Pacific Winds 20250430
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan, Philippines leaders to agree on talks for key security pacts
Kyodo 20250429
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/04/defc50e613c9-japan-philippines-leaders-to-agree-on-talks-for-key-security-pacts.html
Japan and Philippines to start talks on 2 defense pacts in the face of China’s growing aggression
AP 20250429
https://apnews.com/article/japan-prime-minister-shigeru-ishiba-philippines-china-3c2d3dda146c8b98b2a993d1dd9c59be
With Trump’s push, China changing its relations with the world
Asia Times 20250429
https://asiatimes.com/2025/04/with-trumps-push-china-changing-its-relations-with-the-world/
How China Armed Itself for the Trade War
FA 20250429
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/how-china-armed-itself-trade-war
On Track for Cold War with China
WSJ 20250428
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/on-track-for-the-next-cold-war-china-us-foreign-policy-tension-cb01526c
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Aims to Pull In Vietnam Amid China’s Approach; Japan Seeks to Provide Help in Economic, Security Issues
Yomiuri 20250429
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250429-251786/
Japan, Vietnam Pledge Closer Economic Cooperation As Trump Tariffs Loom
The Diplomat 20250429
https://thediplomat.com/2025/04/japan-vietnam-pledge-closer-economic-cooperation-as-trump-tariffs-loom/
U.S. treasury secretary says contours of trade deal with S. Korea 'coming together'
Yonhap 20250429
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250429011800315
Convergence and divergence in Australia and Southeast Asia’s economic security approaches
EAF 20250429
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/04/29/convergence-and-divergence-in-australia-and-southeast-asias-economic-security-approaches/
Trump Treasury Sec. Rushes to Explain How Many Trade Deals He’s Made
New Republic 20250428
https://newrepublic.com/post/194467/donald-trump-scott-bessent-brooke-rollins-trade-deals
Countries with which US runs big trade deficits aren’t the same as the ones who lend to and invest in the US
Brookings 20250429
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/countries-with-which-us-runs-big-trade-deficits-arent-the-same-as-the-ones-who-lend-to-and-invest-in-the-us/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Report: Singapore fighter jets on Guam to bring 205 more troops
PDN 20250430
https://www.guampdn.com/news/report-basing-singapore-fighter-jets-on-guam-will-bring-205-more-personnel-boost-exercises/article_3b6f619e-d2a9-493b-ac72-a21880f73686.html
Military expansion in the CNMI: Economic gains, environmental safeguards
PDN 20250429
https://www.guampdn.com/news/military-expansion-in-the-cnmi-economic-gains-environmental-safeguards/article_117f4cf9-32eb-431a-a8ce-0bb17fb0fa54.html
Guam gets Sentinel Landscape designation
GDP 20250429
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-gets-sentinel-landscape-designation/article_3eb1db33-0425-40e7-880f-d6bfab7b90c6.html
Island Waves
PNG War Games Sends Message to Hostiles, US Military Official
Post Courier (PNG) 20250429
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-war-games-sends-message-to-hostiles-us-military-official/
Taiwan + SCS
Air Force official says arms sale requests based on Taiwan's needs
Taiwan News 20250429
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6097797
Taiwan sets up platform for coordinated response to undersea cable disruptions
SCMP 20250429
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3308373/taiwan-sets-platform-coordinated-response-undersea-cable-disruptions
China complains to Philippines over 'negative moves' regarding Taiwan, security
Reuters 20250429
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-complains-philippines-over-negative-moves-regarding-taiwan-security-2025-04-29/
Taiwan’s democracy vital: ex-US officer
Taipei Times 20250430
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/04/30/2003836067
Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft, 10 ships
Taiwan News 20250429
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6097120
PLA Southern Theater Command conducts routine patrols in the South China Sea
GT 20250430
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333186.shtml
New photos show Philippines’ illegal landing at Tiexian Jiao; CCG officers boarded reef to conduct verification and enforcement measures
GT 20250429
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202504/1333156.shtml
PH, US, Australia hold counter-landing and live fire exercise in Palawan
GMA 20250429
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/944348/balikatan-2025-ph-us-australia-live-fire-exercise/story/
Capabilities
This unit will be the next to field the Corps’ ship-killing missile
Defense News 20250428
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/04/29/this-unit-will-be-the-next-to-field-the-corps-ship-killing-missile/
Marines Get Their First High Power Microwave Weapon For Taking On Drone Swarms
TWZ 20250429
https://www.twz.com/land/marines-get-their-first-high-power-microwave-weapon-for-taking-on-drone-swarms
Marine Reserve planning largest mobilization drills in decades
MIlitary Times 20250429
https://www.militarytimes.com/land/2025/04/29/marine-reserve-planning-largest-mobilization-drills-in-decades/
Decision due soon about novel boats for seagoing Marine recon units
Marine Corps Times 20250429
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2025/04/29/decision-due-soon-about-novel-boats-for-seagoing-marine-recon-units/
CRS Report to Congress on U.S. Army Typhon Missile System
USNI 20250429
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/29/report-to-congress-on-u-s-army-typhon-missile-system
For nuclear deterrence, US policymakers must rely on facts, not hype
Defense News 20250428
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/04/28/for-nuclear-deterrence-us-policymakers-must-rely-on-facts-not-hype/
China’s military rapidly expands use of low-cost AI-powered drones in ‘phased leap’
SCMP 20250429
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308152/chinas-military-rapidly-expands-use-low-cost-ai-powered-drones-phased-leap
China is developing an ‘Underwater BeiDou’ network for navigation and tracking
SCMP 20250429
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3308321/china-developing-underwater-beidou-network-navigation-and-tracking
Japan, U.S. Affirm Continuing Defense Industry Cooperation; Joint Development, Production of Equipment Will Continue Under Biden-Era Framework
Yomiuri 20250429
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20250429-251743/
Reconciliation Bill Calls for 16 New Battle Force Ships, $4.9B in Unmanned Vessels
USNI 20250428
https://news.usni.org/2025/04/28/reconciliation-bill-calls-for-16-new-battle-force-ships-4-9b-in-unmanned-vessels
Exercises
New Zealand contributes Poseidon to North Korea sanctions monitoring
NZDF 20240529
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/air-force/air-force-news/new-zealand-contributes-poseidon-to-north-korea-sanctions-monitoring/