Pacific Winds 20250307
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
How U.S.-Russia-China Ties Would Impact the Indo-Pacific
FP 20250306
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/06/trump-indo-pacific-china-india-southeast-asia-geopolitics-world-order/
What South Korea Is Learning From Trump’s Approach to Ukraine
The Diplomat 20250305
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/what-south-korea-is-learning-from-trumps-approach-to-ukraine/
Experts warn of looming Trump pressure on alliance issues with S. Korea
Yonhap 20250306
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250306007000315
South Korea, U.S. to start annual military drills as Trump casts shadow
Nikkei 20250306
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/South-Korea-U.S.-to-start-annual-military-drills-as-Trump-casts-shadow
Trump’s upending of US intelligence: implications for Australia
ASPI 20250306
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trumps-upending-of-us-intelligence-implications-for-australia/
Missed signals: What Southeast Asia wants vs what Australia delivers
Lowy 20250306
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/missed-signals-what-southeast-asia-wants-vs-what-australia-delivers
State Dept. Plans to Close Diplomatic Missions and Fire Employees Overseas
NYTimes 20250306
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/us/politics/embassies-consulates-closures.html
Japan to double recipients of defense aid in check on China
Nikkei 20250307
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-to-double-recipients-of-defense-aid-in-check-on-China
Beijing accuses Pentagon chief Hegseth of raising false China threat fears
SCMP 20250306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301345/beijing-accuses-pentagon-chief-hegseth-raising-false-china-threat-fears
They should not be fought, cannot be won, says Chinese FM on US defense secretary’s remarks on preparing for war
GT 20250306
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329597.shtml
China says its ready and able to fight Trump’s trade war
Asia Times 20250306
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/china-says-its-ready-and-able-to-fight-trumps-trade-war/
Experts raise need to stress S. Korea's contribution to U.S. economy to counter Trump's view on Korea
Yonhap 20250307
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250307000200315
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
The Pacific Pivot: Are we the new direction or just the pivot point?
PIT 20250306
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/the-pacific-pivot-are-we-the-new-direction-or-just-the-pivot-point
Governor: Guam defense remains priority under Trump DoD
PDN 20250306
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-guam-defense-remains-priority-under-trump-dod/article_99583538-f997-11ef-bd19-fb5d480de670.html
Generals Discuss Recent Battlefield Lessons Learned, Power Projection
US DoD 20250305
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4106054/generals-discuss-recent-battlefield-lessons-learned-power-projection/
'Together as what?': Talks in DC of Guam, CNMI as 1 state draw reactions from 2 governors
PDN 20250306
https://www.guampdn.com/news/together-as-what-talks-in-dc-of-guam-cnmi-as-1-state-draw-reactions-from/article_9c59caa8-f9a1-11ef-9aaf-47abfc6befb8.html
US and Allies Hunt Submarines in Pacific
Newsweek 20250306
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-allies-anti-submarine-warfare-exercise-pacific-hawaii-guam-2040353
Island Waves
Former USAID official says agency shutdown could cede Pacific islands to China
S&S 20250305
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-03-05/usaid-trump-china-pacific-17050638.html
US Coast Guard Cutter Midgett Arrives in Port Moresby
Post Courier (PNG 20250306
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/u-s-coast-guard-cutter-midgett-arrives-in-port-moresby00/
Bougainville politician urges PNG govt to address Porgera security tensions
RNZ 20250306
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/543931/bougainville-politician-urges-png-govt-to-address-porgera-security-tensions
Taiwan + SCS
China is serious about taking Taiwan by 2027 through coercion or force, former CIA officer says
WashTimes 20250305
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/5/china-serious-taking-taiwan-2027-coercion-force-former-cia-officer/
What are Beijing’s plans for Taiwan after Ukraine shock? ‘Two sessions’ may offer clues
SCMP 20250306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300891/what-are-beijings-plans-taiwan-after-ukraine-shock-two-sessions-may-offer-clues
Trump 2.0 won't kill Taiwan-U.S. ties. It just makes them more complex
Nikkei 20250306
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Trump-2.0-won-t-kill-Taiwan-U.S.-ties.-It-just-makes-them-more-complex
Taiwan key US asset in China ‘contest’: academic
Taipei Times 20250307
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/03/07/2003833031
