Pacific Winds 20240419
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US strategy for Indo-Pacific region must promote economic development, not just defence: Senate panel
SCMP 20240417
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3259390/us-strategy-indo-pacific-region-must-promote-economic-development-not-just-defence-senate-panel
Why Asian Allies Are Wary of the U.S. Election—and Why Experts Say They Don’t Need to Be
TIME 20240418
https://time.com/6968434/indo-pacific-security-alliances-us-presidential-election-trump-biden-asia/
China foreign minister says Beijing and Jakarta want regional peace and stability
Reuters 20240418
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-foreign-minister-says-beijing-jakarta-want-regional-peace-stability-2024-04-18/
In Indonesia, China’s foreign minister warns against ‘bloc confrontation’ in Indo-Pacific
SCMP 20240418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3259490/chinas-foreign-minister-warns-against-bloc-confrontation-indo-pacific-visit-indonesia
Revitalising US relations with Southeast Asia through public diplomacy
EAF 20240418
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/04/18/revitalising-us-relations-with-southeast-asia-through-public-diplomacy/
“Hiding a Dagger behind a Smile”—The Coming Era of US-China Relations
Hudson 20240418
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/hiding-dagger-behind-smile-coming-era-us-china-relations-eric-b-brown-charles-horner
Japan 'two-faced' for seeking closer ties while warning of China threat, Chinese state media says
Reuters 20240418
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-two-faced-seeking-closer-ties-while-warning-china-threat-chinese-state-2024-04-18/
Philippines says deepening ties with US, Japan a right, not a threat
PhilStar 20240418
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/04/18/2348631/philippines-says-deepening-ties-us-japan-right-not-threat
Is the EU Australia’s blind spot in the Indo-Pacific?
Lowy 20240418
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/eu-australia-s-blind-spot-indo-pacific
Geopolitical Risk and Decoupling: Evidence from U.S. Export Controls
NYFed 2024 April
https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr1096
Beyond Tariffs: Overcapacity Ignites Fresh Tensions in China-US Trade Relations
The Diplomat 20240417
https://thediplomat.com/2024/04/beyond-tariffs-overcapacity-ignites-fresh-tensions-in-china-us-trade-relations/
Joe Biden accuses China of ‘cheating’ amid call for added steel, aluminium tariffs
SCMP 20240418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3259387/joe-bidens-call-added-steel-aluminium-tariffs-seen-play-key-votes-election-year
Biden promises U.S. Steel will remain "totally American"
Kyodo 20240418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/fddf334254bf-update3-biden-promises-us-steel-will-remain-totally-american.html
Island Waves
It’s important to acknowledge PNG’s own interests with China
Lowy 20240418
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/it-s-important-acknowledge-png-s-own-interests-china
Australia must remain partner of choice in the Pacific, National Defence Strategy outlines
Defence Connect 20240417
https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/geopolitics-and-policy/13947-australia-must-remain-partner-of-choice-in-the-pacific-national-defence-strategy-outlines
Counting underway in Solomon Islands national election watched by US, China
Reuters 20240418
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/counting-underway-solomon-islands-national-election-watched-by-us-china-2024-04-18/
PetroChina enters PNGs Hydrocarbon INdustry
Post Courier (PNG) 20240419
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/petrochina-enters-pngs-hydrocarbon-industry/
$141m from Aust for development
Fiji Times 20240418
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rabuka-141m-from-aust-for-development/
China to Deliver Relief Supplies
Post Courier (PNG) 20240418
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-to-deliver-relief-supplies/
USAID & VFD sign MOU for sustainable coastal fisheries management
Daily Posy (VU) 20240418
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/usaid-vfd-sign-mou-for-sustainable-coastal-fisheries-management/article_d2153a96-fd1d-11ee-b714-6be4d45a171c.html
Working together for a brighter future of China-Tonga relations
Matangi Tonga 20240419
https://matangitonga.to/2024/04/18/working-together-brighter-future-china-tonga-relations
Taiwan + SCS
CHINA IS BATTENING DOWN FOR THE GATHERING STORM OVER TAIWAN
WOTR 20240417
https://warontherocks.com/2024/04/china-is-battening-down-for-the-gathering-storm-over-taiwan/
Doubts cast China will be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027
VoA 20240417
https://www.voanews.com/a/doubts-cast-china-will-be-ready-to-invade-taiwan-by-2027/7574367.html
US House urges fast tracking missile delivery to Taiwan
Taiwan News 20240419
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5668409
Apply Israel-Iran lessons to Taiwan
Asia Times 20240418
https://asiatimes.com/2024/04/apply-israel-iran-lessons-to-taiwan/
Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20240418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5668200
South China Sea: will Beijing ramp up militarisation after deployment of US missile system in the Philippines?
