Pacific Winds 20230924
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Biden aides in talks with Vietnam for arms deal that could irk China
Reuters 20230923
https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-aides-talks-with-vietnam-arms-deal-that-could-irk-china-2023-09-23/
Quad ministers urge U.N. members not to trade weapons with North Korea
Kyodo 20230923
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/69cda3466703-update2-quad-ministers-urge-un-members-not-to-trade-weapons-with-n-korea.html
The Rise and Fall of China’s Wolf Warrior Diplomacy
The Diplomat 20230922
https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/the-rise-and-fall-of-chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomacy/
Japan Says It Can't Cut China Out of Economy Amid Rising Military Tensions
Newsweek 20230922
https://www.newsweek.com/japan-says-it-cant-cut-china-out-economy-amid-rising-military-tensions-1829123
US congressman Michael McCaul says Biden’s measures not enough, wants tighter China investment curbs
SCMP 20230923
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3235569/us-congressman-michael-mccaul-says-bidens-measures-not-enough-wants-tighter-china-investment-curbs
Island Waves
Joint Statement on the Partners in the Blue Pacific Foreign Ministers Meeting
US DoD 20230922
https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-the-partners-in-the-blue-pacific-foreign-ministers-meeting/
Solomon Islands PM snubs meeting with US president, praises China's 'global security initiative' in UN speech
ABC (AU) 20230923
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-23/solomon-islands-sogavare-snubs-biden-invitation-china/102893366
China, Timor-Leste elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership
Xinhua 20230923
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2023-09/23/content_116705375.htm
China and Timor Leste form strategic partnership, upgrading its' bilateral ties
ABC (AU) 20230923
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-23/china-timor-leste-upgrade-ties-to-form-partnership/102893938
US government finds 7000 obscene images on site
Fiji Times 20230923
https://www.fijitimes.com/us-government-finds-7000-obscene-images-on-site/
Peace Corps volunteers sworn-in, ready to serve
Samoa Observer 20230923
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/105789
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan is developing another, more destructive suicide drone. It won’t fit in a backpack
SCMP 20230923
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3235529/taiwan-developing-another-more-destructive-suicide-drone-it-wont-fit-backpack
China sends 10 military aircraft, 5 naval ships around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20230923
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5006167
How Beijing is using ‘fishing militia’ to assert its claims in the South China Sea
SCMP 20230923
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3235426/how-beijing-using-fishing-militia-assert-its-claims-south-china-sea
Blasting Bullhorns and Water Cannons, Chinese Ships Wall Off the Sea
NYTimes 20230923
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/world/asia/china-sea-philippines-us.html?smid=tw-share
Anwar Calls China’s Explanation of Disputed Map ‘Reassuring’
Bloomberg 20230922
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-22/anwar-says-china-s-explanation-of-controversial-map-reassuring
US, Japan and Philippines call out China at UN over disputed sea tensions
Straits Times 20230923
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-japan-and-philippines-call-out-china-at-un-over-disputed-sea-tensions
Blasting Bullhorns and Water Cannons, Chinese Ships Wall Off the Sea
NYTimes 20230923
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/23/world/asia/china-sea-philippines-us.html?smid=tw-share
Capabilities
U.S. seeks military access in Philippine eastern seaboard
Nikkei 20230923
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-seeks-military-access-in-Philippine-eastern-seaboard
US to help Philippines upgrade key defence bases amid rising South China Sea tensions
SCMP 20230923
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3235318/us-help-philippines-upgrade-key-defence-bases-amid-rising-south-china-sea-tensions
U.S. Marine Corps And The New Long-Range Attack Munition
Naval News 20230923
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/u-s-marine-corps-and-the-new-long-range-attack-munition/
Power
Who wants to rule the world? I will, says Joe Biden. No, it’ll be me, says Xi Jinping
Guardian 20230923
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/23/who-wants-to-rule-the-world-i-will-says-joe-biden-no-itll-be-me-says-xi-jinping