Pacific Winds 20250115

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

The Quad should help Indonesia achieve underwater domain awareness
ASPI 20250114
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-quad-should-help-indonesia-achieve-underwater-domain-awareness/

The Quad needs a functional two-ocean strategy in the Indo-Pacific
Nikkei 20250114
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/The-Quad-needs-a-functional-two-ocean-strategy-in-the-Indo-Pacific

Communist Party propaganda chief calls for boosting public opinion on China-Japan ties
SCMP 20250114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3294700/communist-party-propaganda-chief-calls-boosting-public-opinion-china-japan-ties

Japan hosts Chinese military delegation in rare visit
Japan Times 20250114
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/14/japan/politics/chinese-military-delegation-visit/

Renewed party exchange revitalizes China-Japan ties
GT 20250114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326876.shtml

Japan lawmakers to meet China Premier Li on Jan. 15
Kyodo 20250114
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/149b03d06f39-japan-ruling-party-lawmaker-urges-china-to-lift-seafood-import-ban.html

How the Legacy of President Trump’s Friendship with Prime Minister Abe Beckons Again in the Pacific
Hudson 20250113
https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/legacy-trump-friendship-abe-beckons-pacific-kenneth-weinstein-will-chou

South Korea in no political condition to deal with Trump
Asia Times 20250114
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/south-korea-in-no-political-condition-to-deal-with-trump/

Top military officer opposes probe into Pyongyang drone infiltration claim
Yonhap 20250114
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250114008700315

Trump and Xi Face Off
Hudson 20250113
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/trump-xi-face-walter-russell-mead

America’s China Strategy Is Incomplete
FA 20250114
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/americas-china-strategy-incomplete

Only by bidding farewell to zero-sum game, can Washington overcome strategic anxiety
GT 20250114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326906.shtml

China ‘will not admit defeat’ on US rivalry and its rise is unstoppable: analysts
SCMP 20250114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3294748/china-will-not-admit-defeat-us-rivalry-and-its-rise-unstoppable-analysts

Targeting China, Biden fires a big tech salvo at the entire world
Responsible Statecraft 20250114
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/biden-china-chip-restrictions/

White House tries to tighten AI export controls amidst industry outrage
Breaking Defense 20250114
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/white-house-tries-to-tighten-ai-export-controls-amidst-industry-outrage/

China to take actions to safeguard interests against U.S. AI restrictions: spokesperson
Xinhua 20250114
https://english.news.cn/20250114/825fb5705cd44ac4be016fa6acb2439a/c.html

China lambasts Biden administration’s new AI rules
GT 20250114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326875.shtml

What to Know About the New U.S. AI Diffusion Policy and Export Controls
CFR 20250113
https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-know-about-new-us-ai-diffusion-policy-and-export-controls

China blacklists seven US firms for involvement in Taiwan arms sales
Reuters 22050114
https://www.reuters.com/world/china-blacklists-seven-us-firms-involvement-taiwan-arms-sales-2025-01-14/

US bans imports from 37 more Chinese companies over Uyghur forced labor
Reuters 20250114
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-bans-imports-more-companies-over-uyghur-forced-labor-2025-01-14/

How to protect US–Japan economic cooperation under Trump 2.0
EAF 20250114
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/01/14/how-to-protect-us-japan-economic-cooperation-under-trump-2-0/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

PCIS comments on the proposed Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System
GDP 20250114
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/pcis-comments-on-the-proposed-enhanced-integrated-air-and-missile-defense-system/article_835df576-d1b3-11ef-8365-97c6b57a9af7.html

CHamoru Sling Stone: A testament to ingenuity and precision
PIT 20250114
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/chamoru-sling-stone-a-testament-to-ingenuity-and-precision

Minister Lin Chia-lung to represent president in Palau
Taipei Times 20250115
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/01/15/2003830235

Island Waves

US calls on Australian banks to step up Pacific ‘soft power’ push
AFR 20250114
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/us-calls-on-australian-banks-to-step-up-pacific-soft-power-push-20250107-p5l2jl

New French PM wants New Caledonia talks to resume this month
RNZ 20250115
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/539009/new-french-pm-wants-new-caledonia-talks-to-resume-this-month

Upgrades to Santa Cruz airfield progressing steadily
Solomon Star 20250114
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/upgrades-to-santa-cruz-airfield-progressing-steadily/

Chamber hails ties
Fiji Times 20250114
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/chamber-hails-ties/

Taiwan + xCS

Taiwan’s ‘alarming’ early military discharges put island’s defence at risk: lawmakers
SCMP 20250114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3294743/taiwans-alarming-early-military-discharges-put-islands-defence-risk-lawmakers

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250114
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6014532

