Pacific Winds 20231213
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Xi Makes First Vietnam Visit in Six Years to Counter US Clout
Bloomberg 20231211
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/xi-makes-first-vietnam-visit-in-six-years-to-counter-us-clout-1.2010301
Xi's Vietnam visit to bring bilateral ties into new stage
GT 20231212
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303506.shtml
China’s investments to Vietnam boom, US spending down
Modern Diplomacy 20231212
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/12/12/chinas-investments-to-vietnam-boom-us-spending-down/
Reinforcing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Diplomacy and Deterrence in the Pivotal Year of 2022
Hudson 20231212
https://www.hudson.org/reinforcing-free-open-indo-pacific-diplomacy-deterrence-pivotal-year-2022-james-przystup
U.S.-China rivalry hits home in this Philippine province
Nikkei 20231212
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/U.S.-China-rivalry-hits-home-in-this-Philippine-province
Lawmakers Call for Raising Tariffs and Severing Economic Ties With China
NYTimes 20231212
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/business/economy/us-china.html
Reset, Prevent, Build. A Strategy to Win America’s Economic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party
US House of Representatives 20231212
https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/reset-prevent-build-scc-report.pdf
Top US government audit agency urged to ensure China influence probes are kept ‘free from bias’
SCMP 20231212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3244734/top-us-government-audit-agency-urged-ensure-china-influence-probes-are-kept-free-bias
Raimondo Vows ‘Strongest Possible’ Action on Huawei’s Chip Breakthrough
Bloomberg 20231212
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-11/raimondo-vows-strongest-possible-action-on-huawei-s-chip-breakthrough
US CHIPS Act hurting its Asian partners
Asia Times 20231212
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/us-chips-act-hurting-its-asian-partners/
How US vilifies China's chip progress with cognitive warfare tricks?
GT 20231212
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303502.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Micronesia’s ex-leader, urging US funds for Pacific islands and warning of China war, stirs debate
SCMP 202031213
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3244861/micronesias-ex-leader-urging-us-funds-pacific-islands-and-warning-china-war-stirs-debate
Yes Micronesia, there is a Santa Claus (and other geopolitical fables)
GDP 20231213
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/yes-micronesia-there-is-a-santa-claus-and-other-geopolitical-fables/article_7ed3ec0a-9833-11ee-b994-4b9506a3df1a.html
How Washington’s Budget Fights Are Affecting Three Critical Pacific Island States
CFR 20231212
https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-washingtons-budget-fights-are-affecting-three-critical-pacific-island-states
The Marshall Islands Need a Marshall Plan
FP 20231211
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/11/pacific-island-cop-climate-change-sea-level/
Guam could see $3.2 billion in military spending for fiscal 2024
PDN 20231212
https://www.guampdn.com/news/guam-could-see-3-2-billion-in-military-spending-for-fiscal-2024/article_ac2e4116-9890-11ee-9ac8-abd69cce687e.html
US Bans Entry to Marshall Islands Politicians over Corruption
OCCRP 20231212
https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/18300-us-bans-entry-to-marshall-islands-politicians-over-corruption
Pacific Partnership 24-1 Kicks off Third Mission Stop in Micronesia
USN PacFlt 20231212
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/3614891/pacific-partnership-24-1-kicks-off-third-mission-stop-in-micronesia/
US lawmakers urging homeland security to change policy on visas
KUAM 20231212
https://www.kuam.com/story/50202255/us-lawmakers-urging-homeland-security-to-change-policy-on-visas
Adelup says it will continue to seek relief on H-2B issue
GDP 20231213
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/adelup-says-it-will-continue-to-seek-relief-on-h-2b-issue/article_ab09f9f4-97b1-11ee-91db-7f19c48a702b.html
Island Waves
Chinese Company banned from log export
National (VU) 20231212
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/chinese-company-banned-from-log-export/article_c1d87a6d-ee97-5b99-9a96-58bbe63b8b46.html
Vanuatu authorities suspend Chinese logging company's activities
Radio NZ 20231212
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/504553/vanuatu-authorities-suspend-chinese-logging-company-s-activities
'Coward': Bougainville's AG lashes Australia for not backing its independence
ABC (AU) 20231212
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/bougainville/103217334
PNG Signs Security Agreement with Australia
Post Courier (PNG) 20231213
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-signs-security-agreement-with-australia/
No Plan for Security Deal with China
Post Courier (PNG) 20231212
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/no-plan-for-security-deal-with-china/
China Defends PNG’s Role
Post Courier (PNG) 20231213
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-defends-pngs-role/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan tracks 20 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231212
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5057665
Taiwanese Pilot Planned CH-47 Defection To China: Reports
The Drive 20231212
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/taiwanese-pilot-planned-ch-47-defection-to-china-reports
Flashpoint is South China Sea, not Taiwan: Philippine envoy to U.S.
