Alliances

China, U.S. foreign ministers begin talks to avoid conflict
Kyodo 20230618
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/06/a6164888931e-china-us-top-diplomats-to-meet-discuss-ways-to-prevent-conflict.html

US ‘grand strategy’ of shutting out China seems to be working – but to what end?
SCMP 20230618
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3224192/us-grand-strategy-shutting-out-china-seems-be-working-what-end

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has ‘candid, constructive’ meeting with China’s Foreign Minister in Beijing
ABC (AU) 20230619
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-18/antony-blinken-begins-meetings-in-beijing/102494030

Blinken Has ‘Candid’ Talks With China’s Qin on Trip to Mend Ties
Bloomberg 20230618
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-17/blinken-set-to-land-in-china-on-delayed-trip-to-stabilize-ties

Golden standard to decide outcome of Blinken’s visit
GT 20230619
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292822.shtml

Blinken’s support for ‘healthy and mature’ China-South Korea ties ‘a sophisticated diplomatic parlance’ with hidden US’ agenda: experts
GT 20230618
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292803.shtml

China pushes for Asia-Pacific trade agreement membership, promises to ‘actively attract’ foreign investment
SCMP 20230618
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3224486/china-pushes-asia-pacific-trade-agreement-membership-promises-actively-attract-foreign-investment

China speeds up pace toward joining CPTPP, assessing nearly 2,300 trade terms: MOFCOM
GT 20230618
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292767.shtml

Amid US-China rivalry, a landmark science deal faces new scrutiny
Reuters 20230618
https://www.reuters.com/world/amid-us-china-rivalry-landmark-science-deal-faces-new-scrutiny-2023-06-18/

US reliance on China’s capital goods rules out decoupling
Asia Times 20230618
https://asiatimes.com/2023/06/us-reliance-on-chinas-capital-goods-rules-out-decoupling/

Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)

Nicholson: Goal is smallest number of sites for Guam’s missile defense
GDP 20230619
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/nicholson-goal-is-smallest-number-of-sites-for-guams-missile-defense/article_e7b80042-0b31-11ee-ab00-7ba7e242b5f6.html

Island Waves

Why US defence deal with Papua New Guinea is likely to ‘set China further back’ in the Pacific
SCMP 20230618
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3224451/why-us-defence-deal-papua-new-guinea-likely-set-china-further-back-pacific

Uncertainty in New Caledonia
Lowy 20230619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/uncertainty-new-caledonia

Taiwan + SCS

ASEAN seeks to demonstrate ‘unity’ in South China Sea drills
Nikkei 20230618
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea/ASEAN-seeks-to-demonstrate-unity-in-South-China-Sea-drills

Tensions High as Chinese Vessels Shadow Vietnam’s Oil, Gas Operations
VoA 20230617
https://www.voanews.com/a/tensions-high-as-chinese-vessels-shadow-vietnam-s-oil-and-gas-operations-/7141273.html

China Navy ship tails BRP Francisco Dagohoy in PH EEZ
GMA 202030616
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/873174/china-navy-ship-tails-brp-francisco-dagohoy-in-ph-eez/story/

China builds port to support deep sea research in South China Sea
GT 20230618
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292780.shtml

Capabilities

China Calls Hacking Report ‘Far-Fetched’
The Diplomat 20230617
https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/china-calls-hacking-report-far-fetched/

Power

America Still Leads the World, But Its Allies Are Uneasy
Bloomberg 20230618
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-06-18/us-can-t-depend-on-ukraine-coalition-to-stop-china-niall-ferguson

Japan’s grand strategy as a declining power
EAF 20230618
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2023/06/18/japans-grand-strategy-as-a-declining-power/

Events

Thirteenth Annual South China Sea Conference
CSIS 28 June 2023 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM (EDT)
https://www.csis.org/events/thirteenth-annual-south-china-sea-conference

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