Pacific Winds 20250322

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

White-knuckle time for Asia as Trump could twist either way
Straits Times 20250321
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/white-knuckle-time-for-asia-as-trump-could-twist-either-way

China Top Priority in Trump NATSEC Strategy, Says Panel
USNI 20250320
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/20/china-top-priority-in-trump-natsec-strategy-says-panel

How Trump Is Bolstering China’s World View
The Diplomat 20250320
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/how-trump-is-bolstering-chinas-world-view/

Chinese deputy FM meets with visiting US Senator Daines
GT 20250321
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330594.shtml

Chinese FM responds to whether China expects US Senator Daines’ China visit to pave way for Chinese, US leaders’ meeting
GT 20250321
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330580.shtml

Japan says no shift in U.S. alliance despite Trump budget cut plans
Kyodo 20250321
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/6357fef56f50-japan-says-no-shift-in-us-alliance-despite-trump-budget-cut-plans.html

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Travel to Hawaii, Guam, Philippines, and Japan
US DoD 20250321
https://www.defense.gov/News/Advisories/Advisory/Article/4131394/secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-travel-to-hawaii-guam-philippines-and-japan/

China-Japan-ROK FMs meeting ‘pivotal moment to boost cooperation’
GT 20250322
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330614.shtml

Philippines aims to expand ‘Squad’ grouping by adding India, South Korea to counter China
SCMP 20250321
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3303324/philippines-aims-expand-squad-grouping-adding-india-south-korea-counter-china

US-China rivalry forcing Southeast Asia to pick sides, congressional panel hears
SCMP 20250321
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3303231/us-china-rivalry-forcing-southeast-asia-pick-sides-congressional-panel-hears

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

DoD team meets with Palau leaders; provides updates on design of Malakal Wharf improvement project
DVIDS 20250321
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/493416/dod-team-meets-with-palau-leaders-provides-updates-design-malakal-wharf-improvement-project

Report warns of Chinese Criminal Networks investing in Palau
Island Times 20250321
https://islandtimes.org/report-warns-of-chinese-criminal-networks-investing-in-palau/

Island Waves

Australia in discussions to avoid ‘devastating consequences’ of US aid cuts for Pacific nations
Guardian 20250320
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/australia-pacific-nations-us-aid-cuts

'Defence is interested': Mining company and campaigners clash over deep sea mining's role
RNZ 20250321
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545575/defence-is-interested-mining-company-and-campaigners-clash-over-deep-sea-mining-s-role

USCC’s Hearing on the Competition With China in Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands
NTD 20250320
https://www.ntd.com/replay-usccs-hearing-on-the-competition-with-china-in-southeast-asia-and-pacific-islands_1055368.html

Guardian-class Patrol Boat RVS Takuare returned to Vanuatu, Australia welcomes Nakamal agreement
PINA 20250321
https://pina.com.fj/2025/03/21/guardian-class-patrol-boat-rvs-takuare-returned-to-vanuatu-australia-welcomes-nakamal-agreement/

Fiji and China talks could spark tourism surge
FBCN 20250321
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-and-china-talks-could-spark-tourism-surge/

Chinese vice president meets Fiji's speaker of parliament
Xinhua 20250321
https://english.news.cn/20250321/0ae4f1936cd84709b1210ab57274215f/c.html

China donates SBD600k worth of medical equipment, medicines to CMC
Solomon Star 20250321
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/china-donates-sbd600k-worth-of-medical-equipment-medicines-to-cmc/

Three SIMS staff undergo training in Aust
Solomon Star 20250321
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/three-sims-staff-undergo-training-in-aust/

3rd CMT thank stakeholders for successful completion of tenure
Solomon Star 20250321
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/3rd-cmt-thank-stakeholders-for-successful-completion-of-tenure/

Chinese construction companies under scrutiny after Port Vila earthquake
ABC (AU) 20250321
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/van-buildings-quake/105080078

Taiwan + xCS

Awful optics: political fighting in Taiwan stalls part of defence budget rise
ASPI 20250321
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/awful-optics-political-fighting-in-taiwan-stalls-part-of-defence-budget-rise/

Taiwan is ‘cornerstone’: ex-US admiral
Taipei Times 20250322
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/03/22/2003833850

Dire Strait
Hudson 20250321
https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/dire-strait-mike-watson

AIT director reaffirms US committed to Taiwan's security
Taiwan News 20250321
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6065465

Former Japan SDF chief Iwasaki appointed adviser to Taiwan's Cabinet
Kyodo 20250321
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/d0c2e4a3ad31-update1-former-japan-sdf-chief-iwasaki-appointed-adviser-to-taiwans-cabinet.html

