Pacific Winds 20250426

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Trump's Ukraine retreat fuels South Korea nuclear arms debate
Nikkei 20250425
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Policy-Asia/Trump-s-Ukraine-retreat-fuels-South-Korea-nuclear-arms-debate

US and South Korea come away with different takes on trade talks
Nikkei 20250425
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/US-and-South-Korea-come-away-with-different-takes-on-trade-talks

S. Korea, U.S. agree to seek 'July package' deal on tariff, other issues
Yonhap 20250425
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250424001956320

S. Korea to 'prudently' decide whether to join Alaska LNG project after field inspection: minister
Yonhap 20250425
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250425005700320

No U.S. push for Japan to prop up yen in tariff talks
Kyodo 20250425
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/199b69ffd09a-update2-japan-us-finance-chiefs-discuss-currency-as-part-of-tariff-talks.html

US-China trade war: Escalate to de-escalate to escalate?
Responsible Statecraft 20250425
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-china-trade-war/

Trump Can’t Force a Global Decoupling From China
FP 20250425
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/25/trump-tariffs-trade-war-china-us-decoupling-europe-global/

Trump says tariff talks will be finished over 'next 3-4 weeks'
Yonhap 20250425
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250426000200315

Why Trump Will Blink First on China
Time 20250425
https://time.com/7279900/trump-xi-us-china-trade-war/

Donald Trump says Xi Jinping called him, but China denies tariff talks are underway
ABC (AU) 20250426
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-26/donald-trumps-says-he-spoke-with-china-xi-jinping/105218400

In Trade War Clash With Washington, China Refuses to Take the Bait
NYTimes 20250425
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/world/asia/united-states-china-trade-fight.html

Beijing accuses Washington of 'misleading the public' about trade talks
Reuters 20250425
https://www.reuters.com/world/beijing-accuses-washington-misleading-public-about-trade-talks-2025-04-25/

China slams U.S. tariffs over fentanyl as "bullying"
Xinhua 20250425
https://english.news.cn/20250425/e30a8eddd1bc4d44982ff0c760aeb332/c.html

China, Japan, Korea sense Trump trade war weakness
Asia Times 20250425
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/china-japan-korea-sense-trump-trade-war-weakness/

The Trump effect on public attitudes toward America in Taiwan and South Korea
Brookings 20250425
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-trump-effect-on-public-attitudes-toward-america-in-taiwan-and-south-korea/

Comfort woman's family wins suit against Japan in S. Korea
Yonhap 20250425
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250425011800320

South Korea court orders Japan to pay compensation over "comfort women"
Kyodo 20250425
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/be8c3f9dba49-update2-s-korea-court-orders-japan-to-pay-compensation-over-comfort-women.html

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Landmark federal designation bolsters deterrence, enhances stability, security for Guam
JRM 20250425
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/496164/landmark-federal-designation-bolsters-deterrence-enhances-stability-security-guam

Large-scale military exercise coming to CNMI
Marianas Variety 20250425
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/large-scale-military-exercise-coming-to-cnmi/article_a8c46f7f-aefd-4ceb-a557-fbcf627c3802.html

Guam Could Decide the Outcome of Any U.S.-China War
1945 20250425
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/guam-could-decide-the-outcome-of-any-u-s-china-war/

U.S. Congressional delegation reaffirms commitment to Palau during official visit
Island Times 20250425
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-congressional-delegation-reaffirms-commitment-to-palau-during-official-visit/

Island Waves

China defends Tonga loans amid rising debt concerns: A call for fair representation
RNZ 20250425
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/559077/china-defends-tonga-loans-amid-rising-debt-concerns-a-call-for-fair-representation

Tamiok Strike Sees Increased PNGDF Involvement, Signaling Stronger US Military Partnership
Post Courier 20250425
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/tamiok-strike-sees-increased-pngdf-involvement-signaling-stronger-us-military-partnership/

Top US Army Commander Wraps Up Exercise Tamiok Strike in Papua New Guinea
Post Courier 20250425
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/top-us-army-pacific-commander-wraps-up-exercise-tamiok-strike-in-papua-new-guinea/

Naval base modernization highlights growing Australia-PNG-U.S. defense cooperation
IPDF 20250424
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/04/naval-base-modernization-highlights-growing-australia-png-u-s-defense-cooperation/

