Pacific Winds 20230716

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Biden team pressed by Republicans to keep hard line on China
Nikkei 20230715
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/Biden-team-pressed-by-Republicans-to-keep-hard-line-on-China

S. Korea, China to Work to Resume 3-Way Summit including Japan
Yomiuri 20230715
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20230715-122866/

Japan's cooperation with NATO's Asia-Pacific strategy will intensify regional tensions, says scholar
Xinhua 20230715
https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20230715/374be545ab9d4c51827fd1f3bd0aca9a/c.html

Japan's willingness to engage with North Korea may test allies' patience
Kyodo 20230715
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/d17febcc669b-focus-japans-willingness-to-engage-with-n-korea-may-test-allies-patience.html

Navies don't agree on naval-warfare law. Here's how to keep legal fissures from sinking your coalition
Defense One 20230714
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2023/07/fissures-naval-warfare-law-endanger-coalition-operations/388513/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Public called to attend July 17 town hall; JRM hosting meetings next month
PDN 20230715
https://www.guampdn.com/news/public-called-to-attend-july-17-town-hall-jrm-hosting-meetings-next-month/article_26210c5a-22ae-11ee-8de4-bbb63c006d83.html

Probing Palau’s Waters: Chinese Ships Are Increasingly Active in the Pacific
RCD 20230715
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/07/15/probing_palaus_waters_chinese_ships_are_increasingly_active_in_the_pacific_966347.html

Island Waves

Manus: Speck on the map that is new front line with China
Times (UK) 20230714
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/manus-speck-on-the-map-that-is-new-front-line-with-china-mm89t3shd

Scientists May Have Stollen Metallic Spherules Found on the Ocean Floor
Popular Mechanics 20230714
https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a44349460/metallic-spherules-found-on-ocean-floor-are-they-from-aliens/

Solomon Islands PM: South Pacific nations stand firm on denuclearization
CGTN 2030715
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-07-15/Solomon-Islands-PM-South-Pacific-nations-united-on-denuclearization-1ls6bSoR0K4/index.html

Solomon Islands PM: Pacific island countries concerned about Fukushima water release
CGTN 20230715
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-07-15/Pacific-island-countries-concerned-about-Fukushima-water-release-1ls7mnIvbNe/index.html

Taiwan + SCS

Japan reluctant to send its military to join US in defense of Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4945451

Taiwan’s new biosafety lab to counter – not develop – bioweapons, defence ministry says
SCMP 20230715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3227642/taiwans-new-biosafety-lab-counter-not-develop-bioweapons-defence-ministry-says

Deterrence Won’t Stop China’s Unification with Taiwan
National Interest 2230715
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/deterrence-won%E2%80%99t-stop-china%E2%80%99s-unification-taiwan%C2%A0-206636

Taiwan tracks record 16 Chinese naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4945205

US-China dialogue going nowhere in South China Sea
Asia Times 20230715
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/us-china-dialogue-going-nowhere-in-south-china-sea/

'Monster' Chinese ship joins swarm
Manila Times 20230715
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/15/news/monster-chinese-ship-joins-swarm/1900583

Capabilities

S. Korea, U.S. agree to strengthen cooperation against N. Korean nuke, WMD threats
Yonhap 20230715
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230714002400325

Japan eyes surveillance radar deployment to remote island in Pacific
Japan Times 2030715
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/15/national/japan-defense-ministry-sdf-radar-okinawa-pacific/

Senate Bill Sets Up AUKUS Sub Buy as U.S. Industrial Capacity Questions Linger
USNI 20230714
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/14/senate-bill-sets-up-aukus-sub-buy-as-u-s-industrial-capacity-questions-linger

Exercises

I MEF Heavily Engaged in the Western Pacific in July
DVIDs 20230714
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/449243/mef-heavily-engaged-western-pacific-july

China and Russia to hold joint military drill in strategic waters near Japan
SCMP 20230715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3227824/china-and-russia-hold-joint-military-drill-strategic-waters-near-japan

‘Northern/Interaction-2023’ to kick off soon; joint military exercises between China, Russia in Sea of Japan has clear purpose and actual combat significance
GT 20230715
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294428.shtml