Pacific Winds 20230902
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US, China Military Officials Met in Fiji in Rare Engagement
Bloomberg 20230831
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-31/us-chinese-military-officials-met-in-fiji-in-rare-engagement
A year after China cut mil-to-mil contacts with US, a hint of thaw?
Defense One 20230901
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/08/year-after-china-cut-mil-mil-contacts-us-hint-thaw/389932/
U.S. Officials Are Streaming to China. Will Beijing Return the Favor?
NYTimes 20230901
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/01/world/asia/china-us-biden-xi.html
US-China ties avoid free-fall, but recent talks show the future will not be problem-free
SCMP 20230901
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3232988/us-china-ties-avoid-free-fall-recent-talks-show-future-will-not-be-problem-free
Measuring Raimondo’s ‘big step forward’ with China
Asia Times 20230901
https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/measuring-raimondos-big-step-forward-with-china/
US not making substantive steps to improve ties with China despite détente atmosphere
GT 20230901
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202309/1297421.shtml
Should the US pursue a new Cold War with China?
Brookings 20230901
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/should-the-us-pursue-a-new-cold-war-with-china/
‘Defending democracy’ a losing strategy against authoritarian narratives
ASPI 20230901
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/defending-democracy-a-losing-strategy-against-authoritarian-narratives/
The Significance and Challenges of the Japan-US-South Korea Summit
The Diplomat 20230901
https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/the-significance-and-challenges-of-the-japan-u-s-rok-summit/
Can North Korea play off Russia against China?
Lowy 20230901
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/can-north-korea-play-russia-against-china
S.Korea should not 'take China's goodwill as concession,' analyst warns after foreign ministers' phone call
GT 20230901
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202309/1297418.shtml
Japan Battles Backlash After Releasing Wastewater From Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
The Diplomat 20230901
https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/japan-battles-backlash-after-releasing-wastewater-from-fukushima-nuclear-power-plant/
South Koreans worry about Fukushima water; more disapprove of Yoon - poll
Reuters 20230901
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreans-worry-about-fukushima-water-more-disapprove-yoon-poll-2023-09-01/
7 out of 10 S. Koreans oppose Fukushima water release
Yonhap 20230901
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230901005100315?section=news
Geopolitical tension with China would hit U.S. critical technology sectors hard, new study shows
Defense One 20230831
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/08/geopolitical-tension-china-would-hit-us-critical-technology-sectors-hard-new-study-shows/389931/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Why Palau, a Pacific island, has emerged as a battleground in US-China strategic contest
The Print 20230901
https://theprint.in/diplomacy/why-palau-a-pacific-island-has-emerged-as-a-battleground-in-us-china-strategic-contest/1741851/
US Coast Guard monitors Chinese vessel at Palau’s border
Island Times 20230901
https://islandtimes.org/us-coast-guard-monitors-chinese-vessel-at-palaus-border/
Japan Coast Guard conducts training to Improve Palau’s Maritime Safety Capabilities
Island Times 20230901
https://islandtimes.org/japan-coast-guard-conducts-yraining-to-improve-palaus-maritime-safety-capabilities/
Marines, Sailors 'Build' Indo-Pacific Partnerships in Micronesia
US DoD 20230901
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/3510853/marines-sailors-build-indo-pacific-partnerships-in-micronesia/
Taiwan donates $80K for fireworks on Palau’s Independence Day
Island Times 20230901
https://islandtimes.org/taiwan-donates-80k-for-fireworks-on-palaus-independence-day/
China: Guam wouldn't be secure even if it was armed to the teeth
KUAM 20230901
https://www.kuam.com/story/49577056/china-guam-wouldnt-be-secure-even-if-it-was-armed-to-the-teeth
USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) arrives at Naval Base Guam
USN PacFlt (Tweet) 20230831
https://twitter.com/USPacificFleet/status/1697414031576101202/photo/2
Island Waves
China’s ‘replica’ guns for Solomon Islands likely real, US cable claimed
Al Jazeera 20120901
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/9/1/china-likely-shipped-real-guns-to-solomon-islands-not-replicas-us-claimed
Fiji partners with Shandong Province
FBCN 20230901
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-partners-with-shandong-province/
Australia-owned Pacific mobile phone operator likely exploited by private spies
Radio NZ 20230901
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/497050/australia-owned-pacific-mobile-phone-operator-likely-exploited-by-private-spies
Taiwan + SCS
Poll shows 48.9% support independence
Taipei Times 20230901
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/09/02/2003805648
US Transits as Part of Taiwan’s Gray Zone Diplomacy
The Diplomat 20230831
https://thediplomat.com/2023/08/us-transits-as-part-of-taiwans-gray-zone-diplomacy/
House Armed Svcs leader vows ‘resolute reaction’ if Taiwan attacked
Defense News 20230901
https://www.militarytimes.com/federal-oversight/congress/2023/09/01/house-armed-svcs-leader-vows-resolute-reaction-if-taiwan-attacked/
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval ships
Taiwan News 20230901
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4986809
The South China Sea has been contested for decades, so what does China's new map mean?
ABC (AU) 20230901
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-01/why-chinas-latest-map-is-causing-new-south-china-sea-conflict/102803902
New Chinese 10-Dash map sparks furor across Indo-Pacific: Vietnam, India, Philippines, Malaysia
Brealing Defense 20230901
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/new-chinese-10-dash-map-sparks-furor-across-indo-pacific-vietnam-india-philippines-malaysia/
China’s ten-dash line ups ante with the Philippines
SCMP 20230901
https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/chinas-ten-dash-line-ups-ante-with-the-philippines/
White House Scoffs at Beijing’s New Map, ‘False Maritime Claims’
VoA 20230901
https://www.voanews.com/a/white-house-scoffs-at-beijing-s-new-map-false-maritime-claims-/7251160.html
Capabilities
Missile Defense Agency cancels test of Long-Range Discrimination Radar
Defense News 20230901
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2023/09/01/missile-defense-agency-cancels-test-of-long-range-discrimination-radar/
Bigger isn’t always better: Why the US fails to deter North Korea, despite nuclear superiority
BoAS 20230901
https://thebulletin.org/2023/09/bigger-isnt-always-better-why-the-us-fails-to-deter-north-korea-despite-nuclear-superiority/
HOW TO ENHANCE SOUTH KOREA’S CONVENTIONAL DETERRENT
WOTR 20230901
https://warontherocks.com/2023/09/how-to-enhance-south-koreas-conventional-deterrent/
Japan Defense Ministry Seeks ¥930 Billion for Ammunition; Cutting-Edge Missile Development Also in Budget
Yomiuri 20230902
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230902-133801/
Japan Releases $53B Defense Budget Focused on Shipbuilding, Fighters
USNI 20230901
https://news.usni.org/2023/09/01/japan-releases-53b-defense-budget-focused-on-shipbuilding-fighters
Smaller, leaner: Marines put their new ways to fight to the test
Breaking Defense 20230901
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/smaller-leaner-marines-put-their-new-ways-to-fight-to-the-test/
Marines’ Pacific air-defense unit is back with drone-killing abilities
Marine Corps Times 20230901
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/09/01/marines-pacific-air-defense-unit-is-back-with-drone-killing-abilities/
Can This New Simulator Be a Proving Ground for JADC2?
Air & Space 20230901
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/raytheon-rcade-simulator-jadc2/
Chinese Scientists Think They’ve Found the Secret to Detecting U.S. Subs. It’s a Bunch of Baloney
Popular Mechanics 20230901
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a44951980/chinese-research-detecting-american-subs-debunked/