Pacific Winds 20250308

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Trump complains security pact with Japan nonreciprocal
Kyodo 20250307
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/fd3521d51353-update1-trump-complains-security-pact-with-japan-nonreciprocal.html

‘We have to Protect Them, but They don’t have to Protect Us’; Trump Dissatisfied with Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
Yomiuri 20250307
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250307-242179/

Japan voices "full" trust in U.S. after Trump questions security pact
Kyodo 20250307
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/115a0d7c834d-japan-voices-full-trust-in-us-after-trump-questions-security-pact.html

Tokyo responds to Trump remarks on 'interesting' Japan-U.S. security pact
Japan Times 20250307
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/07/japan/politics/trump-japan-us-security-treaty/

Japan’s Ishiba Comes to Washington: Summit Success
Heritage 20250306
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/report/japans-ishiba-comes-washington-summit-success

China hits out at US Pacific policy ‘failure’, tariffs war – as it happened
SCMP 20250307
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3301391/two-sessions-2025-chinas-top-diplomat-wang-yi-faces-press-foreign-policy

'Major powers should not bully the weak', China foreign minister says
Reuters 20250307
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-will-resolutely-counter-us-pressure-fentanyl-foreign-minister-says-2025-03-07/

The Limits of a U.S.-China Deal
FA 20250307
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/limits-us-china-deal

US-China: Competing in the Age of MAGA and China Dream
Hudson 20250307
https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/us-china-competing-age-maga-china-dream-thomas-duesterberg

Set Adrift: The Australian Political Class and the US Alliance under Trump 2.0
The Diplomat 20250307
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/set-adrift-the-australian-political-class-and-the-us-alliance-under-trump-2-0/

Australia’s China Diplomacy: Is It Ready for a World Without US Certainty?
AIIA 20250307
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/australias-china-diplomacy-is-it-ready-for-a-world-without-us-certainty/

NZ joining AUKUS would make geopolitical waves - expert
RNZ 20250306
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/544059/nz-joining-aukus-would-make-geopolitical-waves-expert

The Quad can help Australia monitor China’s naval behaviour
ASPI 20250307
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-quad-can-help-australia-monitor-chinas-naval-behaviour/

China Says It Offers Stability as Trump Sows Chaos. The Reality Is Complicated.
NYTimes 20250307
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/asia/china-tariffs-us-trump.html

Can China keep winning without fighting?
Asia Times 20250307
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/can-china-keep-winning-without-fighting/

Trump mentions Taiwan, S. Korea while saying America lost chip business
Yonhap 20250308
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250308000300315

US to levy fees on China-linked ships, push allies to do likewise, draft executive order says
Reuters 20250306
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-levy-fees-ships-linked-china-push-allies-do-similar-draft-exec-order-2025-03-06/

Reported US plan to levy fees on China-linked ships violates WTO rules, to lift costs: Chinese expert
GT 20250307
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329694.shtml

China bans more US defense firms
Defense News 20250307
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/03/07/china-bans-more-us-defense-firms/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

US House panel chair: US territories require more national support amid escalating threats in the region
PIT 20250307
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-house-panel-chair-us-territories-require-more-national-support-amid-escalating-threats-in-the-re

Pivot to misery: How China shapes Pacific islands' domestic policies
PIT 20250307
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/pivot-to-misery-how-china-shapes-pacific-islands-policies-away-from

Five Indo-Pacific nations begin Exercise Sea Dragon 25
USN PacFlt 20250306
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4111384/five-indo-pacific-nations-begin-exercise-sea-dragon-25/

Island Waves

SIS 'stronger focus' on Cook Islands after China agreements, spy boss says
Post (NZ) 20250307
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360605430/sis-stronger-focus-cook-islands-after-china-agreements-spy-boss-says

New Zealand’s top spy warns on China’s influence in the Pacific, backs Five Eyes
Reuters 20250307
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealands-top-spy-warns-chinas-influence-pacific-backs-five-eyes-2025-03-07/

FM Demands Other Countries Must Respect PNG’s Sovereignty
Post Courier (PNG) 20250307
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/foreign-minister-demands-other-countries-must-respect-pngs-sovereignty/

Vanuatu’s Expanding Role in China’s Blue Economy Vision
Daily Post (VU) 20250307
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-s-expanding-role-in-china-s-blue-economy-vision/article_009f915e-fb0b-11ef-8eb6-d7404950352f.html

Australia pours in additional $72 million into national coffers
Fiji Times 20250307
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/australia-pours-in-additional-72-million-into-national-coffers/

Japan Bank for International Cooperation Potential Investor in Papua LNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20250307
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/japan-bank-for-international-cooperation-potential-investor-in-papua-lng/

Australian Defence Force, PNGDF Undergo Training
National (PNG) 20250307
https://www.thenational.com.pg/australian-defence-force-pngdf-undergo-training/

VATA collaborates with JICA’s Isozaki to provide affordable furniture
Solomon Star 20250307
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/vata-collaborates-with-jicas-isozaki-to-provide-affordable-furniture/

