Pacific Winds 20230818

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Bridging the divide: the significance of the US- South Korea-Japan trilateral
Lowy 20230817
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/bridging-divide-significance-us-south-korea-japan-trilateral

Biden to host stand-alone summit with Japan and South Korea, a first
WaPo 20230817
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/17/biden-japan-south-korea-camp-david/

Eye on China, Biden Pulls Japan and South Korea Closer
NYTimes 20230817
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/world/asia/camp-david-summit-japan-south-korea-biden.html

Historic US-Japan-South Korea pact may extend intel sharing, chip security among allies
S&S 20230817
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-08-17/us-japan-south-korea-pact-camp-david-11073963.html

Why This Week’s Camp David Summit Is So Important
Hudson 20230817
https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/why-week-camp-david-summit-so-important-riley-walters

What to Expect from the Trilateral Summit with Japan and South Korea
USIP 20230817
https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/08/what-expect-trilateral-summit-japan-and-south-korea

Japan more than a military ally: Rahm Emanuel on podcast
S&S 20230817
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-08-16/japan-ally-china-rahm-emanuel-freakonomics-11072039.html

Fears over China fuel wish for larger American presence in Indo-Pacific: US ambassador to Japan
SCMP 20230817
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3231346/fears-over-china-fuel-wish-larger-american-presence-indo-pacific-us-ambassador-japan

DFA chief: PH eyes visiting forces agreement with ‘major ally near China’
CNN (PH) 20230816
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/8/16/ph-eyes-vfa-major-ally-near-china.html

Marles moves to douse ‘damaging’ Labor AUKUS dissent
AFR 20230817
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/marles-moves-to-defuse-damaging-labor-aukus-debate-20230817-p5dx7g

Calls will not be answered till sincerity shown
China Military 20230817
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16245789.html

If US sees China as No.1 competitor, China must have the power to match the label
GT 20230817
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296485.shtml

Blaming China is Washington's political game but won't heal US economic woes
GT 20230817
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296498.shtml

Japan Might Have an Answer to Chinese Rare Earth Threats
FP 20230815
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/15/japan-rare-earth-minerals-green-transition-china-supply-chains/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

US military shares revised plans for the CNMI
Saipan Tribune 20230817
https://www.saipantribune.com/news/local/us-military-shares-revised-plans-for-the-cnmi/article_d72fd7b6-3bfd-11ee-8ad3-13da5d4339fa.html

Rare congressional oversight hearing to be held on Guam
KUAM 20230817
https://www.kuam.com/story/49441100/rare-congressional-oversight-hearing-to-be-held-on-guam

Island Waves

Samoa PM Fiame Mata’afa calls to prioritise Pacific security
Islands Business 20230817
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/pacific-maritime-security/

2 US House members visit Solomon Islands but prime minister is ‘unavailable’ for meeting
SCMP 20230817
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3231344/2-us-house-members-visit-solomon-islands-prime-minister-unavailable-meeting

US delegate says Solomon Islands PM was too ‘busy’ to meet him
Guardian 20230817
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/17/us-delegate-says-solomon-islands-pm-was-too-busy-to-meet-him

PNG-Indonesia cooperation will 'uplift communities', Prime Minister James Marape says
Radio NZ 20230817
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/496015/png-indonesia-cooperation-will-uplift-communities-prime-minister-james-marape-says

Economic diplomacy: Slicing up a new aid menu
Lowy 20230817
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/economic-diplomacy-slicing-new-aid-menu

US proposes a win-win support model for Fiji
FBCN 20230817
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/us-proposes-a-win-win-support-model-for-fiji/

Climate adaptation is a priority: USAID
FBCN 20230817
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/climate-adaptation-is-a-priority-usaid/

Multi-lateral partnership prioritises digital connectivity
FBCN 20230817
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/multi-lateral-partnership-prioritises-digital-connectivity/

New communication systems for HMAF and NEMO
Matangi Tonga 20230817
https://matangitonga.to/2023/08/17/new-communication-systems-hmaf-and-nemo

