Pacific Winds 20250311

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Fractures threaten Five Eyes’ future as Trump’s ‘America first’ era unfolds
SCMP 20250310
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3301537/fractures-threaten-five-eyes-future-trumps-america-first-era-unfolds

Japan to Persistently Explain Alliance Benefits to Trump; Security Treaty Requires Provision of Bases to U.S.
Yomiuri 20250310
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250311-242610/

Australia’s chance to champion a rules-based economic order
AEF 20250310
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/10/australias-chance-to-champion-a-rules-based-economic-order/

Navigating uncertainty: New Zealand’s foreign policy in the Trump era
PMN 20250310
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics/navigating-uncertainty-new-zealand-s-foreign-policy-in-the-trump-era

China in the Indo-Pacific: February 2025
CFR 20250310
https://www.cfr.org/article/china-indo-pacific-february-2025

The Gilded Age of the American Tariff: Choices Ahead for Japan
Brookings 20250310
https://www.brookings.edu/research-commentary/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

US wants to limit evidence reviewed, gathered in Camp Blaz endangered species lawsuit
PDN 20250310
https://www.guampdn.com/news/us-wants-to-limit-evidence-reviewed-gathered-in-camp-blaz-endangered-species-lawsuit/article_bd1bf194-fbe0-11ef-8d6a-e7b104f7fcb9.html

Carrier Air Wing 5 Drills in Guam
USNI 20250310
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/10/carrier-uss-carl-vinson-operating-in-sea-of-japan-carrier-air-wing-5-drills-in-guam

Island Waves

Defence minister reveals new security partnership
Fiji Times 20250310
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/defence-minister-reveals-new-security-partnership/

Japanese media’s portrayal of China’s co-op with Pacific Islands shows erroneous mindset: expert
GT 20250310
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329848.shtml

GDI offers us confidence, resilience to stand on own feet: Civil servant from Solomon Islands
GT 20250310
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1329844.shtml

Australia and Solomon Islands Strengthen Health Partnership
Tavuli 20250310
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/australia-solomon-islands-health-partnership/

France and Vanuatu talk cooperation, weapons
RNZ 20250310
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/544323/france-and-vanuatu-talk-cooperation-weapons

Drone Identified by PNG Military
Post Courier (PNG) 20250310
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/drone-identified-by-png-military/

Aust gifts $72m – Grant contingent upon reform actions
Fiji Times 20250310
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/aust-gifts-72m-grant-contingent-upon-reform-actions/

Series of violent weekend incidents in Greater Nouméa area
RNZ 20250311
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/544397/series-of-violent-weekend-incidents-in-greater-noumea-area

Taiwan + SCS

US Says It’s Pushing to Speed Up Taiwan Weapons Shipments
Bloomberg 20250310
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-10/us-says-it-s-pushing-to-speed-up-taiwan-weapons-shipments

Will Trump defend Taiwan? U.S. defense perimeter appears to shrink
Nikkei 20250310
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/Will-Trump-defend-Taiwan-U.S.-defense-perimeter-appears-to-shrink

China military pledges to tighten 'noose' around Taiwan if separatism escalates
ABC (AU) 20250310
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-10/china-military-pledges-to-tighten-noose-around-taiwan/105031112

"Taiwan as province of China" is U.N.'s consistent position: Chinese spokesperson
Xinhua 20250310
https://english.news.cn/20250310/0ed73f8847674c7084faddd8e878e80a/c.html

How S Korea would respond to Taiwan hostilities
Asia Times 20250310
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/how-s-korea-would-respond-to-taiwan-hostilities/

Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250310
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6055362

Philippines says acts in national interest in South China Sea
Reuters 20250310
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-says-its-actions-south-china-sea-driven-by-national-interest-2025-03-10/

China Is Waging a ‘Gray Zone’ Campaign to Cement Power. Here’s How It Looks.
WSJ 20250309
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-expansion-taiwan-himalayas-146aff72

Capabilities

N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles as S. Korea, U.S. launch joint military drills
Yonhap 20250310
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250117011452315

