Pacific Winds 20230726
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US-China ties loom large as Blinken readies a rapid Asia-Pacific return with tour of Tonga, New Zealand, Australia
SCMP 20230725
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3228819/us-china-ties-loom-large-blinken-readies-rapid-asia-pacific-return-tour-tonga-new-zealand-australia
Fact Sheet: Secretary Austin's Eighth Trip to the Indo-Pacific Region
US DoD 20230725
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3470540/fact-sheet-secretary-austins-eighth-trip-to-the-indo-pacific-region/
The knot of China-US military contacts can only be untied by the US itself
GT 20230725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295030.shtml
Widening the alliance while retaining focus: foreign policy at AUSMIN 2023
ASPI 2023725
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/widening-the-alliance-while-retaining-focus-foreign-policy-at-ausmin-2023/
China, N.Korea 'to stand close' when US military presence worsens Peninsula tensions
GT 20230725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295051.shtml
Russian military delegation to join Chinese on North Korea visit
Nikkei 20230726
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/N-Korea-at-crossroads/Russian-military-delegation-to-join-Chinese-on-North-Korea-visit
China, Russia can and must help reduce tensions on Korean Peninsula: State Dept.
Yonhap 20230726
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230726000200325?section=news
Why can’t we just talk?
Responsible Statecraft 20230725
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/07/25/why-cant-we-just-talk/
The Illusion of Great-Power Competition
FA 20230724
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/illusion-great-power-competition
A WORLD OF BLOCS?
WOTR 20230725
https://warontherocks.com/2023/07/a-world-of-blocs/
'China-led order won't materialize': Japan experts call for realism
Nikkei 20230725
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-led-order-won-t-materialize-Japan-experts-call-for-realism
Japan in no position to make irresponsible remarks on Taiwan question: Chinese FM
GT 20230725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295021.shtml
Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi calls for cyberspace ‘fairness’, urges Brics, developing nations to oppose tech hegemony
SCMP 20230725
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3228875/top-chinese-diplomat-wang-yi-calls-cyberspace-fairness-urges-brics-developing-nations-oppose-tech
Chinese senior diplomat calls to resist Cold War mentality at BRICS security meetings
GT 20230725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295038.shtml
China to G7, EU: We 'strictly' implement UN sanctions on North Korea
Reuters 20230724
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-g7-eu-we-strictly-implement-un-sanctions-north-korea-2023-07-24/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S. Interior Secretary Haaland visits Palau
Island Times 20230725
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-interior-secretary-haaland-visits-palau/
Uludong dismisses OCCRP article
Island Times 20230725
https://islandtimes.org/uludong-dismisses-occrp-article/
Island Waves
Geopolitical competition and Solomon Islands: navigating the middle ground
DevPolicy 20230725
https://devpolicy.org/geopolitical-competition-and-solomon-islands-navigating-middle-ground-20230725/
Macron in New Caledonia to bolster France's Indo-Pacific strategy
Radio NZ 20230725
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/494437/macron-in-new-caledonia-to-bolster-france-s-indo-pacific-strategy
Vanuatu MP Urges French President Macron to Return Matthew and Hunter
Daily Post (VU) 20230725
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-mp-urges-french-president-macron-to-return-matthew-and-hunter/article_25eb6216-0591-5e3e-8f6c-1e24b54712ee.html
Emanuel Macron lands in New Caledonia, sparking anger among pro-independence groups
ABC (AU) 20230725
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pro-independence-groups-tell-emanuel-macron-he-is-not-welcome/102623352
As Blinken visits Tonga, the US needs to think beyond China in the Pacific Islands
Atlantic Council 20230725
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/as-blinken-visits-tonga-the-us-needs-to-think-beyond-china-in-the-pacific-islands/
US officials' tandem trip to Pacific "band-aid" diplomacy, exposes eagerness of strengthening ties in countering China
GT 20230725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295033.shtml
Agriculture Conversations In Solomon
Tavuli 20230725
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/agriculture-conversations-in-solomon/
Free medical treatment offered on Peace Ark medical mission
Matangi Tonga 20230725
https://matangitonga.to/2023/07/25/free-medical-treatment-offered-peace-ark-medical-mission
Sarah Ferguson interviews Tongan PM Siaosi Sovaleni
ABC (AU) 20230725
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-25/sarah-ferguson-interviews-tongan-pm-siaosi-sovaleni/102647326
