Pacific Winds 20250110
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
New Biden MTCR policy will free long-range missile tech, space launcher sales to key allies, partners
Breaking Defense 20250108
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/new-biden-mtcr-policy-will-free-long-range-missile-rocket-sales-to-key-allies-partners/
Ishiba expresses eagerness to visit China soon
Japan Times 20250109
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/09/japan/politics/ishiba-china-visit-eagerness/
Japan's role in ASEAN tested as Ishiba seeks stronger ties
Nikkei 20250109
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-s-role-in-ASEAN-tested-as-Ishiba-seeks-stronger-ties
The Quad Plus the Philippines
CNAS 20250109
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/the-quad-plus-the-philippines
‘Robust latticework’ of cooperation and partnerships crucial for peace in Asia Pacific: Philippine Foreign Minister
CNA (SG) 20250109
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-asia-pacific-asean-south-china-sea-donald-trump-enrique-manalo-multilateralism-4847571
Manila likely to be hung out to dry unless it provides Washington with pound of flesh
China Daily 20250109
https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202501/09/WS677fb790a310f1265a1d9f34.html
Biden May Have Scuttled More Than Just A Steel Takeover
FP 20250109
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/09/nippon-steel-japan-biden-national-security-manufacturing/
Emanuel leaves reform legacy amid historic shifts in U.S.-Japan alliance
Japan Times 20250109
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/09/japan/politics/us-japan-ambassador-rahm-emanuel/
“The sinews are coming together”: But pushback against China inAsia plays out still
Lowy 20250110
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/sinews-are-coming-together-pushback-against-china-asia-plays-out-still
China Decoupling Beyond the United States: Comparing Germany, Japan, and India
Carnegie 20250108
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/01/china-decoupling-beyond-the-united-states-comparing-germany-japan-and-india
Does Washington Have China Groupthink?
China Wire 20250105
https://www.thewirechina.com/2025/01/05/does-washington-have-china-groupthink/
How to Win the New Cold War
FA 20250109
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/win-new-cold-war-china-trump-niall-ferguson
North Korea’s Russia Alliance and Missiles Are a Big Problem for Trump and Allies
Heritage 20250108
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/north-koreas-russia-alliance-and-missiles-are-big-problem-trump-and
North Korea Incited Anti-Japan Activities in South Korea; Court Documents Show Directives to Fuel Protests, Division
Yomiuri 20250109
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20250109-232273/
China’s investors, tourists hit pause to size up risks of turmoil in Seoul
SCMP 20250109
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3293936/chinas-investors-tourists-hit-pause-size-risks-turmoil-seoul
So-called US 'Notorious Markets List' a tool to stigmatize Chinese firms
GT 20250109
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326622.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Missile defense system impacts housing crisis, homelessness
KUAM 20250109
https://www.kuam.com/story/52141878/missile-defense-system-impacts-housing-crisis-homelessness
America is building an impregnable Pacific island fortress against China
Telegraph (UK) 20250109
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/09/us-air-force-island-fortress-navy-army-pacific-china-taiwan/
To project power in the Pacific, invest in Guam’s protection
Breaking defense 20250109
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/to-project-power-in-the-pacific-invest-in-guams-protection/
Island Waves
Pacific security in 2025
ASPI 20250109
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pacific-security-in-2025/
CRUCIAL PROJECT PREP UNDERWAY
Solomon Star 20250109
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/crucial-project-prep-underway/
Bina Habour discussed with new Japanese envoy
Solomon Star 20250109
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/bina-habour-discussed-with-new-japanese-envoy/
U.S. efforts in doubt after Marine accused of sexual assault
Asahi 20250109
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15578489
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan stages military drill in waters off Kaohsiung naval base
CNA (TW) 20250109
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202501090014
Navy concludes three-day defensive operation drill
Taipei Times 20250110
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/01/10/2003829970
Taiwan, China trade barbs over undersea cable damage
Reuters 20250109
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-china-trade-barbs-over-undersea-cable-damage-2025-01-09/
The Navy’s thinking about China’s plan for Taiwan
WashExam 20250109
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/3275838/us-navy-china-plan-taiwan/
Taiwan’s failure to warn civilian plane away from airforce base sparks security concerns
SCMP 20250109
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3294109/taiwans-failure-warn-civilian-plane-away-airforce-base-sparks-security-concerns
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250109
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6011058
South China Sea: Philippines urged to ‘lean into US alliance’ to put pressure on Beijing
SCMP 20250109
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293956/south-china-sea-philippines-urged-lean-us-alliance-put-pressure-beijing
US exploits hacking allegations to stir up tensions in South China Sea
GT 20250109
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326621.shtml
Capabilities
The Pentagon finessed its pivot to Asia. Can it last during Trump?
Defense News 20250109
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/01/09/the-pentagon-finessed-its-pivot-to-asia-can-it-last-during-trump/
US missile shield buckling under China, Russia, and North Korea
Asia Times 20250109
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/us-missile-shield-buckling-under-china-russia-and-north-korea/
China's air bases will outlast those of U.S. in Taiwan war: report
Nikkei 20250110
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-s-air-bases-will-outlast-those-of-U.S.-in-Taiwan-war-report
New threats pushing Air Force and Army to rethink approach to base defense
Defense One 20250108
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/01/new-threats-pushing-air-force-and-army-rethink-approach-base-defense/402046/
US Issues Update on Fighter Jet Fleet Near China and North Korea
Newsweek 20250109
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-issues-update-fighter-jet-fleet-china-north-korea-2012111
Space Development Agency validates high-speed satellite comm links
Defense News 20250109
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/01/09/space-development-agency-validates-high-speed-satellite-comm-links/
U.S. military satellites achieve first cross-vendor laser communications link
Space News 20250109
https://spacenews.com/u-s-military-satellites-achieve-first-cross-vendor-laser-communications-link/
Stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles To Arm F-15EX, F-15E
TWZ 20250109
https://www.twz.com/air/f-15exs-and-f-15es-set-to-get-stealthy-agm-158c-long-range-anti-ship-missiles
CRS Report to Congress on Hypersonic Weapons
USNI 20250109
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/09/report-to-congress-on-hypersonic-weapons-16
Home of ex-security official raided in probe over alleged leak of THAAD-related intelligence
Yonhap 20250109
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250109006800315
Ohio Guided Missile Submarine Deployed Underwater Drones On Award Winning Secret Missions
TZW 20250109
https://www.twz.com/sea/ohio-guided-missile-submarine-deployed-underwater-drones-on-award-winning-secret-missions
JAXA’s Confidential Information on Mars Project May Have Been Stolen in Cyberattacks; Chinese Govt Suspected of Being Involved in Attack
Yomiuri 20250109
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250110-232208/
Chinese FM refutes Japanese side’s linking Chinese hacker to cyberattacks on Japanese business entities, organizations
GT 20250109
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326576.shtml
Events
A Conversation with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall on The Department of the Air Force in 2050
CSIS 13 Jan 2025 9:30-11015 AM
https://www.csis.org/events/conversation-secretary-air-force-frank-kendall-department-air-force-2050