Pacific Winds 20230721
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China’s Xi Meets ‘Old Friend’ Kissinger Amid Tensions With US
Bloomberg 20230720
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-20/china-s-xi-meets-old-friend-kissinger-amid-tensions-with-us
Frustrated by Biden, China Courts ‘Old Friends’ Like Kissinger
NYTimes 20230720
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/world/asia/china-kissinger-visit-us.html
Why China Won’t Talk With America’s Military
FA 20230720
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/why-china-wont-talk-americas-military
Talking to China isn’t nearly enough
Asia Times 20237020
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/talking-to-china-isnt-nearly-enough/
GOP to Biden officials: Diplomacy and trade with China a ‘sign of weakness’
Responsible Statecraft 20230720
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/07/20/gop-to-biden-officials-diplomacy-and-trade-with-china-a-sign-of-weakness/
Assessing Special Envoy Kerry’s Visit to China
CSIS 20230720
https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessing-special-envoy-kerrys-visit-china
China is not obliged to cooperate as Japan uses 'consultation' as a cover
GT 20230720
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294803.shtml
Japan–South Korea forced labour ‘deal’ struggles to heal old wounds
EAF 20230720
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/07/20/japan-south-korea-forced-labour-deal-struggles-to-heal-old-wounds/
Biden to host 3-way summit with Japan, S. Korea on Aug. 18: sources
Kyodo 20230720
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/70d677a9274b-urgent-biden-to-host-3-way-summit-with-japan-s-korea-on-aug-18-sources.html
THE RIGHT LESSONS TO TAKE FROM AUSTRALIA-JAPAN DEFENCE COOPERATION
USSC 20230720
https://www.ussc.edu.au/analysis/the-right-lessons-to-take-from-australia-japan-defence-cooperation
Incremental Progress Made in Fourth IPEF Round, Still a Ways to Go
CSIS 20230720
https://www.csis.org/analysis/incremental-progress-made-fourth-ipef-round-still-ways-go
Japan, ASEAN and ‘De-risking’ Through Free Trade
The Diplomat 20230720
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/japan-asean-and-de-risking-through-free-trade/
China Starts Blanket Checks on Japanese Seafood
Yomiuri 20230720
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20230720-124135/
China-U.S. economic, trade ties as inseparable as "threads and needles": Chinese diplomat
Xinhua 20230720
https://english.news.cn/20230720/0be26ab8eb6b421e905b4d5a1ec96d66/c.html
China's Washington envoy warns of retaliation against further US tech curbs
Reuters 20230719
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-washington-envoy-warns-retaliation-against-further-us-tech-curbs-2023-07-19/
China rejects 'Iron Curtain' or 'Silicon Curtain' imposed by the US upon the world, warns against 'an eye for an eye': Chinese Ambassador
GT 20230719
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294748.shtml
Don’t underrate China’s resolve to push back at US sanctions
GT 20230720
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294792.shtml
Envoy warns China will ‘definitely’ respond to US tech curbs, but experts say Beijing’s options are limited
SCMP 20230720
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3228377/envoy-warns-china-will-definitely-respond-us-tech-curbs-experts-say-its-options-are-limited
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
America's forgotten nuclear migration: The Marshallese displaced by US bomb testing face new challenges
ABC (US) 20230718
https://abcnews.go.com/International/americas-forgotten-nuclear-migration-micronesians-displaced-us-bomb/story?id=101328719
President Biden Announces Presidential Delegation to the Federated States of Micronesia to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Wesley W. Simina
US White House 20230720
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/20/president-biden-announces-presidential-delegation-to-the-federated-states-of-micronesia-to-attend-the-inauguration-of-his-excellency-wesley-w-simina/
Measure would bar nuclear power on Guam
GDP 20230721
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/measure-would-bar-nuclear-power-on-guam/article_3c0dba32-25f5-11ee-a207-f371841ba0e4.html
US backs women in biz
MIJ 20230720
https://marshallislandsjournal.com/us-backs-women-in-biz/
Island Waves
US plans second summit with Pacific island leaders in September
Reuters 20230720
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-plans-second-summit-with-pacific-island-leaders-september-2023-07-20/
China is playing the long game in the Pacific. Here’s why its efforts are beginning to pay off
The Conversation 20230720
https://theconversation.com/china-is-playing-the-long-game-in-the-pacific-heres-why-its-efforts-are-beginning-to-pay-off-209960
Share Policing Issues Discussed Says Aust
National (PNG) 20230720
https://www.thenational.com.pg/shared-policing-issues-discussed-says-aust/
Australia prepared to backup Solomon Islands military plans 'when asked'
Radio NZ 20230721
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/494151/australia-prepared-to-backup-solomon-islands-military-plans-when-asked
US Defence Secretary Austin to Visit PNG
National (PNG) 20230720
https://www.thenational.com.pg/us-defence-secretary-austin-to-visit-png/
First ever visit to Papua New Guinea by a US SecDef announced, as Pacific Islands import grows
Breaking defense 20230720
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/first-ever-visit-to-papua-new-guinea-by-a-us-secdef-announced-as-pacific-islands-import-grows/
To the Pacific islands, the West’s support for Japan’s Fukushima nuclear waste ocean dumping is hypocrisy
SCMP 20230720
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3228154/pacific-islands-wests-support-japans-fukushima-nuclear-waste-ocean-dumping-hypocrisy
China’s Okinawa Policy Attracts Attention
The Diplomat 20230720
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/chinas-okinawa-policy-attracts-attention/
Taiwan + SCS
China says its 'priority' is to stop Taiwan VP visiting US next month
Reuters 20230720
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-its-priority-is-stop-taiwan-vp-visiting-us-next-month-2023-07-20/