President Prabowo highlights Indonesia-Fiji close ties
PINA 20250425
https://pina.com.fj/2025/04/25/president-prabowo-highlights-indonesia-fiji-close-ties/

Learning Chinese Can Open Doors to Good Jobs, Says Chinese Ambassador
Daily Post (VU) 20250425
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/learning-chinese-can-open-doors-to-good-jobs-says-chinese-ambassador/article_9d0c0ae3-3306-5f0c-8b0c-43921ae92e6d.html

Taiwan + xCS

The Philippines' Taiwan Strait gambit risks costly backlash
China Military 20250425
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16382924.html

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250425
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6094473

Why Reed Bank could be the next flashpoint for South China Sea tensions
SCMP 20250425
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307827/why-reed-bank-could-be-next-flashpoint-south-china-sea-tensions

China blames Philippine activity for coral damage at disputed Sandy Cay
SCMP 20250425
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307920/south-china-sea-china-blames-philippine-activity-coral-damage-disputed-sandy-cay

The Philippines navigates shifting political currents in the South China Sea
EAF 20250425
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/25/the-philippines-navigates-shifting-political-currents-in-the-south-china-sea/

ASEAN, China agree to complete sea code by 2026
Phil Star 20250425
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/04/25/2438219/asean-china-agree-complete-sea-code-2026

China, Vietnam coast guards complete joint patrol in Beibu Gulf
China Military 20250425
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16382912.html

U.S. and Australian Forces Conduct Joint Sail
USN 7th Flt 20250425
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4166514/us-and-australian-forces-conduct-joint-sail/

Capabilities

The Risks of Proliferation in a Nuclear Age of Entropy
AIIA 20250425
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-risks-of-proliferation-in-a-nuclear-age-of-entropy/

S. Korea, U.S. hold tabletop exercise on integrating nuclear, conventional capabilities
Yonhap 20250425
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250425005800315

China’s military identifies US and Japanese destroyers as ‘enemy vessels’
SCMP 20250425
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307945/chinas-military-identifies-us-and-japanese-destroyers-enemy-vessels

U.S. Marine Corps Trials Unmanned Logistics Concepts in the Indo-Pacific
Naval News 20250425
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/u-s-marine-corps-trials-unmanned-logistics-concepts-in-the-indo-pacific/

Jet by jet, US losing Pacific air superiority over China
Asia Times 20250425
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/jet-by-jet-us-losing-pacific-air-superiority-over-china/

CRS Report to Congress on The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment
USNI 20250425
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/25/report-to-congress-on-the-u-s-marine-corps-marine-littoral-regiment-2

Secretive 'Dark Eagle' Hypersonic Missile Launches from Cape Canaveral
Military.com 20250425
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/25/secretive-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-launches-cape-canaveral.html

Space Threat Assessment 2025
CSIS 20250425
https://www.csis.org/analysis/space-threat-assessment-2025

GPS disruption and satellite maneuvers now hallmarks of modern warfare
Space News 20250425
https://spacenews.com/gps-disruption-and-satellite-maneuvers-now-hallmarks-of-modern-warfare/

With Indo-Pacific undersea cables at risk, companies tout their tech
Defense News 20250425
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/04/25/with-indo-pacific-undersea-cables-at-risk-companies-tout-their-tech/

China-backed actors ‘stand out’ in threatening US energy infrastructure, panel hears
SCMP 20250425
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3307837/china-backed-actors-stand-out-threatening-us-energy-infrastructure-congress-hears

NAVFAC Pacific Awards $990 Million Multiple Award Construction Contract to Support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative Program
DVIDS 20250424
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/496157/navfac-pacific-awards-990-million-multiple-award-construction-contract-support-pacific-deterrence-initiative-program?sub_id=247906

$150B defense boost in reconciliation bill to ‘immediately’ go towards Golden Dome, shipbuilding
Breaking Defense 20250425
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/150b-defense-boost-in-reconciliation-bill-to-immediately-go-towards-golden-dome-shipbuilding/

Power

Trump Is Facing Six Wars, and He’s Losing All of Them
Bloomberg 20250425
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-04-24/trump-is-facing-six-wars-and-he-s-losing-all-of-them