Securing Cyber and Space: How the United States Can Disrupt China’s Blockade Plans
CSIS 20250320
https://www.csis.org/analysis/securing-cyber-and-space-how-united-states-can-disrupt-chinas-blockade-plans

China-Taiwan War: Taipei Faces “Existential Threat” From Its Own People As Beijing Uses Diverse Tactics To Beat Taipei
EurAsian Times 20250321
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/china-taiwan-war-taipei-faces-existentia/

Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250321
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6065146

Scaling Up: Vietnam’s Islands (and Harbors) Continue to Grow
AMTI 20250321
https://amti.csis.org/scaling-up-vietnams-islands-and-harbors-continue-to-grow/

Hegseth to visit the Philippines for talks that will include South China Sea concerns, envoy says
AP 20250321
https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-philippines-ade74c654157c6f1cbac2c0e7247b6f0

Taiwan condemns China coast guard activities around Dongsha
CNA (TW) 20250321
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202503210013

Chinese Ships Enter Territorial Waters off Senkakus; Both Equipped with Cannons
Yomiuri 20250321
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20250321-244453/

Capabilities

Putting Missile Interceptors In Space Critical To Defending U.S. Citizens: Space Force Boss
TWZ 20250320
https://www.twz.com/space/putting-missile-interceptors-in-space-critical-to-defending-u-s-citizens-space-force-boss

The future of the Combined Space Operations initiative
ASPI 20250321
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-future-of-the-combined-space-operations-initiative/

Launch delays hamper near-term impact of GPS experimentation program
Defense News 20250321
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/03/21/launch-delays-hamper-near-term-impact-of-gps-experimentation-program/

Is this quantum microsatellite the start of a global network? A Chinese-South African team tested the idea
SCMP 20250321
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3303204/quantum-microsatellite-start-global-network-chinese-south-african-team-tested-idea

Defence One forecasts major arms race as Asia-Pacific scrambles to counter China
News (AU) 20250321
https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/defence-one-forecasts-major-arms-race-as-asiapacific-scrambles-to-counter-china/news-story/62c3bc940df952c0808ae34bf55d3a00

Army seeks to overcome watercraft ‘gap’ with leased vessels, local repair work
S&S 20250321
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-03-20/army-watercraft-repair-leasing-17211958.html

Air Force May Need to Extend the KC-135 Service Life: AMC Boss
Air & Space 20250320
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-may-need-to-extend-kc-135-service-life/

Long-awaited spy agency review paints stark picture of threats facing Australia
ABC (AU) 20250321
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/long-awaited-review-intelligence-agencies-released/105081356

(Australia) 2024 Independent Intelligence Review
AU PMC 20250321
https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/resource/download/2024-independent-intelligence-review.pdf

CRS Report to Congress on Navy Virginia-Class Submarine Program and AUKUS Submarine
USNI 20250321
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/21/report-to-congress-on-navy-virginia-class-submarine-program-and-aukus-submarine-2

Aussies buy $125 million-worth of Mk-48 torpedos to help counter ‘future threats’
Breaking Defense 20250321
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/aussies-buy-125-million-worth-of-mk-48-torpedos-to-help-counter-future-threats/

Sinking ship: US undersea nuclear deterrent’s plunging credibility
Asia Times 20250321
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/sinking-ship-us-undersea-nuclear-deterrents-plunging-credibility/

Boeing wins contract for NGAD fighter jet, dubbed F-47
Defense News 20250321
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/03/21/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47/

Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract
TWZ 20250321
https://www.twz.com/air/boeing-wins-air-forces-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-contract

North Korea test-fires new anti-aircraft missile system
Kyodo 20250321
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/fd1fc4427cd7-n-korea-test-fires-new-anti-aircraft-missile-system.html

A new US humanitarian agency must operate without political blinders
ASPI 20250321
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-new-us-humanitarian-agency-must-operate-without-political-blinders/

U.S. Space Force budget trimmed in full-year continuing resolution
Space News 20250320
https://spacenews.com/u-s-space-force-budget-trimmed-in-full-year-continuing-resolution/

Power

From VOA to X: How Trump and Musk redefined US soft power
Think China 20250320
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/voa-x-how-trump-and-musk-redefined-us-soft-power

The U.S. is turning ports into geopolitical weapons
Nikkei 20250321
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/The-U.S.-is-turning-ports-into-geopolitical-weapons

Exercises

Mission CLEMENCEAU 2025: France’s Carrier Strike Group in Singapore Amid Wider Indo-Pacific Deployment
RSIS 20250319
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip25035-mission-clemenceau-2025-frances-carrier-strike-group-in-singapore-amid-wider-indo-pacific-deployment/