Pacific Winds 20230720
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China’s Xi Rebuffs Kerry’s Call for Faster Climate Action
NYTimes 20230719
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/world/asia/xi-china-climate-kerry.html
US envoy John Kerry tells China to separate climate from politics
Reuters 20230719
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-envoy-kerry-says-china-climate-talks-constructive-complicated-2023-07-19/
US, China to work 'intensively' on climate in weeks ahead - Kerry
Reuters 20230719
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-china-work-intensively-climate-weeks-ahead-kerry-2023-07-19/
US Says Chinese Military Ignored Invitation to Defense Event
Bloomberg 20230718
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-19/us-says-chinese-military-ignored-invitation-to-defense-event
Wang meets Kissinger as Kerry wraps up China visit; Beijing delivers clear message to Washington
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294689.shtml
Kurt Campbell on Talking to China Again
China Wire 20230716
https://t.co/QiCDS9TGWK
China-bashing conservatives stand in the way of China-US climate cooperation
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294670.shtml
Australia-US talks as AUKUS rankles Labor rank and file
Canberra Times 20230719
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8275778/australia-us-talks-as-aukus-rankles-labor-rank-and-file/
‘Truly real’: Indo-Pacom chief sounds alarm on ‘concerning’ China-Russia relationship
Breaking Defense 202030719
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/truly-real-indo-pacom-chief-sounds-alarm-on-concerning-china-russia-relationship/
What Is Yoon’s NATO strategy?
CSIS 20230719
https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-yoons-nato-strategy
Biden admin might 'be forced to engage' N.Korea
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294683.shtml
Where Is Vietnam on the Sino-U.S. Spectrum?
CSIS 20230719
https://www.csis.org/analysis/where-vietnam-sino-us-spectrum
Japan seeks experts' dialogue with China on Fukushima water release
Kyodo 20230719
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/252061e4071e-japan-seeks-experts-dialogue-with-china-on-fukushima-water-release.html
Hopefully US semiconductor companies' 'petition' can awaken Washington
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294726.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Marshalls minister unhappy with initial compact deal with US
Rdaio NZ 20230720
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/494098/marshalls-minister-unhappy-with-initial-compact-deal-with-us
Marshall Islands seeks US apology and full compensation for damage from its 67 nuclear tests
SCMP 20230719
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3228166/marshall-islands-seeks-us-apology-and-full-compensation-damage-its-67-nuclear-tests
US confident of reaching strategic agreement with Marshall Islands, official says
Reuters 20230718
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-confident-reaching-strategic-agreement-with-marshall-islands-official-says-2023-07-18/
Where Does Palau Stand in US-China Rivalry?
VoA 20230719
https://www.voanews.com/a/president-of-the-republic-of-palau-we-re-part-of-the-us-family/7187006.html
Indo-Pacific Task Force holds second hearing
KUAM 20230719
https://www.kuam.com/story/49213383/indopacific-task-force-holds-second-hearing
U.S. House group focuses on relationships involving Marshall Islands, other Pacific nations
Arkansas Gazette-Democrat 20230719
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/19/us-house-group-focuses-on-relationships-involving/
Securing the U.S. Position in the Pacific: Congress Should Renew and Fund the Compacts of Free Association (COFA)
Heritage 20230719
https://www.heritage.org/asia/report/securing-the-us-position-the-pacific-congress-should-renew-and-fund-the-compacts-free
Environmental groups file suit to stall habitat loss at new Marine base on Guam
S&S 20230719
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-19/guam-endangered-species-camp-blaz-10783730.html
Bill would ban nuclear energy on Guam
PIT 20230719
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/bill-would-ban-nuclear-energy-on-guam
Testimony weighs nuclear microreactors
GDP 20230720
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/testimony-weighs-nuclear-microreactors/article_7ac7aab2-2528-11ee-9898-cbc4f44bc9ed.html
Six Countries Contribute to Impressive Elephant Walk on Guam
Air & Space 20230719
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/photos-six-countries-elephant-walk-guam/
NDAA2024 raises funding for Pacific Deterrence Initiative against China
PIT 20230719
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/nda2024-raises-funding-for-pacific-deterrence-initiative-against-china
Island Waves
The battle for influence in the Pacific between the world's superpowers
Radio NZ 20230719
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/494054/the-battle-for-influence-in-the-pacific-between-the-world-s-superpowers
U.S. military to use Papua New Guinea naval base for 15 years
Nikkei 20230719
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-military-to-use-Papua-New-Guinea-naval-base-for-15-years
Defending the Pacific to defend Australia
ASPI 20230719
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/defending-the-pacific-to-defend-australia/
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries - Australia
Reuters 20230719
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/solomon-islands-vanuatu-consider-forming-militaries-australia-2023-07-19/
Defence Minister Richard Marles happy for Australia to support Solomon Islands defence force
ABC (AU) 20230719
