Pacific Winds 20250201
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan, U.S. defense chiefs agree to boost alliance in phone talks
Kyodo 20250131
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/d0cb58c7cd66-update1-japan-us-defense-chiefs-agree-to-boost-alliance-in-phone-talks.html
Japan, U.S Vow to Strengthen Defense Alliance in 1st Phone Talks; Confirmed U.S. Defense Obligation Applies to Senkakus
Yomiuri 20250131
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250131-236327/
What the US Navy has learned from Red Sea conflicts – and what it means for China
Nikkei 20250201
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Japan-U.S.-defense-chiefs-confirm-security-treaty-covers-Senkakus
Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Telephone Conference (summary)
JP MoD 20250131
https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2025/01/de1c4fe8d5e553dbb6396859f6e5bbbd98a74fdf.html
Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen
US DoD 20250131
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4049051/readout-of-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseths-call-with-japanese-minister-of-de/
Hegseth reaffirms strong alliance with S. Korea during 1st phone talks with Seoul's defense chief
Yonhap 20250131
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250131002351315
Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Republic of Korea Acting Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho
US DoD 20250131
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4049075/readout-of-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseths-call-with-republic-of-korea-actin/
Beyond the Korean Peninsula: How the South Korea-US Alliance Can Contribute to Regional Security
The Diplomat 20250131
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/beyond-the-korean-peninsula-how-the-south-korea-us-alliance-can-contribute-to-regional-security/
Wang suggests Japan PM Ishiba's China visit in February
Kyodo 20250131
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/01/4c28417c3624-wang-suggests-japan-pm-ishibas-china-visit-in-february.html
China urges Japan to rethink planned hi-tech export bans
SCMP 20250131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296983/china-urges-japan-rethink-planned-hi-tech-export-bans
Trump needs a realistic and restrained China policy
Asia Times 20250131
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/trump-needs-a-realistic-and-restrained-china-policy/
As ‘unpredictable’ Trump returns, will it be chaos or calm for US-China relations?
SCMP 20250131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3295622/unpredictable-trump-returns-will-it-be-chaos-or-calm-us-china-relations
U.S. urged to wage political warfare in China to counter Beijing’s influence activities
WashTimes 20250130
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jan/30/u-urged-wage-political-warfare-china-counter-beiji/
Opiate War: US-China in a fearsome fentanyl fight
Asia Timnes 20250131
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/opiate-war-us-china-in-a-fearsome-fentanyl-fight/
‘More work to be done’ to lower barriers to tech-sharing for AUKUS Pillar II, Australian official says
Breaking Defense 20250131
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/more-work-to-be-done-to-lower-barriers-to-tech-sharing-for-aukus-pillar-ii-australian-official-says/
Where geopolitics and development meet
Lowy 20250131
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/where-geopolitics-development-meet
All about DeepSeek: its advantages, disadvantages and impact on the China-US tech war
Think China 20250131
https://www.thinkchina.sg/technology/all-about-deepseek-its-advantages-disadvantages-and-impact-china-us-tech-war
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Marshall Islands seek US meeting as citizens 'panic' over Trump migrant crackdown
Reuters 20250130
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/marshall-islands-seek-us-meeting-citizens-panic-over-trump-migrant-crackdown-2025-01-31/
Palauans in U.S. must exit, reenter to update I—94 after passport renewal
Island Times 20250131
https://islandtimes.org/palauans-in-u-s-must-exit-reenter-to-update-i-94-after-passport-renewal/
Island Waves
Don’t force Pacific Island nations to choose between us or China, says UK Royal Navy admiral
Breaking Defense 20250130
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/01/dont-force-pacific-island-nations-to-choose-between-us-or-china-says-uk-royal-navy-admiral/
Don’t force Pacific island nations to choose between China and the West: UK navy admiral
SCMP 20250131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3296880/dont-force-pacific-island-nations-choose-between-china-and-west-uk-navy-admiral
Pacific aid groups ‘devastated’ by Trump’s USAID freeze
Benar 20250131
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/us-pacific-aid-freeze-01312025021946.html
New US deportation drive has Pacific nations concerned
ABC (AU) 20250131
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/fiji-trump/104880802
Democracy and debt shape the Solomon Islands’ future
EAF 20250130
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/01/30/democracy-and-debt-shape-the-solomon-islands-future/
Australia Commites More Funding for CWMH
FBCN 20250131
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-commits-more-funding-for-cwmh/
Australian Federal Police Gives Back to Local Hospital
Post Courier (PNG) 20250131
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australian-federal-police-gives-back-to-local-hospital/
Hawai’i’s Role in the US Indo-Pacific Energy Security Dilemma
The Diplomat 20250131
https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/hawaiis-role-in-the-us-indo-pacific-energy-security-dilemma/
Taiwan + xCS
China in the Taiwan Strait: January 2025
CSIS 20250130
https://www.cfr.org/article/china-taiwan-strait-january-2025
Trump officials dim prospect of US CHIPS Act funding for Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250131
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6027007
Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military aircraft and 5 ships
Taiwan News 20250131
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6026923
US and Japan reaffirm Taiwan’s Diaoyutai Islands covered by defense treaty
Taiwan News 20250131
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6027109
Capabilities
Satellite images reveal China building war command center in Beijing
Taiwan News 20250131
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6026960
Why Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ must outdo Israel’s missile shield to thwart China, Russia
SCMP 20250131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3296957/why-trumps-iron-dome-must-outdo-israels-missile-shield-thwart-china-russia
S. Korea 'strongly' condemns N. Korea's vow to strengthen nuclear shield
Yonhap 20250131
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250131004300315
Top S. Korean, U.S. Air Force commanders vow to bolster combined defense capabilities
Yonhap 20250131
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250131002800315
Navy Surface Ships:Maintenance Funds and Actions Needed to Address Ongoing Challenges
GAO 20250131
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106990
Former Army chief claims national pride is in decline amid concerns over Australian Defence Force recruitment
Sky (AU) 20250131
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/former-army-chief-claims-national-pride-is-in-decline-amid-concerns-over-australian-defence-force-recruitment/news-story/24fd64a0c1f00fd0ee1199712a5b8e83
Exercises
Japan- U.S. Bilateral Exercise (Rescue Flag Okinawa)
JMSDF 20250131
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202501/20250131en.pdf
Events
China's Power: Up for Debate 2025
CSIS 11 February 8:55 AM - 3:25 PM ET
https://www.csis.org/events/chinas-power-debate-2025