Pacific Winds 20231115

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

U.S. Manages Expectations of a Breakthrough Before Biden and Xi Meet
NYTimes 20231114
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/us/politics/biden-xi-china-apec.html

Don't squander chance to restore China-U.S. ties
Xinhua 20231114
https://english.news.cn/20231114/f7c40347d26e4873a9af32cb1d49c875/c.html

Xi leaves for key China-US summit, APEC
GT 20231114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301827.shtml

Biden says U.S. not trying to 'decouple' from China, but seeks improved ties
Yonhap 20231115
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231115000200315?section=news

Biden in 'Strong Position' in Meeting China's Xi, White House Says
VoA 20231114
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-in-strong-position-in-meeting-china-s-xi-white-house-says/7354253.html

Xi-Biden summit: heed mainland China’s Taiwan red line and ‘everything else’ is on the table with US, former envoy Cui Tiankai says
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3241401/xi-biden-summit-heed-chinas-taiwan-red-line-and-everything-else-table-us-former-envoy-cui-tiankai

Don’t expect Xi to restore the US-China military hotline this week
Brookings 20231113
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/dont-expect-xi-to-restore-the-us-china-military-hotline-this-week/

Why This Biden-Xi Summit Won't Be Good Enough
Responsible Statecraft 20231114
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/biden-xi-summit/

Xi-Biden summit: why the US push for military guard rails with China could be a near miss
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3241548/xi-biden-summit-why-us-push-military-guard-rails-china-could-be-near-miss

China-US ties need a new guiding strategic framework in competition
GT 20231114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301802.shtml

Moody’s casts a pall over Biden-Xi tete-a-tete
Asia Times 20231114
https://asiatimes.com/2023/11/moodys-casts-a-pall-over-biden-xi-tete-a-tete/

More Americans concerned China’s rise is threat to US national interest than any time since 1990: survey
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3241532/more-americans-concerned-chinas-rise-threat-us-national-interest-any-time-1990-survey

Biden, Indonesia’s Widodo Affirm New Defense Cooperation Accord
Bloomberg 20231114
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-14/biden-widodo-defense-pact-as-us-eyes-indo-pacific-influence

Japan’s new golden age in Southeast Asia
Lowy 20231114
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/japan-s-new-golden-age-southeast-asia

How an executive's arrest struck a blow to Japan-China business
Reuters 20231114
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/how-an-executives-arrest-struck-blow-japan-china-business-2023-11-14/

UN members concerned China, Russia helping North Korea -US' Austin
Reuters 20231114
https://www.reuters.com/world/austin-un-states-concerned-china-russia-helping-north-korea-2023-11-14/

No trade deal struck at U.S.-led Indo-Pacific economic meeting
Kyodo 20231114
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/11/f9adb12e30c2-update1-no-trade-deal-struck-at-us-led-indo-pacific-economic-meeting.html

Yellen: Indo-Pacific trade talks need 'further work'
Reuters 20231114
https://www.reuters.com/business/yellen-indo-pacific-trade-talks-need-further-work-2023-11-14/

US business group calls for progress on ‘trade pillar’ of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework as talks hit snag
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3241411/us-business-group-calls-progress-trade-pillar-indo-pacific-economic-framework-talks-hit-snag

Inside Biden's delay on Indo-Pacific trade deal
Axios 20231114
https://www.axios.com/2023/11/14/biden-delay-indo-pacific-trade-deal

Yellen Says China’s Support for Industries Poses Global ‘Risk
Bloomberg 20231114
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-14/yellen-says-china-s-support-for-industries-poses-global-risk

China-S.Korea exchange meeting on practical economic cooperation held in Jilin
GT 20231114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301840.shtml

Proposed Australian export law meant to help AUKUS sharing, but experts are sounding alarms
Breaking Defense 20231114
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/proposed-australian-export-law-meant-to-help-aukus-sharing-but-experts-are-sounding-alarms/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Angaur claims Whipps’ designating Obichang as applicant in TACMOR EQPB application illegal; Seeks hearing with court and sanction against government counsel
Island Times 2023114
https://islandtimes.org/angaur-claims-whipps-designating-obichang-as-applicant-in-tacmor-eqpb-application-illegal-seeks-hearing-with-court-and-sanction-against-government-counsel/

US strategy in the Pacific taps out in Guam
GDP 20231115
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/us-strategy-in-the-pacific-taps-out-in-guam/article_1f3e7822-822c-11ee-967b-6fe23c4d4eb6.html

Domestic issues in front of mind for Micronesia president
Radio NZ 20231115
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018915356/domestic-issues-in-front-of-mind-for-micronesia-president

Pacific Partnership 24-1 concludes first mission stop in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
USN PacFlt 20231114
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/3588326/pacific-partnership-24-1-concludes-first-mission-stop-in-the-republic-of-the-ma/

Island Waves

NZDF contingent to support Solomon Islands
Radio NZ 20231114
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/502380/pacific-games-2023-nzdf-contingent-to-support-solomon-islands
NZ DF Release: https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/nzdf-contingent-to-support-solomon-islands-during-pacific-games/

AFP, ADF PRESENCE BOOSTED
Solomon Star 20231114
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/afp-adf-presence-boosted/