SCMP 20240418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3259453/south-china-sea-will-beijing-ramp-military-presence-after-very-strategic-deployment-us-missile
China rejects U.S., Japan, Philippines concern on South China Sea
Xinhua 20240418
https://english.news.cn/20240418/ea73596879d242eda077d6142282e92e/c.html
Current Philippine admin unilaterally abandons 'gentleman’s agreement': Chinese embassy
GT 20240418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1310843.shtml
Capabilities
The fog of measuring military balance in Asia
Lowy 20240418
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/fog-measuring-military-balance-asia
Lawmakers push for two submarines despite US Navy seeking just one
Defense News 20240417
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2024/04/18/lawmakers-push-for-two-submarines-despite-us-navy-seeking-just-one/
Invest in the US industrial base to support our Navy and AUKUS: Raven
Breaking Defense 20240418
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/invest-in-the-us-industrial-base-to-support-our-navy-and-aukus-raven/
Australia’s 2024 Independent Intelligence Review: opportunities and challenges
ASPI 20240418
https://ad-aspi.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2024-04/SI186%202024%20Independent%20Intelligence%20Review%20Views%20from%20The%20Strategist.pdf?VersionId=mmsyP3kGIAtmAw9oNWhAVxWF3gPBLzvk
Australia’s new defense strategy already behind the times
Asia Times 202540418
https://asiatimes.com/2024/04/australias-new-defense-strategy-already-behind-the-times/
Australia targets major spending boost for Asia-Pacific defense
Breaking Defense 20240418
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2024/04/18/australia-targets-major-spending-boost-for-asia-pacific-defense/
Australia's new defense strategy a miscalculation of Asia-Pacific situation
GT 20240418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1310856.shtml
China opposes U.S. deployment of medium-range ballistic missiles in Asia-Pacific
Xinhua 20240418
https://english.news.cn/20240418/7945632cfd5145748bf89c73a354e518/c.html
US Army aims to complete multidomain task force structure by FY28
Defense News 20240418
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024/04/18/us-army-aims-to-complete-multidomain-task-force-structure-by-fy28/
THE RISING RANSOMWARE TIDE, CHINESE SPY CRANES, AND THE BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON MARITIME CYBER SECURITY
WOTR 20240417
https://warontherocks.com/2024/04/the-rising-ransomware-tide-chinese-spy-cranes-and-the-biden-executive-order-on-maritime-cyber-security/
Risks are higher than ever for US- China cyber war
Responsible Statecraft 20240418
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-china-cyberwar/
AUKUS allies developing undersea capabilities they can field this year
Defense New 20240418
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2024/04/18/aukus-allies-developing-undersea-capabilities-they-can-field-this-year/
Exercises
Philippines, US forces to train in retaking island in joint military drills
Straits Times 20240418
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/philippines-us-forces-to-train-retaking-island-in-joint-military-drills
South China Sea: Beijing may get ‘up close’ as US-Philippine Balikatan drills send ‘deterrent signal’ on contested claims
SCMP 20240418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3259526/south-china-sea-beijing-may-get-close-us-manila-balikatan-drills-send-deterrent-signal-contested
European air forces to train across Indo-Pacific this summer
S&S 20240418
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-04-18/europe-air-forces-pacific-training-13584285.html