South Korea, U.S. start military drill, North Korea fires missiles
Kyodo 20250310
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/7d78f641a054-urgent-n-korea-fires-unidentified-ballistic-missiles-s-korea-military.html

U.S. military decries N.K.'s missile launches, calls on it to refrain from 'unlawful,' 'destabilizing' acts
Yonhap 20250310
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250310009600315

America’s Eroding Airpower
FA 20250310
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/americas-eroding-airpower

Philippine Navy Seeks Armament, Sensor Upgrades for Tarlac-class LPD
Naval News 20250309
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/philippine-navy-seeks-armament-sensor-upgrades-for-tarlac-class-lpd/

Australia’s defences must be ready in two years. Here’s what to do
ASPI 20250310
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-defences-must-be-ready-in-two-years-heres-what-to-do/

USMC’s First Anti-Ship Littoral Combat Team Established in Okinawa
Naval News 20250309
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/usmcs-first-anti-ship-littoral-combat-team-established-in-okinawa/

Historic ‘China Marines’ battalion converts into latest Littoral Combat Team
Task & Purpose 22050310
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-littoral-combat-team/

Marines expand F-35B’s presence in Japan, marking new phase for fighter operations
S&S 202500310
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2025-03-10/marine-f35b-rotations-japan-17093437.html

North Korea Announces Nuclear-Powered Submarine Development
CSIS 22050310
https://www.csis.org/analysis/north-korea-announces-nuclear-powered-submarine-development

China’s progress on ‘game-changing’ space technology raises US concerns about closing gap
SCMP 20250310
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301662/chinas-progress-game-changing-space-technology-raises-us-concerns-about-closing-gap

China expands secretive satellite series with launch of TJS-15
Space News 20250309
https://spacenews.com/china-expands-secretive-satellite-series-with-launch-of-tjs-15/

Lt. Gen. James Discusses Space Deterrence at Warfare Symposium
US SpaceForce 20250310
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4114085/lt-gen-james-discusses-space-deterrence-at-warfare-symposium/

LeoLabs to build space-monitoring radar in Indo-Pacific region
Space News 20250310
https://spacenews.com/leolabs-wins-contract-to-deploy-space-monitoring-radar-in-indo-pacific-region/

China’s falling arms imports signal massive growth in military self-reliance
SCMP 20250310
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301475/chinas-falling-arms-imports-signal-massive-growth-military-self-reliance

Secretive AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Live-Fire Testing Surged Last Year With Navy Help
TWZ 20250310
https://www.twz.com/air/secretive-aim-260-air-to-air-missile-live-fire-testing-surged-last-year-with-navy-help

US hopes robo-ships can outwit China’s superior naval numbers
Asia Times 20250310
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/us-hopes-robo-ships-can-outwit-chinas-superior-naval-numbers/

America can win the Pacific naval war with China. Just not like this
Telegraph 20250310
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/03/10/america-can-win-pacific-naval-war-china-just-not-like-this/

Japan – Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles Capability Support
US DSCA 20250310
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/japan-hyper-velocity-gliding-projectiles-capability-support

Australia – Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead Rounds
US DSCA 20250310
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/australia-guided-multiple-launch-rocket-system-alternate-warhead

PLA calls for more civilian tech inputs in military modernisation
SCMP 20250310
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301813/chinas-two-sessions-pla-calls-more-civilian-tech-inputs-military-modernisation

Power

United States’ dominance of global arms exports grows as Russian exports continue to fall
SIPRI 20250310
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/ukraine-worlds-biggest-arms-importer-united-states-dominance-global-arms-exports-grows-russian

Nuclear Proliferation Will Haunt ‘America First’
WOTR 20250310
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/nuclear-proliferation-will-haunt-america-first/

Trump’s purge of USAID complete, with 83% of programmes gone, Secretary of State Rubio says
SCMP 20250310
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3301833/purge-usaid-complete-83-programmes-gone-secretary-state-marco-rubio-says

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 10, 2025
USNI 20250310
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/10/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-10-2025