Pacific Winds 20250215

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Feb 14, 2025

Alliances

Caught in the Shockwave: Japan-US Relations Under Trump
The Diplomat 20250213
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/caught-in-the-shockwave-japan-us-relations-under-trump/

Australia can no longer assume multilateralism will work in its favour
Lowy 20250214
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-can-no-longer-assume-multilateralism-will-work-its-favour

Wang Yi tells security forum China will respond ‘resolutely’ to any ‘bullying’ by US
SCMP 20250215
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3298792/wang-yi-tells-security-forum-china-will-respond-resolutely-any-bullying-us

China denounces U.S. accusations of so-called Chinese "aggression" in Indo-Pacific
Xinhua 20250214
https://english.news.cn/20250214/39f20a587c1143608617d98774bbccef/c.html

US defence chief Hegseth signals ‘early priorities are domestic’ in China remarks
SCMP 20240214
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3298564/us-defence-chief-hegseth-signals-early-priorities-are-domestic-china-remarks

US Indo-Pacific commander to visit Australia as tensions flare over 'dangerous' military incident
ABC (AU) 20250214
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-14/us-indopacific-commander-to-visit-australia-china-incident/104936000

China fueling a political explosion in the Philippines
Asia Times 20250214
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/china-fueling-a-political-explosion-in-the-philippines/

Trump can’t denuclearize North Korea. South Korea’s next leader should pursue risk reduction instead
BAS 20250214
https://thebulletin.org/2025/02/trump-cant-denuclearize-north-korea-south-koreas-next-leader-should-pursue-risk-reduction-instead/

Trump lays out plan to introduce reciprocal tariffs
Kyodo 20240214
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/3d376183102a-update3-trump-lays-out-plan-to-introduce-reciprocal-tariffs.html

Japan in contact with U.S. over tariffs, to respond appropriately
Kyodo 20240214
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/24146e47af23-japan-in-contact-with-us-over-tariffs-to-respond-appropriately.html

The latest round of tariffs threats might be the least of our worries
Lowy 20250214
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/latest-round-tariffs-threats-might-be-least-our-worries

Aluminium exports under fire: Is Australia really to blame?
Lowy 20250214
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/aluminium-exports-under-fire-australia-really-blame

China poised to strike back if Trump follows through on sweeping tariff plan
SCMP 20250214
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3298734/china-poised-strike-back-if-trump-follows-through-sweeping-tariff-plan

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Advanced fighters gathered over Guam should give pause to potential foes, says retired general
S&S 20250214
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-02-14/cope-north-f-35-guam-australia-us-japan-16828758.html

Island Waves

Taiwan + xCS

From ‘peaceful’ to ‘all efforts’: Is China signalling a shift on Taiwan?
Think China 2250213
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/peaceful-all-efforts-china-signalling-shift-taiwan

US Intelligence Community needs upgrade to stop Beijing forcibly taking Taiwan: report
SCMP 20250214
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3298717/us-intelligence-community-needs-upgrade-stop-beijing-forcibly-taking-taiwan-report

Deterring Chinese aggression takes real-time intelligence
Atlantic Council 20250214
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/deterring-chinese-aggression-takes-real-time-intelligence/

China Escalates Cross-Strait Military Activity Under Taiwan President William Lai
CSIS 20250214
https://www.csis.org/analysis/china-escalates-cross-strait-military-activity-under-taiwan-president-william-lai

How the US Aid Freeze Harms Taiwan’s Geopolitical Interests
The Diplomat 20250214
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/how-the-us-aid-freeze-harms-taiwans-geopolitical-interests/

Taiwan to boost U.S. investments amid Trump's tariff threats: Lai
CNA (TW) 20250214
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202502140013

Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese military aircraft, 6 ships
Taiwan News 20250214
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6037312

US urged to avoid frontal role, enable Philippines to lead
SCMP 20250213
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3298441/south-china-sea-how-us-can-enable-philippines-counter-beijing-and-help-ease-tensions