US giving more money for disaster risk reduction in Samoa
Radio NZ 20230725
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/494442/us-giving-more-money-for-disaster-risk-reduction-in-samoa
USAID gives over $350,000 to WiFN Fiji
FBCN 20230725
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/usaid-gives-over-350000-to-wifn-fiji/
Officer returns home after 4 years in China
Fiji Times 20230725
https://www.fijitimes.com/officer-returns-home-after-4-years-in-china/
Misstep halts China trip
FBCN 20230725
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/misstep-halts-china-trip/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan tracks 25 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20230725
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4953032
PLA sends 29 planes and ships near Taiwan as island holds annual Han Kuang military drills
SCMP 20230725
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3228890/pla-sends-29-planes-and-ships-near-taiwan-island-holds-annual-military-drills
Capabilities
Defense authorization bill takes important steps to fight China’s growing influence
The Hill 20230725
https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4118512-defense-authorization-bill-takes-important-steps-to-fight-chinas-growing-influence/
US strategic nuclear submarines will only exacerbate tensions on Korean Peninsula
China Military 20230725
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16239674.html
CRS Report to Congress on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs
USNI 20230725
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/25/report-to-congress-on-north-koreas-nuclear-weapons-and-missile-programs-2
Putting meat on the bones: defence priorities at AUSMIN 2023
ASPI 20230725
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/putting-meat-on-the-bones-defence-priorities-at-ausmin-2023/
USAF Tests Palletized Munition System In Pacific
Aviation Week 20230724
https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/usaf-tests-palletized-munition-system-pacific
Space Force selects vendors for low Earth orbit satellite services
Space News 20230725
https://spacenews.com/space-force-selects-vendors-for-low-earth-orbit-satellite-services/
Draft commercial space ‘reserve’ plan allows DoD ‘exclusive access’ to services during conflict
Breaking Defense 20230725
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/draft-commercial-space-reserve-plan-allows-dod-exclusive-access-to-services-during-conflict/
Tokyo makes pitch for radar east of Okinawa to close surveillance gap
S&S 20230725
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-07-25/japan-okinawa-surveillance-radar-china-10846879.html
New Airlifters Of All Sizes May Be Needed For Future China Fight
The Drive 20230724
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/new-airlifters-of-all-sizes-may-be-needed-for-future-china-fight
Low flights of U.S. military's Ospreys over Japan's mainland raise safety concerns
Japan Times 20230725
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/07/25/national/osprey-low-flights/
Reviving The PBY Catalina For Modern Warfare Is This Company’s Goal
The Drive 20230725
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/aviation-company-relaunching-pby-5-as-modern-military-aircraft
Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Breaks Cover
The Drive 20230725
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/marines-tomahawk-missile-launching-drone-truck-breaks-cover
Navy to test Project Overmatch capabilities during Large Scale Exercise
Defense Scoop 20230724
https://defensescoop.com/2023/07/24/navy-to-test-project-overmatch-capabilities-during-large-scale-exercise/
Retired admirals, Project Overmatch will figure in Navy’s upcoming giant exercise
Defense One 20230724
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2023/07/roleplaying-admirals-project-overmatch-will-figure-navys-upcoming-giant-exercise/388793/
Why US is lagging behind China in AI race
Asia Times 20230725
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/why-us-is-lagging-behind-china-in-ai-race/
Power
Inflection Point: How to Reverse the Erosion of U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence
RAND 20230725
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA2500/RRA2555-1/RAND_RRA2555-1.pdf
“U.S.-China Competition and Military AI: How Washington Can Manage Strategic Risks amid Rivalry with Beijing”
CNAS 20230725
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/u-s-china-competition-and-military-ai
Exercises
Chinese, Russian Warships Continue Exercises in Sea of Japan; North Korea Resumes Missile Launches
USNI 20230725
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/25/chinese-russian-warships-continue-exercises-in-sea-of-japan-north-korea-resumes-missile-launches
Events
Security group hosts panel discussion on missile defense
PDN 20230725
https://www.guampdn.com/news/security-group-hosts-panel-discussion-on-missile-defense/article_dfa16d02-2aae-11ee-81c2-6b7b26158c7d.html