Pacific Winds 20250131
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China versus America on global trade
Lowy 20250130
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-versus-america-global-trade
Can Trump Strike a Grand Deal With Beijing?
FP 20250129
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/29/trump-china-trade-grandbargain/
Trump’s halt to foreign aid rattles humanitarian groups across Asia and their US partners
SCMP 20250130
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296747/trumps-halt-foreign-aid-rattles-humanitarian-groups-across-asia-and-their-us-partners
Australia can’t easily lift defence spending to a Trump-satisfying level
ASPI 20250130
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-cant-easily-lift-defence-spending-to-a-trump-satisfying-level/
AUKUS in the Age of Trump 2.0
The Diplomat 20250130
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/aukus-in-the-age-of-trump-2-0/
Australia’s opposition overtly cozying up to China
Asia Times 20250130
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/australias-opposition-overtly-cozying-up-to-china/
Philippines anxiously waits for Trump to show his China hand
Asia Times 20250130
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/philippines-anxiously-waits-for-trump-to-show-his-china-hand/
Cooperative Defense Acquisitions Strengthen U.S.-Japan Alliance
CSIS 20250130
https://www.csis.org/analysis/cooperative-defense-acquisitions-strengthen-us-japan-alliance
China-led BRICS growth raises questions about shifting world order
Asia Times 20250130
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/china-led-brics-growth-raises-questions-about-shifting-world-order/
Trump’s commerce secretary pick vows to keep China from using US tech to ‘compete with us’
SCMP 20250130
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3296743/trumps-commerce-secretary-pick-vows-keep-china-using-us-tech-compete-us
Island Waves
How will Trump's US aid freeze affect the Pacific?
RNZ 20240130
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/540398/how-will-trump-s-us-aid-freeze-affect-the-pacific
Fiji keeps eye on US
Fiji Times 20250130
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-keeps-eye-on-us/
PNG Haus Bung Discuss Increasing Investments
PNG Haus Bung 20250130
https://pnghausbung.com/png-us-discuss-increasing-investments/
Marae Meets US Ambassador
Post Courier (PNG) 20250130
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/marape-meets-us-ambassador/
Fijians nabbed in USA under Operation Eagle Shield
Fiji Times 20240129
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fijians-nabbed-in-usa-under-operation-eagles-shield/
700 Japanese volunteers since 1972, two new arrivals
Samoa Observer 20250130
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/112939
Okinawa holds tabletop evacuation drill with eye on Taiwan tensions
Nikkei 20250131
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Okinawa-holds-tabletop-evacuation-drill-with-eye-on-Taiwan-tensions
Taiwan + SCS
US Navy confirms drone ‘hellscape’ for use against PLA in Taiwan Strait is on track
SCMP 20250130
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3296808/us-navy-confirms-drone-hellscape-use-against-pla-taiwan-strait-track
Harassment of Taiwan an ominous clue to Trump 2.0 foreign policy
Asia Times 20250130
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/harassment-of-taiwan-an-ominous-clue-to-trump-2-0-foreign-policy/
The Philippines Is Ever More Focused on Taiwan
FP 20250129
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/29/us-philippines-china-taiwan-military-defense-security-alliance/
Can China cross the strait?
Observing China 20250130
https://t.co/2E7jKaNmjI
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese military aircraft and 5 ships
Taiwan News 20250130
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6026183
China and Vietnam Are Driving Reef Destruction in the South China Sea
CSIS 20250130
https://www.csis.org/analysis/china-and-vietnam-are-driving-reef-destruction-south-china-sea
Capabilities
Philippines would return Typhon missile if China stops 'harassing': Marcos
Nikkei 20250130
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea/Philippines-would-return-Typhon-missile-if-China-stops-harassing-Marcos
Navy’s readiness push means longer maintenance for current ships
Navy Times 20250129
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/01/29/navys-readiness-push-means-longer-maintenance-for-current-ships/
Destroyer Has Become First U.S. Navy Ship To Deploy Artificial Intelligence System
TWZ 20250129
https://www.twz.com/news-features/destroyer-has-become-first-u-s-navy-ship-to-deploy-artificial-intelligence-system
To be ready for China in 2027, think new software, not ships: Navy tech officer
Breaking Defense 20250129
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/to-be-ready-for-china-in-2027-think-new-software-not-ships-navy-tech-officer/
Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy
TWZ 20250129
https://www.twz.com/sea/carrier-air-wings-key-priorities-to-win-in-future-pacific-fight-laid-out-by-navy
China’s aerospace force reveals long-range radar in message to Xi Jinping
SCMP 20250130
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3296786/chinas-aerospace-force-reveals-long-range-radar-message-xi-jinping
Factors Shaping the Future of China's Military
RAND 20250130
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA2600/RRA2618-1/RAND_RRA2618-1.pdf
Breaking down how the Pentagon could spend $200 billion extra
Breaking Defense 20250130
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/breaking-down-how-the-pentagon-could-spend-200-billion-extra/
The military is a hammer, and not all problems are nails
Defense News 20250130
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/01/30/the-military-is-a-hammer-and-not-all-problems-are-nails/