Pacific Winds 20250220

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

US-Russia talks a litmus test for Asia’s power balance
Asia Times 20250219
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/us-russia-talks-a-litmus-test-for-asias-power-balance/

Trump’s eldest son says US should avoid ‘poking the dragon’ in China-focused commentary
SCMP 20250219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3299226/trumps-eldest-son-says-us-should-avoid-poking-dragon-china-focused-commentary

Chinese FM responds to Donald Trump Jr.’s remarks: Hope US will meet China halfway
GT 20250219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328706.shtml

Will Trump’s bureaucracy overhaul free up resources for US to compete with China?
SCMP 20250219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3299200/will-trumps-bureaucracy-overhaul-free-resources-us-compete-china

Trump’s playing right into China’s hands
Asia Times 20250219
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/trumps-playing-right-into-chinas-hands/

Donald Trump’s multipolar diplomacy
Asia Times 20250219
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/donald-trumps-multipolar-diplomacy/

U.S. State Department stops calling China 'PRC' in country fact sheet
Nikkei 20250219
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/U.S.-State-Department-stops-calling-China-PRC-in-country-fact-sheet

Trump and the Philippines: Will the Squad Top the Quad?
The Diplomat 20250219
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/trump-and-the-philippines-will-the-squad-top-the-quad/

Wang Yi at United Nations promotes multilateralism as US seems headed in other direction
SCMP 20250219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3299222/wang-yi-united-nations-promotes-multilateralism-us-seems-headed-other-direction

China’s Ties with North Korea Are in a Ditch, and Therein Lies Opportunity
WOTR 20250219
https://warontherocks.com/2025/02/chinas-ties-with-north-korea-are-in-a-ditch-and-therin-lies-opportunity/

Wolf warrior diplomacy with MAGA characteristics
Lowy 20250219
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/wolf-warrior-diplomacy-maga-characteristics

Apparent Trump vision: Divvy up the world into demarcated empires
Asia Times 20250219
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/apparent-trump-vision-divvy-up-the-world-into-demarcated-empires/

Trump says he will introduce 25% tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals and chips
Reuters 20250218
https://t.co/VKuaaPVAD5

US unilateral tariffs disrupt normal trade and economic cooperation: China's commerce minister to US counterpart
GT 20250219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328733.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Massive WWII B-29 Bomber Base Fully Reclaimed For Future Pacific Fight
TWZ 20250219
https://www.twz.com/air/massive-wwii-b-29-bomber-base-fully-reclaimed-for-future-pacific-fight

More Than 175 Aircraft Fan Out for Huge Agile Combat Exercise
Air & Space 20250218
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/bamboo-eaglemore-than-175-aircraft-agile-combat/

Senators hear testimony on resolution urging federal construction of shelters
GDP 20250219
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/senators-hear-testimony-on-resolution-urging-federal-construction-of-shelters/article_05ca978a-ee79-11ef-ac58-136c742447ba.html

Marshall Islands at high risk of cyber attack
RNZ 20250220
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/542444/marshall-islands-at-high-risk-of-cyber-attack

Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force's safe, effective deterrent
US StratCom 20250219
https://www.stratcom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/4070577/minuteman-iii-test-launch-showcases-readiness-of-us-nuclear-forces-safe-effecti/

Island Waves

Australia and Papua New Guinea to begin negotiations on new defence treaty
ABC (AU) 20250219
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/australia-papua-new-guinea-defence-treaty-security/104956936

'Reset' needed with Cook Islands, Winston Peters says
RNZ 20250219
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/542404/reset-needed-with-cook-islands-winston-peters-says

The Cook Islands/China strategic partnership is a huge diplomatic failure
NZ Herald 20250219
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/the-cook-islandschina-strategic-partnership-is-a-huge-diplomatic-failure-richard-prebble/HUPTWQTC4NARTERL5JGPHZQXPE/

Double standard? NZ criticises Cook Islands' China deal while backing US ties
PMN 20250219
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/double-standard-new-zealand-criticises-cook-islands-china-deal-while-backing-us-ties

Napat: ‘Donors must work our way or take their money back’
Daily Post (VU) 20250219
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/napat-donors-must-work-our-way-or-take-their-money-back/article_2304e61e-a623-5d16-828e-6d1489528ac1.html

