Pacific Winds 20231022
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
The US is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and should do more, ambassador to Japan says
AP 20231020
https://apnews.com/article/emanuel-japan-us-indopacific-china-ccddb37bd2208ccd5fe200c9734e5473
AUKUS, critical minerals in focus for Australian PM on US trip
Reuters 20231020
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/aukus-critical-minerals-focus-australian-pm-us-trip-2023-10-20/
US envoy to Japan derides China for its stand on Fukushima waste water release
SCMP 20231021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3238727/us-envoy-japan-derides-china-its-stand-fukushima-waste-water-release
U.S. tech export curbs may not fit Japan's interests: former trade official
Nikkei 20231021
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/U.S.-tech-export-curbs-may-not-fit-Japan-s-interests-former-trade-official
US sanctions accelerating China chip self-sufficiency
Asia Times 20231021
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/us-sanctions-accelerating-china-chip-self-sufficiency/
U.S. considering curbing China's cloud access, official says
Nikkei 20231021
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/U.S.-considering-curbing-China-s-cloud-access-official-says
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Compacts of Free Association signed, now up to Congress to pass
KUAM 20231021
https://www.kuam.com/story/49864920/compacts-of-free-association-signed-now-up-to-congress-to-pass
B-52 Stratofortresses arrive for Indo-Pacific Bomber Task Force Missions
USAF PacAF 20231020
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3564566/b-52-stratofortresses-arrive-for-indo-pacific-bomber-task-force-missions/
Island Waves
JICA celebrates decades of transformational collaboration in Fiji
FBCN 20231021
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/jica-celebrates-decades-of-transformational-collaboration-in-fiji/
Taiwan + SCS
US marines and Japanese military hold joint exercises on island near Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231021
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5024608
Japan asks Google to revert map names of disputed East China Sea islets
Kyodo 20231020
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/9d54bb044fd1-japan-asks-google-to-revert-map-names-of-disputed-e-china-sea-islets.html
Manila suspends military exchange with Beijing over South China Sea incident
NHK 20231019
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231020_02/
Capabilities
China trying to ‘disrupt’ UK’s new nuclear-powered attack submarines, warns MI5 chief
Telegraph (UK) 20231020
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/20/china-disrupt-aukus-submarines-ken-mccallum-mi5/
France dangles top-of-the-line Scorpene before Indonesia
Asia Times 20231021
https://asiatimes.com/2023/10/france-dangles-top-of-the-line-scorpene-before-indonesia/
Power
Behind the Curtain: Rattled U.S. government fears wars could spread
Axios 20231020
https://www.axios.com/2023/10/20/biden-government-war-fears-israel-hamas