Pacific Winds 20231108
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. proposes defense talks with China next week, official says
Nikkei 20231107
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/U.S.-proposes-defense-talks-with-China-next-week-official-says
US Defense Chief Lloyd Austin Asks to Meet With China’s Still-Unnamed Counterpart
Bloomberg 20231106
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-06/austin-asks-to-meet-with-china-s-still-unnamed-defense-minister
China-US arms control consultations to build on trust ahead of APEC
GT 20231107
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301366.shtml
With Two Wars Raging, China Tests America in Asia
FP 20231107
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/11/07/china-philippines-us-biden-alliance-asia-south-china-sea/
Austin Will Underscore U.S. Partnerships, Progress on Indo-Pacific Trip
US DoD 20231106
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3581516/austin-will-underscore-us-partnerships-progress-on-indo-pacific-trip/
Anthony Albanese's visit to China included a 'very positive' meeting with Xi Jinping and a refusal to budge on some issues
ABC (AU) 20231107
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-07/the-key-takeaways-from-albanese-s-visit-to-china/103073390
‘Differences shouldn’t define us’: PM wraps up in China
AAP 20231107
https://www.aap.com.au/news/xi-praises-pm-for-work-to-improve-china-relationship/
Australia-China Tensions Ease as Albanese Ends Beijing Trip
Bloomberg 20231107
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-07/australia-china-tensions-ease-as-albanese-wraps-up-four-day-trip
Australia’s diplomatic journey: from hostility toward China to repairing the relationship
GT 20231107
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301345.shtml
Anthony Albanese’s China trip is historic – but for Canberra not for Beijing
Guardian 20231107
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/07/anthony-albanese-china-trip-is-historic-but-for-canberra-not-for-beijing
Prime Minister’s “Stability” Babble Merely Ignores China’s True Intent
Hudson 20231106
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/pm-stability-babble-merely-ignores-china-true-intent-john-lee
China's media had criticised Australia for years. So how has it covered the prime minister's long-awaited visit?
ABC (AU) 20231108
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-08/how-chinese-media-are-covering-albanese-china-visit/103069126
Australia and China: Besties again? It’s complicated
RFA 20231107
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/albanese-china-11072023052848.html
Australia has no ‘navy-to-navy relationship’ with China despite thawing relations
Sky (AU) 20231107
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/australia-has-no-navytonavy-relationship-with-china-despite-thawing-relations/video/7072dc8a8cdf6a409a003e159095c118
How Canberra handles AUKUS bears upon future of China-Australia relations
GT 20231107
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301371.shtml
Marcos to visit Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii
PhilStar 202311087
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/11/08/2309728/marcos-visit-indo-pacific-command-hawaii
Japan, Britain vow deeper security ties amid concern over China
NIkkei 20231107
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-Britain-vow-deeper-security-ties-amid-concern-over-China
U.S. expert voices concern over N.K.'s cooperation with Russia, abandonment of decadeslong effort to normalize ties with U.S.
Yonhap 20231107
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231107008400315?section=news
China aims to cut Belt and Road distressed debt exposure, report says
Nikkei 20231107
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/China-aims-to-cut-Belt-and-Road-distressed-debt-exposure-report-says
China Is Lending Billions to Countries in Financial Trouble
NYTimes 20231107
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/business/china-bri-aiddata.html
US ‘happy to help’ countries fearing China’s economic coercion: State Department
SCMP 20231107
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3240567/us-tells-countries-fearful-about-chinese-economic-coercion-you-are-not-alone-state-department
What to expect from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum
Atlantic Council 20231107
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/what-to-expect-from-the-asia-pacific-economic-cooperation-forum/
What Southeast Asian States Want from APEC
CFR 20231106
https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-southeast-asian-states-want-apec
US lawmakers ask Biden to explain APEC invitation to Hong Kong’s John Lee
SCMP 20231107
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3240574/us-lawmakers-ask-biden-explain-apec-invitation-hong-kongs-john-lee
U.S. looks to postpone IPEF talks on digital trade rules
Nikkei 20231108
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-looks-to-postpone-IPEF-talks-on-digital-trade-rules
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Pacific Partnership 2024-1 Hosts Career Fair and Concert in Marshall Islands
USN 7th Flt 20231106
https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/3581747/pacific-partnership-2024-1-hosts-career-fair-and-concert-in-marshall-islands/
Island Waves
Pacific wrestles with the great China-US divide
FBCN 20231107
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/world/pacific-wrestles-with-the-great-china-us-divide/
Outside influence 'could disrupt' Pacific Islands Forum unity - Henry Puna
PMN (NZ) 20231107
https://pmn.co.nz/read/pacific-region/exclusive-outside-influence-could-disrupt-pacific-islands-forum-unity-henry-puna
Pacific-led regionalism in the age of great power competition | Part 1
