Pacific Winds 20250419

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Trump says US and China are in trade talks and is confident a deal will be reached soon
SCMP 20250418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307006/trump-says-us-and-china-are-trade-talks-and-confident-deal-will-be-reached-soon

Donald Trump says US will strike 'very good' trade deal with China as countries line up to negotiate tariffs
ABC (AU) 20250418
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-18/donald-trump-says-us-will-make-very-good-trade-deal-with-china/105190570

Trump’s Trade War Puts Bromance With Xi Beyond Reach
NYTimes 20250418
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/politics/china-trump-trade-war.html

Trump spurs doubts over Australia's $234bn nuclear submarine plan
Nikkei 20250418
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Policy-Asia/Trump-spurs-doubts-over-Australia-s-234bn-nuclear-submarine-plan

Australian thinktank warns of ‘less reliable’ America, high pricetag for AUKUS sub program
Breaking Defense 20250418
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/australian-thinktank-warns-of-less-reliable-america-high-pricetag-for-aukus-sub-program/
SAA Report: https://strategicanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Defence-2025_Dollars-and-decisions_Final-14-April-25-1.pdf

The Latticework: Indo-Pacific Security Moves Beyond US Naval Primacy
The Diplomat 20250418
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/the-latticework-indo-pacific-security-moves-beyond-us-naval-primacy/

Security issues "separate" from U.S. tariffs: Japan defense minister
Kyodo 20250418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/74b61571c36b-security-issues-separate-from-us-tariffs-japan-defense-minister.html

Japan defense chief says 'no reason' to change current U.S. troop deal
Japan Times 20250418
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/18/japan/politics/trump-japan-us-troops-nakatani/

Bessent Calls Tariff Talks with Japan ‘Satisfactory’; Thanks Trump for Holding Talks with Akazawa
Yomiuri 20250418
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/us-canada/20250418-249869/

Tough U.S.-Japan Talks Loom Over Cars, Rice; American Deregulation Demands Could Threaten Safety of Automobiles, Food
Yomiuri 20250419
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250419-249874/

Japan-U.S. Tariff Negotiations: Both Countries Should Seek a Mutually Beneficial Path
Yomiuri 20250418
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250418-249818/

Trump’s Attendance at Tariff Talks Unusual Step; Japan, U.S. Meeting May Influence Future U.S. Tariff Negotiations
Yomiuri 20250418
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250418-249831/

Japan PM wants to see "specific progress" in next U.S. tariff talks
Kyodo 20250418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/398b61b1513a-update1-japan-pm-wants-to-see-specific-progress-in-next-us-tariff-talks.html

New U.S. envoy arrives in Japan, vows cooperation to counter China
Kyodo 20250418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/d0fc611b0a52-new-us-envoy-arrives-in-japan-vows-cooperation-to-counter-china.html

New U.S. envoy arrives in Japan with focus on trade, defense and reining in China
Japan Times 20250418
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/18/japan/politics/george-glass-japan/

US, Japan need to 'push back' against China, US envoy says
Reuters 20250418
https://www.reuters.com/world/japan/us-japan-need-push-back-against-china-us-envoy-says-2025-04-18/

Chinese FM responds to new US ambassador to Japan’s agitation of ‘pushing back’ against China
GT 20250418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332397.shtml

Trump’s trade war leaves China’s neighbors walking a fine line
WaPo 20250418
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/18/trump-tariffs-japan-south-korea-trade-war/

Australia–China misperceptions a product of their asymmetric relationship
EAF 20250418
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/18/australia-china-misperceptions-a-product-of-their-asymmetric-relationship/

US-Philippines military collusion heightens security risks in ASEAN region
China Military 20250418
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16381516.html

China to host Indonesia for top-level diplomacy, defence talks in pivot to Southeast Asia
SCMP 20250418
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307120/china-host-indonesia-top-level-diplomacy-defence-talks-pivot-southeast-asia

The ‘stabiliser’? Why Japan is Southeast Asia’s most trusted partner
SCMP 20250418
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306892/stabiliser-why-japan-most-trusted-power-southeast-asia

Japan territory museum reopens hoping to attract younger visitors
Kyodo 20250418
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/d87cf4f7f35d-japan-territory-museum-reopens-hoping-to-attract-younger-visitors.html

S. Korea urges 'immediate closure' of Japanese museum claiming sovereignty over Dokdo
Yonhap 20250418
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250418006900315