Philippines increases defense efforts amid ongoing tension with China
VoA 20250214
https://www.voanews.com/a/philippines-increases-defense-efforts-amid-ongoing-tension-with-china-/7975137.html

Philippines brings in Typhon to hold a candle to the devil, play the jackal to the tiger: Chinese defense ministry
GT 20250214
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328447.shtml

Philippines' introduction of Typhon missile system is like giving open invitation to burglar and assisting evildoer: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20250214
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16369705.html

Defending Without Provoking: The United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea
Quincy 20250212
https://quincyinst.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/12170645/QUINCY-BRIEF-NO.-70-FEBRUARY-2025-SHIDORE-1.pdf

China accuses Australia of deliberate provocation in South China Sea
Reuters 20250214
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-defence-ministry-accuses-australia-south-china-sea-provocation-2025-02-14/

China says Australia 'spreading false narratives' and 'stirring up trouble' after South China Sea incident
ABC (AU) 20250214
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-15/china-hits-back-at-australia-after-south-china-sea-incident/104940134

Chinese military denounces Australia's deliberate provocations in South China Sea
China Military 20250214
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16369652.html

Philippines voices concern over China-Australia air encounter in South China Sea
Reuters 20250214
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-voices-concern-over-china-australia-air-encounter-south-china-sea-2025-02-14/

China warship activity near Japan's southwest islands triples in 3 years
Nikkei 20250215
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/China-warship-activity-near-Japan-s-southwest-islands-triples-in-3-years

Capabilities

China is rehearsing for war, Indo-Pacific commander says
Defense One 20250213
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/02/china-rehearsing-war-indo-pacific-commander-says/403011/

Pacific Commander Urges Faster Arming of Forces
Military.com 20250214
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/02/14/pacific-commander-urges-faster-arming-of-forces.html

Top Pacific commander warns of rising ‘axis of autocracy’ in region
S&S 20240214
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-02-13/paparo-indopacom-china-russia-korea-16826628.html

US losing crucial hypersonic race to China and Russia
Asia Times 20250214
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/us-losing-crucial-hypersonic-race-to-china-and-russia/

Satellite image shows China’s PLA practicing attacks on U.S. electronic warfare aircraft, carriers
WashTimes 20250213
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/feb/13/satellite-image-shows-china-pla-practicing-attacks/

USS Tripoli Moving to Japan to Serve as Forward-deployed Big Deck
USNI 20250214
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/14/uss-tripoli-moving-to-japan-to-serve-as-forward-deployed-big-deck

Army deploys first Athena-R spy plane to South Korea
Breaking Defense 20250214
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/army-deploys-first-athena-r-spy-plane-to-south-korea/

U.S. Space Force to beef up Japan unit amid growing threat in region
Kyodo 20250214
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/c7ade107d36a-us-space-force-to-beef-up-japan-unit-amid-growing-threat-in-region.html

Japan becomes Boeing’s newest customer of latest Chinook helo variant
Defense News 20250213
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/02/13/japan-becomes-boeings-newest-customer-of-latest-chinook-helo-variant/

CRS Report to Congress on Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine
USNI 20250214
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/13/report-to-congress-on-navy-virginia-class-submarine-program-and-aukus-submarine

Pentagon Prepares Potential Cuts for DOGE
WSJ 29250214
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/doge-department-of-defense-budget-cuts-prepares-0f7073fa?st=oRR8d4

Pentagon officials are bracing for Musk's DOGE
Defense One 20250214
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/02/pentagon-officials-are-bracing-musks-doge/403037/

Power

Trump says he wants to work with Russia, China on limiting nuclear weapons
Reuters 20250213
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-wants-work-with-russia-china-limiting-nuclear-weapons-2025-02-13/

China Says U.S. Should Lead Trump’s Proposed Arms Control Effort
NYTimes 20250214
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/world/asia/china-trump-nuclear-military.html

Exercises

Triple Aircraft Carrier Exercise Sends Warning to China
Newsweek 20250214
https://www.newsweek.com/us-france-japan-news-aircraft-carriers-western-pacific-exercise-warning-china-2030984

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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