Pacific Winds 20250206
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump in no hurry to talk to Xi amid new tariff war
Reuters 20250204
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-tariffs-chinese-imports-take-effect-after-trump-reprieves-canada-mexico-2025-02-04/
Donald Trump downplays China’s retaliatory tariffs and ‘in no rush’ to talk to Xi Jinping
SCMP 20250205
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3297372/donald-trump-downplays-chinas-retaliatory-tariffs-and-no-rush-talk-xi-jinping
What Do Trump’s First Weeks Tell Us About His China Strategy?
WSJ 20250204
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/what-do-trumps-first-weeks-tell-us-about-his-china-strategy-ba571376?st=TfQyij
The Art of a Deal in a Trump-Xi Summit?
RSIS 20250204
https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/the-art-of-a-deal-in-a-trump-xi-summit/
The Trump Effect on China-US Strategic Competition: Disruption, Dealmaking, Deterrence
The Diplomat 20250205
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/the-trump-effect-on-china-us-strategic-competition-disruption-dealmaking-deterrence/
Can Japan's Ishiba convey strength at Trump summit? 5 things to watch
Nikkei 20250205
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/Can-Japan-s-Ishiba-convey-strength-at-Trump-summit-5-things-to-watch
Hegseth to host Australian leader in first visit with a foreign peer
Military Times 20250205
https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2025/02/05/hegseth-to-host-australian-leader-in-first-visit-with-a-foreign-peer/
Why, for Australia, Trump’s treatment of Canada is so troubling
Lowy 20250205
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-australia-trump-s-treatment-canada-so-troubling
Quad and AUKUS Face an Uncertain Future Under Trump
The Diplomat 20250206
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/quad-and-aukus-face-an-uncertain-future-under-trump/
Trump’s grand bargain? The Philippines caught between US and China
Lowy 202500205
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-s-grand-bargain-philippines-caught-between-us-china
Assembly Speaker Woo reassures China on S. Korea's political stability, invites Xi to APEC Summit
Yonhap 20240205
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250205004151315
China expands key mineral export controls after US imposes tariffs
Reuters 20250204
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-expands-critical-mineral-export-controls-after-us-imposes-tariffs-2025-02-04/
China announces measures against Google, other US firms, as trade tensions escalate
Reuters 20250204
https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-anti-monopoly-regulator-launches-probe-into-google-2025-02-04/
How Beijing Is Handling the Brewing U.S.-China Tariff Battle
CFR 20250205
https://www.cfr.org/article/trump-fulfilling-his-campaign-promises-plus-how-beijing-handling-brewing-us-china-tariff
A Trump-style trade war: The ‘dumbest’ in history?
Think China 20250205
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/trump-style-trade-war-dumbest-history
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
A new life for Compacts of Free Association?
PIT 20250205
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/a-new-life-for-compacts-of-free-association
Guam could be next for UN visiting mission on decolonization
PDN 20250205
https://www.guampdn.com/news/guam-could-be-next-for-un-visiting-mission-on-decolonization/article_3b1302da-e396-11ef-8f75-c7e1a7c2e224.html
Island Waves
Fiji leader to press Pacific Islands concerns in Washington after U.S. aid frozen
Reuters 20250204
https://www.reuters.com/world/fiji-leader-press-pacific-islands-concerns-washington-after-us-aid-frozen-2025-02-04/
Australia grants PNG $570 million loan amid push for stricter foreign investment scrutin
ABC (AU) 20250205
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-05/australia-loans-png-570-million/104899818
Australia Grants PNG About K1.4 BIllion Loan Amid Push for Stricter Foreign Investment Scrutiny
The National (PNG) 20240205
https://www.thenational.com.pg/australia-grants-png-about-k1-4-billion-loan-amid-push-for-stricter-foreign-investment-scrutiny/
Cook Islands' deal with China takes NZ Government by surprise
1News (NZ) 20250205
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/02/05/cook-islands-deal-with-china-takes-nz-government-by-surprise/
Cook Islands PM Brown offered state visit to China later this month
RNZ 20250206
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541077/cook-islands-pm-brown-offered-state-visit-to-china-later-this-month
East Timor favours Australia over Chinese firms on major gas project, president says
Reuters 20250205
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/east-timor-favours-australia-over-chinese-firms-major-gas-project-president-says-2025-02-05/
Police attend two weeks training on MMC in Honiara
Solomon Star 20250205
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/police-attend-two-weeks-training-on-mmc-in-honiara/
SI, Aust and PNG work on new visa system
Solomon Star 20250205
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/si-aust-and-png-work-on-new-visa-system/
Will the Trump administration renege on US pledge to Pacific island nations?
PIT 20250205
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/will-the-trump-administration-renege-on-us-pledge-to-pacific-island-nations
China’s BRI and Solomon Islands: Pacific Perspective
Modern Diplomacy 20250205
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/02/05/chinas-bri-and-solomon-islands-pacific-perspective/
Fiji spared
Fiji First 20250205
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-spared/
Taiwan + SCS
Japan prime minister to discuss Taiwan with Trump
Taiwan News 20250205
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6030207
Assessing the Effectiveness of China’s Military Exercises in Restraining Taiwan’s Leadership
ISDP 2025 February
https://www.isdp.eu/publication/assessing-the-effectiveness-of-chinas-military-exercises-in-restraining-taiwans-leadership/
Mainland slams Lai Ching-te for remarks undermining peace, escalating tensions
GT 20250206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1327924.shtml
Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250205
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6029901
Australia, Japan, Philippines, and United States Conduct Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity
US IndoPaCom 20250205
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/4054083/australia-japan-philippines-and-united-states-conduct-multilateral-maritime-coo/
Philippines, U.S. hold joint air patrol over South China Sea, angering China
Reuters 20250204
https://www.reuters.com/world/philippines-us-joint-air-patrol-exercises-underway-over-south-china-sea-2025-02-04/
B-1 Bombers, Philippine Fighters Maneuver Over South China Sea
Air & Space 20250205
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-1-bombers-philippines-fighters-south-china-sea/
PLA patrols in South China Sea for second day as tensions mount with Philippines
SCMP 20250205
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3297450/chinese-destroyer-fleets-routine-exercise-shown-state-television
Can Malaysia unite ASEAN in the South China Sea?
Think China 20250205
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/can-malaysia-unite-asean-south-china-sea
Capabilities
China’s sail-less mini-sub a new menace for Taiwan
Asia Times 20250205
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/chinas-sail-less-mini-sub-a-new-menace-for-taiwan/
Japan's Sky Perfect JSAT readies satellite network with security focus
Nikkei 20250205
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense-Industries/Japan-s-Sky-Perfect-JSAT-readies-satellite-network-with-security-focus
Marines Want New Class of Aviation Support Ships
USNI 20250204
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/04/marines-want-new-class-of-aviation-support-ships
PLA Navy explores training methods for carrier-based special mission aircraft
GT 20250205
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1327913.shtml
Beyond the Nuclear Balance: A Strategic Forces Net Assessment
Hudson 20250205
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media.hudson.org/Beyond+the+Nuclear+Balance+-+A+Strategic+Forces+Net+Assessment+-+Krepinevich+(1).pdf
Exercises
USS America, 31st MEU Underway on WESTPAC Amphib Patrol; Russian Pacific Action Group Deploys
USNI 20250204
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/04/uss-america-31st-meu-underway-on-westpac-amphib-patrol-russian-pacfic-action-group-deploys