Pacific Winds 20250207
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
AUKUS and war powers: aligning decision-making for effective defence
ASPI 20250206
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-and-war-powers-aligning-decision-making-for-effective-defence/
Philippines assured by Hegseth of US’ ‘ironclad’ pledge to mutual defence treaty
SCMP 20250206
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3297661/philippines-assured-hegseth-us-ironclad-pledge-mutual-defence-treaty
North Korea is the big beneficiary in its military partnership with Russia
ASPI 20250206
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/north-korea-is-the-big-beneficiary-in-its-military-partnership-with-russia/
Trump to prod Japan PM to increase defense spending on Feb. 7
Kyodo 20250206
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/00a3d75d3cca-trump-to-prod-japan-pm-to-increase-defense-spending-on-friday.html
Japan Seeks to Preserve Status Quo With Trump. That May Be a Big Ask.
NYTimes 20250206
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/world/asia/japan-ishiba-trump-summit.html
Japan-U.S. Joint Statement Set to Mention Defense Ties; Space, Cyber Fields to be Specifically Mentioned
Yomiuri 20250206
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250206-237282/
China’s Trump Strategy
FA 20250206
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas-trump-strategy
Why Chinese President Xi Jinping won’t just ‘hop on a call’ with Donald Trump
SCMP 20250206
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3297656/why-chinese-president-xi-jinping-wont-just-hop-call-donald-trump
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Underwood, PCIS spread Guam and Micronesia message in DC
PDN 20250207
https://www.guampdn.com/news/underwood-pcis-spread-guam-and-micronesia-message-in-dc/article_d5acedac-e462-11ef-b50a-2fcd04f2d15d.html
Military buildup in CNMI offers opportunities and poses challenges
PIT 20250206
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/brief-chat-with-pk-phommachanh-daigo-military-buildup-in-cnmi-offers-opportunities-and-poses-challe
Guam Air guardsman strengthens Palau ties through State Partnership program
KUAM 20250206
https://www.kuam.com/story/52324153/guam-air-guardsman-strengthens-palau-ties-through-state-partnership-program
Island Waves
The global contest for the Pacific
Lowy 20250206
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/global-contest-pacific
The future of US Indo-Pacific policy
ASPI 20250207
https://ad-aspi.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2025-02/The%20future%20of%20US%20Indo-Pacific%20policy%201.pdf?VersionId=3FPOrfYSSEclJTu8AEWbWZ9psgv9NTvT
Cook Islands PM aims to boost trade ties during China visit
Reuters 20250206
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/cook-islands-pm-aims-boost-trade-ties-during-china-visit-2025-02-06/
Cook Islands PM heads to China in the wake of a diplomatic spat with New Zealand
ABC (AU) 20250207
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pacific-beat/104886134
NZ, Cook Islanders left in dark over PM's possible China deal - Peters
RNZ 20250207
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/541170/nz-cook-islanders-left-in-dark-over-pm-s-possible-china-deal-peters
'Do not see eye to eye': NZ and Cook Islands at odds over diplomatic issues
RNZ 20250206
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541087/do-not-see-eye-to-eye-nz-and-cook-islands-at-odds-over-diplomatic-issues
Samoa communities affected by Manawanui sinking seek support from China
RNZ 20250206
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/541109/samoa-communities-affected-by-manawanui-sinking-seek-support-from-china
Rabuka hopeful USAID will continue
FBCN 20250207
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rabuka-hopeful-usaid-will-continue/
Fiji eyes growing export market in China
FBCN 20250207
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-eyes-growing-export-market-in-china/
We respect US decisions says PM
FBCN 20250206
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/we-respect-us-decisions-says-pm/
Taiwan + SCS
U.S. silent on apparent departure of AIT head
CNA (TW) 20250206
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202502060005
China Coast Guard Patrols in 2024: An Exercise in Futility?
AMTI 20250206
https://amti.csis.org/china-coast-guard-patrols-in-2024-an-exercise-in-futility/
France, Japan, U.S. Partner in Multi-Large Deck Event in Philippine Sea
USN PacFlt 20250206
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4056329/france-japan-us-partner-in-multi-large-deck-event-in-philippine-sea/
Japan-U.S.-France Multilateral Exercise (Pacific Steller)
JP MSDF 20250206
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202502/20250206-1en.pdf
Hegseth Talks South China Sea ‘Deterrence’ With Philippines
Bloomberg 20250206
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-06/hegseth-discusses-south-china-sea-deterrence-with-philippines
‘Monster ship’ still in WPS as PH patrols with US, Japan, Australia
Inquirer (PH) 20250205
https://www.inquirer.net/427703/monster-ship-still-in-wps-as-ph-patrols-with-us-japan-australia/
Is Squad the new ‘monster’ Philippines is turning to in South China Sea?
GT 20250206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1327994.shtml
Capabilities
Philippines all in to get its own midrange missile system
Japan Times 20250206
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/02/06/asia-pacific/politics/philippines-defense-minister-teodoro-interview/
Dark Eagle: America’s still flightless hypersonic missile
Asia Times 20250206
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/dark-eagle-americas-still-flightless-hypersonic-missile/
Navy Develops Highly Persistent Undersea Hydrophone System Powered By Ocean Temperatures
TWZ 20250206
https://www.twz.com/news-features/navy-develops-highly-persistent-undersea-hydrophone-system-powered-by-ocean-temperatures
Japan Puts New US Space Force Capability into Orbit
Air & Space 20250206
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-payload-japanese-satellite/
Shipbuilders, Navy Want Deal on 2 Virginia Attack Boats ‘As Soon as Possible’
USNI 22050206
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/06/shipbuilders-navy-want-deal-on-2-virginia-attack-boats-as-soon-as-possible
Navy awards several contracts aimed at advancing key mine countermeasures capabilities
Breaking Defense 20250206
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/navy-awards-several-contracts-aimed-at-advancing-key-mine-countermeasures-capabilities/
Power
The old theories don’t fit the new world order
Lowy 20250207
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/old-theories-don-t-fit-new-world-order