Pacific Winds 20230801
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
The West’s China crossroads
ASPI 20230731
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-wests-china-crossroads/
Global Impact: what have the visits to Beijing by Yellen, Blinken, Kerry and Kissinger done for US-China relations?
SCMP 20230731
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3229443/global-impact-what-have-visits-beijing-yellen-blinken-kerry-and-kissinger-done-us-china-relations
Japan, China Lock Horns Over Aid Diplomacy
Yomiuri 20230731
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20230731-126353/
“Solidarity with Russia”: North Korea cements an anti-US bloc
Lowy 20230731
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/solidarity-russia-north-korea-cements-anti-us-bloc
S. Korea, U.S. agree to sign arrangement on bolstering defense supply chains
Yonhap 20230731
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230731002300325?section=news
Seoul-Tokyo rapprochement: Stop-gap measure or long-term goal?
Think China 20230731
https://www.thinkchina.sg/seoul-tokyo-rapprochement-stop-gap-measure-or-long-term-goal
The Quad: Less than the Sum of its Parts?
ISEAS 20230728
https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective/2023-63-the-quad-less-than-the-sum-of-its-parts-by-nick-bisley/
Blinken tells Australia that WikiLeaks founder is accused of ‘very serious’ crime
AP 20230730
https://apnews.com/article/bllinken-australia-assange-extradition-559b75e6aaf2220301e0f478b0958ca6
IPEF and the Durability of Policy Initiatives
CSIS 20230731
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ipef-and-durability-policy-initiatives
Japanese eateries in China fear ruin as Fukushima water discharge looms
Reuters 20230731
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japanese-eateries-china-fear-ruin-fukushima-water-discharge-looms-2023-07-31/
Blocking China’s Access to AI Chips Matters to U.S. National Security
CSIS 20230731
https://www.csis.org/analysis/blocking-chinas-access-ai-chips-matters-us-national-security
China curbs exports of drone equipment amid U.S. tech tension
Reuters 20230731
https://www.reuters.com/world/china-curbs-exports-drone-related-equipment-amid-us-tech-tensions-2023-07-31/
US-China Competition Still One-sided
AEI 20230731
https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/us-china-competition-still-one-sided/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Marshall Islands end Compact hold-out
Marianas Variety 20230731
https://www.mvariety.com/news/marshall-islands-end-compact-hold-out/article_baba7e40-2e94-11ee-a1dd-d3b38e3a9f70.html
Public invited to weigh in, learn more about proposed missile defense system this week
GDP 20230801
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/public-invited-to-weigh-in-learn-more-about-proposed-missile-defense-system-this-week/article_0f3f164c-2f3f-11ee-9808-73b29fcb6a78.html
Island Waves
A call for medical détente in the Pacific Islands
Lowy 20230731
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/call-medical-detente-pacific-islands
How the Solomon Islands became a flashpoint for US-China rivalry
Responsible Statecraft 20230731
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/07/31/how-the-solomon-islands-became-a-flashpoint-for-us-china-rivalry/
USAID Administrator Samantha Power to Visit Papua New Guinea
Post Courier (PNG) 20230731
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/usaid-administrator-samantha-power-to-visit-papua-new-guinea/
U.S. Coast Guard to search, board for PNG, in stepped up Pacific role
Reuters 20230731
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-coast-guard-search-board-png-stepped-up-pacific-role-2023-07-31/
Japan reasserts commitment towards Fiji
FBCN 20230731
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/japan-reasserts-commitment-towards-fiji/
China Cannot Develop in Isolation Says Envoy
Post Courier (PNG) 20230731
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-cannot-develop-in-isolation-says-envoy/
Solomon Islands Newspaper Promised to “Promote China” in Return for Funding
OCCRP 20230730
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/17884-solomon-islands-newspaper-promised-to-promote-china-in-return-for-funding
Radio Australia is going back there but what makes Palau tick?
ABC (AU) 20230731
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nightlife/palau/102667024
PNG Not a Launchpad
National (PNG) 20230731
https://www.thenational.com.pg/png-not-a-launch-pad/
What can we learn from the French President and the US Secretary of State in the Pacific?
ABC (AU) 20230731
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/high-level-diplomatic-visits-have-concluded-in-the-pacific/102667572
US Ambassador Kennedy arrives in Honiara
Solomon Star 20230731
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/us-ambassador-kennedy-arrives-in-honiara/
US Officials See Stronger Ties After Trip to Indo-Pacific
VoA 20230730
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-officials-see-stronger-ties-after-trip-to-indo-pacific-/7204625.html
Taiwan + SCS
US politicians to further endanger peace in Straits with ill-intentioned new act
GT 20230731
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295411.shtml
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 2030731
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4958410
Beacon of Hope or Song of Sirens：Revisiting the Nature of South China Sea Arbitration Ruling
SCSPI 20230731http://www.scspi.org/zh/node/540
How Colonial Empires Approached the South China Sea
The Diplomat 20230801
https://thediplomat.com/2023/07/how-colonial-empires-approached-the-south-china-sea/
EU to aid PH in South China Sea via 'info sharing, threat assessment'
ABS-CBN 20230731
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/31/23/eu-to-aid-ph-in-south-china-sea-via-info-sharing-threat-assessment
Capabilities
Reading between the lines at AUSMIN 2023: preparedness is key
ASPI 20230731
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/reading-between-the-lines-at-ausmin-2023-preparedness-is-key/
US unveils island launchers for China containment
Asia Times 20230731
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/us-unveils-island-launchers-for-china-containment/
US general says allies key to counter China in Pacific
AFP 20230731
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230731-us-general-says-allies-key-to-counter-china-in-pacific
Aussies, US agree to joint intel center, co-production of GMLRS
Breaking Defense 20230731
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/aussies-us-agree-to-joint-intel-center-co-production-of-gmlrs/
New changes in US military industry lead to more intense arms race
China Military 20230731
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16241288.html
Space Force programs get trimmed in Senate appropriations bill
Space News 20230731
https://spacenews.com/space-force-programs-get-trimmed-in-senate-appropriations-bill/
What’s Missing from the Quad’s ISR Partnership
Defense One 20230731
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2023/07/whats-missing-quads-isr-partnership/388967/
Something fishy about China’s anger over the Quad’s open ocean plans
Lowy 20230801
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/something-fishy-about-china-s-anger-over-quad-s-open-ocean-plans
Power
Absolute loyalty’: Xi turns anti-corruption focus to China’s military
FT 20230730
https://www.ft.com/content/279a90a3-c550-40a2-9484-8a6eebca628b
Marcos’ military pension, US cooperation dilemma
Asia Times 20230731
https://asiatimes.com/2023/07/marcoss-military-pension-us-cooperation-dilemma/
Exercises
Inside the large-scale military exercise in Australia to counter China's influence in the Pacific
ABC (US) 20230731
https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-large-scale-military-exercise-australia-counter-chinas/story?id=101845070
USN News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 31, 2023
USNI 20230731
https://news.usni.org/2023/07/31/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-july-31-2023
Events
China: Confrontation or Cooperation?
Responsible Statecraft 9 August 2023 6-8 PM CDT
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/china-confrontation-or-cooperation-tickets-673783393267?aff=oddtdtcreator