Pacific Winds 20250329
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump could make Asia more united
ASPI 20250328
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trump-could-make-asia-more-united/
Amid Trump uncertainty, is this ‘best time’ for China to win friends in Southeast Asia?
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304104/amid-trump-uncertainty-best-time-china-win-friends-southeast-asia
Hegseth Seeks to Reassure Allies on First Official Trip to Asia
NYTimes 20250328
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/asia/hegseth-philippines-china.html
Hegseth stresses need for cooperation with S. Korea, other allies for deterrence needed to prevent war
Yonhap 20250329
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250329000200315
US defense chief Hegseth vows to counter ‘China’s aggression’ on first Asia visit
CNN 20250328
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/asia/pete-hegseth-asia-tour-philippines-marcos-intl-hnk/index.html
Will Trump’s retreat spur a grand bargain with China? Maybe, says former US commerce chief
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304219/will-trumps-retreat-spur-grand-bargain-china-maybe-says-former-us-commerce-chief
Hegseth tells Philippines the Trump administration will ramp up deterrence against China threat
AP 20250328
https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-philippines-south-china-sea-8d77bd438667895aca30a86f2e07d1b2
Hegseth Says U.S., Philippines Agree on Plan to Reestablish Deterrence in Indo-Pacific
US DoD 20250328
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4138090/hegseth-says-us-philippines-agree-on-plan-to-reestablish-deterrence-in-indo-pac/
Philippines widens search for allies as Trump fuels uncertainty
Nikkei 20250328
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Policy-Asia/Philippines-widens-search-for-allies-as-Trump-fuels-uncertainty
Hegseth reaffirms ironclad US commitment to Philippines to enhance threat deterrence
Reuters 20250328
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-defense-secretary-reaffirms-ironclad-commitment-philippines-2025-03-28/
Pete Hegseth, dogged by scandal at home, pledges US support for Manila against China
Guardian 20250328
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/28/pete-hegseth-dogged-by-scandal-at-home-pledges-us-support-for-manila-against-china
Hegseth stresses 'ironclad' U.S. commitment to Philippines
Nikkei 20250328
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Hegseth-stresses-ironclad-U.S.-commitment-to-Philippines
PBBM: US ‘greatest force’ for peace in Indo-Pacific, SCS
PNA 20250328
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1247006
Hegseth says US, Philippines must stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ to tackle China threat
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3304210/hegseth-says-us-philippines-must-stand-shoulder-shoulder-tackle-china-threat
US-Philippines cooperation shouldn’t target any third party: Chinese FM on US defense chief’s claim of China ‘threat’
GT 20250328
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331085.shtml
How Trump may inadvertently calm the waters of the Indo-Pacific
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3303737/how-trump-may-inadvertently-calm-waters-indo-pacific
New Zealand has benefited greatly from China’s rise, especially in technology: ambassador
GT 20250328
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331076.shtml
Time for a New ‘Pacific Charter’ to Counter China’s Rising Threat
1945v20250327
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/03/time-for-a-new-pacific-charter-to-counter-chinas-rising-threat/
U.S. auto tariffs to have extremely large impact on Japan economy: PM
Kyodo 20250328
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/03/cac0307f0f5f-urgent-us-auto-tariffs-to-have-extremely-large-impact-on-japan-economy-pm.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Pentagon says Guam could be 1st target of Chinese missiles during Taiwan invasion
Taiwan News 20250328
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6071659
US military to expand footprint in CNMI
PIT 20250328
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-military-to-expand-footprint-in-cnmi
DOD's $2B investment plans for FSM announced at Hegseth's bilateral meeting with Micronesian president
PIT 20250328
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/2b-investment-plans-for-fsm-announced-during-hegseth-s-secret-meeting-with-micronesian-president
Hegseth: Guam could be model for Golden Dome missile defense
GDP 20250328
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/hegseth-guam-could-be-model-for-golden-dome-missile-defense/article_5992d0af-b209-4020-93de-8363747834f4.html
Secretary of Defense Emphasizes Lethality, Deterrence On Guam
US DoD 20250328
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4138562/secretary-of-defense-emphasizes-lethality-deterrence-on-guam/
Guam requests $600M from defense department to fund hospital project
PIT 2025328
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/guam-requests-600m-from-defense-department-to-fund-hospital-project
Governor pitches DOD head on $600M funding for new hospital
GDP 20250328
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/governor-pitches-dod-head-on-600m-funding-for-new-hospital/article_c5c147dc-1286-4fb0-81b2-aed37c021d4e.html
Hegseth: U.S. troops on Guam are the ‘tip of the spear’ for American power projection in Asia
WashTimes 20250327
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/27/pete-hegseth-us-troops-guam-tip-spear-american-power-projection-asia/
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth in Guam: 'We are not seeking war with China'
RNZ 20250328
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/556457/us-defence-secretary-pete-hegseth-in-guam-we-are-not-seeking-war-with-china
Kiribati dodges aid cuts in NZ review
Newsroom (NZ) 22050328
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/28/kiribati-dodges-aid-cuts-in-nz-review/
Spartan supports fisheries patrol in Marshall Islands
AU DoD 20250327
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-03-27/spartan-supports-fisheries-patrol-marshall-islands
Palau State Rangers receive training to dtrengthen Wildlife, Fisheries Enforcement
Island Times 20250328
https://islandtimes.org/palau-state-rangers-receive-training-to-dtrengthen-wildlife-fisheries-enforcement/
Island Waves
Australia’s international spending reveals uneven ambition
ASPI 20250328
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-international-spending-reveals-uneven-ambition/
New Met facility to open in Nadi
FBCN 20250328
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/new-met-facility-to-open-in-nadi/
Significant milestone
Fiji Times 20250328
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/significant-milestone-2/
Sakishima Islands Evacuation Plan Not Yet Perfected; Prospect of Taiwan Contingency Said to Be Growing
Yomiuri 20250328
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250328-245877/
Japan draws up plan to evacuate 120,000 from isles near Taiwan
Asahi 20250328
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15687354
Japan unveils evacuation plan for Taiwan contingency
Japan Times 20250328
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/28/japan/politics/taiwan-evacuation-plan/
Japan Must Confirm Defense Emergency Before Funding Evacuations, But Doing So Could Be Highly Political
Yomiuri 20250329
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250329-245909/
Taiwan + SCS
Is South Korea ready to define its role in a Taiwan Strait contingency?
