Pacific Winds 20250408
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US-China war ‘likely’ but not inevitable, warns top political scientist
SCMP 20250407
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3305556/us-china-war-likely-not-inevitable-warns-top-political-scientist
S Korea on edge as US hints at redeploying troops
Asia Times 20250407
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/s-korea-on-edge-as-us-hints-at-redeploying-troops/
Will South Korea’s Nuclear Ambitions Subside in the Next Five Years?
CSIS 20250407
https://www.csis.org/analysis/will-south-koreas-nuclear-ambitions-subside-next-five-years
Japan’s Tomahawk-like missile shows fading faith in US
Asia Times 20250407
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/japans-tomahawk-like-missile-shows-fading-faith-in-us/
Asia-Pacific moves toward security beyond US’ shadow
GT 20250407
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331605.shtml
Five Eyes alert: Trump is skewing intelligence to suit his priorities
Lowy 20250407
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/five-eyes-alert-trump-skewing-intelligence-suit-his-priorities
The Asia-Pacific region doesn’t welcome NATO’s attempt to peddle fear
GT 20250407
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331614.shtml
Why the 'anything but China' strategy will fail
Nikkei 20250407
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Why-the-anything-but-China-strategy-will-fail
PM Ishiba willing to visit U.S. to press Trump to address tariff issues
Kyodo 20250407
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/41cd730ac0ad-update1-ishiba-willing-to-visit-us-to-press-trump-to-address-tariff-issues.html
Ishiba under pressure to take stronger stance against U.S. on tariffs
Japan Times 20250407
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/07/japan/politics/ishiba-leadership/
Trump and Japan PM agree to appoint cabinet-level tariff negotiators
Nikkei 20250408
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Trump-and-Japan-PM-agree-to-appoint-cabinet-level-tariff-negotiators
The US spins out of control, into an economic world of its own
EAF 20250407
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/07/the-us-spins-out-of-control-into-an-economic-world-of-its-own/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S. Coast Guard strengthens partnership with Republic of Palau at Joint Committee Meeting
USCG FMSG 20250407
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/494687/us-coast-guard-strengthens-partnership-with-republic-palau-joint-committee-meeting
Military population to surge to more than 35k in next 12 years
GDP 20250407
https://www.postguam.com/news/military-population-to-surge-to-more-than-35k-in-next-12-years/article_03db7458-91c1-44d1-89a6-4d0fd3e1d41b.html
New projections show Guam's military population at just 35K by 2037, down from 44K
PDN 20250407
https://www.guampdn.com/news/new-projections-show-guams-military-population-at-just-35k-by-2037-down-from-44k/article_47eb95fd-6cb6-4347-9683-dc94acbb7c76.html
Island Waves
Littleproud says Coalition government would urge Pacific to be 'more aggressive' on China
ABC (AU) 20250407
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-07/nationals-littleproud-coalition-pacific-china-climate-change/105139898
Tokelau government official says no tariff warning from US despite weekly contact
RNZ 20250407
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/557390/tokelau-government-official-says-no-tariff-warning-from-us-despite-weekly-contact
Taiwan + SCS
G7 foreign ministers’ statement on China’s large-scale military drills around Taiwan
JP MoFA 20250406
https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_01149.html
Chinese embassy slams G7 statement, stresses ‘no external force is in any position to point fingers at Taiwan question’
GT 20250407
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331564.shtml
US scholar calls on Taiwan to increase defense budget to 5% of GDP
TAiwan News 20250407
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6078628
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250407
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6078260
Capabilities
Potential F-16 sale may boost Philippine Air Force but impact limited: expert
GT 20250407
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331597.shtml
Japan Stands Up Amphib Unit to Surge Forces to Southwest Islands
USNI 20250407
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/07/japan-stands-up-amphib-unit-to-surge-forces-to-southwest-islands
Japan’s maritime transport unit an attempt ‘to develop offensive operations,' experts warn
GT 20250407
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331622.shtml
U.S. Allies and Adversaries Are Attempting Nuclear Deterrence without Weapons — Will It Work?
WOTR 20250407
https://warontherocks.com/2025/04/u-s-allies-and-adversaries-are-attempting-nuclear-deterrence-without-weapons-will-it-work/
MQ-25 Stingray’s Extreme Range Gives It Massive Potential Far Beyond A Tanker
TWZ 20250407
https://www.twz.com/air/mq-25-stingrays-range-gives-is-massive-potential-far-beyond-a-tanker
NRO, Space Force in ‘final stages’ of commercial ISR arrangement
Breaking Defense 20250407
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/exclusive-nro-space-force-in-final-stages-of-commercial-isr-arrangement/
Space Force missile-tracking “Foo Fighter” satellites clear design milestone
Space News 20250407
https://spacenews.com/space-force-missile-tracking-foo-fighter-satellites-clear-design-milestone/
Space Force reassigns GPS satellite launch from ULA to SpaceX
Space News 20250407
https://spacenews.com/space-force-reassigns-gps-satellite-launch-from-ula-to-spacex/
Air Force Accepts Long-Awaited First New Radar for Ground Battle Management
Air & Space 20250407
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-lockheed-long-awaited-first-tpy-4-new-radar/
A Strategy to Revitalize the Defense Industrial Base for the 21st Century
Heritage 20250407
https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/SR314.pdf
US weapons support for Ukraine doesn’t compete with Taiwan goals: report
Defense One 20250407
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2025/04/us-weapons-support-ukraine-doesnt-compete-taiwan-goals-new-report/404329/
New Zealand aims to nearly double defence spending to 2% of GDP
Reuters 20250407
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/new-zealand-nearly-double-defence-spending-2-gdp-2025-04-07/
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 7, 2025
USNI 20250407
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/07/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-7-2025