Pacific Winds 20230919
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Biden's top security adviser holds "substantive" talks with China
Kyodo 20230918
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/fd859cb22315-bidens-top-security-adviser-holds-substantive-talks-with-china.html
Wang-Sullivan talks last more than 12 hours; Taiwan question takes up longest time, Chinese FM official told GT
GT 20230918
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202309/1298392.shtml
US, Chinese representatives discuss Taiwan, military communications and Russia in lengthy high-level meetings
ABC (AU) 20230918
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-18/us-jake-sullivan-china-wang-yi-meet-malta/102854592
Enhanced defense cooperation vital to PH security, climate change resilience
Manila Bulletin 20230918
https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/17/enhanced-defense-cooperation-vital-to-ph-security-climate-change-resilience
U.S., Vietnam have work to do to build out new partnership
Nikkei 20230918
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/U.S.-Vietnam-have-work-to-do-to-build-out-new-partnership
Japan misread the signs in pushing plan for a NATO office
Nikkei 20230919
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Japan-misread-the-signs-in-pushing-plan-for-a-NATO-office
Japan should take China to WTO over seafood ban: ex-U.N. official
Kyodo 20230918
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/9c55d9c768b1-japan-should-take-china-to-wto-over-seafood-ban-ex-un-official.html
An economic pillar to round out US strategy in Asia: IPEF and Australia's interests
USSC 20230918
https://www.ussc.edu.au/an-economic-pillar-to-round-out-us-strategy-in-asia
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Navy deploys newest surveillance drone to Guam
GDP 20230919
https://www.postguam.com/news/navy-deploys-newest-surveillance-drone-to-guam/article_89566464-55d5-11ee-9031-279462504c56.html
Guam sites (Barrigada and Finegayan) in High Frequency Global Communications System IDIQ
US DoD 20230918
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3529558//
U.S. CLAIMS TO CENTRAL PACIFIC FLOUT INTERNATIONAL LAW
FPIF 20230918
https://fpif.org/u-s-claims-to-central-pacific-flout-international-law/
'We are not at a level where we feel we are prepared'
PIT 20230918
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/we-are-not-at-a-level-where-we-feel-we-are-prepared
Island Waves
Pacific island countries to hold second summit next week with Biden
Reuters 20230918
https://www.reuters.com/world/pacific-island-countries-hold-second-summit-next-week-with-biden-2023-09-18/
Seychelles: Washington comes calling
Lowy 20230918
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/seychelles-washington-comes-calling
PM Sogavare declares the most important decision after more than 40 years of Solomon Islands existence
Islands Business 20230918
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/solomons-china/
Why did Papua New Guinea move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem – from economics to faith
Griffith University 20230918
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/why-did-papua-new-guinea-move-its-embassy-in-israel-to-jerusalem-from-economics-to-faith/
Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers issue statement on Fukushima
PIF 20230918
https://www.forumsec.org/2023/09/18/release-pacific-islands-forum-foreign-ministers-issue-statement-on-fukushima/
Taiwan + SCS
PLA warplanes set new 24-hour record, destabilising security: Taiwan defence ministry
SCMP 20230918
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3234912/pla-warplanes-set-new-24-hour-record-destabilising-security-taiwan
Taiwan urges China to stop 'destructive' military activities
Reuters 20230918
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-urges-china-stop-destructive-military-activities-2023-09-18/
Over 100 PLA warplanes set new record in drill around Taiwan island
GT 20230918
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202309/1298396.shtml
China flies 103 military planes toward Taiwan in a new high of activity the island calls harassment
Taiwan News 20230918
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5001405
My country is not just a geopolitical chess piece. It’s in the line of fire
SMH 20230918
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/my-country-is-not-just-a-geopolitical-chess-piece-it-s-in-the-line-of-fire-20230905-p5e27j.html
Addressing America’s skeptics in Taiwan
Taipei Times 20230918
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2023/09/18/2003806390
Former Taiwanese Official: Fear of ‘Losing Taiwan’ Spreads Across All Levels in Mainland China; Xi Jinping Faces Risk of Being Branded a Historical Culprit
China Arms 20230918
https://www.china-arms.com/2023/09/xi-jinping-faces-risk-of-being-branded-historical-culprit/
Taiwan’s Path Between Extremes
FA 20230918
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwans-path-between-extremes
Exclusive: China Installs Survey Buoy in Japan’s EEZ near Senkaku Islands
Yomiuri 20230918
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230918-137246/
China, Japan embassies in PH trade barbs on X over West PH Sea corals
Inquirer (PH) 20230918
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/219461/china-japan-embassies-in-ph-trade-barbs-on-x-over-corals-in-west-ph-sea
More Western allies mull joining patrols with US in S.China Sea, to greatly risk regional stability
GT 20230918
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202309/1298406.shtml
Capabilities
US aerospace operations revamp faces turbulence
Asia Times 20230918
https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/us-aerospace-operations-revamp-faces-turbulence/
US Army’s Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon fielding delayed to year’s end
Defense News 20230918
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/09/18/us-armys-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon-fielding-delayed-to-years-end/
A Korean Expansion: The Future Of The Philippine Fleet
Naval News 20230918
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/a-korean-expansion-the-future-of-the-philippine-fleet/
S. Korea to invest US$218 mln to develop improved bunker-buster missile
Yonhap 20230918
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230918002551325?section=news
S. Korea, U.S. nearing completion to revise joint deterrence strategy against N.K. threats
Yonhap 20230918
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230918008151325
Japan eyes setting more missile depots under new security strategy
Kyodo 20230-918
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/f98eefcd6b6f-japan-eyes-setting-more-missile-depots-under-new-security-strategy.html
US continues to build Space Force strength with new base in Japan
SCMP 20230918
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3234977/us-continues-build-space-force-strength-new-base-japan
Australian MoD: Over $1.5B AUD in pipeline for fourth Triton, P-8 upgrades
Breaking Defense 20230918
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/09/australian-mod-over-1-5b-aud-in-pipeline-for-fourth-triton-p-8-upgrades/
China launches new batch of Yaogan reconnaissance satellites
Space News 20230918
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-new-batch-of-yaogan-reconnaissance-satellites/
Army turns to high-altitude balloons for more eyes in the skies
S&S 20230918
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2023-09-18/army-balloons-intelligence-high-altitude-11413633.html
Directed energy weapons making jump from sci-fi to real world
Defense News 20230918
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2023/09/18/directed-energy-weapons-making-jump-from-sci-fi-to-real-world/
Exercises
PLA holds drills in Yellow Sea days after US and allies flex muscles near northeast China coast
SCMP 20230918
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3234922/pla-holds-drills-yellow-sea-days-after-us-and-allies-flex-muscles-near-northeast-china-coast
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 18, 2023
USNI 20230918
https://news.usni.org/2023/09/18/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-sept-18-2023
U.S. Army, Japan, Australia expand logistics cooperation
Nikkei 20230918
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-Army-Japan-Australia-expand-logistics-cooperation