Pacific Winds 20250316

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' reveals Seoul's diplomatic lapse amid political turmoil
Yonhap 20250315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250315002200315

China lodges solemn representations with Canada; 'suppressing China not a panacea for resolving G7's internal disagreements'
GT 20250315
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330162.shtml

Radio Free Asia set to furlough most US-based staff due to government funding freeze
Politico 20250314
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/14/radio-free-asia-funding-freeze-layoffs-00231780

Seoul trade minister renews calls for USTR to grant S. Korea tariff exemptions
Yonhap 20250315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250315000900315

U.S. Commerce Secretary Says Japan Not Exempt from U.S. Auto Tariffs; Japan’s Auto Industry to Be Significantly Impacted
Yomiuri 20250315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/economy/20250315-243477/

Trade War: Japan Should Be on Higher Alert about The Situation
Yomiuri 20250315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250315-243494/

Island Waves

China to aid Fiji’s poverty reduction plan
FBCN 20250315
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-to-aid-fijis-poverty-reduction-plan/

Concerns raised about Chinese interference in the Pacific
1News (NZ) 20250315
https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/15/concerns-raised-about-chinese-interference-in-the-pacific/

Pacific Australia Skills Platform to start after APTC ends
Daily Post (VU) 20250315
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/pacific-australia-skills-platform-to-start-after-aptc-ends/article_9355d579-e0f8-500f-a95f-822e6bcffc3c.html

Gov’t cancels fraudulently acquired passports of Chinese nationals
Daily Post (VU) 20250315
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/gov-t-cancels-fraudulently-acquired-passports-of-chinese-nationals/article_3cce1f0f-9511-5318-b5b9-76b1ae80049c.html

Taiwan + SCS

G7 members support Taiwan Strait peace
Taiwan News 20250315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6060293

Tough G7 statement drops 'one China' reference from Taiwan language
Reuters 20250315
https://www.reuters.com/world/tough-g7-statement-drops-one-china-reference-taiwan-language-2025-03-14/

Beijing hits out at ‘arrogant and malicious’ G7 criticisms over South China Sea and Taiwan
SCMP 20250315
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3302504/beijing-hits-out-arrogant-and-malicious-g7-criticisms-over-south-china-sea-and-taiwan

Uncertainty and Strategic Shifts in Taiwan-US Defense Cooperation Under Trump 2.0
The Diplomat 20250314
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/uncertainty-and-strategic-shifts-in-taiwan-us-defense-cooperation-under-trump-2-0/

Taiwan tracks 3 Chinese military aircraft and 10 ships
Taiwan News 20250315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6060353

G7 concerned over 'dangerous maneuvers' vs. PH vessels in SCS
PNA 20250315
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1246108

Capabilities

Alarmed by Trump, South Korea mulls Japan-style nuclear option
Asia Times 20250315
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/alarmed-by-trump-south-korea-mulls-japan-style-nuclear-latency/

Our Best Look At North Korea’s New Early-Warning Radar Plane
TWZ 20250314
https://www.twz.com/air/our-best-look-at-north-koreas-new-early-warning-radar-plane

Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force to get its own Typhon missile system
Defense One 20250314
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/03/armys-3rd-multi-domain-task-force-get-its-own-typhon-missile-system/403774/

Exercises

Multiple Russian warplanes briefly enter S. Korea's air defense zone during training: JCS
Yonhap 20250315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250315002100315