Pacific Winds 20231216
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Does America Have an Endgame on China?
FP 20231215
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/15/does-america-have-an-endgame-on-china/
Why a Bipartisan House Committee Wants to Further Cut Ties With Beijing
FP 20231215
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/15/us-china-committee-new-report-beijing-competition/
Top US diplomat to China: Not ‘optimistic’ about future relations
Politico 20231215
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/15/china-us-relations-burns-00132012
The End of Hedging in Australia’s China Policy and its Implications
AIIA 20231215
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-end-of-hedging-in-australias-china-policy-and-its-implications/
Australia praises US Congress green light for AUKUS nuclear submarine sale
Reuters 20231215
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-praises-us-congress-green-light-aukus-nuclear-submarine-sale-2023-12-15/
Independent Posturing outside the US Alliance Would Endanger Australia
Hudson 20231215
https://www.hudson.org/economics/independent-posturing-outside-us-alliance-would-endanger-australia-john-lee
FROM BOYCOTTS TO SELFIES: ASIA’S MYRIAD PERCEPTIONS OF JAPAN
WOTR 20231214
https://warontherocks.com/2023/12/from-boycotts-to-selfies-asias-myriad-perceptions-of-japan/
Analysts: Japan Strengthening ASEAN Security Ties to Contain China
VoA 20231215
https://www.voanews.com/a/analysts-japan-strengthening-asean-security-ties-to-contain-china-/7399066.html
Pacts signed by Vietnam, China during Xi's Hanoi trip
Reuters 202315
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pacts-signed-by-vietnam-china-during-xis-hanoi-trip-2023-12-15/
Foreign ministry slams Vietnam's claim Taiwan is 'part of China'
Taiwan News 20231215
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5060371
S. Korea expresses 'stern' protest to China, Russia over air defense zone incursion
Yonhap 20231215
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231215008751315?section=national/diplomacy
Pyongyang’s pivot back to military tensions
Asia Times 20231215
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/pyongyangs-pivot-back-to-military-tensions/https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/pyongyangs-pivot-back-to-military-tensions/
After APEC: Whither US Leadership on Trade?
The Diplomat 20231215
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/after-apec-whither-us-leadership-on-trade/
China-US relations: ambassadors celebrating decades-old business council see warmer future between rivals
SCMP 20231215
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3245176/china-us-relations-ambassadors-celebrating-decades-old-business-council-foresee-warmer-future
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Air Force plans to host 12 Singapore fighter jets on Guam
PIT 20231215
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/air-force-plans-to-host-12-singapore-fighter-jets-on-guam
Air Force looking at bedding down up to 12 Singapore F-15 fighters at Andersen
GDP 20231216
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/air-force-looking-at-bedding-down-up-to-12-singapore-f-15-fighters-at-andersen/article_8f4c7a50-9aec-11ee-890e-cb34ddfae731.html
Compacts of Free Association
AEI 20231215
https://www.aei.org/articles/china-taiwan-weekly-update-december-15-2023/
Island Waves
Australia has invested heavily in a Pacific peacekeeping hub. So, where are the recruits?