JICA Volunteer to assist Waste Management Division in awareness and capacity building
Daily Post (VU) 20250307
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/jica-volunteer-to-assist-waste-management-division-in-awareness-and-capacity-building/article_248481d0-fb09-11ef-8eb0-2b2f7da40d3f.html

US Coast Guard Here to Monitor Maritime Activities
National (PNG) 202500307
https://www.thenational.com.pg/us-coast-guard-cutter-here-to-monitor-maritime-activities/

International Women’s Day celebrations focuses on Fiji-China relations
FBCN 20250307
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/international-womens-day-celebrations-focuses-on-fiji-china-relations/

China invests in Fijiana 7s
FBCN 20250307
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/sevens/china-invests-in-fijiana-7s/

Gov't to allow only indigenous Ni-Vans to contest elections
Daily Post (VU) 20250307
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/govt-to-allow-only-indigenous-ni-vans-to-contest-elections/article_a7cd2054-318a-5839-924d-113aa2ecf233.html

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan’s US dilemma: Between security and semiconductors
Think China 20250306
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/taiwans-us-dilemma-between-security-and-semiconductors

Defense minister denies US is pressuring Taiwan to make arms purchases
Taiwan News 20250307
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6054240

Dear Taiwan: Spend on Defense, Not Climate Change
Heritage 20250307
https://www.heritage.org/china/commentary/dear-taiwan-spend-defense-not-climate-change

Taiwan’s exports to US surpass China for 1st time since 1990
Taiwan News 20250307
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6054544

Beijing renews warning to Tokyo: don’t stir up trouble with Taiwan
SCMP 20250307
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3301530/beijing-renews-warning-tokyo-dont-stir-trouble-taiwan

Taiwan fears Beijing is taking independence crackdown overseas
Reuters 20250307
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-fears-beijing-is-taking-independence-crackdown-overseas-2025-03-07/

The only reference to Taiwan region in the UN is 'Taiwan, Province of China': Chinese FM
GT 20250307
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329687.shtml

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says doubting 1971 UN stand on Taiwan is ‘absurd’
SCMP 20250307
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3301561/beijings-foreign-minister-wang-yi-says-doubting-1971-un-stand-taiwan-absurd

Taiwan decries China official's 'misinterpretation' of U.N. resolution
CNA (TW) 22050307
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202503070024

Taiwan Says Detects 11 Chinese Balloons Near Island
Defense Post 20250307
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/03/07/taiwan-11-chinese-balloons/

Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval ships, 5 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250307
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6054034

U.S., EU and Japan increase naval deployments in South China Sea
Nikkei 2050307
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea/U.S.-EU-and-Japan-increase-naval-deployments-in-South-China-Sea

The Silent Struggle: Countering China’s Gray Zone Operations in the South China Sea
SeaLight 20250307
https://www.sealight.live/posts/the-silent-struggle-countering-china-s-gray-zone-operations-in-the-south-china-sea

Capabilities

Tiltrotor will bring the Army off the bench in the Indo-Pacific
Defense News 20250306
https://www.airforcetimes.com/opinion/2025/03/06/tiltrotor-will-bring-the-army-off-the-bench-in-the-indo-pacific/

Beyond Numbers: Submarine Proliferation in Asian Waters
RSIS 20250305
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip25023-beyond-numbers-submarine-proliferation-in-asian-waters/

New Australian submarine industrial base strategy calls for $30 billion AUD investment
Breaking Defense 20250307
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/new-australian-submarine-industrial-base-strategy-calls-for-30-billion-aud-investment/

Transcom Asks Lawmakers for More Used Vessels
US DoD 20250306
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4111326/transcom-asks-lawmakers-for-more-used-vessels/

Chinese warships under close watch near Australian waters
RFA 20250307
https://www.rfa.org/english/china/2025/03/07/china-navy-australia-live-fire-exercise-pacific/

Craft a Maritime Domain Awareness Mobile Application for Resilient Maritime Governance in the Indo-Pacific
AIIA 20250307
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/craft-a-maritime-domain-awareness-mobile-application-for-resilient-maritime-governance-in-the-indo-pacific/

PACAF commander highlights readiness, lethality at AFA Warfare Symposium
USAF 20250306
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4109244/pacaf-commander-highlights-readiness-lethality-at-afa-warfare-symposium/

Trump job cuts may blind US Space Force to China’s moves in the sky, mission chief warns
SCMP 20250307
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301526/trump-job-cuts-may-blind-us-space-force-chinas-moves-sky-mission-chief-warns

U.S. military spaceplane completes 7th mission, including advanced orbital maneuvers
Space News 22050307
https://spacenews.com/u-s-military-spaceplane-completes-7th-mission-including-advanced-orbital-maneuvers/

B-21 Aerial Refueling Demands Further Point To It Being A Stealthy Flying Gas Can
TWZ 20250307
https://www.twz.com/air/b-21-aerial-refueling-demands-further-point-to-it-being-a-stealthy-flying-gas-can

Xi calls for successful conclusion of five-year plan for military development
Xinhua 20250307
https://english.news.cn/20250307/641fb60e8846491ea3670bb8782bd0dc/c.html

Power

The realists and their limits in the world today
Lowy 20250307
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/realists-their-limits-world-today