U.S. cannot afford to lose Taiwan to China: Scholar
CNA (TW) 202500306
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202503060009
China seeks to weaken Taiwanese resolve to defend nation: Report
CNA (TW) 22050306
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202503060017
Taiwan’s President Tries to Ease Fears Over U.S. Chip Investment
NYTimes 20250306
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/world/asia/taiwan-tsmc-chips-arizona.html
MOFA confirms attacks by Chinese hackers
Taipei Times 20250307
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/03/07/2003833023
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese ships around nation
Taiwan News 20250306
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6052965
Below-the-Threshold Deterrence, Philippine Style
WOTR 20250306
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/below-the-threshold-deterrence-philippine-style-2/
Capabilities
Secret Space Force payloads monitor China’s satellite surveillance network, official says
Breaking Defense 20250305
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/secret-space-force-payloads-monitor-chinas-satellite-surveillance-network-official-says/
Trump’s ‘Make Shipbuilding Great Again’ Order Calls for Wholesale Overhaul of U.S. Maritime Industry
USNI 20250305
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/05/trumps-make-shipbuilding-great-again-order-calls-for-wholesale-overhaul-of-u-s-maritime-industry
White House’s OMB skeptical of Navy plan to boost shipyard wages, SASC chairman says
Breaking Defense 20250306
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/white-houses-omb-skeptical-of-navy-plan-to-boost-shipyard-wages-sasc-chairman-says/
Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy
AU ASA 20250305
https://www.asa.gov.au/business-industry/australias-aukus-submarine-industry-strategy
It’s time to ditch Virginia subs for AUKUS and go to Plan B
Breaking Defense 20250306
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/its-time-to-ditch-virginia-subs-for-aukus-and-go-to-plan-b/
Should Australia rekindle its Merchant Navy?
Lowy 20250306
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/should-australia-rekindle-its-merchant-navy
China’s sixth-gen fighter jet leaves US Air Force officials with ‘choices to make’
SCMP 20250306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301343/chinas-sixth-gen-fighter-jet-leaves-us-air-force-officials-choices-make
Air Force aircraft readiness plunges to new low, alarming chief
Defense News 20250306
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/03/06/air-force-aircraft-readiness-plunges-to-new-low-alarming-chief/
US adjusts military deployment in Asia-Pacific region
China Military 20250306
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16373250.html
US says China operating ‘hacker for hire’ network available for cyberattacks worldwide
SCMP 20250306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3301215/us-says-china-operating-hacker-hire-network-available-cyberattacks-worldwide
S. Korea finds no unauthorized access after U.S. indicts Chinese hackers for targeting foreign entities
Yonhap 22050306
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250306008300315
US practices 'thief crying stop thief,' says Chinese FM on indictment of 12 Chinese nationals over alleged cyberattacks
GT 20250306
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329596.shtml
Defence, not more assertive cyber activity, is the right response to Salt Typhoon
ASPI 20250306
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/defence-not-more-assertive-cyber-activity-is-the-right-response-to-salt-typhoon/
CRS Report to Congress on Navy Constellation-class Frigate
USNI 20250306
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/06/report-to-congress-on-navy-constellation-class-frigate
Collaborative Combat Drones Designed From Ground Up To Do Logistics Differently
TWZ 20250306
https://www.twz.com/air/collaborative-combat-aircraft-designed-from-ground-up-for-tiny-logistics-footprint
CCA Logistics: How USAF and Industry Plan to Rise to the Challenge
Air & Space 20250305
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/cca-logistics-usaf-industry/
US military taps commercial space firms for hypersonic testing program
Space News 20250306
https://spacenews.com/startups-see-a-new-market-for-frequent-lower-cost-hypersonics-testing/
Power
A Forward Denial Defense: Inside the First Island Chain
USNI Proceedings March 2025
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2025/march/forward-denial-defense-inside-first-island-chain
When Nuclear Weapons Fail to Deter
FA 20250306
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/when-nuclear-weapons-fail-deter
Exercises
Chinese navy ships round out Australian circuit with sail near base hosting US submarine
SCMP 20250306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301331/chinese-navy-ships-round-out-australian-circuit-sail-past-base-hosting-us-submarine