Pacific Winds 20250320
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump strategy toward China: Head off drive for hegemony in the Asia-Pacific
WashTimes 20250319
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/19/trump-strategy-toward-china-head-drive-hegemony-asia-pacific/
Trump Has Hinted at a Xi Visit. China Is Still Wondering What He Wants.
NYTimes 20250319
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/asia/trump-china-xi-tariffs.html
Is the Pivot to Asia Finally Happening?
RSIS 20250318
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/is-the-pivot-to-asia-finally-happening/
Philippines eyes expansion of Squad group to India, South Korea
Reuters 20250319
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/philippines-eyes-expansion-squad-include-india-south-korea-2025-03-19/
Rewind and Reconnoiter: The Strength of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance
WOTR 20250319
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/rewind-and-reconnoiter-the-strength-of-the-u-s-philippine-alliance/
Philippines nabs alleged Chinese spies amid South China Sea tensions
Nikkei 20250320
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Crime/Philippines-nabs-alleged-Chinese-spies-amid-South-China-Sea-tensions
U.S. confirms S. Korea's inclusion on DOE list unrelated to nuclear buildup call: FM
Yonhap 20250319
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250319007200315
The new transactional era: Australia’s US alliance needs review
Lowy 20250319
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/new-transactional-era-australia-s-us-alliance-needs-review
Japan, China and South Korea's top diplomats to meet in Tokyo
Japan Times 20250319
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/19/japan/politics/china-japan-korea-foreign-ministers/
Chinese FM spokesperson speaks on Wang Yi’s trip to Japan and how two countries will bridge differences
GT 20250319
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330421.shtml
Eggs in more baskets: diversify Australian agricultural exports away from US
ASPI 20250319
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/eggs-in-more-baskets-diversify-australian-agricultural-exports-away-from-us/
Why Beijing believes it can outlast Trump’s trade war
Think China 20250318
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/why-beijing-believes-it-can-outlast-trumps-trade-war
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Japan offers 380 mil. yen aid to lay subsea cable to Micronesia
Mainichi 20250319
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250319/p2g/00m/0na/006000c
Australia, India, Japan, Korea, and the U.S. Complete Multinational Exercise Sea Dragon 2025
USN 7th Flt 20250319
https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/4124256/australia-india-japan-korea-and-the-us-complete-multinational-exercise-sea-drag/
Access to military bases on Guam: Here are some guidelines
PDN 20250319
https://www.guampdn.com/news/access-to-military-bases-on-guam-here-are-some-guidelines/article_1069c11c-0467-11f0-b762-132733a8911b.html
Island Waves
Pacific’s top diplomat urges new cooperation amid US aid freeze
RNZ 20250319
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545325/pacific-s-top-diplomat-urges-new-cooperation-amid-us-aid-freeze
Foreign aid will continue but in what form it's hard to say - academic
RNZ 20250318
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545291/foreign-aid-will-continue-but-in-what-form-it-s-hard-to-say-academic
PIF urges leaders to prioritise regional interests
PINA 20250319
https://pina.com.fj/2025/03/19/pif-urges-leaders-to-prioritise-regional-interests/
224 graduates from APTC
Solomon Star 20250318
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/224-graduates-from-aptc/
Wisconsin Guard Rehabilitates Papua New Guinea Base Housing
US Wisconsin NG 20250318
https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/4122883/wisconsin-guard-rehabilitates-papua-new-guinea-base-housing/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan extends F-16 pilot training in US
Taiwan News 20250319
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6063280
Mavulis Island in a Future Taiwan War Scenario
MWI 20250318
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/a-war-of-chokepoints-mavulis-island-in-a-future-taiwan-war-scenario/
PLA drills near Taiwan 'brazen,' 'irresponsible': U.S. official
CNA (TW) 20250319
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202503190006
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250319
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6063047
AFP to support May civilian mission in West Philippine Sea
Manila Standard 20250318
https://manilastandard.net/news/314569885/afp-to-support-may-civilian-mission-in-west-philippine-sea.html
Capabilities
Does America Face a “Ship Gap” With China?
FA 20250319
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/does-america-face-ship-gap-china
China’s HQ-19 system to shield against hypersonic weapons and nuclear threats
SCMP 20250319
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3302865/chinas-hq-19-system-shield-against-hypersonic-weapons-and-nuclear-threats
All or Nothing – Australia and its AUKUS submarine dilemma
Naval News 20250318
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/all-or-nothing-australia-and-its-aukus-submarine-dilemma/
Japan and Australia can fill each other’s defence gaps
ASPI 20250319
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/japan-and-australia-can-fill-each-others-defence-gaps/
5 Chinese satellites practiced ‘dogfighting’ in space, Space Force says
Breaking Defense 20250318
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/5-chinese-satellites-practiced-dogfighting-in-space-space-force-says/
US arming up to zap China, Russia in space
Asia Times 20250319
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/us-arming-up-to-zap-china-russia-in-space/
STRATCOM Chief: Air Force Needs 145 B-21s and More New Strategic Systems
Air & Space 20250318
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/stratcom-chief-b-21s-lrso-strategic-systems/
US Reveals Intelligence Data Trove on China and North Korea
Newsweek 22050319
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-air-force-rivet-joint-intelligence-collection-data-china-north-korea-2046918
Navy Deploys First Operational LCS Mine Countermeasures Packages
USNI 20250318
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/18/navy-deploys-first-operational-lcs-mine-countermeasures-packages
Amplifiers and Dampeners of Cyber Escalation
WOTR 20250319
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/amplifiers-and-dampeners-of-cyber-escalation/
China is waging cognitive warfare. Fighting back starts by defining it.
Defense One 20250319
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/03/china-waging-cognitive-warfare-fighting-back-starts-defining-it/403886/
Exercises
US, Philippines to conduct large-scale battle simulation during Balikatan drills
S&S 20250319
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2025-03-19/balikatan-battle-simulation-philippines-china-17192756.html
PH Navy to conduct live fire exercise in Balikatan 2025 with US
GMA 20250318
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/939698/philippine-navy-balikatan-exercise-live-fire-missile-systems/story/
F-35s, Air Task Force Deploy to Korea for ACE Exercise
Air & Space 20250319
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/f-35s-air-task-force-deploy-to-korea-for-ace-exercise/