Pacific Winds 20250327
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. allies' burden sharing goes far beyond just financial contributions: experts
Yonhap 20250327
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250327000300315
Shared Threats: Indo-Pacific Alliances and Burden Sharing in Today’s Geopolitical Environment
CSIS 20250326
https://www.csis.org/analysis/shared-threats-indo-pacific-alliances-and-burden-sharing-todays-geopolitical-environment
Australia surveys volatile and unpredictable geoeconomics
ASPI 20250326
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-surveys-volatile-and-unpredictable-geoeconomics/
From ICC to Indo-Pacific: The Philippines’ strategic bargaining against superpower rivalries
Lowy 2250326
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/icc-indo-pacific-philippines-strategic-bargaining-against-superpower-rivalries
South Korean parties unite in rare rebuke of China's maritime expansion
Chosun 20250326
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/03/26/47HMCGIJWFDN5APVEXM24XIKKA/
Crisis as catalyst: How Trump 2.0 could strengthen China-ASEAN ties
Think China 20250326
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/crisis-catalyst-how-trump-2-0-could-strengthen-china-asean-ties
Xi Tests US Allies in Indo-Pacific as Trump Focuses Elsewhere
Bloomberg 20250326
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-26/xi-tests-us-allies-in-indo-pacific-as-trump-focuses-elsewhere?srnd=homepage-europe
UN Sanctions on North Korea at Risk in Putin-Trump Dealings
The Diplomat 20250324
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/collateral-damage-un-sanctions-on-north-korea-at-risk-in-putin-trump-dealings/
Hegseth Addresses Indo-Pacom Partnerships During First Trip to Region
US DoD 20250326
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4135338/hegseth-addresses-indo-pacom-partnerships-during-first-trip-to-region/
Top trade envoys for US and China speak for first time since Trump’s return to White House
SCMP 20250326
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304023/top-trade-envoys-us-and-china-speak-first-time-trumps-return-white-house
The known unknowns of Trump’s reciprocal tariff proposal
EAF 20250326
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/26/the-known-unknowns-of-trumps-reciprocal-tariff-proposal/
Negotiating a US-Japan Trade Deal That’s Good for America
Hudson 20250326
https://www.hudson.org/trade/negotiating-us-japan-trade-deal-thats-good-america-riley-walters
Trump administration hits China with slew of tech export controls
Nikkei 20250326
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/Trump-administration-hits-China-with-slew-of-tech-export-controls
US blacklists dozens of Chinese entities as expert says move highlights Washington’s anxiety over China’s tech rise
GT 20250326
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330890.shtml
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invites US President Donald Trump to visit Australia after controversial tariff decision
Sky (AU) 20250326
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-invites-us-president-donald-trump-to-visit-australia-after-controversial-tariff-decision/news-story/c0a2f533296a83416ea521c631e5924a
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
As the world turns: Observations from Guam
GDP 20250326
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/as-the-world-turns-observations-from-guam/article_6690152c-21ba-4a86-a3b4-117fe3383478.html
Chinese vice premier meets senior officials from Micronesia
Bastille Post 20250326
https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/4690416-chinese-vice-premier-meets-senior-officials-from-micronesia-mongolia
Micronesian leader says he trusts Japan's nuclear wastewater disposal process
PIT 20250326
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/micronesian-leader-says-he-trusts-japan-s-nuclear-wastewater-disposal-process
Tonga, Micronesia see largest increases in Australia’s Pacific aid budget
Benar 20250326
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/pacific/pacific-australia-aid-budget-03262025030557.html
Guam senator pushes for US statehood to secure island's future
RNZ 20250327
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/556306/guam-senator-pushes-for-us-statehood-to-secure-island-s-future
Tiny Chinese drone conquers Earth’s deepest point, beyond reach of US Navy
SCMP 20250326
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3303917/tiny-chinese-drone-conquers-earths-deepest-point-beyond-reach-us-navy
Defense secretary Hegseth: America’s allies and partners in the Pacific are important
KUAM 20250326
https://www.kuam.com/story/52623951/defense-secretary-hegseth-americas-allies-and-partners-in-the-pacific-are-important
Hegseth: US remains invested in Indo-Pacific amid China's threats
PIT 20250326
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/hegseth-us-remains-invested-in-indo-pacific-amid-china-s-threats
U.S. Coast Guard, partners ensure maritime security in Marianas through increased operations
DVIDS 20250326
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/493742/us-coast-guard-partners-ensure-maritime-security-marianas-through-increased-operations
Island Waves
Federal budget redirects aid spending to Pacific, South-East Asia as region braces for Trump administration cuts
ABC (AU) 20250326
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-26/federal-budget-foreign-aid-spending/105095584
Australia pivots foreign aid to Pacific to cover U.S cut
PINA 20250326
https://pina.com.fj/2025/03/26/australia-pivots-foreign-aid-to-pacific-to-cover-u-s-cut/
2025 Australian aid update
DevPolicy 20250326
https://devpolicy.org/2025-australian-aid-update/
Papua New Guinea, Kiwis, Aussies tying up for relief op coordination
Breaking Defense 20250326
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/papua-new-guinea-kiwis-aussies-tying-up-for-relief-op-coordination/
China’s high-quality development brings more opportunities to Solomon Islands
SIBC 20250326
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/chinas-high-quality-development-brings-more-opportunities-to-solomon-islands/
Stay and help build Fiji says Zhou Jian
FBCN 20250326
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/stay-and-help-build-fiji-says-zhou-jian/
Aust supports 20 govt officers with MBA training
Solomon Star 20250326
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-supports-20-govt-officers-with-mba-training/
The South Pacific Is the New Frontline in the Rivalry with China
WOTR 20250326
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/the-south-pacific-is-the-new-frontline-in-the-rivalry-with-china/
Taiwan + SCS
US threat report says China intensifying military operations around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250326
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6068786
Beijing asks public to report Taiwan independence supporters in tip-off channel
SCMP 20250326
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3303919/beijing-asks-public-report-taiwan-independence-supporters-tip-channel
DPP authorities will be held accountable for each and every secessionist move
China Daily 20250326
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/26/WS67e3ecaba3101d4e4dc2b062.html
Taiwan to hold civil defence drill to put emergency responses to the test
SCMP 20250326
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303841/taiwan-hold-civil-defence-drill-put-emergency-responses-test
Taiwan to channel World War Two spirit to bolster response to China's threats
Reuters 20250326
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-channel-world-war-two-spirit-bolster-response-chinas-threats-2025-03-26/
Renaming Taiwan: A new US-China flashpoint?
