Pacific Winds 20231227
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Increased US partnership with the Philippines coming in 2024
Military Times 20231226
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2023/12/26/new-in-2024-increased-us-partnership-with-the-philippines/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Congress seeks joint forces task force in case of war with China over Taiwan
KUAM 20231226
https://www.kuam.com/story/50278203/congress-seeks-joint-forces-task-force-in-case-of-war-with-china-over-taiwan
‘It’s all coming together’: Logistics Marines will lead Okinawa-to-Guam move next year
S&S 20231226
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2023-12-25/camp-blaz-marine-corps-guam-andersen-afb-12465455.html
Island Waves
Opinion relating to the continuity of institutions in New Caledonia
Conseil d’Etit 20231226
https://www.conseil-etat.fr/avis-consultatifs/derniers-avis-rendus/au-gouvernement/avis-relatif-a-la-continuite-des-institutions-en-nouvelle-caledonie
French Ambassador highlights bilateral relations with Fiji
FBCN 20231226
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/french-ambassador-highlights-bilateral-relations-with-fiji/
A sinking nation is offered an escape route. But there’s a catch.
WaPo 20231226
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/26/australia-tuvalu-deal-climate-change-pacific/
Govt to OK Henoko Land Work Changes Instead of Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki; Case to be First Use of ‘Execution by Proxy’
Yomiuri 20231226
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20231226-158079/
Taiwan + SCS
Xi vows to prevent anyone 'splitting Taiwan from China'
Reuters 20231226
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/xi-vows-prevent-anyone-splitting-taiwan-china-2023-12-26/
Cross-Straits ties mixed with restored exchanges and provocations from DPP, US
GT 20231226
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304351.shtml
Taiwan not seeing signs of large-scale Chinese military activity pre-election
Reuters 20231226
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-not-seeing-signs-large-scale-chinese-military-activity-pre-election-2023-12-26/
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231226
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5066226
Philippines not provoking conflict in South China Sea - military spokesperson
Reuters 20231226
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-not-provoking-conflict-south-china-sea-military-spokesperson-2023-12-26/
Solving the problem itself? Wish Manila keeps its words
GT 20231227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304373.shtml
Carrier USS Carl Vinson Back in the South China Sea After Singapore Port Visit
USNI 20231225
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/25/carrier-uss-carl-vinson-back-in-the-south-china-sea-after-singapore-port-visit
Capabilities
Military fuel supplies could be targets in a Pacific conflict
Honolulu Star Advertiser 20231225
https://www.aol.com/military-fuel-supplies-could-targets-223100913.html
American Spies Confront a New, Formidable China
WSJ 20231226
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/american-spies-confront-a-new-formidable-china-5c384370
Japan’s ambitious rearmament plan puts China in a bind
SCMP 20231226
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3246301/japans-ambitious-rearmament-plan-puts-china-bind
Japan's noisy advocacy of "maritime security" conceals sinister intentions
China Military 202031226
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16276294.html
In a reversal, Japan to send Patriot missiles to US
Asia Times 20231227
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/in-a-reversal-japan-to-send-patriot-missiles-to-us/
Philippines grapples with financial hurdle to buy U.S. F-16 fighters
Nikkei 20231227
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Philippines-grapples-with-financial-hurdle-to-buy-U.S.-F-16-fighters
China launches 3 satellites from sea
Xinhua 20231226
https://english.news.cn/20231226/ca77516407a8492383a1804bb41e2e53/c.html
Defense chief calls for vengeance in event of N. Korean provocation
Yonhap 20221226
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231226006200315?section=news
Air warfare in 2023: The year of the drone and the shadow of AI
Breaking Defense 20231226
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/air-warfare-in-2023-the-year-of-the-drone-and-the-shadow-of-ai/
For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review
Breaking Defense 20231226
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/for-space-two-steps-forward-one-step-back-2023-in-review/