Pacific Winds 20250228
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Defence minister urges calm over China warships episode as they travel west
ABC (AU) 20250227
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-27/defence-minister-china-warships-call-for-calm/104989968
China willing to strengthen communication with NZ regarding 'live-fire drill concerns' raised by visiting NZ deputy PM
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329184.shtml
Can New Zealand give right answer for China ties?
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329193.shtml
‘Sleepwalking into cold war’: ex-diplomat urges China-Canada dialogue amid outside forces
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3300344/sleepwalking-cold-war-ex-diplomat-urges-china-canada-dialogue-amid-outside-forces
Ishiba-Trump Summit: A Cornerstone of Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region
AIIA 20250227
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/ishiba-trump-summit-a-cornerstone-of-stability-in-the-indo-pacific-region/
Manila’s security dilemma: Navigating US commitments and China’s aggression
ORF 20250227
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/manila-s-security-dilemma-navigating-us-commitments-and-china-s-aggression
Japan targets weapons sales through Indo-Pacific, as industrial ties lag strategic ones
Breaking Defense 20250226
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/japan-targets-weapons-sales-through-indo-pacific-as-industrial-ties-lag-strategic-ones/
Trump administration says it’s cutting 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts
AP 20250226
https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-cuts-6292f48f8d4025bed0bf5c3e9d623c16
Trump looking to strike ‘big deals’ to counter China’s belt and road projects: Rubio
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3300432/trump-looking-strike-big-deals-counter-chinas-belt-and-road-projects-rubio
US Supreme Court Roberts pauses federal judge's order on Trump administration foreign aid funding
Reuters 20250226
https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-administration-says-it-cannot-meet-court-deadline-foreign-aid-payments-2025-02-26/
Trump says tariffs on Chinese imports will double to 20 per cent and go into effect next week
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3300442/trump-says-tariffs-chinese-imports-will-double-20-cent-and-go-effect-next-week
Chinese commerce minister voices opposition to US tariffs, calls for equal dialogue in letter to USTR
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329225.shtml
China warns that U.S. proposal to levy port fees on Chinese ships could backfire
Xinhua 20250227
https://english.news.cn/20250227/1696a64853604abaabb875e063b1e434/c.html
US shot across China’s bow in shipbuilding could backfire as allies fall short
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3300228/us-shot-across-chinas-bow-shipbuilding-could-backfire-allies-fall-short
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
PCIS chair briefs lawmakers
GDP 20250227
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/pcis-chair-briefs-lawmakers/article_9b09f040-f4b7-11ef-a58b-e7bfec5a4780.html
Guam think tank head tells senators: Ask US military the hard questions
PIT 20250227
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/guam-think-tank-head-tells-senators-ask-us-military-the-hard-questions
Lawmakers fear US defence spending is neglecting Guam's local population
ABC (AU) 20250227
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/guam-lawmakers-call-for-more-bomb-shelters-as-tensions-rise/104988024
The Indo-Pacific as the world’s center of gravity: Why Guam must stay engaged
PIT 20250227
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/the-indo-pacific-as-the-world-s-center-of-gravity-why-guam-must-stay-engaged
Island Waves
Cook Islands PM condemns New Zealand government for 'interference' in foreign affairs
ABC (AU) 20250227
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pacific-beat/104968436
Pacific transactionalism: Art of the diplomatic deal
Benar 20250226
https://www.benarnews.org/english/commentaries/pac-diplomacy-commentary-02262025155836.html
Cook Islands government to seek update on China’s naval exercises
RNZ 20250228
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/543281/cook-islands-government-to-seek-update-on-china-s-naval-exercises
Korea to fund 13 major projects
FBCN 20250227
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/korea-to-fund-13-major-projects/
MEHRD Refutes Claim of Funding Support from Winrock International
Solomon Times 20240227
https://www.solomontimes.com/news/mehrd-refutes-claim-of-funding-support-from-winrock-international/13158
Australia discusses security, aid with Vanuatu amid competition with China
Reuters 20250227
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-discusses-security-aid-with-vanuatu-amid-competition-with-china-2025-02-27/
The slow walk of US Marines from Okinawa
Responsible Statecraft 20250227
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/okinawa-base-withdrawal/
Taiwan + SCS
The Taiwan Fixation
FA 20250227
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwan-fixation-kavanagh-wertheim
