Pacific Winds 20250401
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan repositions its diplomacy towards China
EAF 20250331
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/31/japan-repositions-its-diplomacy-towards-china/
Japan-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting: Do Not Let Trust of Bilateral Alliance Be Shaken
Yomiuri 20250331
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250331-246291/
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
Japan Times 20250331
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/31/japan/politics/us-japan-defense-trump-analysis/
During Indo-Pacific tour Hegseth rallies Japan and Philippines, pledges ‘shift,’ cooperation
Breaking Defense 202250331
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/during-indo-pacific-tour-hegseth-rallies-japan-and-philippines-pledges-shift-cooperation/
‘America First does not mean America Alone’: US reassures Asian security allies of its commitment
Straits Times 20250331
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/america-first-does-not-mean-america-alone-us-reassures-asian-security-allies-of-its-commitment
74% of Americans Believe Japan-U.S. Security Treaty Should Be Maintained, Says Survey by Foreign Ministry
Yomiuri 202505401
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250401-246212/
FM slams Hegseth's remarks calling 'warrior' Japan 'indispensable in deterring China'
GT 20250331
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202503/1331265.shtml
The Echoes of McCarthyism: What Should Allies and Friends of America Do?
AIIA 20250331
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-echoes-of-mccarthyism-what-should-allies-and-friends-of-america-do/
Coalition-Building and the Politics of Hegemonic Ordering in the Indo-Pacific
RSIS 20250331
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/coalition-building-and-the-politics-of-hegemonic-ordering-in-the-indo-pacific/
Trump’s step back abroad has triggered an atomic race in East Asia
Asia Times 20250331
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/trumps-step-back-abroad-has-triggered-an-atomic-race-in-east-asia/
Understanding China’s military: A Q&A with new Brookings expert John Culver
Brookings 20250331
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/understanding-chinas-military-a-qa-with-new-brookings-expert-john-culver/
Why China Is Wary of a Trump-Xi Summit
NYTimes 20250331
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/business/trump-xi-summit-tariffs.html
Trump tariffs re-energize stalled Japan-Korea-China FTA
Asia Times 20250331
https://asiatimes.com/2025/03/trump-tariffs-re-energize-stalled-japan-korea-china-fta/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S. bolsters 'second island chain' defense with eye on China
Nikkei 20250401
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Trump-administration/U.S.-bolsters-second-island-chain-defense-with-eye-on-China
Island Waves
Japan stands ready to help
Fiji Times 20250331
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/japan-stands-ready-to-help/
French Minister Valls pushes for deal on New Caledonia’s future
RFI 20250331
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250331-french-minister-valls-pushes-for-deal-on-new-caledonia-s-future
Premier Salini acknowledges SI-US friendship
Solomon Star 20250331
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/premier-salini-acknowledges-si-us-friendship/
Defense Forces in Pacific Join Australian Army Air Show
National (PNG) 20250331
https://www.thenational.com.pg/defence-forces-in-pacific-join-australia-army-at-airshow/
Samoa wins Chinese tourism award
Samoa Observer 20250331
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/113769
Taiwan + SCS
US calls China's threats to 'Taiwan independence' advocates 'reprehensible'
Taiwan News 20250331
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6072845
Arming for Peace: Expanding the Defense Industrial Base and Arming Taiwan Faster
Heritage 20250331
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/arming-peace-expanding-the-defense-industrial-base-and-arming-taiwan-faster
Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20250331
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6072791
The Ripple Effects of Vietnam’s Island-Building in the South China Sea
CSIS 20250331
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ripple-effects-vietnams-island-building-south-china-sea
Capabilities
Southeast Asia’s Growing Maritime Security Agenda Challenge
The Diplomat 20250331
https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/southeast-asias-growing-maritime-security-agenda-challenge/
US officially recognizes the Type 094 Jin-class submarine as China’s first credible naval nuclear deterrent
Naval News 20250331
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/us-officially-recognizes-the-type-094-jin-class-submarine-as-chinas-first-credible-naval-nuclear-deterrent
Chinese government dual-purpose ‘spy ship’ circumnavigating southern Australia
Sky (AU) 20250331
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/chinese-government-dualpurpose-spy-ship-is-circumnavigating-southern-australia/news-story/dfc5bb6d476952985b4f7c0dc3d1b101
Australia monitoring Chinese research vessel off south coast
ABC (AU) 20250331
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-31/australia-monitoring-chinese-research-vessel-off-south-coast/105117188
3 percent of GDP for defence is no stretch. We did 2.9 percent in the Cold War
ASPi 20250331
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/3-percent-of-gdp-for-defence-is-no-stretch-we-did-2-9-percent-in-the-cold-war/
Space Force to test satellite refueling technologies in orbit
Space News 20250331
https://spacenews.com/space-force-to-test-satellite-refueling-technologies-in-orbit/
Army to deploy integrated data layer for NGC2 at division level before next Project Convergence
Breaking Defense 20250331
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/army-to-deploy-integrated-data-layer-for-ngc2-at-division-level-before-next-project-convergence/
Power
RFA and VOA Shutdown: The Erosion of U.S. Soft Power in Southeast Asia
CSIS 20250331
https://www.csis.org/analysis/rfa-and-voa-shutdown-erosion-us-soft-power-southeast-asia
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 31, 2025
20250331
https://news.usni.org/2025/03/31/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-31-2025