Pacific Winds 20231207
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. and China diverge on how to avert military clashes
Nikkei 20231206
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/U.S.-and-China-diverge-on-how-to-avert-military-clashes
Chinese FM calls for sound, steady, sustained development of China-U.S. ties
Xinhua 20231206
https://english.news.cn/20231206/20ab645ca4d747be9032e20033c1c12e/c.html
Vietnam’s Upgraded Ties With Japan ‘Do Not Bode Well’ for China
VoA 20231206
https://www.voanews.com/a/vietnam-s-upgraded-ties-with-japan-do-not-bode-well-for-china/7386936.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
President Biden Transmits Compacts of Free Association-Related Agreements to U.S. Congress
US White House 20231205
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/12/05/president-biden-transmits-compacts-of-free-association-related-agreements-to-u-s-congress/
Micronesia's Former President Seeks Renewal of US Aid Agreement
VoA 20231205
https://www.voanews.com/a/micronesia-s-former-president-seeks-renewal-of-us-aid-agreement/7385697.html
US signals plan for intermediate-range missiles in the North Pacific
Benar 20231206
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/us-plan-for-missiles-in-pacific-guam-12062023024904.html
Airmen playing Santa carry out DOD’s longest running humanitarian-aid mission
S&S 20231205
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-12-06/operation-christmas-drop-micronesia-palau-12271876.html
Island Waves
Papua New Guinea, Australia to sign security agreement this week
RFA 20231205
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/pacific/australia-papuanewguinea-12052023155102.html
Enhancing air power in PNG
AU DoD 20231206
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-12-06/enhancing-air-power-png
China’s Shandong Province concludes impressive exhibition.
SIBC 20231206
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/chinas-shandong-province-concludes-impressive-exhibition/
China funds Legislative Assembly office in Savaii
Samoa Observer 20231206
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/107025
US should reflect on itself, instead of blaming China, when US Peace Corps fails to return to Solomon Islands: expert
GT 20231206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303151.shtml
More than just a climate deal: The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty and the EU’s potential contribution to the Pacific
ECFR 20231206
https://ecfr.eu/article/more-than-just-a-climate-deal-the-australia-tuvalu-falepili-union-treaty-and-the-eus-potential-contribution-to-the-pacific/
With new defense agreements, Australia and France ‘rebuild, reset’ relations after AUKUS shock
Breaking Defense 20231206
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/with-new-defense-agreements-australia-and-france-rebuild-reset-relations-after-aukus-shock/
Taiwan + SCS
‘The Best Way to Preserve Peace Is to Be Able to Fight a War’: Taiwan’s Foreign Minister on Resisting Chinese Aggression
TIME 20231206
https://time.com/6343237/taiwan-foreign-minister-joseph-wu-interview-china/
Wang Yi talks with Blinken over Taiwan, Israel-Palestine conflict
GT 20231206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303130.shtml
China’s next-gen air missile could decide a Taiwan war
Asia Times 20231206
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/chinas-next-gen-air-missile-could-decide-a-taiwan-war/
Taiwan Wants to Push Bounds of US Trade Deal to Beat Isolation
Bloomberg 20231205
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/taiwan-wants-to-push-bounds-of-us-trade-deal-to-beat-isolation-1.2007775
Allegedly Beijing-sponsored trips being investigated
Taipei Times 20231207
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/12/07/2003810277
US Navy patrol plane flies over sensitive Taiwan Strait
Reuters 202031206
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-navy-patrol-plane-flies-over-sensitive-taiwan-strait-2023-12-06/
China says its fighters shadowed US Navy patrol plane over Taiwan Strait
Reuters 20231206
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-navy-patrol-plane-flies-over-sensitive-taiwan-strait-2023-12-06/
Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231206
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5053581
Assessing the Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines’ Maritime Governance Capacity: Priorities and Challenges
AMTI 20231206
https://amti.csis.org/analysis/
In Asean, only Philippines embraces US’ Indo-Pacific strategy that is ‘trigger’ for South China Sea tensions
SCMP 20231206
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3244100/asean-only-philippines-embraces-us-indo-pacific-strategy-trigger-south-china-sea-tensions
Japan's Coast Guard trains ASEAN countries on marine monitoring
NHK 20231206
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2893/
China refutes wrong remarks on South China Sea issue at UN General Assembly
GT 20231206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303134.shtml
Capabilities
Official Says 2023 Was 'Most Transformative' for DOD in Indo-Pacific
US DoD 20231205
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3607785/official-says-2023-was-most-transformative-for-dod-in-indo-pacific/
U.S. Urging Pacific Allies to Step Up Surveillance at Sea, Says Official
USNI 20231205
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/05/u-s-urging-pacific-allies-to-step-up-surveillance-at-sea-says-official
Hyped China fears are driving a high-tech arms race
Responsible Statecraft 202431206
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-arms-race/
Rapidly evolving threats demand 21st Century Security solutions
Breaking Defense 202031206
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/rapidly-evolving-threats-demand-21st-century-security-solutions/
Japanese Space Strategy: Deploying a Credible Deterrent
GSR 20231205
https://globalsecurityreview.com/japanese-space-strategy-deploying-a-credible-deterrent/
Japan adds Chinese nuclear weapons lab and 35 others to WMD concern list
Nikkei 20231206
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-adds-Chinese-nuclear-weapons-lab-and-35-others-to-WMD-concern-list
Chinese giant commercial rocket pulls off country's first long-distance sea-based launch
GT 20231206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303125.shtml
China urges efforts from certain countries to prevent outer space arms race
GT 20231206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303155.shtml
China’s Grip on the Drone Industry Threatens US National Security, Jobs
Messenger 20231206
https://themessenger.com/opinion/china-drone-industry-us-national-security-jobs-drone-manufacturers
Power
The Global Credibility Gap
FP 20231206
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/06/global-geopolitics-credibility-us-china-competition-alliances-deterrence-military-economic-power/
The American Way of Economic War
FA 20231206
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/american-way-economic-war-paul-krugman
Exercises
RESOLUTE DRAGON: REASSURANCE, DETERRENCE, AND A CALL FOR COORDINATION
WOTR 20231206
https://warontherocks.com/2023/12/resolute-dragon-reassurance-deterrence-and-a-call-for-coordination/
Chinese warships visit controversial Cambodian naval base for joint exercise
SCMP 20231206
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3244083/chinese-warships-visit-controversial-cambodian-naval-base-joint-exercise