Pacific Winds 20241120
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Reading between the lines of Xi and Biden’s last meeting
Lowy 20241119
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/reading-between-lines-xi-biden-s-last-meeting
Xi Jinping’s red lines: Will the US comply?
Think China 20241118
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/xi-jinpings-red-lines-will-us-comply
Trump's 'America First' approach may weaken the Quad
Nikkei 20241119
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Trump-s-America-First-approach-may-weaken-the-Quad
How Trump Can Build on Biden’s Successes in Asia
FA 20241119
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/how-trump-can-build-bidens-successes-asia
Trump administration may signal a radical shift in the Indo-Pacific, experts say
S&S 20241119
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-11-19/trump-indo-pacific-strategy-15896397.html
She won’t be right: Trump’s return and Australia’s red lines
L0wy 20241120
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/she-won-t-be-right-trump-s-return-australia-s-red-lines
Marcos, Trump discuss PH-US alliance in congratulatory call
ABS-CBN 20241119
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/19/marcos-trump-discuss-ph-us-alliance-in-congratulatory-call-1649
Philippines, US build tighter intel ties, ease exports: ‘We are family,’ says Austin
Breaking Defense 20241119
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/philippines-us-build-tighter-intel-ties-ease-exports-we-are-family-says-austin/
Austin Caps Two-Day Visit to Philippines With Showcase of Growing Defense Cooperation
US DoD 20241119
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3970910/austin-caps-two-day-visit-to-philippines-with-showcase-of-growing-defense-coope/
Strengthening the U.S.–Philippine Alliance
Heritage 20241119
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/strengthening-the-us-philippine-alliance
CRS Report to Congress on AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation
USNI 20241119
https://news.usni.org/2024/11/19/report-to-congress-on-aukus-nuclear-cooperation-2
China defense minister declines US meeting, breaking military talks
Military Times 20241119
https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2024/11/19/china-defense-minister-declines-us-meeting-breaking-military-talks/
Balanced diplomatic strategy helps safeguard South Korea’s interests
GT 20241119
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1323411.shtml
2024 Report To Congress
US-China Economic and Security Review Commission 20241119
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/2024_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Trump tariffs as ploy for making a big deal with China
Asia Times 20241119
https://asiatimes.com/2024/11/trump-tariffs-as-ploy-for-making-a-big-deal-with-china/
US advisory panel on China backs repeal of preferential trade status
SCMP 20241119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3287125/us-advisory-panel-china-backs-repeal-preferential-trade-status
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Palau youth lay out harmful impacts of US militarization in landmark human rights complaint
Blue Ocean Law & Center for Constitutional Rights 20241119
https://www.blueoceanlaw.com/blog/palauan-youth-file-un-complaint-alleging-human-rights-violations-by-us-military
Island Waves
Pacific Regionalism and Decolonisation: Thoughts from the 54th CRGA
AIIA 20241119
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/pacific-regionalism-and-decolonisation-thoughts-from-the-54th-crga/
US Coast Guard holds up Lady Samoa
Samoa Observer 20241119
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/112059
Officers attend customs, biosecurity training in China
Solomon Star 20241119
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/officers-attend-customs-biosecurity-training-in-china/
Japan signs contracts with RSIPF, ACOM for essential equipment
Solomon Star 20241119
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/japan-signs-contracts-with-rsipf-acom-for-essential-equipment/
Chinese kidney specialists at VCH for a week
Daily Post (VU) 20241119
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/chinese-kidney-specialists-at-vch-for-a-week/article_fd4a9dbc-570f-5344-b4f8-77bdc1664d25.html
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan plans to spend US$2.2 billion on American weapons next year
SCMP 20241119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3287096/taiwan-plans-spend-us22-billion-american-weapons-next-year
As Beijing Threatens, Taiwan Looks Nervously at Trump
WSJ 20241118
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/taiwan-trump-security-china-us-7008b580
57% of Taiwanese doubt Trump will send military support to defend Taiwan
Taiwan News 20241119
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5974410
Taiwan to work with allies to safeguard order
Taipei Times 20241119
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/11/19/2003827126
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships
Taiwan News 20241119
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5974582
South China Sea ‘crises’ still likely during next Trump term: military expert
SCMP 20241119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3287104/south-china-sea-crises-still-likely-during-next-trump-term-military-expert
Why the Philippines made a dramatic turnaround on the question of archipelagos in the law of the sea
Lowy 20241119
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-philippines-made-dramatic-turnaround-question-archipelagos-law-sea
At Philippines’ South China Sea forum, deep divisions surface in clash of narratives
SCMP 20241119
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3287097/philippines-south-china-sea-forum-deep-divisions-surface-clash-narratives
What signal does Chinese government send by announcing baselines of territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao?
China Military 20241119
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16352957.html
China, not Philippines, makes provocations in South China Sea – PCG
PhilStar 20241119
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/11/19/2401244/china-not-philippines-makes-provocations-south-china-sea-pcg
Pentagon chief visits island near South China Sea in sign to Beijing
Defense News 20241119
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2024/11/19/pentagon-chief-visits-island-near-south-china-sea-in-sign-to-beijing/
SecDef visits South China Sea island to bolster Philippines and check China
Defense One 20241119
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/11/secdef-visits-south-china-sea-island-bolster-philippines-and-check-china/401145/
Philippine Navy Receives U.S. Funded USVs for SCS Operations
Naval News 202041119
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/philippine-navy-receives-u-s-funded-usvs-for-scs-operations/
Philippines uses the media spotlight to fight back against China
Japan Times 20241119
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/11/19/world/philippines-fights-back-against-china/
Capabilities
Top admiral warns US far behind on building submarines needed to meet AUKUS target
Guardian 20241119
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/19/aukus-submarine-deal-richard-marles-on-track
State auditor accuses Moon gov't of leaking THAAD-related intelligence to activists, China
Yonhap 20241119
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241119003700315
CCP coercion stands in stark contrast to Coast Guard cooperation by Allies and Partners
IPDF 20241118
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2024/11/ccp-coercion-stands-in-stark-contrast-to-coast-guard-cooperation-by-allies-and-partners/
Exercises
INDOPACOM is replacing a pile of partner-nation networks with just one
Defense One 2024118
https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2024/11/indopacom-replacing-pile-partner-nation-networks-just-one/401129/
Training in Australia is a big chance for Japan. Let’s make it permanent
ASPI 20241119
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/training-in-australia-is-a-big-chance-for-japan-lets-make-it-permanent/