Pacific Winds 20250328

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Mar 27, 2025

Alliances

Polishing the diamond: Opportunities for the Quad
USSC 20250327
https://www.ussc.edu.au/polishing-the-diamond-opportunities-for-the-quad

The Philippines walks a tightrope with Chinese aid
Lowy 20250327
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-walks-tightrope-chinese-aid

Between Defence and Economic Diplomacy: Philippine–China Relations Under Trump 2.0
AIIA 20250327
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/between-defence-and-economic-diplomacy-philippine-china-relations-under-trump-2-0/

Australia balances between realism and liberalism
EAF 20250327
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/27/australia-balances-between-realism-and-liberalism/

How far can Canberra and Seoul’s partnership stretch?
Lowy 20250328
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-far-can-canberra-seoul-s-partnership-stretch

Hegseth will recognize US' limits in its bid to contain China via regional division
China Daily 20250327
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/27/WS67e54b45a3101d4e4dc2b410.html

U.S. needs Japan's guarantee to use bases in Taiwan war: Pentagon adviser
Nikkei 20250328
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/U.S.-needs-Japan-s-guarantee-to-use-bases-in-Taiwan-war-Pentagon-adviser

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs a to-do list for Japan
Asia Times 20250327
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-needs-a-to-do-list-for-japan/

S. Korea-U.S. alliance is in 'quiet crisis': U.S. expert
Yonhap 20250328
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250328000200315

Trump's 25% auto tariff to take effect April 3 with no exemptions
Kyodo 20250327
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/fb3e5302cc49-update3-trump-says-25-auto-tariff-to-take-effect-april-2-with-no-exemptions.html

Japan demands exemption from U.S. auto tariffs
Kyodo 20250327
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/5d5b549dc5ca-update1-japan-vows-appropriate-steps-against-us-auto-tariffs.html

Trump's 25% auto tariffs are a raw deal for Japanese carmakers
Nikkei 20250327
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Trump-s-25-auto-tariffs-are-a-raw-deal-for-Japanese-carmakers

U.S. 25 pct tariffs on imported cars to weigh heavily on S. Korean carmakers
Yonhap 20250327
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250327005400320

Trump tariffs prompt Japan to consider 'all options'
Nikkei 20250327
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs-prompt-Japan-to-consider-all-options

US car tariffs harm shared interests of people worldwide, won’t help resolve its own problems: FM
GT 20250327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331002.shtml

Rattled by Trump, America’s Allies Shift to Defense Mode
NYTimes 20250327
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/world/asia/tariffs-us-allies-trump.html

China Sees Opportunity in Trump’s Upheaval
FA 20250327
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/china-sees-opportunity-trumps-upheaval

Industry ministers of S. Korea, China, Japan to hold 1st trilateral meeting in 5 yrs next week
Yonhap 20250327
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250327006500320

US ‘China AI threat’ narrative is a recycled tech containment strategy
GT 20250327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331030.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Joint Statement on the United States Department of Defense and Federated States of Micronesia Understanding on Shared Force Posture and Infrastructure Priorities
US DoD 20250327
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4136656/joint-statement-on-the-united-states-department-of-defense-and-federated-states/

Governor: ‘Great confidence’ in defense plans for island, wants $600M for hospital
PDN 20250327
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-great-confidence-in-defense-plans-for-island-wants-600m-for-hospital/article_2bb49619-e819-4166-8632-acc9c5adb99a.html

Hegseth warns China: Any attack on Guam and CNMI will be met with appropriate response
PIT 20250327
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/hegseth-warns-china-any-attack-on-guam-and-cnmi-will-be-met-with-appropriate-response

Hegseth: Guam, CNMI defense is also America first
PDN 20250327
https://www.guampdn.com/news/hegseth-guam-cnmi-defense-is-also-america-first/article_53e61e31-e705-4665-885e-f7a0e4193c88.html

Secy. Hegseth: ‘We are not seeking war with Communist China, but it is our job to ensure that we are ready’
KUAM 20250327
https://www.kuam.com/story/52632270/secy-hegseth-we-are-not-seeking-war-with-communist-china-but-it-is-our-job-to-ensure-that-we-are-ready

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth meets with leaders from Guam, CNMI during stopover
KUAM 20250327
https://www.kuam.com/story/52632104/defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-meets-with-leaders-from-guam-cnmi-during-stopover

US Army ships its newest air-defense tech to units in Asia, Europe
Defense News 20250327
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/03/27/us-army-ships-its-newest-air-defense-tech-to-units-in-asia-europe/