Taiwan + SCS

China’s Word Game: A New Narrative of the “One China Principle”
The Diplomat 20230816
https://thediplomat.com/2023/08/chinas-word-game-a-new-narrative-of-the-one-china-principle/

"Reviewing the Straits"PLA Eastern Theater Command releases video on combat readiness amid secessionist Lai Ching-te's 'stopovers' in US
GT 20230817
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296474.shtml

US survey shows 50% backs Taiwan against China
Taipei Times (Reuters) 20230818
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/08/18/2003804921

Washington ignores history, insists on playing 'Taiwan card' for its own hegemony
GT 20230817
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296488.shtml

Top U.S. agency in Taiwan voices commitment to island's self-defense
Kyodo 20230817
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/e7e330ad3e80-top-us-agency-in-taiwan-voices-commitment-to-islands-self-defense.html

Lai's relying on US for 'Taiwan independence' cold-shouldered; Mainland has enough options to counter secessionist moves: analyst
GT 20230817
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202308/1296511.shtml

An industrial tripwire approach for saving Taiwan
Asia Times 20230817
https://asiatimes.com/2023/08/an-industrial-tripwire-approach-for-saving-taiwan/

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20230817
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4973367

New construction raises questions over Beijing plans to build an airstrip on disputed South China Sea island
ABC (AU) 20230817
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-17/china-building-an-airstrip-on-triton-island/102739536

Capabilities

North Korea preparing ICBM launch to protest trilateral summit: South Korea
Kyodo 20230817
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/08/e54729185b1c-urgent-n-korea-preparing-icbm-launch-to-protest-trilateral-summit-s-korea.html

N. Korea preparing ICBM launch or other provocations for S. Korea-U.S.-Japan summit: spy agency
Yonhap 20230817
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230817005700315?section=news

No let-up in China nuclear weapons expansion, Stratcom general says
WashTimes 20230816
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/aug/16/no-let-china-nuclear-weapons-expansion-stratcom-ge/

China deploys swarm of satellites to monitor military exercises in Australia
ABC (AU) 20230817
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-18/china-deploys-swarm-of-satellites-to-monitor-military-australia/102742594

Northrop Grumman to get sole-source contract for Space Force radar sites
Space News 20230817
https://spacenews.com/northrop-grumman-to-get-sole-source-contract-for-space-force-radar-sites/

Space Development Agency to consider commercial LEO options to augment DoD network
Space News 20230817
https://spacenews.com/space-development-agency-to-consider-commercial-leo-options-to-augment-dod-network/

Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says
Breaking Defense 20230817
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/08/laser-weapons-finally-seeing-real-progress-missile-defense-agency-official-says/

STRATCOM Boss Touts Value of Bomber Task Forces: ‘Everyone Likes a Bomber in Their Region’
Air & Space 20230817
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/stratcom-boss-value-bomber-task-forces/

This might be the Air Force’s air-to-air tanker of the future
Task & Purpose 20230816
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/this-might-be-the-air-forces-air-to-air-tanker-of-the-future/

Leidos selected by U.S. Navy to operate and sustain medium unmanned vessels
Seapower 20230817
https://seapowermagazine.org/leidos-selected-by-u-s-navy-to-operate-and-sustain-medium-unmanned-vessels/

Rebuilding America’s Maritime Strength: A Shipping Proof-of-Concept Demonstration
Heritage 20230816
https://www.heritage.org/international-economies/report/rebuilding-americas-maritime-strength-shipping-proof-concept

Exercises

Russian, Chinese Warships in East China Sea After Sailing Near Alaska
USNI 20230817
https://news.usni.org/2023/08/17/russian-chinese-warships-in-east-china-sea-after-sailing-near-alaska

Pacific Airlift Rally, Pacific Air Force's multinational humanitarian exercise, begins in the Philippines
USAF PacAF 20230716
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3495611/pacific-airlift-rally-pacific-air-forces-multinational-humanitarian-exercise-be/

Events

The Future of U.S.-China Rivalry and Changes in the International Security Environment
Sasakawa 22 August 4:30-6:00 PM JST
https://www.spf.org/en/seminar/list/20230822.html