Pacific Winds 20250403
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
A grand bargain between Trump and Xi?
Lowy 20250402
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/grand-bargain-between-trump-xi
China Ties US Talks to Tariff Removal as Stalemate Deepens
Bloomberg 20250402
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/china-ties-us-talks-to-tariff-removal-as-stalemate-deepens
It’s time to imagine how China would act as regional hegemon
ASPI 20250402
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/its-time-to-imagine-how-china-would-act-as-regional-hegemon/
Can China lead global civilisation?
Think China 20250401
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/can-china-lead-global-civilisation?ref=top-hero
Why China needs ‘as many friends as possible’ to prevail in US rivalry
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304873/why-china-needs-many-friends-possible-prevail-us-rivalry
Could Allies Decide the Future of the Indo-Pacific?
CSIS 20250401
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2025-04/250401_O%27Brien_Allies_Indo-Pacific.pdf
No Time to Waste for Asia-Pacific Leadership
The Diplomat 20250402
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/no-time-to-waste-for-asia-pacific-leadership/
New polling: Does ‘America First’ mean abandoning Taiwan and Korea?
Asia Times 20250402
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/new-polling-does-america-first-mean-abandoning-taiwan-and-korea/
Seoul denies reports of US request for military commitment against China
Korea Herald 20250402
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10456377
Why the China-Japan-South Korea dialogue matters to the world
GT 20250403
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331436.shtml
Australia-China trade ties ‘imperative’ as both sides eye emerging prospects, risks
SCMP 202500402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3304882/australia-china-trade-ties-imperative-both-sides-eye-emerging-prospects-risks
Japanese leader to visit Philippines, Vietnam in diplomatic push
Nikkei 20250403
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japanese-leader-to-visit-Philippines-Vietnam-in-diplomatic-push
Japan’s International Strategy and the Challenges of Trump 2.0
RSIS 20250401
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/japans-international-strategy-and-the-challenges-of-trump-2-0/
Britain launches AUKUS parliamentary inquiry amid 'geopolitical shifts'
ABC (AU) 20250403
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-03/britain-launches-aukus-parliamentary-inquiry/105130406
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’: why the US is on a war footing over tariffs and mass deportations
USSC 20250401
https://www.ussc.edu.au/trump-s-liberation-day-why-the-us-is-on-a-war-footing-over-tariffs-and-mass-deportations
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
New Zealand tight-lipped over details of Kiribati aid review
RNZ 20250403
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/557012/new-zealand-tight-lipped-over-details-of-kiribati-aid-review
Vessel Owner Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Defraud the United States
US DoJ 20250401
https://www.justice.gov/usao-gu/pr/vessel-owner-sentenced-prison-conspiracy-transport-illegal-aliens-and-defraud-united
Island Waves
No deal for New Caledonia, talks to continue later this month
RNZ 20240402
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/556905/no-deal-for-new-caledonia-talks-to-continue-later-this-month
PNGDF Will Never Set Foot on Bougainville Says Marape
National (PNG) 20250402
https://www.thenational.com.pg/pngdf-will-never-set-foot-on-bougainville-again-says-marape/
New Zealand's concerns over Cook Islands' shadow fleet revealed in OIA request
RNZ 20250402
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/556903/new-zealand-s-concerns-over-cook-islands-shadow-fleet-revealed-in-oia-request
Four awarded Japanese scholarships
Solomon Star 20250402
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/four-awarded-japanese-scholarships/
Reimagining Peace-Making in the Pacific
ORF 20250402
https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/reimagining-peace-making-in-the-pacific#_ftn2
Taiwan + SCS
Hegseth indicates US backing for Taiwan – but it is transactional Trump who has the final word
Guardian 20250402
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/02/pete-hegseth-indicates-us-backing-taiwan
Top US military officer vows continued support for Taiwan's defense
Taiwan News 20250402
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6075020
Taiwan’s civil defence drills go big, but is there still a sense of urgency?
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3304797/taiwans-civil-defence-drills-go-big-there-still-sense-urgency
PLA launches 'Strait Thunder-2025A' drills, showing tighter siege on 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces: expert
GT 20250402
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331367.shtml
Live-fire action marks Day 2 of Beijing’s military drills near Taiwan
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304822/beijing-continues-military-drills-taiwan-strait-second-day
China carries out live fire drills in East China Sea in escalation of Taiwan exercises
Reuters 20250402
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-drills-around-taiwan-continue-gives-them-code-name-strait-thunder-2025-04-02/
Chinese military practices striking key Taiwan ports and energy facilities
Japan Times 20250402
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/02/asia-pacific/china-strait-thunder-taiwan-military-exercises-pla/
China practices hitting key ports
Taipei Times 202500403
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/04/03/2003834535
Are Beijing’s hypersonic anti-ship missiles in Taiwan Strait a warning for US?