Taiwan troops 'annihilate' PLA special forces in Japan tabletop simulation
Taiwan News 20230720
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4949191
Taiwan to reach out to world, Tsai says
Taipei Times 20230721
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/07/21/2003803523
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20230720
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4949079
China sends 22 military aircraft around Taiwan on Thursday morning
Taiwan News 20230720
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4949407
DND: Philippines working on contingency plan in case China invades Taiwan
PhilStar 20230720
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/07/20/2282539/dnd-philippines-working-contingency-plan-case-china-invades-taiwan
Philippines: Manila closely monitoring Chinese threat to invade Taiwan
RFA 20230720
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/southchinasea/threat-monitoring-07202023143922.html
Capabilities
Chinese spy balloon exposed gaps in U.S. ability to detect threats, NORAD commander says
NBC 20230720
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chinese-spy-surveillance-balloon-flaws-threat-detection-norad-defense-rcna95094
China, Russia creating a ‘dangerous world’ with friendlier military relationship, Pacific commander says
Defense One 20230719
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/07/china-russia-creating-dangerous-world-friendlier-military-relationship-pacific-commander-says/388668/
Pacom Commander Says U.S. Must Continue Modernization of Strategic Capabilities
US DoD 20230719
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3464477/pacom-commander-says-us-must-continue-modernization-of-strategic-capabilities/
Defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world
UK MoD 20230718
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23882451-defence_command_paper_2023_defence_s_response_to_a_more_contested_and_volatile_world?responsive=1&title=1
Three-to-five years from now is the danger time when the US could face both China and Russia
Breaking Defense 20230720
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/three-to-five-years-from-now-is-the-danger-time-when-the-us-could-face-both-china-and-russia/
Mobility Guardian Ditches ‘Easy Button’ to Put Airmen to the Test in the Pacific
Air & Space 20230719
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/mobility-guardian-airmen-test-pacific/
General Says U.S. Can Meet 'Challenge' of Simultaneous Ukraine, Pacific Ops
Newsweek 20230720
https://www.newsweek.com/general-says-us-can-meet-challenge-simultaneous-ukrainepacificops-1813868
Why is Australia buying so many different types of strike missiles?
ASPI 20230720
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-is-australia-buying-so-many-different-types-of-strike-missiles/
US Marines Conduct First NMESIS Launch In Two Years
Naval News 20230719
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/07/us-marines-conduct-first-nmesis-launch-in-two-years/
N. Korea warns U.S. nuclear submarine visit to S. Korea may fall under conditions for its nuke us
Yonhap 20230720
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230720007752325
S. Korea visit by USS Kentucky aimed at promoting peace: Pentagon
Yonhap 20230721
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230721000200325?section=news
The U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group’s Successful Launching
CSIS 20230720
https://www.csis.org/analysis/us-rok-nuclear-consultative-groups-successful-launching
Ernst and Gallagher Are Right: US Needs “Rings of Fire” in Asia against China
Hudson 20230720
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/ernst-gallagher-are-right-us-need-ring-fire-asia-against-china-jeremy-hunt
China’s spaceplane program making hypersonic strides
Asia Times 20230720
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/chinas-spaceplane-program-making-hypersonic-strides/
Navy’s New 381-Hull Fleet Plan Recommits To Big Amphibious Warfare Ships
The Drive 20230719
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/navys-new-381-hull-fleet-plan-recommits-to-big-amphibious-warfare-ships
Hypersonics to shipyards: A round up of AUKUS provisions floating on the Hill
Breaking Defense 20230720
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/hypersonics-to-shipyards-a-round-up-of-aukus-provisions-floating-on-the-hill/
Space Integral to the DOD Way of War, Policy Chief Says
US DoD 20230720
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3465982/space-integral-to-the-dod-way-of-war-policy-chief-says/
Space Force using Anduril software to integrate U.S. space surveillance sensors
Space News 20230720
https://spacenews.com/space-force-using-anduril-software-to-integrate-u-s-space-surveillance-sensors/
Space Command leaders accused of ‘deliberate manipulation’ in headquarters fight
S&S 20230719
https://www.stripes.com/branches/space_force/2023-07-19/alabama-space-command-deliberate-manipulation-10790505.html
Power
The Pentagon is the wrong agency to lead the new US deterrence strategy
Defense One 20230720
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2023/07/pentagon-wrong-agency-lead-new-us-deterrence-strategy/388676/
Exercises
Enhancing readiness and strengthening partnerships: USAF Mobility Guardian and US Indo-Pacific Command Northern Edge 23-2
USAF PacAF 20230720
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3465968/enhancing-readiness-and-strengthening-partnerships-usaf-mobility-guardian-and-u/
Chinese, Russian Warships Meet Near Japan for Naval Exercise
USNI 20230719
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/19/chinese-russian-warships-meet-near-japan-for-naval-exercise
China, Russia kick off joint military exercise in Sea of Japan
GT 20230720
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294773.shtml
Events
A conversation with Assistant Secretaries Daniel Kritenbrink and Ely Ratner on US alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific
Brookings 21 July 10:30-11:30 AM EDT
https://www.brookings.edu/events/a-conversation-with-assistant-secretaries-daniel-kritenbrink-and-ely-ratner-on-us-alliances-and-partnerships-in-the-indo-pacific/