Pacific Winds 20230718
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins says Pacific region less secure due to China’s assehttps://thediplomat.com/2023/07/japan-forges-closer-ties-to-nato/rtiveness
Reuters 20230717
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nz-prime-minister-says-pacific-region-more-contested-less-secure-2023-07-16/
US-led bloc confrontation leaves New Zealand with less room for balance
GT 20230717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294529.shtml
Xie, Kerry hold 4-hour talks on climate; observers warn of US exerting pressure on China over the issue
GT 20230717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294535.shtml
Yellen's speech may signal cooperation, but US needs to make more efforts to promote China ties: analysts
GT 20230717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294533.shtml
One Reason China Is Willing to Engage Again: Its Troubled Economy
NYTimes 20230717
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/business/china-economy.html
The Flaws of Defensive Realism and the False Promise of Re-engaging China
AEI 20230717
https://www.aei.org/research-products/journal-publication/the-flaws-of-defensive-realism-and-the-false-promise-of-re-engaging-china/
Xi meets former Philippine president
Xinhua 20230717
https://english.news.cn/20230717/47f2570dde4744dcb9a41171b15d4523/c.html
Japan and China defense officers resume exchange after COVID hiatus
Japan Times 20230717
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/17/national/japan-china-defense-officers-exchange/
ASEAN-China Defense Cooperation: Recent Developments
Eurasia Review 20230717
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17072023-asean-china-defense-cooperation-recent-developments-oped/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Residents share thoughts on 360-degree enhanced air and missile defense system
KUAM 20230717
https://www.kuam.com/story/49203011/residents-share-thoughts-on-360degree-enhanced-air-and-missile-defense-system
US House OKs bill that provides $78M for 3 Tinian divert projects
Saipan Tribune 20230717
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/us-house-oks-bill-that-provides-78m-for-3-tinian-divert-projects/
Guam provisions in House NDAA; delegate seeking H-2B extension
GDP 20230717
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-provisions-in-house-ndaa-delegate-seeking-h-2b-extension/article_9262f866-2438-11ee-977e-77abfa5dddc9.html
What The Compact Impact Fairness Act Means For Compact Host Governments And Migrants – Analysis
Eurasia Review 20230717
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17072023-what-the-compact-impact-fairness-act-means-for-compact-host-governments-and-migrants-analysis/
Marshall Islands seeks compensation from the US over nuclear tests
Radio NZ 20230718
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018898739/marshall-islands-seeks-compensation-from-the-us-over-nuclear-tests
Marshall Islands seeks more US compensation for nuclear tests
China Daily 20230717
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202307/17/WS64b49e0ba31035260b816c82.html
Chinese president appoints new ambassadors
Xinhua 20230717
https://english.news.cn/20230717/4513ef1a933549f79781106dac3edc68/c.html
Island Waves
Solomon Islands PM accuses Australia of pulling budget support, foreign interference
ABC (AU) 20230717
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-17/solomon-islands-pm-says-china-filled-gap-left-by-aus-nz/102609050
China to ‘fill the gap’ in Solomon Islands budget as PM blasts ‘unneighbourly’ Australia and US
Guardian 20230717
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/17/china-to-fill-the-gap-in-solomon-islands-budget-as-pm-blasts-unneighbourly-australia-and-us
Prime Minister’s Office Faces Backlash Over Allegedly False Claim of China-Funded Trip
Tavuli 20230717
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/prime-ministers-office-faces-backlash-over-allegedly-false-claim-of-china-funded-trip/
Papua New Guinea refuses to choose sides between US and China
Sunday Times (UK) 20230716
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/papua-new-guinea-refuses-to-choose-sides-between-us-and-china-jp3rw02g9
Taiwan + SCS
War with China over Taiwan? Don’t expect US allies to join
Responsible Statecraft 20230717
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/07/17/war-with-china-over-taiwan-dont-expect-us-allies-to-join/
US, Japan and Australia Can Aid Taiwan With Words, Not War
Bloomberg 20230717
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-07-17/us-japan-and-australia-can-aid-taiwan-without-war-against-china
Japan key ally for U.S. in defense of Taiwan: think tank
Kyodo 20230717
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/60a0db146c58-japan-key-ally-for-us-in-defense-of-taiwan-think-tank.html
Arming Taiwan an unacceptable provocation
Asia Times 20230717
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/arming-taiwan-an-unacceptable-provocation/
War games show lack of security dialogue mechanism
Taipei Times 20230718
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/18/2003803361
Japan Think Tank Holds War Game on Taiwan Crisis Scenario
Yomiuri 20230717
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230717-123450/
China slams planned US visit of 'separatist' Taiwan presidential frontrunner
Reuters 20230717
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-vice-president-attend-paraguay-inauguration-next-month-2023-07-17/
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230717
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4946251
Maritime COIN: Pushing Back in the South China Sea
USNI Proceedings July 2023
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2022/july/maritime-coin-pushing-back-south-china-sea
Senators favor raising PH case vs China to UN
Inquirer (PH) 20230717
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/216553/senators-favor-raising-ph-case-vs-china-to-un
Vietnam beefs up militarization in WPS
Manila Times 20230716
https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/07/16/news/vietnam-beefs-up-militarization-in-wps/1900884
ASEAN more capable of handling South China Sea issue properly
China Military 20230717
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16237755.html
It might be plastic fantastic, but Barbie lends cartoonish credibility to China’s nine-dash line
Lowy 20230717
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/it-might-be-plastic-fantastic-barbie-lends-cartoonish-credibility-china-s-nine-dash
Capabilities
Six partners, 3,000 miles: Air Mobility Command undertakes largest readiness exercise in Indo-Pacific
S&S 20230717
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-07-17/air-force-mobility-exercise-pacific-10763789.html
The U.S. Navy Needs More Attack Submarines
WSJ 20230716
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-s-navy-needs-more-attack-submarines-china-aukus-missile-repair-9f5965f
Space Force should offer European allies protection from anti-satellite attacks: Saltzman
Breaking Defense 20230717
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/space-force-should-offer-european-allies-protection-from-anti-satellite-attacks-saltzman/
U.S. falling behind China in tech advancements, Govini report finds
Defense News 20230717
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/07/17/us-falling-behind-china-in-tech-advancements-govini-report-finds/
US risks ‘weakness and dependence’ as it falls behind China in tech race: Report
Breaking Defense 20230717
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/us-risks-weakness-and-dependence-as-it-falls-behind-china-in-tech-race-report/
Exercises
I MEF HEAVILY ENGAGED IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC IN JULY
USMC 20230717
https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3460564/i-mef-heavily-engaged-in-the-western-pacific-in-july/
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 17, 2023
USNI 20230717
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/17/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-july-17-2023