Pacific Winds 20250429
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Will closer US-Japan-Philippines security ties create hostile bloc at China’s doorstep?
SCMP 20250428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3307928/will-closer-us-japan-philippines-security-ties-create-hostile-bloc-chinas-doorstep
Japan, Vietnam to launch vice-ministerial foreign, defense dialogue
Kyodo 20250428
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/a046dead5ede-update1-japan-vietnam-to-launch-vice-ministerial-foreign-defense-dialogue.html
Japan, Vietnam commit to free trade amid US tariff challenges; security co-op ‘should not target third party’
GT 20250428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333086.shtml
Trump effect: Ex-Japan minister calls for regional security alliance
CNA (TW) 20250428
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202504280023
Japan is a test case for Trump's tariff deals. But talks may be tortuous.
Reuters 20250428
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/japan-is-test-case-trumps-tariff-deals-talks-may-be-tortuous-2025-04-25/
Former Ambassador to U.S.: Japan Must Prepare for Possible Post-Trump Reversal; Many Negotiation Issues Precede Trump
Yomiuri 20250428
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/economy/20250428-251566/
Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation gains spotlight in trade talks
Joongang 20250428
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-28/business/industry/KoreaUS-shipbuilding-cooperation-gains-spotlight-in-trade-talks/2295032
China, U.S. are not engaged in consultation or negotiation on tariffs: FM spokesperson
Xinhua 20250428
https://english.news.cn/20250428/88da076339294a29b3a2adde92cd883f/c.html
Trump's tariffs cast shadow over upcoming Asian elections
Nikkei 20250428
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Trump-s-tariffs-cast-shadow-over-upcoming-Asian-elections
Trump’s Quad allies in Asia fret over tariffs as China factor complicates ties
SCMP 20250428
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308185/trumps-quad-allies-asia-fret-over-tariffs-china-factor-complicates-ties
Island Waves
US Invests K1.6 Billion in Fuel Storage Facility Following PNG Government Request
Post Courier (PNG) 20250428
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/u-s-invests-k1-6-billion-in-fuel-storage-facility-following-png-government-request/
Fiji and China join forces to transform TVET landscape
FNBC 20250428
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-and-china-join-forces-to-transform-tvet-landscape/
West ready to host Fujian investors
Solomon Star 20250428
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/west-ready-host-any-fujian-investor/
Solomon Islands to build new ATC towers at Honiara and Munda Airports under SIRAP2 to boost aviation safety and infrastructure
SIBC 20250426
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/solomon-islands-air-traffic-control-upgrade/
Fiji records $14m trade surplus with US
FNBC 20250428
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-records-14m-trade-surplus-with-u-s/
Labor insists the Coalition made biggest foreign policy blunder since WWII. But has Albanese repaired damage in the Pacific?
ABC (AU) 20250429
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-29/labor-liberal-pacific-policies-climate-change-china/105224594
French Minister Valls wants all parties to 'take their responsibilities' ahead of third trip to New Caledonia
RNZ 20250429
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/559335/french-minister-valls-wants-all-parties-to-take-their-responsibilities-ahead-of-third-trip-to-new-caledonia
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan mulling joint production of artillery shells with US
Taiwan News 20250428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6096156
Taiwan tracks 29 Chinese military aircraft, 14 ships
Taiwan News 20250428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6095884
Beijing finally slices off Sandy Cay
ASPI 20250428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beijing-finally-slices-off-sandy-cay/
China and the Philippines Spar Over a Sandbar in the South China Sea
NYTimes 20250428
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/world/asia/south-china-philippine-sandy.html
China, Philippines both plant flag on reef, escalating Maritime tussle
The Diplomat 20250428
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/sandy-cay-china-philippines/
Philippines, China Tussle Over Uninhabited South China Sea Reef
The Diplomat 20250428
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/philippines-china-tussle-over-uninhabited-south-china-sea-reef/
China and Philippines clash over disputed Sandy Cay in the Spratly Islands
SCMP 20250428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3308187/china-and-philippines-clash-over-disputed-sandy-cay-spratly-islands
PLA Navy’s Type 22 missile boat joins foreign warship interception, rights protection missions in South China Sea: report
GT 20250428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333046.shtml
Set to Boil: A Silent South China Sea No Longer
1945 20250428
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/set-to-boil-a-silent-south-china-sea-no-longer/
Capabilities
Australia’s defence readiness—a critical assessment
ASPI 20250428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-defence-readiness-a-critical-assessment/
The U.S. Air Force Could Be ‘Exterminated on the Runway’ By Missile Attacks
1945 20250427
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/the-u-s-air-force-could-be-exterminated-on-the-runway-by-missile-attacks/
China’s high-power microwave gun fires 10,000 shots in test, proving new vacuum tech
SCMP 20250428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3307741/chinas-high-power-microwave-gun-fires-10000-shots-test-proving-new-vacuum-tech
China launches pioneering high-speed submersible unmanned vessel
Xinhua 20250428
https://english.news.cn/20250428/1d947fe891dd496ab8c782d8879c9717/c.html
The waning deterrence of America’s nuclear arsenal
Asia Times 20250428
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/the-waning-deterrence-of-americas-nuclear-arsenal/
Marines more than halfway through fielding of new 360-degree radar
Defense News 20250428
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/04/28/marines-more-than-halfway-through-fielding-of-new-360-degree-radar/
Preparing the U.S. Coast Guard for Future Gray-Zone Competition
RAND 20250428
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA3000/RRA3019-1/RAND_RRA3019-1.pdf
Unprecedented rise in global military expenditure as European and Middle East spending surges
SIPRI 20250428
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/unprecedented-rise-global-military-expenditure-european-and-middle-east-spending-surges
Shipbuilding, Golden Dome and munitions win big as GOP unveils $150B bill to boost defense
Breaking Defense 20250427
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/shipbuilding-golden-dome-and-munitions-win-big-as-gop-unveils-150b-bill-to-boost-defense/
Bringing Back Medium Range Ballistic Missiles Fast Tracked Under Proposed $150B Defense Boost
TWZ 20250428
https://www.twz.com/land/bringing-back-medium-range-ballistic-missiles-fast-tracked-under-proposed-150b-defense-boost
‘Blatant disregard’: Air Force, Senate panel face off over infrastructure spending
Breaking Defense 20250428
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/04/blatant-disregard-air-force-senate-panel-face-off-over-infrastructure-spending/
Deep sea mining is the new front in Pacific competition
ASPI 20250428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/deep-sea-mining-is-the-new-front-in-pacific-competition/
China launches new data relay satellite
Xinhua 20250428
https://english.news.cn/20250428/643ba4d333d944cda19784fde5b77474/c.html
Power
The Return of Great-Power Diplomacy
FA 20250428
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-great-power-diplomacy-strategy-wess-mitchell
Exercises
US-Philippine largest-ever drills bristle with missiles aimed at China
Asia Times 20250428
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/us-philippine-largest-ever-drills-bristle-with-missiles-aimed-at-china/
Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250428
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202504/20250428en.pdf
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 28, 2025
USNI 20250428
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/28/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-28-2025