Pacific Winds 20250104
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US consensus on countering China will keep Quad relevant under Trump: experts
SCMP 20250103
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3293247/us-consensus-countering-china-will-keep-quad-relevant-under-trump-experts
Pacific political turmoil, AUKUS, and the looming Taiwan deadline: 2025 preview
Breaking Defense 20250103
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/pacific-political-turmoil-aukus-and-the-looming-taiwan-deadline-2025-preview/
Academics say China studies sector in 'crisis' amid a funding shortage and 'climate of fear'
ABC (AU) 20250103
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-03/australia-china-studies-in-crisis/104753898
Australia and ASEAN: A storied history
Lowy 202501013
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-asean-storied-history
Deputy FM underscores continued positive momentum in S. Korea-China relations
Yonhap 20250103
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250103007500315
Biden decides to block U.S. Steel sale to Nippon Steel: reports
Kyodo 20250103
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/57dde9059429-biden-decides-to-block-us-steel-sale-to-nippon-steel-reports.html
Biden Blocks Takeover Bid of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon
NYTimes 20250103
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/us/politics/us-steel-nippon-biden.html
Bracing for the US-China trade war to come
Asia Times 20250103
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/bracing-for-the-us-china-trade-war-to-come/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Taiwan Investigation Bureau chief visits Palau
Taiwan News 20240103
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6006844
Island Waves
China delivers VT255M in earthquake relief supplies
Daily Post (VU) 20250103
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/china-delivers-vt255m-in-earthquake-relief-supplies/article_9c11d0ab-d712-5715-87d9-f8cff9a1ad00.html
Friendship across the Pacific overcomes ruthless natural disasters
China Daily 20250103
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202501/03/WS677794c4a310f1265a1d8ddb.html
United States provides VT30.5 million in humanitarian aid
Daily Post (VU) 20250103
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/united-states-provides-vt30-5-million-in-humanitarian-aid/article_3d554c43-f53e-5d72-bd93-8fdb6e1b6262.html
NZ supports Vanuatu with VT280 million Loss and Damage Development Fund
Daily Post (VU) 20250103
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/nz-supports-vanuatu-with-vt280-million-loss-and-damage-development-fund/article_2d82abb2-161a-57f4-aa5d-c0e018f2825c.html
On Sports Diplomacy in the Pacific
Post Courier (PNG) 20250103
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/on-sports-diplomacy-in-the-pacific/
Pacific 2025: What is happening?!
Benar 20250102
https://www.benarnews.org/english/commentaries/pacific-2025-commentary-01022025224719.html
Taiwan + SCS
Navigating Taiwan’s Pacific Identity: Challenges for Lai Ching-te’s Hawaiian Shirt Diplomacy
The Diplomat 20250103
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/navigating-taiwans-pacific-identity-challenges-for-lai-ching-tes-hawaiian-shirt-diplomacy/
Interior ministry to seek court order to disband pro-unification party
Taipei Times 20240103
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/01/03/2003829598
Taiwan tracks 24 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250103
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6006382
China’s ‘monster’ ship arrives at Scarborough Shoal
Benar 20250102
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/china-monster-ship-arrives-at-scarborough-shoal-01022025084844.html
China Sets Record for Activity Near Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in 2024
The Diplomat 20250102
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/china-sets-record-for-activity-near-senkaku-diaoyu-islands-in-2024/
Chinese war games system sees surprise US attack on PLA carrier group in South China Sea
SCMP 20250103
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3292445/chinese-war-games-system-sees-surprise-us-attack-pla-carrier-group-south-china-sea
South China Sea: 5 things to watch in 2025
RFA 20250103
https://www.rfa.org/english/southchinasea/2025/01/03/china-taiwan-vietnam-philippines-asean/
Capabilities
China’s Type 076 ship heralds new naval warfare era
Asia Times 20250103
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/chinas-type-076-ship-heralds-new-naval-warfare-era/
State approves $3.64B sale to Japan of air-to-air missiles
Breaking Defense 20250103
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/state-approves-3-64b-sale-to-japan-of-air-to-air-missiles/
Japan – AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles
DSCA 20250102
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/japan-aim-120d-3-and-aim-120c-8-advanced-medium-range-air-air-missiles
Trump's promise to build more warships is on a collision course with his deportation pledges
Defense One 20250103
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/01/trumps-promise-build-more-warships-collision-course-his-deportation-goals/401940/