Pacific Winds 20231206
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
America’s Indo-Pacific Alliances Are Astonishingly Strong
FP 20231205
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/05/us-china-alliances-allies-geopolitics-balance-power-asia-india-taiwan-japan-south-korea-quad-aukus/
Unified, assertive ASEAN needed as US, China spar
Asia Times 20231205
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/unified-assertive-asean-needed-as-us-china-spar/
Speaking softly with big sticks: the reality of the US-China detente
SCMP 20231205
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3243586/speaking-softly-big-sticks-reality-us-china-detente
Japan, China must avoid ‘roller coaster’ ride, envoy says
Asahi 20231205
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15075580
U.S., Japan, S. Korea ties sustained by shared interests: U.S. envoy
Kyodo 20231205
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/12/1f1b0821444a-us-japan-s-korea-ties-sustained-by-shared-interests-us-envoy.html
Indonesia ratifies nuclear weapons ban treaty. Australia should too.
Lowy 20231205
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/indonesia-ratifies-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-australia-should-too
Western Firms Should Leave China Now
Project Syndicate 20231204
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/american-firms-should-leave-china-by-simon-johnson-et-al-2023-12
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam ignored in public, admonished in private
PIT 20231205
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/guam-ignored-in-public-admonished-in-private
Report: US to Deploy land-based missiles in Indo-Pacific
KUAM 20231205
}https://www.kuam.com/story/50152350/report-us-to-deploy-landbased-missiles-in-indopacific
Bordallo: GWA missile defense concerns would be in draft EIS
GDP 20231205
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/bordallo-gwa-missile-defense-concerns-would-be-in-draft-eis/article_a5d80ce0-924e-11ee-be8d-1ba76db6b56f.html
Team Binådu relieves Team Sindålu for security support of THAAD system
PDN 20231205
https://www.guampdn.com/news/team-bin-du-relieves-team-sind-lu-for-security-support-of-thaad-system/collection_88fd18a2-932c-11ee-b5b9-db1e6c3871ab.html
Island Waves
Papua New Guinea to recruit Australia police in security deal - minister
Reuters 20231205
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/papua-new-guinea-recruit-australia-police-security-deal-minister-2023-12-05/
Key stakes as French defence minister hosts Pacific defence ministers’ meeting
Radio NZ 20231205
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503946/key-stakes-as-french-defence-minister-hosts-pacific-defence-ministers-meeting
Australia and France agree on reciprocal Pacific military base access
Nikkei 20231205
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Australia-and-France-agree-on-reciprocal-Pacific-military-base-access
France aims to enhance support to protect EEZ
FBCN 20231205
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/france-aims-to-enhance-support-to-protect-eez/
In the Solomon Islands, a US agency’s struggles hint at China’s influence
Al Jazeera 20231205
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/12/5/in-the-solomon-islands-a-us-agencys-struggles-hint-at-chinas-influence
Why the United States Needs an Embassy in Tuvalu
The Diplomat 20231205
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/why-the-united-states-needs-an-embassy-in-tuvalu/
Tourism Fiji Chief invites Chinese travelers
FBCN 20231205
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/tourism-fiji-chief-invites-chinese-travelers/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan Strait Tensions: Don’t Blame the Victim
The Diplomat 20231205
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/taiwan-strait-tensions-dont-blame-the-victim/
The Pentagon needs fresh ideas for evading Taiwan logistics pitfalls
Defense News 20231204
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2023/12/04/the-pentagon-needs-fresh-ideas-for-evading-taiwan-logistics-pitfalls/
So-called "Taiwan independence" leads to dead end: spokesperson
Xinhua 20231205
https://english.news.cn/20231205/6a01b760eaa2454c9c91e02e5daf6b91/c.html
Japan's frontier islanders decry lack of plan to aid Taiwanese fleeing attack
Reuters 20231205
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-frontier-islanders-decry-lack-plan-aid-taiwanese-fleeing-attack-2023-12-05/
Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231205
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5052763
Why scores of Chinese boats were 'swarming' at a reef within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone
ABC (AU) 20231205
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-05/south-china-sea-whitsun-reef-boats-swarming-rafting/103190020
Return of wolf warriors? China bangs drum loudly after US ship sails near Spratly Islands
Breaking Defense 20231205
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/return-of-wolf-warriors-china-bangs-drum-loudly-after-us-ship-sails-near-spratly-islands/
Capabilities
Reloading vertical missile tubes at sea is within a crane arm’s reach
Defense News 20231204
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2023/12/04/reloading-vertical-missile-tubes-at-sea-is-within-a-crane-arms-reach/
US to Deploy Anti-Ship Missiles on Subs in 2024 to Counter China
Bloomberg 20231204
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-04/us-to-deploy-anti-ship-missiles-on-subs-in-2024-to-counter-china
CANCELLING THE NEW SEA-LAUNCHED NUCLEAR CRUISE MISSILE IS THE RIGHT MOVE
WOTR 20231205
https://warontherocks.com/2023/12/cancelling-the-new-sea-launched-nuclear-cruise-missile-is-the-right-move/
Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Test Woes Caused By Launcher
The Drive 20231204
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/launcher-woes-causing-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-test-aborts
CRS Report to Congress on Army Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon
USNI 20231205
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/05/report-to-congress-on-army-long-range-hypersonic-weapon
US land-based intermediate-range missile deployment in Indo-Pacific may trigger nuclear escalation
China Military 20231205
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16271110.html
Space Development Agency wants missile-defense satellites with infrared sensors to track hypersonic missiles
Military Aerospace 20231205
https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14302248/space-development-agency-wants-missile-defense-satellites-with-infrared-sensors-to-track-hypersonic-missiles
The Marine Corps is looking at small drone boats for spying on vessels
Marine Corps Times 20231205
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2023/12/04/the-marine-corps-is-looking-at-small-drone-boats-for-spying-on-vessels/
Power
‘The Thucydides trap’ becomes the Asia-Pacific theme song
ASPI 20231205
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-thucydides-trap-becomes-the-asia-pacific-theme-song/
Reality Check: Chinese Military Spending in Context
Watson Institute 20231205
https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2023/Hartung-%20Chinese%20Military%20Spending%20in%20Context.docx.pdf
Exercises
US, Japan kick off 10-day tabletop exercise that includes Australia for first time
S&S 20231204
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2023-12-04/yama-sakura-exercise-japan-australia-12250159.html
A significant step forward in the Pacific
AU DoD 20231205
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-12-05/significant-step-forward-pacific
US, Japan, Australia hold first joint command post drill ‘with China in mind’
GT 20231205
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303071.shtml