Pacific Winds 20250319
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US aid cuts are a soft power surrender to China
Lowy 20250318
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/us-aid-cuts-are-soft-power-surrender-china
China's Xi may visit US in not-too-distant future, Trump says
Reuters 20250317
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-may-visit-us-not-too-distant-future-trump-says-2025-03-17/
The US must work with China on ‘deliverables’ if it wants Xi-Trump summit: analysts
SCMP 20250318
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3302892/us-must-work-china-deliverables-if-it-wants-xi-trump-summit-analysts
Japan's national security adviser talks China with U.S. counterpart Waltz
Nikkei 20250318
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/Japan-s-national-security-adviser-talks-China-with-U.S.-counterpart-Waltz
Silencing the Voice of America
Lowy 20250318
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/silencing-voice-america
Chinese Nationalists Praise Trump’s Cuts to Voice of America
NYTimes 20250318
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/asia/china-trump-voice-of-america.html
Trump Closes an Important Window Into China
FP 20250318
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/18/trump-voa-radio-free-asia-shut-down-china-reporting-xinjiang-tibet/
China’s Global Times praises Trump funding cuts to Voice of America, Radio Free Asia
SCMP 20250318
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3302756/chinas-global-times-praises-trump-funding-cuts-voice-america-radio-free-asia
Chinese media, Hun Sen celebrate White House order to close US-funded news outlets
RFA 20250317
https://www.rfa.org/english/asia/2025/03/17/rfa-hun-sen-china/
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan, China to hold talks in Tokyo this week
Yonhap 20250318
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250318006351315
Monitoring without mandate: Can sanctions succeed outside a UN framework?
Lowy 20250318
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/monitoring-without-mandate-can-sanctions-succeed-outside-un-framework
S. Korea's sensitive country listing 'not a big deal,' says acting U.S. envoy
Yonhap 20250318
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250318005551320
Whether Korea-Japan warming survives Seoul turmoil is up in the air
Asia Times 20250318
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/whether-korea-japan-warming-survives-seoul-turmoil-is-up-in-the-air/
Trump’s best bet to counter China is backing South Korea’s Yoon
Asia Times 20250318
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/trumps-best-bet-to-counter-china-is-backing-south-koreas-yoon/
Trump Doesn’t Faze Xi Jinping
Hudson 20250317
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/trump-doesnt-faze-xi-jinping-walter-russell-mead
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Japan-Federated States of Micronesia Summit Meeting
JP PM 20250318
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/103/actions/202503/18micronesia.html
Grant Assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia: Signing and Exchange of Notes on “The Economic and Social Development Programme (Cable Landing Station)”
JP MoFA 20250318
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_01099.html
Reports: Defense Secretary Hegseth to visit Guam
GDP 20250318
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/reports-defense-secretary-hegseth-to-visit-guam/article_61a96e0a-02fb-11f0-ba51-4f5ab0f3679c.html
South Korea media: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expected to visit Guam
PDN 20250318
https://www.guampdn.com/news/south-korea-media-us-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-expected-to-visit-guam/article_69c7d6ba-03cf-11f0-8da7-d76e43cf32a4.html
US military, CNMI leaders hold Stakeholders meeting with working groups in Saipan
US JRM 20250318
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/493070/us-military-cnmi-leaders-hold-stakeholders-meeting-with-working-groups-saipan
Island Waves
Bougainville needs 'serious conversation' about its economic readiness - James Marape
RNZ 20250318
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545195/bougainville-needs-serious-conversation-about-its-economic-readiness-james-marape
Process Issues Yet to be Resolved for B’ville: Moderator
Post Courier (PNG) 20250318
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/process-issues-yet-to-be-resolved-for-bville-moderator/
PNG-Bouganville Governments Meet to Address Issues
National (PNG) 20250318
https://www.thenational.com.pg/png-bougainville-governments-meet-to-address-issues/
Pacific security leaders gather to advance regional cooperation
AU DoD 20250318
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2025-03-18/pacific-security-leaders-gather-advance-regional-cooperation
