Pacific Winds 20250412

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Trump calls U.S.-Japan defense pact "one-sided" as tariff talks loom
Kyodo 20250411
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/e1aa32a57198-update3-trump-calls-us-japan-defense-pact-one-sided-as-tariff-talks-loom.html

Trump calls U.S.-Japan alliance ‘one-sided’ as nations prepare for tariff talks
Japan Times 20250411
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/11/japan/politics/trump-security-ties-japan/

Japan wants win-win outcome from tariff talks with U.S.: PM Ishiba
Kyodo 20250411
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/801dc748fcfc-japan-wants-win-win-outcome-from-tariff-talks-with-us-pm-ishiba.html

China, Japan, S.Korea central bank deputies discussed US tariffs
Reuters 20250411
https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/china-japan-skorea-central-bank-deputies-discussed-us-tariffs-2025-04-11/

Trump Showed His Pain Point in His Standoff With China
NYTimes 20250411
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/business/us-china-tariffs-trump-xi.html

U.S. cannot act recklessly: Chinese FM
Xinhua 20250411
https://english.news.cn/20250411/fe2b2a157ec64b24b9286c89fbf79ca4/c.html

Steeling China for a Fight, Xi Faces His Biggest Test Since Covid
NYTimes 20250411
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/world/asia/trump-china-tariffs-xi.html

Reset Pax Americana: the West needs a grand accord
ASPI 20250411
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/reset-pax-americana-the-west-needs-a-grand-accord/

Failure to Launch: Russia’s Stalled Pivot to the Indo-Pacific
CSIS 20250411
https://www.csis.org/blogs/new-perspectives-asia/failure-launch-russias-stalled-pivot-indo-pacific

Lingering resentment at unequal treaties stiffens Chinese resolve
Asia Times 20250411
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/lingering-resentment-at-unequal-treaties-stiffens-chinese-resolve/

China never backs down when faced with ‘unreasonable’ behaviour, Xi Jinping warns
SCMP 20250411
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3306124/no-one-will-win-tariff-war-chinese-leader-xi-jinping-warns

China hits back at Trump tariff hike, raises duties on US goods to 125%
Reuters 20250411
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-increase-tariffs-us-goods-125-up-84-finance-ministry-says-2025-04-11/

Chinese netizens air anger, patriotism and anti-American views amid tariff war
SCMP 20240511
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3306193/chinese-netizens-air-anger-old-school-patriotism-and-anti-american-views-amid-tariff-war

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

MAFE and JICA agree to launch Fisheries Development Master Plan
Island Times 20250411
https://islandtimes.org/mafe-and-jica-agree-to-launch-fisheries-development-master-plan/

U.S. Coast Guard, local agencies strengthen maritime capabilities through NASBLA training partnership
USCG FMSG 20250411
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/495068/us-coast-guard-local-agencies-strengthen-maritime-capabilities-through-nasbla-training-partnership

Island Waves

US & PNG Strengthen Relationship Through Energy
PNG Haus Bung 20250411
https://pnghausbung.com/u-s-png-strengthen-relationship-through-energy/

Cook Islands–China deals make waves in the Pacific
EAF 20250411
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/11/cook-islands-china-deals-make-waves-in-the-pacific/

Australia’s Role in a Shifting World Order: Stepping up to Protect Civilians and International Law
AIIA 20250411
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/australias-role-in-a-shifting-world-order-stepping-up-to-protect-civilians-and-international-law/

Taiwan + SCS

Admiral warns lawmakers of ‘unprecedented aggression’ by Chinese military near Taiwan
WashTimes 20250410
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/apr/10/admiral-warns-lawmakers-unprecedented-aggression-chinese-military/

Think tank urges Taiwan defense hike, faster U.S. arms delivery
CNA (TW) 20250411
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202504110016

Former AIT director says Taiwan spending 10% of GDP on military unrealistic
Taiwan News 20250411
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6082932

Train like you fight: Taiwan comes to grips with an old military adage
Defense News 20250411
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/04/11/train-like-you-fight-taiwan-comes-to-grips-with-an-old-military-adage/

Taiwan indicts Chinese ship captain for cutting undersea cable
Taiwan News 20250411
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6082942

21 Sorties of PLA Aircraft and 6 PLAN Vessels Detected
RoC MoD 20250411
https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1910594441536299244

Capabilities

It Took 73 C-17 Loads To Move Patriot Battalion From Pacific To Middle East
TWZ 20250410
https://www.twz.com/air/it-took-73-c-17-loads-to-move-patriot-battalion-from-pacific-to-middle-east

Trump says U.S. may buy 'top-of-the-line' ships from 'close' countries
Yonhap 20250411
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250411000351315

US aircraft carriers adrift as China surges at sea
Asia Times 20250411
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/us-aircraft-carriers-adrift-as-china-surges-at-sea/

South Korea offers to build five Aegis destroyers per year to help the US counter China at sea
Army Recognition 20250411
https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/south-korea-offers-to-build-five-aegis-destroyers-per-year-to-help-the-us-counter-china-at-sea

Navy Axes Its Hypersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Plans
TWZ 20250411
https://www.twz.com/air/navy-axes-its-hypersonic-anti-ship-cruise-missile-plans

Beyond ‘branding’: AUKUS nations look to outside partners for Pillar II tech
Breaking Defense 20250411
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/beyond-branding-aukus-nations-look-to-outside-partners-for-pillar-ii-tech/

Chinese weapons giant develops anti-drone barrage system to counter wartime swarm tactics
SCMP 20250411
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306199/chinese-weapons-giant-develops-anti-drone-barrage-system-counter-wartime-swarm-tactics

What Washington Won’t Admit About Nuclear Dominance
Heritage 20250411
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/what-washington-wont-admit-about-nuclear-dominance

China launches new communication technology test satellite
China Daily 20250411
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202504/11/WS67f863dca3104d9fd381ead6.html

'Distortion of facts': Chinese FM refutes report claiming Beijing behind cyberattacks on US for its support to Taiwan island
GT 20250411
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1331927.shtml

Exercises

China drone activity triggers more Japan SDF jet scrambles
Nikkei 20250411
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/China-drone-activity-triggers-more-Japan-SDF-jet-scrambles

Japan defense force scrambled fighter jets 704 times in fiscal 2024
Japan Times 20250411
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/11/japan/asdf-fighter-jets-scramble/