Pacific Winds 20250301
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
S. Korea, U.S., Japan hold secretariat talks in Tokyo to expand trilateral cooperation
Yonhap 20250228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250228004000315
Building strong relationships
NZ DF 20250228
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/building-strong-relationships/
Trump’s AI strategy puts the Indo-Pacific at a crossroads
ASPI 20250228
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trumps-ai-strategy-puts-the-indo-pacific-at-a-crossroads/
Seeking external forces won't secure a "shield"
China Military 20250228
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16371944.html
Economic diplomacy: A fairy tale response to Trump’s tariffs
Lowy 20250228
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/economic-diplomacy-fairy-tale-response-trump-s-tariffs
Trump tariffs could be bargaining chip or economic bomb
Asia Times 20250228
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/trump-inherits-bidens-private-sector-recession/
China firmly opposes U.S. additional tariff on Chinese imports: FM spokesperson
Xinhua 20250228
https://english.news.cn/20250228/86ec9c294e0648dea4f8fb7f707fda43/c.html
Tariffing China won’t solve US’ fentanyl problem
GT 20250228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329271.shtml
Peddling ‘China anxiety’ won’t solve US technological challenges
GT 20250228
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329278.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Underwood, senators talk US-China competition in the Pacific
PDN 20250228
https://www.guampdn.com/news/underwood-senators-talk-us-china-competition-in-the-pacific/article_d5943534-f4d7-11ef-a81c-afba0b7a7f07.html
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Governor visits U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
US IndoPaCom 20250227
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4081752/commonwealth-of-the-northern-marianas-islands-governor-visits-us-indo-pacific-c/
USCGC Myrtle Hazard patrol enhances maritime border security in U.S. territorial EEZ
USCG FMSG 20250228
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/491730/uscgc-myrtle-hazard-patrol-enhances-maritime-border-security-us-territorial-eez
Island Waves
In Sign of Deepening Ties, China Signs Agreements With Cook Islands
FDD 20250227
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy_briefs/2025/02/27/in-sign-of-deepening-ties-china-signs-agreements-with-cook-islands/
Cook Islands China deal riles allies as West's grip loosens
BBC 20250227
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg559y0803o
Political expert hopes NZ and Australia will 'step up' to fill gaps left by USAID cuts
RNZ 20250228
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/543336/watch-political-expert-hopes-nz-and-australia-will-step-up-to-fill-gaps-left-by-usaid-cuts
China welcomes journalists in media exchange program
FBCN 20250228
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-welcomes-journalists-in-media-exchange-program/
Australia’s Partnership with Choiseul Province
Tavuki 20250228
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/australia-choiseul-partnership/
PM Prioritizes Australia, Pacific Ties
National (PNG) 20250228
https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-prioritises-australia-pacific-ties/
Meta’s Waterworth cable project is about geopolitics and geoeconomics
ASPI 20250228
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/metas-waterworth-cable-project-is-about-geopolitics-and-geoeconomics/
Taiwan + SCS
Former USAID advisor says agency bolsters Taiwan's diplomatic relations
Taiwan News 20250228
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6048326
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese ships, 8 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250228
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6048357
Teodoro urges Asean to unite vs SCS ‘violations’
Inquirer (PH) 20250228
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/265393/teodoro-urges-asean-to-unite-vs-scs-violations#ixzz91aQhplra
Philippines still open to joint exploration with China if legal terms met
Phil Star 20250228
https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/02/28/2424854/philippines-still-open-joint-exploration-china-if-legal-terms-met
Capabilities
N. Korea launched strategic cruise missiles this week to prove nuclear deterrence: KCNA
Yonhap 20250228
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250228000452315
North Korea tests cruise missiles to demonstrate nuclear deterrence
Kyodo 20250228
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02/02a738a0d337-n-korea-tests-cruise-missiles-to-demonstrate-nuclear-deterrence.html
North Korea's Kim orders nuclear readiness after missile test, KCNA says
Reuters 20250227
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreas-kim-says-it-is-duty-be-fully-ready-use-nuclear-deterrence-kcna-says-2025-02-27/
China’s Military Puts Pacific on Notice as U.S. Priorities Shift
NYTimes 20250228
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/asia/china-military-drills-pacific.html
Will Australia use Papua New Guinea defence deal as a ‘watchtower’ to track Chinese navy?
SCMP 20250228
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300492/will-australia-use-papua-new-guinea-defence-deal-watchtower-track-chinese-navy
China’s live-fire flex shows Australia is no naval match
Asia Times 20250228
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/chinas-live-fire-flex-shows-australia-is-no-naval-match/
Pentagon needs further industry collaboration on O-RAN development for 5G interoperability
Breaking Defense 20250227
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/pentagon-needs-further-industry-collaboration-on-o-ran-development-for-5g-interoperability/
China tells Australia to expect more warship visits but insists its navy poses 'no threat'
ABC (AU) 20250228
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-28/chinese-ambassador-says-china-poses-no-threat-to-australia/104992530
The U.S. Military Faces a Critical Missile Gap Against China
Heritage 20250227
https://www.heritage.org/missile-defense/commentary/the-us-military-faces-critical-missile-gap-against-china
CRS Report to Congress on Dark Eagle Hypersonic Weapon
USNI 20250228
https://news.usni.org/2025/02/28/report-to-congress-on-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon
Defense Industry: Want Surge Capacity? Pay For It.
Air & Space 20250228
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/industry-reps-surge-capacity/
China amends military regulations to emphasise the need for war readiness
SCMP 20250228
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300434/china-amends-military-regulations-emphasise-need-war-readiness
The Myth of Pentagon Budget Cuts
In These Times 20250227
https://inthesetimes.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-budget-cuts-myth
Power
Testing the Limits: China's Military Actions in the Tasman Sea and Strategic Implications
AIIA 20250228
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/testing-the-limits-chinas-military-actions-in-the-tasman-sea-and-strategic-implications/
The geography of American power
ASPI 20250228
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-geography-of-american-power/
Donald Trump has begun a mafia-like struggle for global power
Economist 20250227
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/02/27/donald-trump-has-begun-a-mafia-like-struggle-for-global-power
Events
Protecting Maritime Security and Stability in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges for the United States and Japan
Wilson 5 March 2025 9-10AM EST
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/protecting-maritime-security-and-stability-indo-pacific-challenges-united-states-and-japan