Pacific Winds 20231004
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Distrust Has Shaken the U.S.-China Relationship
NYTimes 20231003
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/world/asia/distrust-china-united-states-economy.html
Latest US-China talks seen as ‘progression’ of plans for leaders’ summit
SCMP 20231003
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3236538/latest-us-china-talks-seen-progression-plans-leaders-summit
China foreign policy grossly misunderstood in the West
Asia Times 20231003
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/china-foreign-policy-grossly-misunderstood-in-the-west/
Japan still wants summit with North Korea: foreign minister
Nikkei 20231003
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Japan-still-wants-summit-with-North-Korea-foreign-minister
Pacific Defence Ministers to meet in New Caledonia
Radio NZ 20231003
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/499285/pacific-defence-ministers-to-meet-in-new-caledonia
China’s Belt and Road Shows the High Price of Beijing’s Money
Bloomberg 20230102
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-10-02/china-s-belt-and-road-shows-the-high-price-of-beijing-s-money
Chinese Assessments of De-risking
CSIS 20231003
https://interpret.csis.org/chinese-assessments-of-de-risking/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S. Must Act Quickly to Preserve National Security Interests, Block Spread of China’s Influence
Heritage 20231003
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/us-must-act-quickly-preserve-national-security-interests-block-spread
Should Pentagon Send Arriving "Long Range Hypersonic Weapon" to Pacific Immediately to Counter China?
Warrior Maven 20231002
https://warriormaven.com/china/hey-army-why-not-send-the-arriving-long-range-hypersonic-weapon-to-the-pacific-immediately
Chinese ambassador to Kiribati presents credentials
Xinhua 20231003
https://english.news.cn/20231003/42584e88b9b5482da66ec533b5309f19/c.html
Chinese ‘Miracle Water’ Grifters Infiltrated the UN and Bribed Politicians to Build Pacific Dream City
OCCRP 20231003
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/chinese-miracle-water-grifters-infiltrated-the-un-and-bribed-politicians-to-build-pacific-dream-city
Palau president describes US-Pacific Forum Leaders' Summit as mutually beneficial
ABC (AU) 20231003
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/us-pacific-forum-leaders-summit-as-mutually-beneficial-whipps-jr/102910690
CPA seeks Senate support for NMI exemption from China-US flight cap
Marianas Variety 20231004
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/cpa-seeks-senate-support-for-nmi-exemption-from-china-us-flight-cap/article_3dfd4976-61b3-11ee-8803-a7e77f097025.html
Island Waves
Timor-Leste president hits back at Australian criticism of new partnership with China
Guardian 20231003
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/03/timor-leste-president-jose-ramos-horta-hits-back-at-australian-criticism-of-new-partnership-with-china
DPM encourages donor support for Bina Harbour infrastructure development
Solomon Star 20231003
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/dpm-encourages-donor-support-for-bina-harbour-infrastructure-development/
'We cannot and will not let them win'
PIT 20231003
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/we-cannot-and-will-not-let-them-win
Rabuka stresses significance of US-PIF Summit
FBCN 20231003
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rabuka-stresses-significance-of-us-pif-summit/
Deterring China in the South Pacific: Send in the Seabees
JIPA 2023 Sept
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/3533604/deterring-china-in-the-south-pacific-send-in-the-seabees/
Taiwan + SCS
As invasion fears rise, China hones Taiwan blockade strategy
Japan Times 20231003
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/03/asia-pacific/politics/china-taiwan-blockade-strategy/
Taiwan urges US to speed up weapons systems deliveries, boost defence supply chain
SCMP 20231003
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3236673/taiwan-urges-us-speed-weapons-systems-deliveries-boost-defence-supply-chain
Deputy defense minister hopes for more US assistance to boost Taiwan's self-defense
Taiwan News 20231003
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5012224
Defense plan to boost economy
Taipei Times 20231004
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/10/04/2003807191
Conflict over Taiwan would collapse China’s economy says UK foreign secretary
SMH 20231003
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/conflict-over-taiwan-would-collapse-china-s-economy-says-uk-foreign-secretary-20231002-p5e986.html
Can Taiwan’s Opposition Settle on a Unity Candidate?