PNG deploys additional police to assist RSIPF with PG23 security
Solomon Star 20231114
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/png-deploys-additional-police-to-assist-rsipf-with-pg23-security/

Marape Jets Off to APEC Meet
Post Courier (PNG) 20231114
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/marape-jets-off-to-apec-meet/

Bougainville’s President Toroama Goes to Washington
The Diplomat 20231114
https://thediplomat.com/2023/11/bougainvilles-president-toroama-goes-to-washington/

Australia-Tuvalu treaty is 'to maintain our identity', Kausea Natano says
Radio NZ 20231114
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/502395/australia-tuvalu-treaty-is-to-maintain-our-identity-kausea-natano-says

Do not make the resettlement offer to Pacific a geopolitical chess move
GT 20231114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202311/1301824.shtml

A Pacific union: Australia-Tuvalu deal goes well beyond climate
Lowy 20231114
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/pacific-union-australia-tuvalu-deal-goes-well-beyond-climate

Australia has “resettlement edge” over China
Islands Business 20231114
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/australia-has-resettlement-edge-over-china/

UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific makes first visit to Tonga
Matangi Tonga 20231114
https://matangitonga.to/2023/11/14/uk-minister-state-indo-pacific-makes-first-visit-tonga

Multi-national Pacific Partnership 2023 focuses on disaster response, public health, and civic preparedness.
Matangi Tonga 20231114
https://matangitonga.to/2023/11/14/multi-national-pacific-partnership-2023-focuses-disaster-response-public-health-and-civic

Taiwan + SCS

China invasion unlikely by 2027: NSC chief
Taipei Times 20231115
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/11/15/2003809198

Taiwanese troops may be on their way to train on US soil
Defense News 20231114
https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2023/11/14/taiwanese-troops-may-be-on-their-way-to-train-on-us-soil/

50 US congressmen back bill calling for normalized ties with Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231114
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5039769

Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231114
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5039623

Japan and China Open Hotline Amid Simmering Tensions
VoA 20231113
https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-and-china-open-hotline-amid-simmering-tensions/7353923.html

PCG lauds approval of P1.3-B budget hike to support WPS, sea security
PNA 20231114
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213620

Second Thomas Shoal: China's Bid To Dislodge the Philippines
Newsweek 20231114
https://www.newsweek.com/second-thomas-shoal-chinas-bid-dislodge-philippines-1843429

Lighting Up the Maritime Gray Zone
USNI Proceedings Nov 2023
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2023/november/lighting-maritime-gray-zone

Capabilities

Think China’s PLA is a paper tiger? Think again
Asia Times 20231114
https://asiatimes.com/2023/11/think-chinas-pla-is-a-paper-tiger-think-again/

The China Dilemma
CACNP 20231113
https://armscontrolcenter.org/the-china-dilemma/

South Korea, Japan and US military pact to counter China, the North could lead to ‘new Cold War’
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3241496/south-korea-japan-and-us-military-pact-counter-china-north-could-lead-new-cold-war

South Korea’s Role in China-US Arms Control
The Diplomat 20231115
https://thediplomat.com/2023/11/south-koreas-role-in-china-us-arms-control/

Vice defense chiefs of S. Korea, Philippines agree to closely cooperate in defense industry
Yonhap 20231114
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231114011000315?section=news

Australian ports in a cyber storm
ASPI 20231114
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-ports-in-a-cyber-storm/

Commercial tanker refuels US Air Force fighters for Singapore exercise
Defense News 20231113
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/11/13/commercial-tanker-refuels-us-air-force-fighters-for-singapore-exercise/

CCA Loyal Wingmen Drones To Cost Quarter To Third Of An F-35
The Drive 20231113
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/cca-loyal-wingmen-drones-to-cost-quarter-to-third-of-an-f-35

IS MILITARY SPACE-BASED JAMMING NORMAL? SOME WORRY IT IS
WOTR 20231113
https://warontherocks.com/2023/11/is-military-space-based-jamming-normal-some-worry-it-is/

Coast Guard:Asset, Workforce, and Technology Challenges Continue to Affect Law Enforcement Missions
GAO 20231114
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107144

Countering Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems
CSIS 20231114
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2023-11/231114_Shaikh_Countering_sUAS.pdf

CRS Report to Congress on SSN(X) Next-Generation Attack Submarine
USNI 20231114
https://news.usni.org/2023/11/14/report-to-congress-on-ssnx-next-generation-attack-submarine-3

US-led AI declaration on responsible military use sees 45 countries join, but not China
SCMP 20231114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3241415/us-led-ai-declaration-responsible-military-use-sees-45-countries-join-not-china

Calls for more oversight, punishment after major military disasters
Military Times 20231114
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2023/11/14/calls-for-more-oversight-punishment-after-major-military-disasters/

Power

U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION REPORT TO CONGRESS 2023
USCHESRC 20231114
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/2023_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf

The Rise and Fall of the World’s Most Successful Joint Venture
NYTimes 20231114
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/business/us-china-economy-trade.html

Exercises

S. Korea, U.S. hold joint anti-sub, counter special ops drills in East Sea
Yonhap 20231114
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231114005351315?section=news