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304842/are-beijings-hypersonic-anti-ship-missiles-taiwan-strait-warning-us
PLA aircraft carrier helps in the role of cutting off ‘three lines’ of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces in drills: expert
GT 20250402
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331393.shtml
PLA’s drills in Taiwan Straits show key trends in deterrence, flexibility and diverse operations: expert
GT 20250402
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331401.shtml
China’s New Barges Could Make a Tough Task Easier: Invading Taiwan
NYTimes 20250401
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/asia/china-invasion-barges-taiwan.html
Chinese FM warns Manila not to ‘play with fire’ on Taiwan question after military chief hypes PLA drills
GT 20250402
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331400.shtml
U.S., EU voice opposition to Taiwan Strait status quo change amid PLA drills
CNA (TW) 20250402
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202504020008
US says Chinese drills around Taiwan 'exacerbate tensions'
Taiwan News 20250402
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6075050
China's drills around Taiwan aimed at testing U.S. response: Scholars
CNA (TW) 20250402
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202504020011
Analysts argue PLA exercises challenge US bottom line rather than Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250402
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6075508
PLA wraps up drills aimed at ‘paralysing’ Taiwan and sending message to US and Japan
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3304822/beijing-continues-military-drills-taiwan-strait-second-day
PLA wraps up joint drills around Taiwan in deterrence to separatists
GT 20250402
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331427.shtml
Taiwan’s new fighters struggle to close airpower gap with China
Asia Times 20250402
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/taiwans-new-fighters-struggle-to-close-airpower-gap-with-china/
Defense spokesperson says PLA's drills around Taiwan "legitimate, necessary, reasonable"
Xinhua 20250402
https://english.news.cn/20250402/a00e6b09eb8c4360955811728c280001/c.html
What to know about China's war games around Taiwan over the years
Reuters 20250402
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-war-games-around-taiwan-over-years-2025-04-02/
Taiwan tracks 76 Chinese military aircraft, 19 ships
Taiwan News 20250402
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6075010
95 PLA aircraft, vessels detected near Taiwan during drill Tuesday
CNA (TW) 20250402
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202504020007
Capabilities
Sale Of Advanced F-16s To The Philippines Moves Forward Amid Deepening U.S. Ties
TWZ 20250402
https://www.twz.com/air/sale-of-advanced-f-16s-to-the-philippines-moves-forward-amid-deepening-u-s-ties
China warns PH ‘threatening regional peace’ after US OKs jet sale
Inquirer (PH) 20250402
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/271345/china-warns-manila-threatening-regional-peace-after-us-oks-jet-sale
US Army aiming for next hypersonic missile test in December
Defense News 20250402
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/04/02/us-army-aiming-for-next-hypersonic-missile-test-in-december/
Think laterally: government air and shipping services can boost Australian defence
ASPI 20250402
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/think-laterally-government-air-and-shipping-services-can-boost-australian-defence/
Why US shipbuilding is the worst and more money won't save it
Responsible Statecraft 20250402
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-navy/
Why Trump is going full steam ahead to keep China’s shipbuilding in dry dock
SCMP 20250402
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3304766/why-trump-going-full-steam-ahead-keep-chinas-shipbuilding-dry-dock
Australia must respond to Chinese warships with clarity and caution
EAF 20250402
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/02/australia-must-respond-to-chinese-warships-with-clarity-and-caution/
N. Korea denounces U.S., Japan's munitions cooperation, vows to bolster deterrence
Yonhap 20250402
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250402000900315
Latest North Korean ship can carry dozens of missiles, analysts say
Reuters 20250402
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/latest-north-korean-ship-can-carry-dozens-missiles-analysts-say-2025-04-02/
America’s arsenal is failing. We need an industrial mobilization board now.
Breaking Defense 20250402
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/americas-arsenal-is-failing-we-need-an-industrial-mobilization-board-now/
Extended Deterrence: A Tool That Has Served American Interests Since 1945
Heritage 20250402
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/extended-deterrence-tool-has-served-american-interests-1945
Lights Out at the Office of Net Assessment: Implications for the US-China Military Competition
RSIS 20250401
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip25044-lights-out-at-the-office-of-net-assessment-implications-for-the-us-china-military-competition/
Prime minister signals further examination of China's controversial hold on Darwin Port
ABC (AU) 20250402
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-02/pm-more-to-say-about-china-darwin-port-lease/105129244
Without Radio Free Asia, Who Will Expose China’s Atrocities?
The Diplomat 20250402
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/without-radio-free-asia-who-will-expose-chinas-atrocities/