China's Ministry of National Defense warns DPP authorities: We will come and get you, sooner or later
GT 20250228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329218.shtml
"Soliciting US support for independence" is dead end: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20250227
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16371721.html
China Takes Tougher Tone on Taiwan, Announces Military Drills
Bloomberg 20250226
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-26/china-takes-tougher-tone-on-taiwan-announces-military-drills
Donald Trump declines to say whether US would defend Taiwan in attack by mainland China
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3300292/donald-trump-declines-say-whether-us-would-defend-taiwan-attack-mainland-china
China says Taiwan drills 'routine', as Taipei details surge in military activity
Reuters 20250227
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-details-surge-chinese-military-activity-2025-02-27/
Taiwan condemns China's live-fire zone as 'deliberate provocation'
Taiwan News 20250227
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6047089
Taiwan tracks 45 Chinese military aircraft, 15 ships
Taiwan News 20250227
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6047119
China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the South China Sea
Pacific Forum 20250227
https://pacforum.org/publications/issues-insights-issues-and-insights-volume-25-wp-2-attaining-all-domain-control-chinas-anti-access-area-denial-a2-ad-capabilities-in-the-south-china-sea/
Capabilities
China declassifies tech of world’s first high orbit radar satellite, worrying US
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3300083/china-declassifies-tech-worlds-first-high-orbit-radar-satellite-worrying-us
SDA should re-evaluate launch plans as key tech lags, watchdog says
Defense News 20250227
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/02/27/sda-should-re-evaluate-launch-plans-as-key-tech-lags-watchdog-says/
A Shot Across the Bow: China Signals New Era of Sea Power in the Southwest Pacific
The Diplomat 20250227
https://thediplomat.com/2025/02/a-shot-across-the-bow-china-signals-new-era-of-sea-power-in-the-southwest-pacific/
Shipbuilding and Repair:Navy Needs a Strategic Approach for Private Sector Industrial Base Investments
GAO 20250227
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-106286.pdf
Navy’s ‘Risk Averse’ Culture Hampering Shipbuilding, Ship Repair, Says Panel to HASC
USNI 20250226
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/26/navys-risk-averse-culture-hampering-shipbuildng-ship-repair-says-panel-to-hasc
SECNAV nominee says he’ll bring ‘urgency’ to Navy’s shipbuilding
Breaking Defense 20250227
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/secnav-nominee-says-hell-bring-urgency-to-navys-shipbuilding/
Navy secretary nominee blasts ‘systemic failures’ plaguing the fleet
Defense News 20250227
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/02/27/navy-secretary-nominee-blasts-systemic-failures-plaguing-the-fleet/
SECNAV nominee: Trump wants ‘shipbuilding, shipbuilding, shipbuilding’
Defense One 20250227
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/02/secnav-nominees-priorities-shipbuilding-shipbuilding-shipbuilding/403329/
U.S. Foreign-Aid Halt Is Making Scrutiny of China Even Harder
WSJ 20250226
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-us-scrutiny-trump-foreign-aid-pause-39408d38
Allies eye key logistics sites in Australia's north
AU DoD 20250227
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-02-27/allies-eye-key-logistics-sites-australias-north
China launches two new satellites
Xinhua 20250227
https://english.news.cn/20250227/8c15cd5be9604ba18ab9cf7baa577535/c.html
General: 8% cuts ‘painful,’ but could bring fresh funds for Air Force
Defense News 20250226
https://www.airforcetimes.com/air/2025/02/26/general-8-cuts-painful-but-could-bring-fresh-funds-for-air-force/
Dennis Blair: Pentagon purge a sign of dangerous times ahead
Breaking Defense 20250227
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/dennis-blair-pentagon-purge-a-sign-of-dangerous-times-ahead/
Ishiba told Trump Japan willing to buy U.S. transport planes for SDF
Kyodo 20250227
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/d116b7f9f3ed-ishiba-told-trump-japan-willing-to-buy-us-transport-planes-for-sdf.html
What does Japan plan to do with its surging military expenditure?
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329197.shtml
Exercises
How Chinese PLA’s latest forays off Australia cap years of maritime tensions
SCMP 20250227
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3300439/how-chinese-plas-latest-forays-australia-cap-years-maritime-tensions
PLA warships’ drills completely different with Australian military aircraft’s intrusion into China’s airspace: Chinese Ambassador
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329234.shtml
Will Australia make notification in advance of military ops near China? Chinese Defense Ministry asks in return
GT 20250227
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329219.shtml
China flies attack drone near Japan’s southern islands for first time
S&S 20250227
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-02-27/chinese-attack-drone-japan-16968887.html