The Diplomat 20231003
https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/can-taiwans-opposition-settle-on-a-unity-candidate/
China sends 8 military aircraft, 4 naval ships around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231003
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5012217
China dispatches 11 military aircraft to Taiwan ADIZ on Tuesday morning
Taiwan News 20231003
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5012452
Philippines taking the fight to China in South China Sea
Asia Times 20231003
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/philippines-taking-the-fight-to-china-in-south-china-sea/
Should China be worried as the United States and the Philippines launch joint military exercises in the South China Sea?
RFA 20231002
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/junshiwaijiao/tj-10022023132115.html
Capabilities
China needs ‘wholistic approach’ to meet military modernization goals
SCMP 20231003
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3236640/china-needs-wholistic-approach-meet-military-modernisation-goals
Japan may bolster maritime surveillance amid concerns over China
Japan Times 20231003
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/03/japan/politics/japan-bolster-martime-security/
The US should reconsider using undersea cables as military sensors
ASPI 20231003
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-us-should-reconsider-using-undersea-cables-as-military-sensors/
Collaborative Combat Aircraft Performance Focus Areas Emerge
The Drive 20231002
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/collaborative-combat-aircraft-performance-focus-areas-emerge
DIU asks industry about affordable, mass-produced unmanned aerial systems
Breaking Defense 20231003
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/diu-asks-industry-about-affordable-mass-produced-unmanned-aerial-systems/
Is ‘Replicator’ the future of combat, or just a future boondoggle?
The Hill 20231003
https://thehill.com/opinion/4234819-is-replicator-the-future-of-combat-or-just-a-future-boondoggle/
New Details of Secret LRSO Missile: Nine Successful Flight Tests in 2022
Air & Space 20231002
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/secret-lrso-missile-nine-successful-flight-tests-2022/
Long March 9 Rocket Will Be a Game-changer for China’s Space Program
The Diplomat 20231003
https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/long-march-9-rocket-will-be-a-game-changer-for-chinas-space-program/
Air Force Research Lab awards design contracts for nuclear powered spacecraft
Space News 20231003
https://spacenews.com/air-force-research-lab-awards-design-contracts-for-nuclear-powered-spacecraft/
SpaceX providing Starlink services to DoD under ‘unique terms and conditions’
Space News 20231003
https://spacenews.com/spacex-providing-starlink-services-to-dod-under-unique-terms-and-conditions/
Marines Kickoff Regional Southeast Asia Deployment
USNI 20231003
https://news.usni.org/2023/10/03/marines-kickoff-regional-southeast-asia-deployment
Army’s Wormuth: Congress will soon hear plans to revamp force structure, trim SOF
Breaking Defense 20231003
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/10/armys-wormuth-congress-will-soon-hear-plans-to-revamp-force-structure-trim-sof/
After missing goal again, Army announces sweeping recruiting reforms
Military Times 20231003
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2023/10/03/after-missing-goal-again-army-announces-sweeping-recruiting-reforms/
Army wants one-third of future recruits to be college grads
Task & Purpose 20231003
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/army-recruitment-college-degrees/
The Navy’s continuing cruiser debacle
Navy Times 20231003
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2023/10/03/the-navys-continuing-cruiser-debacle/
Power
South Korea and the Camp David Agreement in Japan’s Grand Strategy
AIIA 20231003
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/south-korea-and-the-camp-david-agreement-in-japans-grand-strategy/
The End of Experimentation and Aspiration in Xi Jinping’s China
Asia Society Policy Institute Sept 2023
https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/end-experimentation-and-aspiration-xi-jinpings-china
As long as US stokes China’s Indo-Pacific fears, there will be no peace
SCMP 20231003
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3236552/long-us-stokes-chinas-indo-pacific-fears-there-will-be-no-peace
CHINA’S LAW OF THE SEA
WOTR 20231003
https://warontherocks.com/2023/10/chinas-law-of-the-sea/
Events
China's Power: Up for Debate 2023
CSIS 5 Oct 2023 9:30-5:30 EDT
https://www.csis.org/events/chinas-power-debate-2023