Conversation 20231214
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-invested-heavily-in-a-pacific-peacekeeping-hub-so-where-are-the-recruits-215533
Changing atmosphere
Inside Story 20231215
https://insidestory.org.au/changing-atmosphere/
PM SOGAVARE AND AMBASSADOR WEIMING LAUNCHED CONSTRUCTION OF NEW MEDICAL CENTER
SIBC 20231215
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/pm-sogavare-and-ambassador-weiming-launched-construction-of-new-medical-center/
NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS DELEGATION MET WITH PM SOGAVARE
Solomon Star 20231215
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/national-peoples-congress-delegation-met-with-pm-sogavare/
Japan pledges VT600 million to IOM for disaster resilience project
Daily Post (VU) 20231215
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/japan-pledges-vt600-million-to-iom-for-disaster-resilience-project/article_2a60912f-a18e-5cc8-91fa-73fa33ed8e60.html
The Deal That Exposes the Global North’s Flawed Approach to Climate Migration
FP 20231214
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/14/australia-tuvalu-pacific-islands-climate-migration-deal/
28 businesses showcase products from China
Fiji Times 20231214
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/28-businesses-showcase-products-from-china/
Taiwan + SCS
Beijing’s Diplomacy of Anger at Taiwan: How the Chinese Art of War Avoids Red Lines
AIIA 20231215
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/beijings-diplomacy-of-anger-at-taiwan-how-the-chinese-art-of-war-avoids-red-lines
China pressures Taiwan with trade accusations and warplanes a month before election
Reuters 20231215
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-accuses-taiwan-unfair-trade-barriers-month-before-election-2023-12-15/
US Congress passes defense bill with provisions to bolster Taiwan's military
Taiwan News 20231215
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5060012
US approves training for Taiwan forces
Taipei Times 20231216
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2023/12/16/2003810707
Taiwan’s trade restrictive measures on mainland constitute trade barriers: MOFCOM
GT 20231215
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303728.shtml
Taiwan wants trade disputes with China to be handled under WTO framework
CNA (TW) 20231215
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202312150014
Is the US worried about William Lai winning the Taiwan presidential election?
Think China 20231214
https://www.thinkchina.sg/us-worried-about-william-lai-winning-taiwan-presidential-election
Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231215
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5059991
US urged to 'act cautiously' in regard to Taiwan, South China Sea
China Daily 20231215
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202312/15/WS657bb80ba31040ac301a7f01.html
Philippine ambassador's comments sound like they come from US official
GT 20231215
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1303734.shtml
China is ‘converting South China Sea into a lake of China,’ says Teodoro
Inquirer (PH) 20231215
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/224375/china-is-converting-south-china-sea-into-a-lake-of-china-says-teodoro
PCG vows not to make aggressive moves vs China in WPS
GMA 20231215
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/891413/pcg-vows-not-to-commit-aggressive-actions-vs-china-in-wps/story/
Funds allocated for building of structure in WPS under 2024 budget — Angara
CNN (PH) 20231214
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/14/angara-wps-structure-2024-budget.html
Capabilities
China Launches 4th Type 075 LHD For The PLAN
Naval Nes 20231214
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/12/china-launches-4th-type-075-lhd-for-the-plan/
China launches large classified optical satellite towards geostationary orbit
Space News 20231215
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-large-classified-optical-satellite-towards-geostationary-orbit/
Risk of war with China is real and rising
WashExam 20231214
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/policy/defense-national-security-china-taiwan-joe-biden-xi-jingping
Washington tightens security shackles in Indo-Pacific strategy
China Military 20231215
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16273770.html
US Congress fires the AUKUS starting gun
ASPI 20231215
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-congress-fires-the-aukus-starting-gun/
JAPAN – AIM-120C-8 ADVANCED MEDIUM-RANGE AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES (AMRAAM)
US DSCA 20231215
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/japan-aim-120c-8-advanced-medium-range-air-air-missiles-amraam
USSPACECOM commander declares Full Operational Capability
US SpaceCom 20231215
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/3619320/usspacecom-commander-declares-full-operational-capability/
U.S. Military Returns to the Jungle, Training for a Very Different Threat
NYTimes 20231215
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/world/asia/us-military-jungle-training.html
Power
The Atrophy of American Statecraft
FA 20231215
https://foreignpolicy.com/
Shadow Play: a pro-China and anti-US influence operation thrives on YouTube
ASPI 20231215
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/shadow-play-a-pro-china-and-anti-us-influence-operation-thrives-on-youtube/
Exercises
US, Japan and Australia wrap up 10-day exercise with eyes on next year
S&S 20231215
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-12-15/yama-sakura-exercise-japan-u.s.-australia-philippine-12366158.html
ADF says ‘arigatou’ after Japan exercise
AU DoD 20231215
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-12-15/adf-says-arigatou-after-japan-exercise
Why does Australia join joint military exercises with US, Japan?
China Military 20231215
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16273801.html