Pacific Winds 20250312
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
White House says S. Korea-U.S. alliance is 'ironclad,' after N.K. missile launches
Yonhap 20250312
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250312000300315
S. Korea, Australia discuss ways to bolster industrial cooperation
Yonhap 20250311
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250311008000320
South Korea wants to sell submarines to Canada as relations sour with U.S.
Ottawa Citizen 20250310
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/submarine-deal-south-korea-canada-us-relations
U.S. makes no promises on tariff exemptions for Japan in trade talks
Kyodo 20250311
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/9b23c7b2e777-update1-us-makes-no-promises-on-tariff-exemptions-for-japan-in-trade-talks.html
Japan braces for Trump’s worst as yen takes trade war fire
Asia Times 20250311
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/japan-braces-for-trumps-worst-as-yen-takes-trade-war-fire/
Renewed US–China tensions spell trouble for Australia’s economy
EAF 20250311
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/11/renewed-us-china-tensions-spell-trouble-for-australias-economy/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Governor optimistic about 902 talks and 702 funds
Marianas Variety 20250312
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/governor-optimistic-about-902-talks-and-702-funds/article_95883dac-fe1c-11ef-8bb1-0fdb79f4c72a.html
Air Force engineers uncover WWII-era runways for new purpose in the Pacific
S&S 20250311
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-03-11/air-force-restores-ww2-runways-17103688.html
Granite Joint Venture Team Awarded $97 Million Military Infrastructure Project in Guam
Release 20250310
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250310122208/en/Granite-Joint-Venture-Team-Awarded-97-Million-Military-Infrastructure-Project-in-Guam
Number of H-2B laborers on Guam dips to 5,119 after 2024 high
PDN 20250311
https://www.guampdn.com/news/number-of-h-2b-laborers-on-guam-dips-to-5-119-after-2024-high/article_8e1920ca-fd7e-11ef-a4a1-13fcc3261835.html
Island Waves
Vanuatu and China discuss future cooperation in maritime sector
Daily Post (VU) 22050311
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-and-china-discuss-future-cooperation-in-maritime-sector/article_2b4fb31e-fe8a-54f3-8baf-4b7bb168de87.html
Malaita's new premier seeks stronger relations with Beijing
ABC (AU) 20250311
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/malaita/105035556
Taeloa to benefit from Japan-funded clinic, water project
Solomon Star 20250311
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/taeloa-to-benefit-from-japan-funded-clinic-water-project/
First Vanuatu-Australia Business Week to boost trade
Daily Post (VU) 22050311
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/first-vanuatu-australia-business-week-to-boost-trade/article_ce70f588-9b6f-5dc6-890a-0fcf8d1df5d3.html
Solar Grid to Light Up Rural Kokoda College
National (PNG) 20250311
https://www.thenational.com.pg/solar-grid-to-light-up-rural-kokoda-college/
Ambassador Salato lauds Solomon Islands-China Relations during Roundtable with NZ Foreign Minister in Beijing
SIBC 20250311
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/ambassador-salato-lauds-solomon-islands-china-relations-during-roundtable-with-nz-foreign-minister-in-beijing/
U.S., Allies and Partners enhance Pacific island stability and security through shiprider agreements
IPDF 20250310
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/03/u-s-allies-and-partners-enhance-pacific-island-stability-and-security-through-shiprider-agreements/
Taiwan + SCS
Exposing China’s Legal Preparations for a Taiwan Invasion
WOTR 20250311
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/exposing-chinas-legal-preparations-for-a-taiwan-invasion/
‘We are not Ukraine’: Top Taiwan officials temper comparisons after U.S. U-turn
Japan Times 20250311
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/11/asia-pacific/ukraine-taiwan-us-trump/
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250311
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6056315
Overseas Training Cruise 2025
JMSDF 20250310
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202503/20250310_3en.pdf
Capabilities
When It Comes to Submarines, Australia Is Going to Be Left High and Dry
WOTR 20250311
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/when-it-comes-to-submarines-australia-is-going-to-be-left-high-and-dry/
Ship Wars: Confronting China’s Dual-Use Shipbuilding Empire
CSIS 20250311
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ship-wars-confronting-chinas-dual-use-shipbuilding-empire
Navy Shipbuilding:a Generational Imperative for Systemic Change
GAO 20250311
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-108136.pdf
Trump seeks minerals refining on Pentagon bases to boost US output, sources sa
Reuters 20250310
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-seeks-minerals-refining-pentagon-bases-boost-us-output-sources-say-2025-03-10/
Uncovering China’s spying game in the Philippines
Lowy 20250311
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/uncovering-china-s-spying-game-philippines
N Korea’s nuclear sub engulfed in a sea of doubt
Asia Times 20250311
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/n-koreas-nuclear-sub-engulfed-in-a-sea-of-doubt/
Space Force Chief “Enamored By Systems That Deny, Disrupt, And Degrade” Satellites
TWZ 20250311
https://www.twz.com/space/space-force-chief-enamored-by-systems-that-deny-disrupt-and-degrade-satellites
Space Systems Command reviewing expensive legacy programs for possible commercial shift
Breaking Defense 20250311
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/ssc-reviewing-expensive-legacy-programs-for-possible-commercial-shift/
Working around ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks
Space News 20250311
https://spacenews.com/working-around-ongoing-supply-chain-bottlenecks/
Chinese navy transit
ASPI 20250311
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinese-navy-transit-opinions-in-the-strategist/
U.S. Set for $200M Sale in Support of Japanese Hypersonic Missile Program
USNI 20250311
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/11/u-s-set-for-200m-sale-in-support-of-japanese-hypersonic-missile-program
Power
Experts fear cascade of nuclear proliferation as Trump shakes alliances
Defense One 20250310
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/03/experts-fear-cascade-nuclear-proliferation-trump-shakes-alliances/403633/
Exercises
Triple Threat: US Sends More Spy Planes To Watch China and Its Allies
Newsweek 20250311
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-deploys-intelligence-gathering-aircraft-japan-air-base-china-north-korea-russia-2042776
USS America, 31st MEU Wrap Winter Western Pacific Patrol
USNI 20250311
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/11/uss-america-31st-meu-wrap-winter-western-pacific-patrol
Events
Taiwan Policy Under Trump 2.0: Changes on the Horizon?
Asia Society 28 March 8:30-9:30 AM EDT
https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/events/taiwan-policy-under-trump-20-changes-horizon