Pacific Winds 20230910

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Xi-Schumer Meeting Raises Hopes of Smoother U.S.-China Relations
NYTimes 20231009
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/09/world/asia/xi-schumer-meeting-china-us.html

Xi meets U.S. congressional delegation
Xinhua 20231009
https://english.news.cn/20231009/99fac91117724886948c3d856f583acb/c.html

China President Xi meets US Senator Schumer in Beijing
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/ex-chairman-china-everbright-group-li-expelled-communist-party-post-2023-10-09/

Senate delegation throws new twist into US-China ties
Responsible Statecraft 20231009
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/schumer-trip-china/

US crisis hotline calls ring in empty Chinese rooms
Asia Times 20231009
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/us-crisis-hotline-calls-ring-in-empty-chinese-rooms/

US, not China, fails to create ‘a level playing field’ for all companies
GT 20231009
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299529.shtml

Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting
AU MoFA 20231009
https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/philippines-australia-ministerial-meeting

‘Dramatic’ North Korea-Russia rail traffic increase hints at arms supply to Putin as carriages more than triple
SCMP 20231009
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3237245/dramatic-north-korea-russia-rail-traffic-increase-hints-arms-supply-putin-carriages-more-triple

U.S. eases export controls on chip equipment for Samsung, SK factories in China
Yonhap 20231009
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231009003851315?section=news

South Korean firms get indefinite waiver on US chip gear supplies to China
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/technology/samsung-sk-hynix-wont-need-approvals-supply-us-chip-gear-china-yonhap-2023-10-09/

US ‘forced’ to issue indefinite waiver for SK chipmakers
GT 20231009
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299510.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

RECA: The holy grail for Guam's radiation survivors
PIT 20231009
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/reca-the-holy-grail-for-guam-s-radiation-survivors

Island Waves

Papua New Guinea hopes to finalize membership in China-led bank
RFA 20231009
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/pacific/png-infrastructure-bank-10092023040620.html

President of Timor-Leste says China didn't want to develop police, military infrastructure over worries of Australia's reaction
ABC (AU) 20231009
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/jose-ramos-horta-china-police-military-security-beijing-canberra/102953084

Sogavare Receives Keys to Australian Funded KGVI Dormitories
Solomon Times 20231009
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/sogavare-receives-keys-to-australian-funded-kgvi-dormitories/12788

Question mark still remains over who will lead the Forum
PINA 20231009
https://pina.com.fj/2023/10/09/question-mark-still-remains-over-who-will-lead-the-forum/

4 Chinese Ships Enter Japanese Waters off Senkakus
Yomiuri 20231009
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20231009-142019/

'Unchecked influence of China may challenge sovereignty of Indo-Pacific nations'
Financial Express (IN) 20231009
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/unchecked-influence-of-china-may-challenge-sovereignty-of-indo-pacific-nations-us-envoy

Taiwan + SCS

China extends Taiwan trade probe, Taipei cries election interference
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-extends-taiwan-trade-probe-taipei-cries-election-interference-2023-10-09/

Why we shouldn't declare Taiwan an independent country
Responsible Statecraft 2023109
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-taiwan-independence/

Taiwan military prepares for urban warfare and asymmetric fight as PLA prepares for war with Taiwan
Think China 20231009
https://www.thinkchina.sg/taiwan-military-prepares-urban-warfare-and-asymmetric-fight-pla-prepares-war-taiwan

China sends 5 military aircraft, 4 naval vessels around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231009
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5016436

China urges Philippines to end 'provocations' in South China Sea
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-urges-philippines-stop-provocation-near-second-thomas-shoal-2023-10-09/

Manila’s SCS aggression result of strategic error
GT 20231009
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299504.shtml

Capabilities

Inside Asia's arms race: China near 'breakthroughs' with nuclear-armed submarines, report says
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/inside-asias-arms-race-china-near-breakthroughs-with-nuclear-armed-submarines-2023-10-09/

PLA’s Swift Progress in Maritime Vehicles: A Feat Unmatched in 20 Years, Resulting in a Costly Misstep for South Korea and Caution for the U.S.
China Arms 20231009
https://www.china-arms.com/2023/10/pla-maritime-vehicles-unmatched-south-korea-us/

China’s ‘blue dragon’ strategy in the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20231009
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-blue-dragon-strategy-in-the-indo-pacific/

The Army’s new chief has a plan and it’s all about warfighting
Army Times 20231009
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2023/10/09/the-armys-new-chief-has-a-plan-and-its-all-about-warfighting/

US Army moves to pre-position materials in Pacific
Defense News 20231009
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/10/09/us-army-moves-to-pre-position-materials-in-pacific/

Army’s contested logistics team close to ‘fully’ operational: General
Breaking Defense 20231009
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/armys-contested-logistics-team-close-to-fully-operational-general/

US Army relies on Pacific allies, exercises to sustain supply lines
Defense News 20231009
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/10/09/us-army-relies-on-pacific-allies-exercises-to-sustain-supply-lines/

Army launches pilot aimed at trimming excess equipment
Breaking Defense 20231009
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/army-launches-pilot-aimed-at-trimming-excess-equipment/

US Army seeks to drive down costs within hypersonic missile industry
Defense News 20231009
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2023/10/09/us-army-seeks-to-drive-down-costs-within-hypersonic-missile-industry/

US Army pursues faster, more survivable Stinger missile replacement
Defense News 20231009
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/10/09/us-army-pursues-faster-more-survivable-stinger-missile-replacement/

Army CIO Garciga forecasts cloud growth following ‘really hard sprint’
Defense News 20231009
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2023/10/09/army-cio-garciga-forecasts-cloud-growth-following-really-hard-sprint/

China targets 50% growth in computing power in race against U.S.
Reuters 20231009
https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-targets-30-growth-computing-power-race-against-us-2023-10-09/

Exercises

PLA holds cross-regional naval drills in South China Sea amid US-Philippines exercise
GT 20231009
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202310/1299501.shtml