Pacific Winds 20240101
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Xi says to continuously consolidate, develop China-Russia ties serves fundamental interests of both countries
Xinhua 20231231
https://english.news.cn/20231231/b0596bdde1f0439bbe5d0fa1c01d1f2b/c.html
‘Certain things require a machete’: House China Committee chair defends aggressive approach to Beijing
Politico 20231231
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/31/house-china-committee-2024-legislation-00133081
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Developing a Guam missile defense system
GDP 20240101
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/developing-a-guam-missile-defense-system/article_c933229e-a61a-11ee-824c-dfeb081fd8aa.html
Island Waves
Chinese Navy Continues To Fly The Red Flag In The South Pacific
Naval News 20231231
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/12/chinese-navy-continues-to-fly-the-red-flag-in-the-south-pacific/
Taiwan + SCS
Air force set to receive 66 F-16V jets over two years
Taipei Times 20240101
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/01/01/2003811448
China's Xi says 'reunification' with Taiwan is inevitable
Reuters 20231231
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-calls-taiwan-president-frontrunner-destroyer-peace-2023-12-31/
China calls Taiwan president frontrunner a destroyer of peace
Reuters 20231231
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-calls-taiwan-president-frontrunner-destroyer-peace-2023-12-31/
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese naval vessels, 3 military aircraft around nation
Taiwan News 20231231
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5069238
China to up presence around islands controlled by Japan, claimed by Taiwan
Taiwan News 20231231
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5069290
4 Chinese Vessels Spotted Near Senkaku Islands, Totaling Record 352 Days Entering Contiguous Zone in 2023
Yomiuri 20231231
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20231231-158968/
Gregory Poling on Escalating Tension in the South China Sea
The Diplomat 20231231
https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/gregory-poling-on-escalating-tension-in-the-south-china-sea/
Capabilities
North Korea to launch new satellites, build drones as it warns war inevitable
Reuters 20231230
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-plans-launch-three-more-reconnaissance-satellites-2024-kcna-reports-2023-12-30/
N. Korea to launch 3 more military spy satellites next year: state media
Yonhap 20231231
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231231000652315?section=news
N.K. leader says 2 Koreas are 'hostile nations at war' with no chance of unification
Yonhap 20231231
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20231231002300315?section=news
U.S. warns N. Korea's space rocket launches flout U.N. Security Council resolutions
Yonhap 20240101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240101000300315?section=news
Can Washington and Seoul tame South Koreans' nuclear ambitions?
Nikkei 20231231
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Can-Washington-and-Seoul-tame-South-Koreans-nuclear-ambitions
Eyeing ‘if Trump’ scenario, Japan must commit to its own defence
SCMP 20231231
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3246805/eyeing-if-trump-scenario-japan-must-commit-its-own-defence
Taiwan’s mysterious extended-range missile poses limited threat to Chinese mainland, military magazine says
SCMP 20231231
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3246642/taiwans-mysterious-extended-range-missile-poses-limited-threat-chinese-mainland-military-article
Time to test a ship-based hypersonic missile launcher
Navy Times 20231231
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2023/12/31/new-in-2024-flight-tests-with-ship-based-hypersonic-missile-launcher/
What China’s new defense minister tells us about Xi’s military purge
WaPo 20231231
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/30/china-defense-minister-xi-military/