmer-over-south-china-sea
Blinken says U.S. still committed to freedom in South China Sea
Nikkei 20230715
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Blinken-says-U.S.-still-committed-to-freedom-in-South-China-Sea
So-called arbitration award nugatory ploy of US
China Military 20230714
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16237046.html
Despite the excitement, India’s South China Policy Sea policy remains unchanged
Lowy 20230714
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/despite-excitement-india-s-south-china-policy-sea-policy-remains-unchanged
Regional Agitation, Life is Your Creation: Vietnam’s Barbie Ban Explained
AIIA 20230714
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/regional-agitation-life-is-your-creation-vietnams-barbie-ban-explained/
Capabilities
Report: Assessing Military And Non-Military Incidents At Sea In Asia-Pacific
Naval News 20230713
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/07/report-assessing-military-and-non-military-incidents-at-sea-in-asia-pacific/
Report: https://cms.apln.network/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bec-Strating-Scoping-Paper-1-070723.pdf
Bombers Surge in the Pacific: B-52s Arrive in Guam, B-1s in Japan
Air & Space 20230713
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/
America's Pacific allies want more joint exercises, short-supply munitions
Defense One 20230713
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/07/pacific-allies-want-more-exercises-us-munitions-similar-what-us-sending-ukraine/388505/
AUKUS tech sharing not as robust as advertized
Asia Times 20230714
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/aukus-tech-sharing-not-as-robust-as-advertized/
North Korea warns of ‘nuclear crisis’ in rare comments at UN Security Council
NK News 20230714
https://www.nknews.org/2023/07/north-korea-warns-of-nuclear-crisis-in-rare-comments-at-un-security-council/
North Korea’s Threat to Target US Aircraft Is No Idle Menace
Hudson 20230713
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/north-korea-threat-target-us-aircraft-no-idle-menace-patrick-cronin
N.K. leader's sister slams UNSC meeting over ICBM launch, defends it as exercise of self-defense
Yonhap 20230714
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230714009351325?section=news
Milley praises Japan defense funding boost as a buttress against China
Defense News 20230714
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2023/07/14/milley-praises-japan-defense-funding-boost-as-a-buttress-against-china/
Scare tactics about China seems more about securing tax dollars for US military spending
GT 20230714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294390.shtml
PLA marches toward centenary goals as units inspected by Xi safeguard territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, national unity
GT 20230714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294395.shtml
Japan Releases Fighter Scramble Data Against Chinese Aircraft
USNI 20230714
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/14/japan-releases-fighter-scramble-data-against-chinese-aircraft
Japanese space agency's Epsilon small rocket engine explodes in test
Kyodo 20230714
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/ddbdbcf86427-japanese-space-agencys-epsilon-small-rocket-engine-explodes-in-test.html
There goes my missile: SDA eyes new FOO Fighter missile defense ‘fire control’ sats
Breaking Defense 20230714
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/there-goes-my-missile-sda-eyes-new-foo-fighter-missile-defense-fire-control-sats/
Spurred by Ukraine conflict, US Army conducts new tests of kinetic, microwave counter-UAS systems
Breaking Defense 20230713
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/spurred-by-ukraine-conflict-us-army-conducts-new-tests-of-kinetic-microwave-counter-uas-systems/
Badly Damaged Nuclear Submarine USS Connecticut Seen In New Images
The Drive 20230713
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/badly-damaged-nuclear-submarine-uss-connecticut-seen-in-new-images