Buala market construction offers job opportunities
Solomon Star 20250219
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/buala-market-construction-offers-job-opportunities/

Aust supports SI with maritime training for border agencies
Solomon Star 20250219
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-supports-si-with-maritime-training-for-border-agencies/

Aust, NZ donate 121 laptops for schools nationwide
Solomon Star 20250219
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-nz-donate-121-laptops-for-schools-nationwide/

Ministers tour Australian Defence boat
Solomon Star 20250219
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/ministers-tour-australian-defence-boat/

Taiwan + xCS

China isn’t likely to move on Taiwan in 2025
ASPI 20250219
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/still-not-confident-enough-china-isnt-likely-to-move-on-taiwan-in-2025/

Amid KMT Budget Cuts, Taiwan’s DPP Proposes Raising Defense Spending
The Diplomat 20250218
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/amid-kmt-budget-cuts-taiwans-dpp-proposes-raising-defense-spending/

Did the US Just Change Its Taiwan Policy?
The Diplomat 20250218
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/did-the-us-just-change-its-taiwan-policy/

U.S. silent on rumored multibillion-dollar Taiwan weapons purchase
CNA (TW) 20250219
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202502190005

36 Chinese military aircraft, 7 ships tracked around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250219
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6040371

South China Sea: Beijing resources ministry gauges depth of new Vietnamese port on reef
SCMP 20250219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3299167/south-china-sea-beijing-resources-ministry-gauges-depth-new-vietnamese-port-reef

Chinese Navy Helicopter Intercepts Philippine Cessna Over Scarborough Shoal
USNI 20250218
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/18/chinese-navy-helicopter-intercepts-philippine-cessna-over-scarborough-shoal

Manila’s ‘political show’ staged in the South China Sea reckless, clumsy
GT 20250219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328717.shtml

US, Japan Conduct Combined Operations
US IndoPaCom 20250219
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4070095/us-japan-conduct-combined-operations/

Choppy waters continue in the South China Sea
EAF 20250219
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/02/19/choppy-waters-continue-in-the-south-china-sea/

China stands ready to actively push forward the consultations on the South China Sea COC: FM
GT 20250219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328708.shtml

Capabilities

Air Force Mission Capability Rates Reach Lowest Levels in Years
Air & Space 20250218
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-mission-capable-rates-fiscal-2024/

Japan, Philippines Plan Defense Equipment Export Framework; Defense Ministers to Meet in Manila on Saturday
Yomiuri 20250219
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250219-239473/

China Responds as US Military Trains Sights on Pacific
Newsweek 20250218
https://www.newsweek.com/china-us-news-military-focus-asia-pacific-russia-ukraine-war-end-2033011

Chinese scientists build world’s most powerful spy camera
SCMP 20250219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3299346/chinese-scientists-build-worlds-most-powerful-spy-camera

Report: Space Force strategy, resources insufficient to counter China
Space News 20250219
https://spacenews.com/report-space-force-strategy-resources-insufficient-to-counter-china/

Ensuring a Spacepower Advantage in Prolonged Competition
Mitchell 20250219
https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/app/uploads/2025/02/Ensuring-a-Spacepower-Advantage-in-Prolonged-Competition-WEB.pdf

China is upping the ante in space. The West should worry
Nikkei 20250219
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-is-upping-the-ante-in-space.-The-West-should-worry

Harnessing 5G-Era Innovations
RAND 20250219
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA2100/RRA2125-1/RAND_RRA2125-1.pdf

Navy says it is on track to hit its highest recruiting numbers in more than 20 years
Task & Purpose 20250219
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-recruiting-increase/

Stop treating shipyards like the ‘corner garage': former Navy acquisitions chief
Defense One 20250219
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/02/warship-repairs-navy/403113/

Exercises

Three Chinese warships sailing east of Sydney being monitored, ADF says
ABC 20250219
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/chinese-navy-ships-spotted-sailing-east-of-sydney/104958140

FM spokesperson responds to claim of three Chinese warships sailing in Australia's 'exclusive economic zone’
GT 20250219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328705.shtml

France-US-Japan joint exercise in Philippine Sea stirs up regional situation
China Military 20250219
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16370223.html

USS Alexandria (SSN 757) Completes Scheduled Port Visit to Busan
USN PacFlt 20250219
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4070665/uss-alexandria-ssn-757-completes-scheduled-port-visit-to-busan/