Philippines threatens legal action after Chinese coast guard ship sails in disputed South China Sea
ABC (AU) 20250114
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-14/south-china-sea-china-philippines-tensions/104818062

The Philippines hypes up China Coast Guard vessel to stir up regional situation
China Military 20250114
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16364380.html

China is pushing the Philippines `to the wall’ with aggression in the South China Sea, Manila says
AP 20250114
https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-philippines-scarborough-shoal-0a5d18be6859c42895919f05d075c29d

Contingency plans in place vs China reclamation in Scarborough – Navy
Inquirer (PH) 20250114
https://www.inquirer.net/425341/fwd-navy-spox-contingency-plan-in-place-vs-bdm-reclamation/#ixzz8xLGCoRLH

China resumes work on Yellow Sea island, amid Korea’s political turmoil: Report
Breaking Defense 20250114
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/china-resumes-work-on-yellow-sea-island-amid-koreas-political-turmoil-report/

Capabilities

Pentagon chief nominee calls N. Korea 'nuclear power,' calls for allies' increased 'burden sharing'
Yonhap 20250115
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250115000253315

N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
Yonhap 20250114
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241216008151315

North Korea fires short-range missiles toward Sea of Japan: South Korea
Kyodo 20250114
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/09a1d28ad42e-urgent-n-korea-fires-projectile-toward-sea-of-japan-s-korea.html

North Korea Launches SRBMs Toward Its Eastern Waters, South Korea Says
The Diplomat 20250114
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/north-korea-launches-srbms-toward-its-eastern-waters-south-korea-says/

S. Korea begins development of advanced L-SAM defense system
Yonhap 20250114
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250114002300315

Air Force Predicts Enemy Anti-Air Missiles With 1,000-Mile Range By 2050
TWZ 20250113
https://www.twz.com/air/air-force-predicts-enemy-anti-air-missiles-with-1000-mile-range-by-2050

Virginia, we have a problem
ASPI 20250114
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/virginia-we-have-a-problem/

Navy shipbuilder plans expansion to boost submarine production
Defense One 20250114
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2025/01/major-navy-shipbuilder-plans-buy-manufacturers-boost-submarine-production/402161/

The Pentagon’s ‘Replicator’ drone bonanza faces an uncertain future
Defense News 20250114
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/01/14/the-pentagons-replicator-drone-bonanza-faces-an-uncertain-future/

Navy’s SWO Boss says big changes are needed to meet CNO’s readiness goals
Breaking Defense 20250114
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/navys-swo-boss-says-big-changes-are-needed-to-meet-cnos-readiness-goals/

RTX’s Raytheon awarded $333 million contract for SM-6 Block IA production
Naval News 20250114
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/sna-2025/2025/01/rtxs-raytheon-awarded-333-million-contract-for-sm-6-block-ia-production/

China ‘could beat us to the punch’ to a 6th-gen fighter, Air Force official warns
Breaking Defense 20250113
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/china-could-beat-us-to-the-punch-to-a-6th-gen-fighter-air-force-official-warns/

Cutting government bloat (and C-130 buy) is harder than you think: Kendall
Breaking Defense 20250113
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/cutting-government-bloat-and-c-130-buy-is-harder-than-you-think-kendall/

China’s energy weapon fires thousands of intense pulses in tests and survives: study
SCMP 20250114
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3294077/chinas-energy-weapon-fires-thousands-nuclear-blasts-tests-and-survives-study

United States nuclear weapons, 2025
BAS 20250113
https://thebulletin.org/premium/2025-01/united-states-nuclear-weapons-2025/

What The Navy’s Massive Orca Submarine Drone Is Actually Capable Of
TWZ 20250114
https://www.twz.com/news-features/what-the-navys-massive-orca-submarine-drone-is-actually-capable-of

301 investigation on China not cure for US shipbuilding
GT 20250114
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1326892.shtml

A Blueprint for Digital Transformation at the Department of Defense
WOTR 20250114
https://warontherocks.com/2025/01/a-blueprint-for-digital-transformation-at-the-department-of-defense/

Austin Tells OMB $926 Billion Defense Budget Needed, $55 Billion over Current Plan
Bloomberg 20250113
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-13/austin-on-exit-sees-need-for-nearly-a-trillion-dollars-in-defense-spending

Power

Our Prewar Era: America and the Dilemmas of Global Defense
AEI 20250114
https://www.aei.org/articles/affording-defense-our-prewar-era-america-and-the-dilemmas-of-global-defense/

Exercises

12-nation airborne drill in Japan focuses on defending remote islands
S&S 20250114
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-01-13/japan-airborne-drill-island-defense-16473327.html

Events

Strategic Competition in the Second Trump Administration
Wilson 22 January 2025 9:30-11:00 AM EST
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/strategic-competition-second-trump-administration