Pacific Winds 20230722
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US, China Dig In Despite Hopes for Thaw
VoA 20230720
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-china-dig-in-despite-hopes-for-thaw/7190024.html
Divide grows in Washington over US-China trade, as hawkish bipartisanship starts to crack
SCMP 20230721
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3228408/divide-grows-washington-over-us-china-trade-hawkish-bipartisanship-starts-crack
White House regrets Kissinger had better access in Beijing than current US officials
Reuters 20230720
https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-looks-forward-hearing-about-kissingers-china-trip-2023-07-20/
Washington reacts to Kissinger’s China reception with ‘sour grapes’ mentality
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294844.shtml
U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy Showing Results, Ratner Tells Congress
US DoD 20230720
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3466082/us-indo-pacific-strategy-showing-results-ratner-tells-congress/
Australian Ambassador says 'this ain't a Cold War' with China
S&S 20230720
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-20/australia-ambassador-cold-war-china-10801147.html
With Kerry in Beijing, China Signals It Will Go Its Own Way on Climate Change Policy
The Diplomat 20230720
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/with-kerry-in-beijing-china-signals-it-will-go-its-own-way-on-climate-change-policy/
South Korea’s Deepening Political Divide Is Mapping Onto Its Foreign Policy
The Diplomat 20230720
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/south-koreas-deepening-political-divide-is-mapping-onto-its-foreign-policy/
Republic of Korea and ASEAN Relations: From the Centre to the Peripheral
AIIA 20230721
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/republic-of-korea-and-asean-relations-from-the-centre-to-the-peripheral/
Japan relists South Korea as preferred trade partner as ties improve
Kyodo 20230721
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/07/15ee7ac54488-japan-relists-s-korea-as-preferred-trade-partner-as-ties-improve.html
Philippines should keep clear mind as US remains biggest unstable factor of regional peace: analysts
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294845.shtml
The United States shifts gears in the Asia-Pacific
EAF 20230721
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/07/21/the-united-states-shifts-gears-in-the-asia-pacific/
Untangling the U.S. From China’s Economy Is Messy
WSJ 20230721
https://www.wsj.com/articles/untangling-the-u-s-from-chinas-economy-is-messy-8a658f2e
US flags national security fears over Chinese autonomous vehicle firms in American market
SCMP 20230721
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3228416/us-flags-national-security-fears-over-chinese-autonomous-vehicle-firms-american-market
Yellen: U.S. Wants ‘friend-shoring’ to Include Emerging Economies
Yomiuri 20230721
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/afp-jiji/20230721-124465/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
DOD Official Highlights Importance of Pacific Island Nations
US DoD 20230720
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3466096/dod-official-highlights-importance-of-pacific-island-nations/
US Lawmakers Weigh Funding to Counter Chinese Influence on Pacific Islands
VoA 20230721
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-lawmakers-weigh-funding-to-counter-chinese-influence-on-pacific-islands/7190488.html
Xi's special envoy to attend Micronesian presidential inauguration
Xinhua 20230721
https://english.news.cn/20230721/8a5cf2ed64da4aaf98dd8849add03a1c/c.html
Failed Palau Media Deal Reveals Inner Workings of China’s Pacific Influence Effort
OCCRP 20230721
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/failed-palau-media-deal-reveals-inner-workings-of-chinas-pacific-influence-effort
Politics Risk Derailing One of America’s Most Important Strategic Agreements
The Diplomat 20230722
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/politics-risk-derailing-one-of-americas-most-important-strategic-agreements/
Teamwork defuses threat from Nauru bomb
AU DoD 20230721
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-07-21/teamwork-defuses-threat-nauru-bomb
Island Waves
Blinken Heads to Tonga, New Zealand, Australia as US Intensifies Indo-Pacific Strategy
VoA 20230720
https://www.voanews.com/a/blinken-heads-to-tonga-new-zealand-australia-as-us-intensifies-indo-pacific-strategy/7189116.html
Blinken heads to Tonga, New Zealand, Australia as US shifts Indo-Pacific strategy into overdrive
AP 20230721
https://apnews.com/article/blinken-tonga-australia-new-zealand-china-efed5e69a43b5890114e0fc9f09ba859
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit Tonga, discuss security with NZ and Australia
ABC (AU) 20230721
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/us-secretary-of-state-to-visit-pacific/102630888
Blinken’s visit ‘to woo Pacific island countries, press allies harder’ as US eager for stronger presence
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294839.shtml
President Macron’s Historic Pacific Visit: A Signal of France’s Regional Step-Up
The Diplomat 20230721
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/president-macrons-historic-pacific-visit-a-signal-of-frances-regional-step-up/
China donates bus to transport of Tonga Fire recruits
Matangi Tonga 20230721
https://matangitonga.to/2023/07/21/china-donates-bus-transport-tonga-fire-recruits
Government explains radar deployment plan to residents of Okinawan island
Japan Times 2030721