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/australia-happy-to-support-solomon-islands-defence-force/102622652
US proposes military training for young civilians in Pacific island countries
PIT 20230719
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-proposes-military-training-for-young-civilians-in-pacific-island-countries
Sogavare’s Pivot to China Complete
Solomon Times 20230719
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/sogavares-pivot-to-china-complete/12729
Emhoff will become the highest-profile US official to visit Samoa as US makes a Pacific islands push
AP 20230719
https://www.wdrb.com/news/national/emhoff-will-become-the-highest-profile-us-official-to-visit-samoa-as-us-makes-a/article_973651ae-c1a5-581a-a8b9-60c9ad00e194.html
Black Flight Denied
Post Courier 20230719
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/black-flight-denied/
The Japanese island of Okinawa is caught in the middle of U.S.-China tensions
Axios 20230718
https://www.axios.com/okinawa-military-base-us-china-conflict
Okinawa to expand PFAS testing after samples showed high levels near US bases
S&S 20230719
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-19/okinawa-pfas-testing-military-bases-10784021.html
Taiwan + SCS
US Congress' passage of bill under 'trade initiative' with Taiwan island may damage 'fragile thawing' of ties with China
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294712.shtml
Taiwan says looking to buy NASAMS air defence system from US
Reuters 20230718
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-says-looking-buy-nasams-air-defence-system-us-2023-07-18/
Chinese military could suffer heavy losses in Taiwan advance: Simulation
CNA (TW) 20230719
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202307190017
U.S. Indo-Pacific commander says Chinese invasion of Taiwan would fail
WashTimes 20230719
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jul/19/inside-ring-admiral-says-chinese-invasion-taiwan-w/
US, Taiwan hype war risks, stoke anxieties
China Military 20230719
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16238009.html
US hopes China won't take 'provocative' action over transit stops by Taiwan VP
Reuters 20230719
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/no-reason-china-take-action-over-us-transit-by-taiwan-vp-us-diplomat-2023-07-19/
Why US may have ‘sense of urgency’ to improve military ties with China
SCMP 20230719
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3228260/why-us-may-have-sense-urgency-improve-military-ties-china
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230719
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4948003
Capabilities
Navy Raises Battle Force Goal to 381 Ships in Classified Report to Congress
USNI 20230718
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/18/navy-raises-battle-force-goal-to-381-ships-in-classified-report-to-congress
Deterring China Requires Build Up of U.S. Nuclear Defenses, Admiral Says
National Defense 20230719
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/7/19/commander-of-pacom-calls-for-increased-urgency-surrounding-chinese-weapons-development
White House, Congress Disagree About Proposed US Missile Defense Plan
VoA 20230719
https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-congress-disagree-about-proposed-us-missile-defense-plan/7186758.html
Senate Demands Airspace Defense Review
Breaking Defense 20230718
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/senate-demands-airspace-defense-review
SDA racing ahead with new, US-based satellite ground stations, could meet hiccup abroad
Breaking Defense 20230718
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/sda-racing-ahead-with-new-us-based-satellite-ground-stations-could-meet-hiccup-abroad/
North Korea Tests Missiles as US Nuclear Sub Sails to South
Bloomberg 20230718
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-18/north-korea-tests-missiles-after-us-nuclear-sub-sails-to-south
US' attempt to flex muscles to NK falls flat as American soldier flees
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294729.shtml
Nuclear group meeting signals U.S. has South Korea's back on nuclear deterrence, analyst says
CNAS 20230718
https://www.cnas.org/publications/video/nuclear-group-meeting-signals-u-s-has-south-koreas-back-on-nuclear-deterrence-analyst-says
GM Defense tackling battlefield power for Marines through DIU effort
Defense News 20230719
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/07/19/gm-defense-tackling-battlefield-power-for-marines-through-diu-effort/
Force Modernization Has Arrived
USNI Proceedings July 2023
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/july/force-modernization-has-arrived
Power
How is China shifting its foreign policy to counter moves to ‘contain’ it from the West?
The Conversation 20230719
https://theconversation.com/how-is-china-shifting-its-foreign-policy-to-counter-moves-to-contain-it-from-the-west-209973
Exercises
USS Kentucky Hosts ROK President Yoon
USN 20230719
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3463498/uss-kentucky-hosts-rok-president-yoon/
Chinese intelligence expected to monitor Australia’s Talisman Sabre military exercises
Guardian 20230719
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/19/chinese-intelligence-monitor-australia-talisman-sabre-military-excercise-tianwangxing
Australia affirms support for PH arbitral win as 2 countries hold naval exercises
ABS-CBN 20230718
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/18/23/australia-backs-ph-arbitral-win-amid-holding-of-naval-exercises
Japan to fire advanced ship-killing missile on Australia's shores
ABC (AU) 20230719
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/japan-to-conduct-live-missile-firing-on-australias-shores/102616950