Think China 20250325
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/renaming-taiwan-new-us-china-flashpoint
Any attempts to play the 'Taiwan card' are doomed to fail, dismissing US lawmakers' Taiwan-related Act
GT 20250326
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330893.shtml
How Taiwan Can Keep Its Diplomatic Partners
The Diplomat 20250325
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/how-taiwan-can-keep-its-diplomatic-partners/
Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250326
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6068739
PLA's aircraft carrier conducts joint drill with naval aviation unit
China Daily 20250326
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/26/WS67e3dda9a3101d4e4dc2b042.html
China blocks PH mission to Panatag Shoal
GMA 20250326
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/940632/china-blocks-ph-mission-to-panatag-shoal/story/
Philippine Defense Chief Calls for Stronger South China Sea Presence Ahead of SECDEF Hegseth Visit
USNI 20250325
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/25/philippine-defense-chief-calls-for-stronger-south-china-sea-presence-ahead-of-secdef-hegseth-visit
China Coast Guard Makes Its Longest Intrusion Into Disputed East China Sea Waters
The Diplomat 20250325
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/china-coast-guard-makes-its-longest-intrusion-into-disputed-east-china-sea-waters/
Capabilities
China poses biggest military, cyber threat to US, intel chiefs say
Reuters 20250325
https://www.reuters.com/world/china-presents-top-military-cyber-threat-united-states-us-report-says-2025-03-25/
2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community
DNI 20250325
https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2025-Unclassified-Report.pdf
US issues intelligence report amid ‘anxiety,’ for own hegemony: expert
GT 20250326
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1330926.shtml
U.S. Cybersecurity Weakness Benefits China
FP 20230526
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/25/us-cybersecurity-china-signalgate-intelligence/
Cutting through the narrative: What China’s deep-sea cable-cutter really signals
Lowy 20250326
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/cutting-through-narrative-what-china-s-deep-sea-cable-cutter-really-signals
The U.S. Missile Launcher That Is Enraging China
WSJ 20250326
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-us-typhon-weapons-system-missile-philippines-100fd852
Oshkosh Defense unveils new variant of Marine remote fires vehicle
Defense News 20250326
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/03/26/oshkosh-defense-unveils-new-variant-of-marine-remote-fires-vehicle/
The dangerous collapse of US strategic sealift capacity
ASPI 20250326
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-dangerous-collapse-of-us-strategic-sealift-capacity/
CMS Launches Publication on Renewing the U.S. Commercial Maritime Industry
SeaPower 20250326
https://seapowermagazine.org/cms-launches-publication-on-renewing-the-u-s-commercial-maritime-industry/
Amid shortage, Navy recruiting program struggles to keep half first-year shipbuilders: Official
Breaking Defense 20250326
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/amid-shortage-navy-recruiting-program-struggles-to-keep-half-first-year-shipbuilders-official/
Navy Seeks Ways to Streamline Shipbuilding
US DoD 20250325
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4134979/navy-seeks-ways-to-streamline-shipbuilding/
Shipbuilders swarm Capitol Hill to lobby for aircraft carrier funding
Defense One 20250326
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2025/03/shipbuilders-swarm-capitol-hill-lobby-aircraft-carrier-funding/404072/
Stealth, Speed, and Skepticism: Analyzing the US-China Sixth-Gen Fighter Gap
China Arms 20250326
https://www.china-arms.com/2025/03/us-vs-china-sixth-gen-fighters/
SM-6 Missile Closer To Proving Hypersonic Weapon Intercept Capability After Aegis Destroyer Test
TWZ 20250326
https://www.twz.com/air/sm-6-missile-closer-to-proving-hypersonic-weapon-intercept-capability-after-aegis-destroyer-test
Aegis Combat System Demonstrates System’s Capability to Counter Hypersonic Threats
Naval News 20250324
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/u-s-navy-downs-maneuvering-hypersonic-missile-in-sm-6-block-iau-test/
‘Time is Now’ to Look at New Airlifter: TRANSCOM Boss
Air & Space 20250326
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-airlifter-transcom-boss/
Stratcom Ready to Respond to Threats, Needs Nuclear Modernization
US DoD 20250326
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4135903/stratcom-ready-to-respond-to-threats-needs-nuclear-modernization/
Space Force budget squeeze: Saltzman worries about keeping pace with China amid cuts
Space News 20250326
https://spacenews.com/space-force-budget-squeeze-saltzman-worries-about-keeping-pace-with-china-amid-cuts/
Space Force plans to put a multisatellite ‘carrier’ into orbit
Defense One 20250326
https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/03/space-force-plans-put-multisatellite-carrier-orbit/404073/
Why is China’s military so worried about Starlink? A Rand report has a warning
SCMP 20250326
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303992/why-chinas-military-so-worried-about-starlink-rand-report-has-warning