Griffith Asia Insights 20231107
https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/shared-values-pacific-led-regionalism-in-the-age-of-great-power-competition-part-1/
US, China Vie for Influence at Upcoming Pacific Forum, With Climate Change in Focus
Bloomberg 20231107
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-07/us-china-vie-for-influence-as-pacific-focuses-on-climate-change
US hegemonic logic clashes with development concerns of Pacific Island countries
GT 20231107
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301359.shtml
Pacific Islands Forum chair says region must revisit its anti-nuclear treaty
Guardian 20231107
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/07/pacific-islands-forum-chair-says-region-must-revisit-its-anti-nuclear-treaty
Taiwan deputy foreign minister visits Cook Islands
Taiwan News 20231107
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5035105
Rabuka, Marape to lead West Papua talks
FBCN 20231107
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rabuka-marape-to-lead-west-papua-talks/
Fiji and PNG prime ministers appointed special envoys to Indonesia
Fiji TImes 20231108
https://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-and-png-prime-ministers-appointed-special-envoys-to-indonesia/
Aust-PNG Agreement Going Through Treaty Committee in Australia
Post Courier (PNG) 20231107
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/aust-png-agreement-going-through-treaty-committee-in-australia/
Australian Capability Support to PNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20231107
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australian-capability-support-to-png/
New patrol boat ready for Samoa
Samoa Observer 20231107
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/106574
USS Pearl Harbor Ship Strengthens Ties
Fiji Sun 20231107
https://fijisun.com.fj/2023/11/07/uss-pearl-harbor-ship-strengthens-ties/
Classrooms Renovated under Exercise Puk Puk
National (PNG) 20231107
https://www.thenational.com.pg/classrooms-renovated-under-exercise-puk-puk/
Taiwan + SCS
Yunlin County opposes Taiwan's Harpoon missile base plans
Taiwan News 20231107
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5035441
How does US rank crises in Taiwan, Israel, Ukraine?
Asia Times 20231107
https://asiatimes.com/2023/11/how-does-us-rank-crises-in-taiwan-israel-ukraine/
Taiwan Is Finally Saying Goodbye To Its F-5 Tiger II Fighters
The Drive 20231107
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/taiwan-is-finally-saying-goodbye-to-its-f-5-tiger-ii-fighters
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231107
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5034883
Scientific collaboration could ease tensions in the South China Sea
EAF 20231107
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/11/07/scientific-collaboration-could-ease-tensions-in-the-south-china-sea/
Capabilities
CHINA’S GRAY-ZONE TACTICS SHOW THE U.S.-PHILIPPINE ALLIANCE IS WORKING
WOTR 20231107
https://warontherocks.com/2023/11/chinas-gray-zone-tactics-show-the-u-s-philippine-alliance-is-working/
U.S.' increased deployment of strategic assets aimed at reassuring security commitment: Seoul official
Yonhap 20231107
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231107005400315?section=news
Access to the sea is an existential issue, says RAN chief
ASPI 20231107
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/access-to-the-sea-is-an-existential-issue-says-ran-chief/
‘Really concerned’: Former Aussie Army chief wades into battle over defense spending
Breaking Defense 20231107
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/really-concerned-former-aussie-army-chief-wades-into-battle-over-defense-spending/
U.S., Philippines Complete Largest EDCA Project to Date
USNI 20231106
https://news.usni.org/2023/11/06/u-s-philippines-complete-largest-edca-project-to-date
How China Rules the Waves
Newsweek 20231107
https://www.newsweek.com/china-shipbuilding-fishing-coast-guard-navy-1841367
Threat in the sky: How cheap drones are changing warfare
BAS 20231106
https://thebulletin.org/2023/11/threat-in-the-sky-how-cheap-drones-are-changing-warfare/
Power
Biden’s “Rule-Based International Order” Is Broken
The Nation 20231107
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/bidens-rule-based-international-order-is-broken/
Exercises
Expanding multinational exercises key to countering China, says US Army Pacific commander
S&S 20231107
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-11-07/flynn-army-pacific-training-china-11967266.html
Newly formed Marine rotational force set to lead joint US-Philippine exercise
S&S 20231107
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-11-07/marines-philippines-kamandag-china-11966814.html
US Indo PaCom Release: http://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3581706/marine-rotational-force-southeast-asia-and-philippine-marine-corps-to-conduct-t/
China Conducts 570 Takeoffs, Landings at Flattop off Japan
Yomiuri 20231107
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20231107-148141/
PLA’s carrier Shandong doubles aircraft sortie rate record in latest far sea drill
GT 20231107
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301358.shtml
China’s Shandong Aircraft Carrier Sails into South China Sea
USNI 20231106
https://news.usni.org/2023/11/06/chinas-shandong-aircraft-carrier-sails-into-south-china-sea
Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20231106
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202311/20231106en.pdf
Philippines hopeful of joint exercise with Japanese troops next year
Kyodo 20231107
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/11/b577c7e18b3a-philippines-hopeful-of-joint-exercise-with-japanese-troops-next-year.html