Pacific Winds 20250423
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Rubio Outlines Drastic Changes at State Department
NYTimes 20250422
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/us/politics/state-department-cuts-rubio.html
Rubio Plans to Close Offices in State Department Overhaul
Bloomberg 20250422
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/rubio-announces-sweeping-overhaul-of-bloated-state-department
Rubio announces State Dept. reorganization plan reducing democracy, human rights diplomacy
Yonhap 20250423
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250423000200315
Facts gone missing in Australia’s debate about Indonesia-Russia basing deal
Lowy 20250422
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/facts-gone-missing-australia-s-debate-about-indonesia-russia-basing-deal
Britain recasts AUKUS for a new era
ASPI 20250422
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/britain-recasts-aukus-for-a-new-era/
South Korea acting president sees US trade talks leading to beneficial solution
Reuters 20250422
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/south-korea-acting-president-sees-us-trade-talks-leading-beneficial-solution-2025-04-22/
U.S. expert foresees difficulty for Korea over possible measures against China in trade talks with U.S.
Yonhap 20250422
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250422000500315
U.S. envoy "very optimistic" about tariff talks, meets Japan PM
Kyodo 20250422
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/c6128161f1a0-urgent-new-us-envoy-says-very-optimistic-about-tariff-talks-with-japan.html
China urges Japan to help fight US tariffs together, Kyodo reports
Reuters 20250422
https://www.reuters.com/markets/emerging/china-urges-japan-help-fight-us-tariffs-together-kyodo-reports-2025-04-22/
Trump tariff shockwaves already buffeting Asian shores
Asia Times 20250422
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/trump-tariff-shockwaves-already-buffeting-asian-shores/
Bessent Expects Tariff Standoff With China to De-Escalate
Bloomberg 20250422
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/bessent-sees-de-escalation-with-china-situation-unsustainable
US Treasury chief says that tariff war with China is unsustainable and he expects it to ease
SCMP 20250423
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307508/us-treasury-chief-says-tariff-war-china-unsustainable-and-he-expects-it-ease
Trump’s Tariffs Will Pay Off — for China
NYTimes 20250422
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/opinion/us-china-asia-tariffs.html
The new face of North Korean sanctions monitoring: Can the MSMT pick up where the panel of experts left off?
USSC 20250422
https://www.ussc.edu.au/the-new-face-of-north-korean-sanctions-monitoring-can-the-msmt-pick-up-where-the-panel-of-experts-left-off
Philippines eases restrictions on official travel to the island of Taiwan; experts warn move amounts to dangerous maneuvering on Taiwan question
GT 20250423
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332646.shtml
US to allies: Don’t use Chinese satellite services
Defense One 20250421
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/04/us-urging-allies-cease-talks-chinese-satellite-industry/404720/
‘Stay away’ from Chinese satellite services, US advises allies in leaked memo
SCMP 20250422
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307426/stay-away-chinese-satellite-services-us-advises-allies-leaked-memo
China asks Korea not to export products using rare earths to US defense firms, paper reports
Reuters 20250422
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-asks-korea-not-export-products-using-rare-earths-us-defense-firms-paper-2025-04-22/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Hegseth goes to 'spear point' Guam to prep for war with China
Responsible Statecraft 20250422
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/guam-us-military/
Guam infantry unit is first of its kind to win Army’s prestigious Hamilton Award
S&S 20250422
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-04-22/guam-army-guard-hamilton-award-17540681.html
Island Waves
Pacific 'needs predictability' in a 'changing environment' - Solomon Islands official
RNZ 20250422
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/558782/pacific-needs-predictability-in-a-changing-environment-solomon-islands-official
This Is How Washington Loses the Pacific Islands
The Diplomat 20250422
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/this-is-how-washington-loses-the-pacific-islands/
Chinese Market Open to PNG in Lieu if US Tariffs Says Envoy
Post Courier (PNG) 20250422
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/chinese-market-open-to-png-in-lieu-of-us-tariffs-says-envoy/
China reaffirms support for Fiji
FBCN 20250422
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-reaffirms-support-for-fiji/
”Untying the bell”
Fiji Times 20250422
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/827814-2/
Direct China flight soon, says Zhou
Fiji Times 20250422
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/direct-china-flight-soon-says-zhou/
“Matthew 7:3” – Damour: Fijians capable of handling own affairs
Fiji Times 20250422
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/matthew-73-damour-fijians-capable-of-handling-own-affairs/
US and China ambassadors clash in Fiji over Trump's tariff policies
RNZ 20250422
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/558787/us-and-china-ambassadors-clash-in-fiji-over-trump-s-tariff-policies
Fiji and Taiwan cooperate in firefighting and first response training
Fiji Times 20250422
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-and-taiwan-cooperate-in-firefighting-and-first-response-training/
Steady progress on China-Aided Auki road project
Solomon Star 20250422
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/steady-progress-on-china-aided-auki-road-project/
More JICA volunteers arrive to serve
Solomon Star 20250422
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/more-jica-volunteers-arrive-to-serve/
Bougainville takes the initiative in independence mediation
RNZ 20250422
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/558791/bougainville-takes-the-initiative-in-independence-mediation
Taiwan + xCS
China ramps up business charm offensive towards Taiwan alongside political pressure, study shows
Reuters 20250422
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-ramps-up-business-charm-offensive-towards-taiwan-alongside-political-2025-04-22/
Philippines eases restrictions on official exchanges with Taiwan
CNA (TW) 20250422
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202504220005
'Philippines will not participate in any Taiwan conflict'
PhilStar 20250421
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/04/21/2437318/philippines-will-not-participate-any-taiwan-conflict
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 10 ships
Taiwan News 20250422
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6090627
Seoul, Beijing to discuss China's unilateral construction in joint maritime zone
Korea Herald 20250422
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10471214
Capabilities
U.S. Navy Seeks Large Storage Facility in the Philippines by 2026
USNI 20250421
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/21/u-s-navy-seeks-large-storage-facility-in-the-philippines-by-2026
US plans to deploy new missiles in the Philippines to complete its "Missile Chain"
China Military 20250422
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16382102.html
U.S. Navy Plans to Order U.S. Army Landing Ship for the Marine Corps
Maritime Exec.20250421
https://maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-navy-plans-to-order-u-s-army-s-landing-ship-for-the-marine-corps
Indo-Pacific Map Shows Where US Bombers Operate Outside of America
Newsweek 20250422
https://www.newsweek.com/indo-pacific-map-us-news-bombers-bases-2062421
AI is changing Indo-Pacific naval operations
ASPI 20250423
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/ai-is-changing-indo-pacific-naval-operations/
New Doc Spells Out How USSF Will Use Space Control to Gain Space Superiority
Air & Space 20250422
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-doc-spells-out-how-ussf-will-use-space-control-to-gain-space-superiority/
S. Korea successfully launches 4th spy satellite into orbit
Yonhap 20250422
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250422003053315
The Empty Arsenal of Democracy
FA 20250422
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/empty-arsenal-democracy-michael-brown
Power
The Rise and Fall of Great-Power Competition
FA 20240422
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/rise-and-fall-great-power-competition
Exercises
U.K. Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Leaves for 8-month Pacific Deployment
USNI 20250422
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/22/u-k-carrier-hms-prince-of-wales-leaves-for-8-month-pacific-deployment
US-Philippines Balikatan exercises a super troll, rather than a ‘Super Bowl’
GT 20250423
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1332642.shtml