Deploying forward: How the Army’s IBCS unifies missile defense across domains
Breaking Defense 20250327
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/deploying-forward-how-the-armys-ibcs-unifies-missile-defense-across-domains/

Island Waves

Taiwan + SCS

Ex-U.S. defense official advocates for strengthened training of Taiwan forces
CNA (TW) 20250327
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202503270007

Taiwan's president turns up heat against China — way up.
Responsible Statecraft 20250327
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-lai-taiwain/

Beijing would not attack Taiwan if it believed trade would suffer, senators hear
SCMP 20250327
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304031/beijing-would-not-attack-taiwan-if-it-believed-trade-would-suffer-senators-hear

Taiwan simulates response to large scale disasters, Chinese threats
Reuters 20250327
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-simulates-response-large-scale-disasters-chinese-threats-2025-03-27/

Minister says Taiwan's food reserves would last 1 year under China blockade
Taiwan News 20250327
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6070351

PLA will take resolute measures to defeat any separatist attempt for ‘Taiwan independence’: Defense Ministry spokesperson
GT 20250327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331001.shtml

Taiwan slams China's new reporting section as interference
CNA (TW) 20250327
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202503270022

Beijing confirms what Taiwan already knew: PLA did combat test near island last week
SCMP 20250327
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304150/beijing-has-confirmed-what-taiwan-already-knew-pla-did-combat-test-near-island-last-week

Taiwan tracks 20 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250327
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6069965

South China Sea dotted line undeniable historically, legally
GT 20250327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331014.shtml

Capabilities

First North Korean Airborne Early Warning Jet Flies, Kim Shows Off Interior
TWZ 20250326
https://www.twz.com/air/first-north-korean-airborne-early-warning-jet-flies-kim-shows-off-interior

N. Korea releases photos of what appears to be airborne control aircraft for 1st time
Yonhap 20250327
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250327000953315

North Korea's Kim oversees reconnaissance, suicide attack drone tests
Kyodo 20250327
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/93378e233f86-n-koreas-kim-oversees-reconnaissance-suicide-attack-drone-tests.html

More F-35s, more tankers: a reliable way to strengthen Australian deterrence
ASPI 20250327
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/more-f-35s-more-tankers-a-reliable-way-to-strengthen-australian-deterrence/

China’s warships reveal more than a need to strengthen the ADF
ASPI 20250327
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-warships-reveal-more-than-a-need-to-strengthen-the-adf/

Chinese Nationals Arrested on Espionage Charges Tracked Philippine, U.S. Vessels at Subic Bay
USNI 20250326
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/26/chinese-nationals-arrested-on-espionage-charges-tracked-philippine-u-s-vessels-at-subic-bay

US Army plans Australia test of missile launcher that has irked China
Defense News 20250327
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/03/27/us-army-plans-australia-test-of-missile-launcher-that-has-irked-china/

ME-11B Official Designation Of Army’s New Intelligence Gathering Business Jets
TWZ 20250327
https://www.twz.com/air/me-11b-official-designation-of-armys-new-intelligence-gathering-business-jets

CRS Report to Congress on Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles
USNI 20250327
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/27/report-to-congresson-navy-large-unmanned-surface-and-undersea-vehicles

Power

Reinforcement and redistribution: evolving US posture the Indo-Pacific
IISS 20250327
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/03/reinforcement-and-redistribution-evolving-us-posture-the-indo-pacific/

Exercises

Marine Corps to Debut New Philippine Rotational Force at Balikatan 2025 Drills
USNI 20250327
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/27/marine-corps-to-debut-new-philippine-rotational-force-at-balikatan-2025-drills

PACAF hosts Pacific Defender 25-2
USAF PacAF 20250326
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4136555/pacaf-hosts-pacific-defender-25-2/

US submarine USS Minnesota surfaces just metres away from Port of Darwin amid scrutiny of its Chinese leaseholder
Sky (AU) 20250327
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/us-submarine-uss-minnesota-surfaces-just-metres-away-from-port-of-darwin-amid-scrutiny-of-its-chinese-leaseholder/news-story/14f4e2506d30407c6111ae4310d3d6ad

The Real Meaning Behind China’s Live-Fire Drills Near Australia and New Zealand
The Diplomat 20250326
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/the-real-meaning-behind-chinas-live-fire-drills-near-australia-and-new-zealand/

Carrier Fujian’s tests normal arrangement, Chinese Defense Ministry says over vessel’s 7th sea trial
GT 20250327
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331003.shtml

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