Nikkei 20231213
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/Flashpoint-is-South-China-Sea-not-Taiwan-Philippine-envoy-to-U.S
China testing waters in S China Sea vs Philippines and US
Asia Times 20231212
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/china-testing-waters-in-s-china-sea-vs-philippines-and-us/
PH, US top military officials discuss cooperation, China harassment in phone call
Manila Bulletin 20231212
https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/11/ph-us-top-military-officials-discuss-cooperation-china-harassment-in-phone-call-1
Philippines summons Chinese ambassador over South China Sea 'harassment'
Reuters 20231212
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-summons-chinese-ambassador-over-south-china-sea-harassment-2023-12-12/
China will firmly safeguard national sovereignty
China Military 29231212
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16272957.html
South China Sea: Xi Jinping calls for ‘mutually acceptable solutions’ as he visits Vietnam
SCMP 20231212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3244796/south-china-sea-xi-jinping-calls-mutually-acceptable-solutions-he-visits-vietnam
Capabilities
The Big One
FP 20231212
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/united-states-big-one-krepinevich
Emerging defense bill mandates Pentagon study on war with China in 2030
WashTimes 20231212
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/dec/7/emerging-defense-bill-mandates-pentagon-study-on-w/
Military chief calls for 'overwhelming' capabilities against N. Korean threats
Yonhap 20231212
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231212007600315?section=news
Why a strategic fleet won’t work for Australia
ASPI 20231212
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-a-strategic-fleet-wont-work-for-australia/
Prime minister Albanese’s strategic fleet folly
SAA 20231212
https://strategicanalysis.org/prime-minister-albaneses-strategic-fleet-folly/
Freedom to maneuver key for future space ‘combat mindset,’ says ex-SPACECOM deputy
Breaking Defense 20231212
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/exclusive-freedom-to-maneuver-key-for-future-space-combat-mindset-says-ex-spacecom-deputy/
How to “out-curious” military adversaries with Earth-sensing data
Breaking Defense 20231212
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/how-to-out-curious-military-adversaries-with-earth-sensing-data/
Australian startup targets AUKUS market for novel space tracking antenna
Breaking Defense 20231212
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/australian-startup-targets-aukus-market-for-novel-space-tracking-antenna/
S. Korea seeks to spend nearly 350 tln won in defense over next 5 years
Yonhap 20231212
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231212004151315
America’s B-21 Raiders: Deterring and Assuring in the New Cold War
Hudson 20231212
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/america-b-21-raiders-deterring-assuring-new-cold-war-rebeccah-heinrichs
China becomes world-largest emerging market for dynamic positioning vessels: association
GT 20231212
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303468.shtml
Power
The Self-Doubting Superpower
FA 20231212
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/self-doubting-superpower-america-fareed-zakaria
Exercises
PLA's aircraft carrier Shandong transits Taiwan Straits after operation in the north
GT 20231212
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303504.shtml
Events
Getting on Track: Space and Airborne Sensors for Hypersonic Missile Defense
CSIS 18 December 2023 2-3:30 PM EST
https://www.csis.org/events/getting-track-space-and-airborne-sensors-hypersonic-missile-defense