Pacific Winds 20231212

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Dec 11, 2023

Alliances

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

$79M for 3 divert airfield projects in NDAA conference report—Kilili
Marianas Variety 20231211
https://www.saipantribune.com/news/local/79m-for-3-divert-airfield-projects-in-ndaa-conference-report-kilili/article_cc6b320e-970f-11ee-ae8d-9ba7fcaa2625.html

Island Waves

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan again reports Chinese carrier group in Taiwan Strait as election looms
Reuters 20231211
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-again-reports-chinese-carrier-group-taiwan-strait-election-looms-2023-12-11/

Chinese aircraft carrier makes Taiwan Strait passage
CNA (TW) 20231211
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202312110010

Taiwan’s Election Is Not a Turning Point for US Policy
The Diplomat 20231211
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/taiwans-election-is-not-a-turning-point-for-us-policy/

Don’t let China veto Australia’s ties with Taiwan
Lowy 20231211
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/don-t-let-china-veto-australia-s-ties-taiwan

The Beijing blowback should Australia get closer to Taiwan
Lowy 20231211
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beijing-blowback-should-australia-get-closer-taiwan

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231211
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5056814

China's actions in S. China Sea undermine regional stability, US says
Reuters 20231211
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-actions-s-china-sea-undermine-regional-stability-us-state-dept-2023-12-11/

Facts prove who is changing the status quo in South China Sea
China Daily 20231211
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202312/11/WS6576693ba31040ac301a71a2.html

Rising Philippine-China tensions in South China Sea: 5 moments from 2023
WaPo 20231211
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/11/philippines-china-south-china-sea-incidents/

Philippine President Vows to Defend Territory After Latest Maritime Clash
The Diplomat 20231211
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/philippine-president-vows-to-defend-territory-after-latest-maritime-clash/

PCG won't stoop down to China's level, refuses to use water cannon as offensive weapon -- official
Manila Bulletin 20231211
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/10/pcg-won-t-stoop-down-to-china-s-level-refuses-to-use-water-cannon-as-offensive-weapon-official-1

What It Feels Like to Be the Target of China’s Water Cannons
NYTimes 20231211
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/world/asia/china-water-cannon-philippines.html

China vows to take 'resolute measures' amid Philippine scheme to seize Ren’ai Reef
GT 20231211
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303420.shtml

China lodges stern representations to the Philippines over its infringement, provocation in South China Sea
Xinhua 20231211
https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20231211/2c4a5602c63545cf973db38db79292d1/c.html

Manila's audacity in playing with fire risks triggering conflict in the South China Sea
China Military 20231211
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16272636.html

DOD Officials Underscore 'Ironclad' Commitment to Philippines After China's Unsafe Maneuvers
US DoD 20231211
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3613695/dod-officials-underscore-ironclad-commitment-to-philippines-after-chinas-unsafe/

China, Japan trade blame over confrontation near disputed islands
Reuters 20231210
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-japanese-vessels-illegally-entered-territorial-waters-2023-12-10/

Capabilities

Regional security Outlook 2024
CSCAP 2023 December
https://www.cscap.org/uploads/CSCAP%20Security%20Outlook%202024%20-%20Final.pdf

US next-gen tactical missile ready to point at China
Asia TImes 20231211
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/us-next-gen-tactical-missile-ready-to-point-at-china/

Homeland Missile Defense System Conducts Successful Intercept Of Target
US MDA 20231211
https://www.mda.mil/news/23news0006.html

AUKUS inflection point: Building the ecosystem for workforce development
USSC 20231211
https://www.ussc.edu.au/aukus-inflection-point-building-the-ecosystem-for-workforce-development

U.S. considers missile launch notification framework with China
Nikkei 20231211
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/U.S.-considers-missile-launch-notification-framework-with-China

‘Space can be the most resilient capability’: LEO sats vital for next war, says Marine info chief
Breaking Defense 20231211
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/space-can-be-the-most-resilient-capability-leo-sats-vital-for-next-war-says-marine-info-chief/

US must dominate in space to win future wars, Marine Corps’ Glavy says
Defense News 2021211
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/space/2023/12/11/us-must-dominate-in-space-to-win-future-wars-marine-corps-glavy-says/

Japan likely to put off raising taxes to build up defense until 2026
Nikkei 20231211
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Japan-likely-to-put-off-raising-taxes-to-build-up-defense-until-2026

Why Are We Doing So Little To Counter China’s Military Buildup?
Heritage 20231211
https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/why-are-we-doing-so-little-counter-chinas-military-buildup

Would China Dare Launch a Second Pearl Harbor on America?
Heritage 20231211
https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/would-china-dare-launch-second-pearl-harbor-america-0

China’s cyber army is invading critical U.S. services
WaPo 20231211
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/12/11/china-hacking-hawaii-pacific-taiwan-conflict/

Space Force chief tempers expectations: ‘Go government fast, not SpaceX fast’
Space News 20231211
https://spacenews.com/space-force-chief-tempers-expectations-go-government-fast-not-spacex-fast/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 11, 2023
USNI 20231211
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/11/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-dec-11-2023

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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