United States eases port fees on China-built ships after industry backlash
Reuters 20250417
https://www.reuters.com/markets/global-shippers-await-word-us-plan-hit-china-linked-vessels-with-port-fees-2025-04-17/

China slams US plans to charge port fees on Chinese-built vessels, vows to defend interests
GT 20250418
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332418.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrives in Guam
KUAM 20250418
https://www.kuam.com/story/52703489/uss-nimitz-carrier-strike-group-arrives-in-guam

Nimitz arrives for port visit on Guam
PDN 20250419
https://www.guampdn.com/news/nimitz-arrives-for-port-visit-on-guam/article_8916e90b-8dbc-4b80-a70b-cf5de54d050e.html

U.S. Navy’s “Oldest Aircraft Carrier” Makes A Port Call To Strategic Frontline Region Ahead Of Its Decommissioning
EurAsian Times 20250418
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/ahead-of-decommissioning-oldest-nimitz-carrier-makes-a-port-call/

USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrives in Guam
US PacFlt 20250418
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4160321/uss-nimitz-carrier-strike-group-arrives-in-guam/

Followed by student presentations on JENESYS Program, Sakura Science Exchange Program, and Hi! PALM2024
Island Times 20250418
https://islandtimes.org/japan-foundation-donation-to-phs/

Eco-Friendly Transportation Project
Island Times 20250418
https://islandtimes.org/eco-friendly-transportation-project/

Island Waves

Trump Seeks to Boost US Fishing Industry’s Seafood Exports
Bloomberg 20250417
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-17/trump-seeks-to-boost-us-fishing-industry-s-seafood-exports

Timor-Leste open to participating in Chinese military exercises
ABC 20250418
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-18/timor-leste-open-to-chinese-joint-military-exercises/105190596

Igam Barracks Hosts Opening of US-PNG Jint Military Exercise Tamiok Strike 25
Post Couriter (PNG) 20250418
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/igam-barracks-hosts-opening-of-us-png-joint-military-exercise-tamiok-strike-25/

Taiwan + SCS

Analyzing the PLA’s Early April Exercises in the Taiwan Strait
The Diplomat 20250417
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/analyzing-the-plas-early-april-exercises-in-the-taiwan-strait/

The Danger of a Trump Doctrine for Taiwan
The Diplomat 20240518
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/the-danger-of-a-trump-doctrine-for-taiwan/

Taiwan looking to buy 30 armed Black Hawks
Taiwan News 20250418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6088849

Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships
Taiwan News 20250418
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6088537

US should look before it leaps into South China Sea
Asia Times 20250418
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/us-should-look-before-it-leaps-into-south-china-sea/

Capabilities

Navy Wants Bollinger to Build First Landing Ship Medium Hull, Seeks Data Package for Dutch Tank Landing Ship
USNI 20250417
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/17/navy-wants-bollinger-to-build-first-landing-ship-medium-hull-seeks-data-package-for-dutch-tank-landing-ship

How much of a threat are Chinese hypersonic missiles to U.S. Navy ships and sailors?
Task & Purpose 20250418
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-china-hypersonic-missiles/

China Could Prevent US Air Superiority in First Island Chain
BI 20250418
https://www.aol.com/china-could-stop-us-airpower-191156939.html

Thinking Through Deception on the Electromagnetic Spectrum
WOTR 20250417
https://warontherocks.com/2025/04/thinking-through-deception-on-the-electromagnetic-spectrum/

The Department of Defense’s Breakthrough Nuclear Moment Risks Slipping Away
WOTR 20250418
https://warontherocks.com/2025/04/the-department-of-defenses-breakthrough-nuclear-moment-risks-slipping-away/

Developing Combat Support Mission Ready Airmen for Agile Combat Employment
RAND 20250418
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA3100/RRA3169-1/RAND_RRA3169-1.pdf

Power

China hawks are losing influence in Trumpworld, despite the trade war
Naval News 20250418
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/japan-releases-image-of-railgun-installed-on-naval-vessel/

The ‘China’ challenge: now a multi-generational test for Australian strategy
ASPI 20250419
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-china-challenge-now-a-multi-generational-test-for-australian-strategy/

Exercises

B-1B Bones Make Unprecedented Bomber Task Force Deployment To Japan
TWZ 20250417
https://www.twz.com/air/b-1b-bones-make-unprecedented-bomber-task-force-deployment-to-japan