Pacific Winds 20231205
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan and ASEAN: Partners for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific in an Era of Uncertainty
Nippon 20231204
https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a09401/
E.Asian ties hindered by lack of will from Japan, SK
GT 20231204
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1302998.shtml
Australia's abundance of critical minerals may derail our relationship with China
ABC (AU) 20231205
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/australia-critical-minerals-iron-ore-may-test-china-relationship/103187716
Australia strengthens Pacific defence ties with France, both countries want to move on from AUKUS controversy
ABC (AU) 20231204
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-04/france-australia-defence-cooperation-defence-military-pacific/103186294
Raimondo's remarks expose deep-rooted Cold War mentality: FM
GT 20231204
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303020.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US to Deploy Land-Based Missiles in Indo-Pacific by 2024
Defense Post 20231204
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/12/04/us-missiles-indo-pacific/
’A beacon of goodwill': 84,000 lbs. of Christmas Drop goods head to remote Micronesia
PDN 20231204
https://www.guampdn.com/news/a-beacon-of-goodwill-84-000-lbs-of-christmas-drop-goods-head-to-remote-micronesia/article_78605660-9275-11ee-8fc5-47a3eeec5861.html
Island Waves
Australia and Papua New Guinea poised to sign major bilateral security agreement during PNG prime minister's Canberra visit
ABC (AU) 202031205
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/australia-and-png-to-sign-a-major-bilateral-security-agreement/103188340
Bougainville’s quest for sovereignty and Australia’s geostrategic dilemma
ASPI 20231204
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/bougainvilles-quest-for-sovereignty-and-australias-geostrategic-dilemma/
Marape Thankful to France for Commitment
Post Courier (PNG) 20231205
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/marape-thankful-to-france-for-commitment/
A country three hours away from Australia is the next frontier of China’s ambitions
SMH 20231203
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/a-country-three-hours-away-from-australia-is-the-next-frontier-of-china-s-ambitions-20231129-p5enpi.html
ADF, RNZAF support airlifting of medical supplies
Solomon Star 20231204
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/adf-rnzaf-support-airlifting-of-medical-supplies/
China balancing act as Paris deepens ties with Canberra
AAP 20231204
https://www.aap.com.au/news/french-foreign-minister-looks-to-deepen-defence-ties/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan to point US-supplied HIMARS at China
Asia Times 20231204
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/taiwan-to-point-us-supplied-himars-at-china/
Will China really invade? Caution and optimism in Taiwan
NIkkei 20231204
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/Will-China-really-invade-Caution-and-optimism-in-Taiwan
Taiwan military needs more: US senator
Taipei TImes 20231205
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/12/05/2003810162
Hong Kong’s Choiceless Elections: A Cautionary Tale for Taiwan
The Diplomat 20231204
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/hong-kongs-choiceless-elections-a-cautionary-tale-for-taiwan/
Canadian authors emergency guide to China attack for expats in Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231204
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5052199
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231204
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5051947
China's military: US combat ship 'illegally' entered territorial waters
Reuters 20231203
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-military-says-us-combat-ship-illegally-entered-territorial-waters-south-2023-12-03/
US escalates South China Sea provocation, demonstrating cheap muscle-flexing
GT 20231204
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1302979.shtml
PLA slams US Navy ship for illegally intruding into water near Ren'ai Jiao, violating Chinese sovereignty, regional stability
GT 20231204
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1302997.shtml
US military's provocation is like a high-altitude operation without a safety rope
GT 20231205
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303029.shtml
US ship conducts navigation operation near Second Thomas Shoal
RFA 20231204
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/southchinasea/us-second-thomas-12042023022926.html
Philippines Says 135 Chinese Ships Are ‘Swarming’ Disputed Reef
Bloomberg 20231203
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-03/philippines-says-135-chinese-ships-are-swarming-disputed-reef
Philippines drops yet another sea gauntlet on China
Asia Times 20231204
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/philippines-drops-yet-another-sea-gauntlet-on-china/
Global Impact: as uncertainties swirl over South China Sea, joint exercises and heightened tensions reverberate within the neighbourhood
SCMP 20231204
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3243712/global-impact-uncertainties-swirl-over-south-china-sea-joint-exercises-and-heightened-tensions
Capabilities
North Korea and Russia’s growing military cooperation is unsettling
Think China 20231204
https://www.thinkchina.sg/big-read-north-korea-and-russias-growing-military-cooperation-unsettling
South Korea test-fires solid-fuel rocket and puts satellite into orbit
Nikkei 20231205
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/South-Korea-test-fires-solid-fuel-rocket-and-puts-satellite-into-orbit
N. Korea raps Washington's 'double standard' over S. Korea's spy satellite launch
Yonhap 20231204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231204009300315?section=news
US' regional ploys will ultimately sink without trace
China Military 20231204
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16270708.html
How Western allies subvert international law and norms to ‘contain’ China
SCMP 20231204
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3243795/how-western-allies-subvert-international-law-and-norms-contain-china
US, Australia eye joint hypersonics experiments in 2024
Defense News 20231203
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/hypersonics/2023/12/03/us-australia-eye-joint-hypersonics-experiments-in-2024/
World’s Largest Plane Is One Step Closer To Launching A Hypersonic Vehicle
The Drive 20231204
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/worlds-largest-plane-one-step-closer-to-launching-hypersonic-vehicle
Public-Private Partnership Is Key to Building Defense Industrial Base and Workforce
US DoD 20231203
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3604968/public-private-partnership-is-key-to-building-defense-industrial-base-and-workf/
Counter-drone tech need like that of 155mm shells: Pentagon’s LaPlante
Defense News 20231204
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2023/12/04/counter-drone-tech-need-like-that-of-155mm-shells-pentagons-laplante/
How to make a defence ‘prime’
ASPI 20231204
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-to-make-a-defence-prime/
The B-21 Cannot Go It Alone
Hudson 20231203
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/b-21-cannot-go-it-alone-bryan-clark
Exercises
U.S. deploys fighter jets in S. Korea for air exercise in Singapore
Yonhap 20231204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231204002900315?section=news
Japan, US, Australia hold their 1st joint command post drill
NHK 20231204
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231204_11/
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 4, 2023
USNI 20231204
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/04/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-dec-4-2023