Brookings 20250328
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-south-korea-ready-to-define-its-role-in-a-taiwan-strait-contingency/
To counter China’s coercion of Taiwan, we must track it better
ASPI 20250328
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/to-counter-chinas-coercion-of-taiwan-we-must-track-it-better/
Taiwan’s Biggest Limitation in Defense Isn’t Spending, It’s Late Deliveries from U.S. Defense Companies
WOTR 20250328
https://warontherocks.com/2025/03/taiwans-biggest-limitation-in-defense-isnt-spending-its-late-deliveries-from-u-s-defense-companies/
30 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships tracked around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250328
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6071303
As Hegseth visits Manila, Beijing warns outsiders against meddling in South China Sea
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304255/hegseth-visits-manila-beijing-warns-outsiders-against-meddling-south-china-sea
PH, US, Japan navies sail together in Indo-Pacific –Hegseth
GMA 20250328
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/940894/philippines-us-japan-navies-joint-sail-west-philippine-sea-hegseth/story/
Japan, Philippines and United States Conduct Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity
USN PacFlt 20250328
https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/4137892/japan-philippines-and-united-states-conduct-multilateral-maritime-cooperative-a/
Satellite images show fresh Chinese bomber deployment in South China Sea
Reuters 20250328
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/satellite-images-show-fresh-chinese-bomber-deployment-south-china-sea-2025-03-28/
Capabilities
SECDEF Hegseth Announces Marine Anti-Ship Missile Deployment to Balikatan, Defense Industrial Base Cooperation with Manila in Philippines Visit
USNI 20250328
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/28/secdef-hegseth-announces-marine-anti-ship-missile-deployment-to-balikatan-defense-industrial-base-cooperation-with-manila-in-philippines-visit
CRS Report to Congress on U.S. Army’s Typhon Strategic Mid-Range Fires System
USNI 20250328
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/28/report-to-congress-on-u-s-armys-typhon-strategic-mid-range-fires-system
Army reconsidering prepositioned stock strategy, ‘doubling down’ on Indo-Pacific, general says
Breaking Defense 20250328
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/army-reconsidering-prepositioned-stock-strategy-doubling-down-on-indo-pacific-general-says/
US shipbuilding in a ‘perpetual state of triage,’ watchdog says
Defense News 20250328
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2025/03/28/us-shipbuilding-in-a-perpetual-state-of-triage-watchdog-says/
Air Force weighs plan to cancel SDA’s next set of data relay sats in favor of SpaceX: Sources
Breaking Defense 20250327
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/air-force-weighs-plan-to-cancel-sdas-next-set-of-data-relay-sats-in-favor-of-spacex-sources/
The Drone Dilemma: How Unchecked Warfare From Above Threatens the Indo-Pacific
The Diplomat 20250327
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/the-drone-dilemma-how-unchecked-warfare-from-above-threatens-the-indo-pacific/
US Air Force nominee wants total drones approach to counter mainland China
SCMP 20250328
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304259/air-force-nominee-wants-total-drones-approach-counter-mainland-china
The Golden Dome is not ready to stop a Chinese attack on the US
Defense News 20250327
https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/2025/03/27/the-golden-dome-is-not-ready-to-stop-a-chinese-attack-on-the-us/
Aussie spy planes worked overtime during nearby Chinese naval drills
Defense News 20250328
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/03/28/aussie-spy-planes-worked-overtime-during-nearby-chinese-naval-drills/
The Japanese Military Has a People Problem
FA 20250328
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japanese-military-has-people-problem
Former head of U.S. Army Pacific says Chinese military’s ‘false optimism’ is highly dangerous
WashTimes 20250328
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/28/former-head-us-army-pacific-says-chinese-militarys-false-optimism/
5 companies, 5 parts: Honeywell pilot seeks to build out AUKUS sub industrial base
Breaking Defense 20250328
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/5-companies-5-parts-honeywell-pilot-seeks-to-build-out-aukus-sub-industrial-base/