Pacific Winds 20250125
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
What ideology means to Trump and his team in the US’ competition with China
SCMP 20250124
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3296008/what-ideology-means-trump-and-his-team-us-competition-china
Trump says he wants "fairness," nuclear disarmament talks with China
Kyodo 20250124
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/05996b7437e8-update3-trump-says-he-wants-fairness-nuclear-disarmament-talks-with-china.html
Donald Trump tells Davos he is hopeful about US-China ties as he warns on tariffs
SCMP 20250124
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3296042/donald-trump-tells-davos-he-hopeful-about-us-china-ties-he-warns-tariffs
Japan’s leader says he’s preparing for tough negotiations with Trump on maintaining US presence
AP 20250124
https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-ishiba-trump-policy-speech-513fd50d851c2818a39dc323aaca10ab
Japan and South Korea Were Stable US Allies. Not Anymore
Bloomberg 20250124
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-01-23/japan-and-south-korea-were-stable-us-allies-not-anymore
Trump says he will reach out to N. Korea's Kim again
Yonhap 20250124
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250124006251315
Trump Hints at New Talks With Kim Jong-un. It Might Be Harder This Time.
NYTimes 20250124
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/world/asia/trump-north-korea-nuclear-talks.html
N. Korea's parliamentary meeting affirms budget for stronger defense, skips U.S. message
Yonhap 20250124
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250124001200315
AFP: No country can dictate on Philippines' defense decisions
ABS-CBN 20250124
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/1/24/afp-no-country-can-dictate-on-philippines-defense-decisions-1312
US lawmakers bring back bill to revoke China’s trade status
SCMP 20250124
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3296041/us-lawmakers-bring-back-bill-revoke-chinas-trade-status
No winner in trade war or tariff war: Chinese FM responds to Trump’s ‘prefer not to impose tariffs on China’ remark
GT 20250124
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1327505.shtml
In Trump 2.0, Asia Inc. faces security minefield in path to U.S. investments
Nikkei 20250124
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Policy-Asia/In-Trump-2.0-Asia-Inc.-faces-security-minefield-in-path-to-U.S.-investments
Island Waves
Impact of Trump's decisions on Samoa and the Pacific
Samoa Observer 20250124
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/editorial/112861
Samoa and China sign visa exemption agreement
Samoa Observer 20250124
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/112867
Sāmoa and China sign visa-free travel deal
PMN (NZ) 20250124
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/china-and-samoa-sign-visa-free-travel-deal
Solar Energy Project Rolls Our for Rai Coast Madang
PNG Haus Bi=ung 20250124
https://pnghausbung.com/solar-energy-project-rolls-out-for-rai-coast-madang/
Vanuatu attorney general condemns Trump’s Paris climate treaty exit as ‘troubling precedent’
Benar 20250123
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/pacific-trump-paris-01232025194400.html
Taiwan + xCS
KMT think tank says Taiwan cannot rely on US
Taiwan News 20250124
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6022978
Marco Rubio tells Wang Yi US does not back Taiwan independence: Chinese foreign ministry
SCMP 20250124
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296235/top-diplomat-marco-rubio-tells-wang-yi-us-does-not-back-taiwan-independence
Did China Try to Cut Off Taiwan’s Front-Line Residents Again?
FP 20250123
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/23/taiwan-china-cables-internet-matsu-islands/
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250124
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6022942
S. Korea strongly protests Japan's renewed claim over Dokdo
Yonhap 20250124
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250124011700315
China Coast Guard monitors Philippine resupply activity at Ren'ai Jiao
Xinhua 20250124
https://english.news.cn/20250124/26a30af47c52477783fa4e39e88a64e3/c.html
Philippines launches ‘surface action groups’ to strengthen South China Sea patrols and defence
SCMP 20250124
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296113/philippines-launches-surface-action-groups-strengthen-south-china-sea-patrols-and-defence
Philippines comic book takes battle for South China Sea to children
Reuters 20250124
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-comic-book-takes-battle-south-china-sea-children-2025-01-24/
Capabilities
U.S. Typhon missile to stay in Philippines for now, top security official says
Reuters 20250124
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippine-military-says-us-missile-deployment-boost-readiness-help-regional-2025-01-24/
Army Wants Land-Based Fires to Play Both Offense, Defense
National Defense 20250123
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2025/1/23/army-wants-landbased-fires-to-play-both-offense-defense
F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated
TWZ 20250123
https://www.twz.com/air/f-35-ai-enabled-drone-controller-capability-successfully-demonstrated
China’s air-sea drone could rewrite the rules of naval warfare
Asia Times 20250124
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/chinas-air-sea-drone-could-rewrite-the-rules-of-naval-warfare/
Why the US Navy wants to build a fully autonomous satellite
Navy Times 20250123
https://www.navytimes.com/space/2025/01/23/why-the-us-navy-wants-to-build-a-fully-autonomous-satellite/
OpenAI’s $500B ‘Stargate Project’ could aid Pentagon’s own AI efforts, official says
Breaking Defense 20250123
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/openais-500b-stargate-project-could-aid-pentagons-own-ai-efforts-official-says/
Power generation challenges could overshadow Stargate AI initiative
Defense News 20250124
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/01/24/power-generation-challenges-could-overshadow-stargate-ai-initiative/
Navy Must Meet Recruiting Goal for 3 Years to Close Gaps at Sea
USNI 20250123
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/23/navy-must-meet-recruiting-goal-for-3-years-to-close-gaps-at-sea
Why China’s Military Needs a New Communication Playbook
The Diplomat 20250124
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/why-chinas-military-needs-a-new-communication-playbook/
Power
First flex of Trump’s peace through strength strategy
Asia Times 20250124
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/first-flex-of-trumps-peace-through-strength-strategy/