Pacific Winds 20250414
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US policy toward Pacific creating 'anxiety' - Winston Peters
RNZ 20250414
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/558101/us-policy-toward-pacific-creating-anxiety-winston-peters
Winston Peters says talk of 'trade war' is 'hysterical', 'short-sighted'
RNZ 20250413
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/558027/winston-peters-says-talk-of-trade-war-is-hysterical-short-sighted
New Zealand seeks stronger US role in Indo-Pacific, says Foreign Minister Peters
First Post (NZ) 20250413
https://www.firstpost.com/world/new-zealand-seeks-stronger-us-role-in-indo-pacific-says-foreign-minister-peters-13879500.html
U.S. Forces Japan begins historic upgrade to joint force headquarters
IPDF 20250413
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/04/u-s-forces-japan-begins-historic-upgrade-to-joint-force-headquarters/
New U.S. ambassador to Japan 'optimistic' about tariff negotiations
Japan Times 20250413
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/13/japan/politics/george-glass-us-ambassador-tariffs/
U.S. exempts smartphones, computers from sweeping tariff scheme
Yonhap 20240513
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250413000451320
Trump plans separate levy on exempted electronics amid trade war, Lutnick says
Reuters 20250413
https://www.reuters.com/markets/trump-plans-separate-levy-exempted-electronics-amid-trade-war-lutnick-says-2025-04-13/
China Halts Critical Exports as Trade War Intensifies
NYTimes 20250413
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/business/china-rare-earths-exports.html
Island Waves
Taiwan eyes deeper engagement with Fiji
Taiwan News 20250413
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6083760
ICU is under pressure: Specialist
Samoa Observer 20250413
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/113929
Company denies link with Chinese government
Samoa Observer 20250412
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/113918
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan and the US preparing a ‘hellscape’ strategy
Taipei Times 20250414
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/04/14/2003835150
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval vessels
Taiwan News 20250413
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6083797
Capabilities
China’s Arsenal of Missiles Could Paralyze the U.S. Military in a Crisis
1945 20250413
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/chinas-arsenal-of-missiles-could-paralyze-the-u-s-military-in-a-crisis/
US looks to South Korea as it tries to revive shipbuilding and catch up to China
SCMP 20250413
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3306218/us-looks-south-korea-it-tries-revive-shipbuilding-and-catch-china