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/21/national/okinawa-island-radar/
Taiwan + SCS
The Debate on US Strategy in Taiwan-China Relations
Chicago Council on Global Affairs 20230720
https://globalaffairs.org/commentary-and-analysis/podcasts/debate-us-strategy-taiwan-china-relations
House and Senate clash over Taiwan military aid levels
Defense News 20230720
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/budget/2023/07/20/house-and-senate-clash-over-taiwan-military-aid-levels/
Inspired by Ukraine war, Taiwan launches drone blitz to counter China
Straits Times 20230721
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/inspired-by-ukraine-war-taiwan-launches-drone-blitz-to-counter-china
Taiwan probes alleged leak of classified reports, diplomatic cables
Reuters 20230721
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-probes-alleged-leak-classified-reports-diplomatic-cables-sources-2023-07-21/
China sends 25 military aircraft around Taiwan on Friday morning
Taiwan News 20230721
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4950170
China sends 26 military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230721
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4950009
Philippines Says US Pledged to Support Its Defense Upgrade
Bloomberg 20230719
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-20/philippines-says-us-pledged-to-support-its-defense-upgrade
Capabilities
Japan 'key' in handling any Indo-Pacific contingency: top U.S. general
Nikkei 20230722
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Japan-key-in-handling-any-Indo-Pacific-contingency-top-U.S.-general
North Korean nuclear attack would ‘end’ communist regime, Yoon says at US submarine
S&S 20230720
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-20/north-korea-nuclear-attack-yoon-kentucky-10796042.html
USS Kentucky submarine leaves S. Korea after show-of-force port visit
Yonhap 20230721
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230721005200325?section=national/defense
China’s failure to intervene in North Korea’s military deployment would prompt US response, says Antony Blinken
SCMP 20230721
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3228564/chinas-failure-intervene-north-koreas-military-deployment-would-prompt-us-response-says-antony
N. Korean missile launches only solidify U.S. alliances with S. Korea, Japan: Blinken
Yonhap 20230721
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230722000300325?section=news
(Re)assessing the near-term Chinese carrier threat in a Taiwan scenario
Breaking Defense 20230721
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/reassessing-the-near-term-chinese-carrier-threat-in-a-taiwan-scenario/
How Air Mobility Command is prepping for possible conflict in the Pacific
Defense One 20230721
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/07/how-air-mobility-command-prepping-possible-conflict-pacific/388741/
China’s CH UAV develops new-type loitering munition with super-long-range
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294826.shtml
Army to Field Hypersonic Weapon in Fall 2023, Secretary Says
National Defense 20230720
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/7/20/united-states-developing-long-range-hypersonic-weapon-ahead-of-potential-indo-pacific-conflict
We can’t guarantee we can defend our bases, admits RAAF chief
SMH 20230721
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-can-t-guarantee-we-can-defend-our-bases-admits-raaf-chief-20230713-p5do5k.html
A ‘Plan B’ for the ADF: supporting resistance as a strategy
ASPI 20230721
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-plan-b-for-the-adf-supporting-resistance-as-a-strategy/
Hacking of Government Email Was Traditional Espionage, Official Says
NYTimes 20230720
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/us/politics/china-hacking-official-email.html
CIA rebuilding spy networks in China a decade after losing agents, director reveals
WashTimes 20230720
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jul/20/cia-rebuilding-spy-networks-china-decade-after-los/
GSDF amphibious unit now seen as 'partner' of U.S. Marines
Japan Times 20230721
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/21/national/gsdf-amphibious-unit-marines-partner/
Space Force Holds First-Ever Forum with Japan to Build Next Steps for Cooperation
Air & Space 20230721
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-forum-japan-cooperation/
Singapore’s Navy receives first of four new German-built submarines
Defense News 202300721
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/07/21/singapores-navy-receives-first-of-four-new-german-built-submarines/
Xi stresses enhancing Party leadership over armed forces
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294834.shtml
Power
Chinese politics is undergoing great change
Think China 20230721
https://www.thinkchina.sg/chinese-politics-undergoing-great-change
Exercises
US navy secretary says Australian multination military exercise demonstrates unity to China
S&S 20230721
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2023-07-21/navy-secretary-australia-exercise-china-10808795.html
Chinese Spy Ship Off Coast of Australia as Talisman Sabre Exercise Begins
USNI 20230721
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/21/chinese-spy-ship-off-coast-of-australia-as-talisman-sabre-exercise-begins
PLA warplanes to deliver mock combat demonstration during open-day event
GT 20230721
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1294838.shtml
Events
China: Confrontation or Cooperation?
Quincy 9 August 2023 8-9PM CDT
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/china-confrontation-or-cooperation-tickets-673783393267