Pacific Winds 20250309
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan Must Stand Up for the Rule of Law; Trump Steering U.S. Away from This Key Value
Yomiuri 20250308
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/political-pulse/20250308-242224/
Why a Possible Trump-Putin Rapprochement Is Good for China
The Diplomat 20250308
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/why-a-possible-trump-putin-rapprochement-is-good-for-china/
How China Can Retaliate in the US Trade War
The Diplomat 20250308
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/how-china-can-retaliate-in-the-us-trade-war/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Bearing the Brunt: Guam and the Elusive Promise of Environmental Justice
ABA 20250307
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/resources/natural-resources-environment/2025-winter/guam-elusive-promise-environmental-justice/
Governor urges delegate to include provision in NDAA to mandate meeting on impacts of Guam missile defense system
PDN 20250308
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-urges-delegate-to-include-provision-in-ndaa-to-mandate-meeting-on-impacts-of-guam/article_ef4faef2-fb28-11ef-a540-df2bed096636.html
CNMI on ‘cusp of economic collapse', seeks $400M federal bailout
PDN 20250308
https://www.guampdn.com/news/cnmi-on-cusp-of-economic-collapse-seeks-400m-federal-bailout/article_d36c18b8-fb1b-11ef-b824-a35514d73516.html
Island Waves
Japan to Set Up Framework with Pacific Island Nations; Japan, PIF Expected to Talk Climate Change, Regional Affairs in Framework
Yomiuri 20250308
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250308-242356/
Australia, Fiji Police deepen cooperation
FBCN 20250308
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-fiji-police-deepen-cooperation/
New Regional Centre of Excellence in Forensics part of AFP and Fiji Police deal
Fiji Times 20250308
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/new-regional-centre-of-excellence-in-forensics-part-of-afp-and-fiji-police-deal/
Closure of USAID by Trump administration hits home
Fiji Times 20250308
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/closure-of-usaid-by-trump-administration-hits-home/
Auki road upgrade project offers job opportunities
Solomon Star 20250308
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/auki-road-upgrade-project-offers-job-opportunities/
Japan provides VT320M for heavy machine to support recovery
Daily Post (VU) 20250308
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/japan-provides-vt320m-for-heavy-machine-to-support-recovery/article_85b565e3-4e3d-5257-bb2d-ee3bc27df773.html
Honiara seaport upgrade project gets first public consultation
Solomon Star 20250308
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/honiara-seaport-upgrade-project-gets-first-public-consultation/
Taiwan + SCS
How Taiwan needs to deal with US ‘strategic unpredictability’
Taiwan News 20250308
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6054238
The US should clarify two points on the Taiwan question
GT 20250308
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329727.shtml
Taiwan may get less autonomy if reunited by force, deputy says
SCMP 20250308
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3301617/chinas-two-sessions-taiwan-may-get-less-autonomy-if-reunited-force-deputy-says
Taiwan tracks 2 Chinese military aircraft, 6 ships, and 8 balloons
Taiwan News 20250308
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6054950
PH, UK seal deals on joint maritime exercises, defense cooperation
ABS-CBN 20250308
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/8/ph-uk-seal-deals-on-joint-maritime-exercises-defense-cooperation-2236
Unpacking Manila's South China Sea shadow play
China Daily 20250308
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/08/WS67cbdd88a310c240449d992c.html
Capabilities
N. Korean leader inspects project to build nuclear-powered submarine
Yonhap 20250308
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250308000451315
North Korea Leader Tours Navy Shipyard as US, South Ready Drills
Bloomberg 20250308
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-08/north-korea-leader-tours-navy-shipyard-as-us-south-ready-drills
North Korea Says It’s Building a Nuclear-Powered Submarine
NYTimes 20230508
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/world/asia/north-korea-nuclear-powered-submarine.html
North Korea unveils nuclear-powered submarine for the first time
AP 20250308
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-nuclear-submarine-missiles-kim-us-183cde96a36844fdce559081551fc0a7
Long-Range Maritime Air Assault Operation in the Indo-Pacific Theater
SWJ 20250307
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/03/07/long-range-maritime-air-assault-operation-in-the-indo-pacific-theater/
SDA again postpones launch of first ‘operational’ data relay, missile warning satellites
Breaking Defense 20250307
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/sda-again-postpones-launch-of-first-operational-data-relay-missile-warning-satellites/
Space Development Agency delays next launch amid supply chain woes
Defense News 20250307
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/03/07/space-development-agency-delays-next-launch-amid-supply-chain-woes/
Space Development Agency’s satellite program pushes launch timeline
Space News 20250307
https://spacenews.com/space-development-agencys-satellite-program-pushes-launch-timeline/
Is the United States Becoming a Hollow Maritime Power?
The Diplomat 20250308
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/is-the-united-states-becoming-a-hollow-maritime-power/
Wicker Pushing Skeptical OMB On SAWS
Defense Daily 20250307
https://www.defensedaily.com/wicker-pushing-skeptical-omb-on-saws/uncategorized/
Inside the China Coast Guard’s stealthy maritime expansion
The Nightly 20250308
https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australia/nicola-smith-inside-the-china-coast-guards-stealthy-maritime-expansion-c-17958882
Power
Get Ready for the Next Nuclear Age
FA 20250308
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/nuclear-age-proliferation-trump-nato-gideon-rose