Pacific Winds 20231229
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China's military lashes out at US after breakthrough talks
Reuters 20231228
https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-military-lashes-out-us-after-breakthrough-talks-2023-12-28/
U.S. under shroud of uncertainty for 2024 but no shift in Asia policy
Kyodo 20231228
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/12/17e93915d1f3-focus-us-under-shroud-of-uncertainty-for-2024-but-no-shift-in-asia-policy.html
Pentagon hyping of ‘decisive year’ in 'Indo-Pacific' exposes military hegemony, Cold War mentality toward China
GT 20231228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304486.shtml
US Fiscal 2024 Defense Spending Bill interferes in China's internal affairs: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20231228
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16276761.html
Will the New Year Bring a War With China?
The Nation 20231227
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/us-china-crisis-2024/
Vietnam's 'bamboo diplomacy' shifts into higher gear
Reuters 20231228
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnams-bamboo-diplomacy-shifts-into-higher-gear-2023-12-28/
Top US, Philippine Diplomats Push Stronger Ties Amid China Spat
Bloomberg 20231228
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-28/top-us-philippine-diplomats-push-stronger-ties-amid-china-spat
US Policies Pushing China, Philippines To Brink Of Conflict
Responsible Statecraft 202031228
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-and-philippines-dispute-south-china-sea/
Top court finalizes ruling in favor of Korean victims of Japan's forced labor
Yonhap 20231228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231228004500315?section=news
South Korea top court upholds wartime labor rulings against Japan firms
Kyodo 20231228
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/12/22af021055c8-urgent-s-korea-top-court-upholds-wartime-labor-rulings-against-japan-firms.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Palau waits as funding from new compact deal with the United States stalls
ABC (AU) 20231228
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pacific-beat/103261072
Sanitation boost from US donation
JMI 20231228
https://marshallislandsjournal.com/sanitation-boost-from-us-donation/
Congress pushes for High-Level Joint Forces Task Force-Micronesia amid rising tensions with China over Taiwan
KUAM 20231228
https://www.kuam.com/story/50284314/congress-pushes-for-highlevel-joint-forces-task-forcemicronesia-amid-rising-tensions-with-china-over-taiwan
Island Waves
Plans for $2billion casino and 1000-room hotel in Fiji
Fiji TImes 20231228
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/plans-for-2billion-casino-and-1000-room-hotel-in-fiji/
No casino until framework developed says PM
FBCN 20231228
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/no-casino-until-framework-developed-says-pm/
French government announces constitutional amendments for New Caledonia
Radio NZ 20231228
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/505659/french-government-announces-constitutional-amendments-for-new-caledonia
Japan gov't overrides Okinawa objection to OK U.S. base transfer work
Kyodo 20231228
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/12/8322d5681e1e-urgent-japan-govt-overrides-okinawa-objection-to-ok-us-base-transfer-work.html
Taiwan + SCS
China says Taiwan is 'hyping up' military threat for electoral gain
Reuters 202031228
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-taiwan-is-hyping-up-military-threat-its-own-gain-2023-12-28/
China reaffirms its military threats against Taiwan weeks before the island’s presidential election
S&S 20231228
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2023-12-28/china-threats-taiwan-presidential-election-12488556.html
China decries US law on training Taiwan’s military
Asia Times 20231229
https://asiatimes.com/2023/12/china-decries-us-law-on-training-taiwans-military/
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20231228
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5067435
China says it won't turn a blind eye to Philippines' repeated 'provocations'
Reuters 20231228
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-says-it-wont-turn-blind-eye-philippines-repeated-provocations-2023-12-28/
Chinese Defense Ministry vows measures against US-backed Philippine provocations
GT 20231228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304483.shtml
At the Crossroads: The Situation of the South China Sea
SCSPI 20231228
http://www.scspi.org/en/dtfx/crossroads-situation-south-china-sea
Defense ministry recalls new troop education material describing Dokdo as disputed territory
Yonhap 20231228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231228003800315?section=news
Capabilities
In bid to counter China, US ramps up effort to boost military ties in Asia
Al-JAzeera 20231228
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/28/in-bid-to-counter-china-us-ramps-up-effort-to-boost-military-ties-in-asia
China urges regional alert as US military steps up forward deployment
Reuters 20231228
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-urges-regional-alert-us-military-steps-up-forward-deployment-2023-12-28/
US Coast Guard’s Role in the Blue Pacific on the Rise
The Diplomat 20231228
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/us-coast-guards-role-in-the-blue-pacific-on-the-rise/
N. Korean leader calls for stepped-up war preparations
Yonhap 20231228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231228000551315?section=news
Yoon orders military to retaliate first, report later in case of enemy attacks
Yonhap 20231228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231228006500315?section=news
The Marines Transformed to Take On China. Will They Be Ready for Everything Else?
WSJ 20231228
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/the-marines-transformed-to-take-on-china-will-they-be-ready-for-everything-else-d4ea24c6
Pentagon agencies team up in upcoming launch of hypersonic tracking satellites
Space News 20231228
https://spacenews.com/pentagon-agencies-team-up-in-upcoming-launch-of-hypersonic-tracking-satellites/
New planes, budget constraints and great power competition: 2024 air preview
Breaking Defense 20231228
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/12/new-planes-budget-constraints-and-great-power-competition-2024-air-preview/
B-52 Needs New Pylons To Carry Max Load Of Hypersonic Missiles
The Drive 20231227
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/b-52-needs-new-pylons-to-carry-max-load-of-hypersonic-missiles
China’s commercial space industry delivers unprecedented progress in 2023
GT 20231228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304464.shtml
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 28, 2023
USNI 20231228
https://news.usni.org/2023/12/28/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-dec-28-2023