Concerns mount over Cook Islands' ‘national security’ amid China’s influence
RNZ 20250319
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545273/concerns-mount-over-cook-islands-national-security-amid-china-s-influence
US funding for Pacific Resilience Facility survives aid cuts
ABC (AU) 20250318
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pifsaidcut/105064870
US might not cut pledged Pacific aid, NZ foreign minister says
Benar 20250318
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/united-states-aid-pacific-03182025154517.html
France looks to expand Pacific engagement with Vanuatu
Daily Post (VU) 20250318
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/france-looks-to-expand-pacific-engagement-with-vanuatu/article_2a4ed578-02b3-53aa-b77d-8cf98c12ae08.html
Taiwan + xCS
Why China-Taiwan Relations Are So Tense
CFR 20250318
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-taiwan-relations-tension-us-policy-trump
Taiwan on its own? US rethinks global security and China strategy
Think China 20250317
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/taiwan-its-own-us-rethinks-global-security-and-china-strategy
39% of Taiwanese expect US troop support if China invades: Poll
Taiwan News 20250318
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6062115
Strong Taiwan, secure world: Lai
Taipei Times 20250319
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/03/19/2003833678
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe convicted on secession charges in mainland China
SCMP 20250318
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3302732/taiwan-based-publisher-li-yanhe-convicted-secession-charges-mainland-china
China holds military drills around Taiwan in response to 'separatism' and US fact sheet
Taiwan News 20250318
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6061874
Latest military threats show China a 'troublemaker': Taiwan officials
CNA (TW) 20250318
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202503180009
Taiwan holds combat-readiness drills in response to PLA ‘grey-zone provocations’
SCMP 20250318
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3302823/taiwan-holds-combat-readiness-drills-response-pla-grey-zone-provocations
Taiwan tracks 59 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250318
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6061866
Intervention by Japan, EU a destabilizing factor in the S.China Sea
GT 20250318
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330372.shtml
S. Korea, China locked in standoff over China's steel structure in overlapping maritime zone
Yonhap 20250318
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250318008700315
Yellow Sea stand-off over ‘steel structure’ raises China-South Korea tensions: reports
SCMP 20250318
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3302876/yellow-sea-stand-over-steel-structure-raises-china-south-korea-tensions-reports
'Situation in Yellow Sea is stable,' FM responds to inquiry on China-SK maritime disputes
GT 20250318
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330348.shtml
Capabilities
Australia’s missile wish dogged by China deterrence doubts
Asia Times 20250318
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/australias-missile-wish-dogged-by-china-deterrence-doubts/#
Australian defence and the nebulous “archipelago”
Lowy 20250319
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australian-defence-nebulous-archipelago
CRS Report to Congress on The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force
USNI 20250318
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/18/report-to-congress-on-the-armys-multi-domain-task-force
Assessing China’s Nuclear Decision-Making
CNAS 20250318
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/assessing-chinas-nuclear-decision-making
USFK general vows to maintain 'strong, forward-deployed force' in S. Korea
Yonhap 20250318
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250317006500315
F-16 Is Getting Massive Anti-Ship Missile Upgrade
TWZ 20250318
https://www.twz.com/air/f-16-is-getting-massive-anti-ship-missile-upgrade
DoD should use likely $100B-plus reconciliation money on downrange needs: Wittman
Breaking Defense 20250318
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/dod-should-use-likely-100b-plus-reconciliation-money-on-downrange-needs-wittman/
Army looking for ways to fund ‘transformation in contact’ 2.0 effort
Breaking Defense 20250318
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/army-looking-for-ways-to-fund-transformation-in-contact-2-0-effort/
Exercises
Marine rotational force returns to Australia for regional ops, training
S&S 20250318
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2025-03-18/marine-rotation-darwin-australia-17180750.html