Pacific Winds 20250503
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Hegseth orders crafting of 2025 defense strategy to prioritize allies' burden sharing, China deterrence
Yonhap 20250503
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250503000300315
West by Sea: Why the Pacific’s Security Should Be Anchored in Indo-Pacific Partnerships
The Diplomat 20250502
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/west-by-sea-why-the-pacifics-security-should-be-anchored-in-indo-pacific-partnerships/
Japan PM vows to protect national interests in tariff talks with U.S.
Kyodo 20250502
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/e9223a7a8b09-update2-japan-pm-vows-to-protect-national-interests-in-tariff-talks-with-us.html
Ishiba Calls For More Detailed Trade Talks; Tariff Issue Unresolved, But Talks “Constructive”
Yomiuri 20250502
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250502-252332/
Japan objects to US trade proposal leaving tariffs on autos, steel
Nikkei 20250503
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Japan-objects-to-US-trade-proposal-leaving-tariffs-on-autos-steel
U.S.-Japan Alliance in Transition: Address by Mr. Seiji Maehara
CSIS 20250502
https://www.csis.org/analysis/us-japan-alliance-transition-address-mr-seiji-maehara
Japan-US Trade Talks: Start by Expanding Beyond Trade
Hudson 20250502
https://www.hudson.org/economics/japan-us-trade-talks-start-expanding-beyond-trade-mark-siegel
How the Squad risks upending ASEAN norms
Lowy 20250502
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-squad-risks-upending-asean-norms
Darwin Port throws national security into Aussie election spotlight
FDI Intel 20250501
https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/97d8772b-66f6-4722-820f-f4dfa18bdad0
Knee-jerk anti-Chinese redbaiting in Australian elections
AI 20250502
https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/knee-jerk-anti-chinese-redbaiting-in-australian-elections/
Trump thinks he runs the world. Australians might have something to say about that
USSC 20250502
https://www.ussc.edu.au/trump-thinks-he-runs-the-world-australians-might-have-something-to-say-about-that
America is in Asia, but not of Asia
Asia Times 20250502
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/america-is-in-asia-but-not-of-asia/
Southeast Asia at a loss at the end of the American Empire
Nikkei 20250502
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Southeast-Asia-at-a-loss-at-the-end-of-the-American-Empire
Trump aide claims S. Korea, Japan closed markets to U.S. cars, defends auto tariffs
Yonhap 20250502
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250502000500315
U.S. and China Dig In on Trade War, With No Plans for Formal Talks
NYTimes 20250502
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/us/politics/us-china-trade-tariffs-talks.html
China assessing U.S. messages of hoping to hold tariff talks: commerce ministry
Xinhua 20250502
https://english.news.cn/20250502/5beaf0df3fe64a36b1f7fcc0999d17b8/c.html
US conveys information to China on several occasions, hoping to talk about tariffs; China is making assessments: MOFCOM
GT 20250502
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333252.shtml
China Is Considering Trade Talks With U.S., but It Has Conditions
NYTimes 20250502
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/world/asia/china-us-tariffs-talks.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Secretary of Navy visits Guam
PDN 20250502
https://www.guampdn.com/news/secretary-of-navy-visits-guam/article_1d903948-b4f5-4725-9036-df8c39b9ba66.html
Palau begins shift to Digital Passports with help from Japan
Island Times 20250502
https://islandtimes.org/palau-begins-shift-to-digital-passports-with-help-from-japan/
Island Waves
Australia deepens engagement in Solomon Islands amid geopolitical tensions
IPDF 20250501
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/05/australia-deepens-engagement-in-solomon-islands-amid-geopolitical-tensions/
Bursting the Solomon Islands stability bubble
Lowy 20250502
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/bursting-solomon-islands-stability-bubble
Fiji-China trade: Developments signal growth in investment confidence
Fiji Times 20250502
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-china-trade-developments-signal-growth-in-investment-confidence/
Japanese experts to help with power crisis
Samoa Observer 20250502
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/114166
We will not interfere with Indonesia-West Papua matter
FBCN 20250502
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/we-will-not-interfere-with-indonesia-west-papua-matter1/
Trump's push on deep sea mining imperils Nauru's commercial ambitions
RNZ 20250502
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/559710/trump-s-push-on-deep-sea-mining-imperils-nauru-s-commercial-ambitions
Winston Peters warns of foreign interference in New Caledonia, urges peaceful dialogue
PMN 20250502
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/winston-peters-addresses-foreign-interference-concerns-in-new-caledonia-urges-dialogue-amid-geopolitical-tensions
US, Japanese authorities face renewed protests over military misconduct on Okinawa
S&S 20250502
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-05-02/protest-letters-okinawa-sexual-assault-17653588.html
Taiwan + xCS
Trump Should Rein In Taiwan
FP 20250501
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/01/trump-taiwan-china-war-military/
Manila's risky tango with Taipei: Strategic calculus or diplomatic provocation?
Manila Times 20250503
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/05/03/opinion/columns/manilas-risky-tango-with-taipei-strategic-calculus-or-diplomatic-provocation/2104758
US betting big on robo-fighters to win a Taiwan war
Asia Times 20250502
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/us-betting-big-on-robo-fighters-to-win-a-taiwan-war/
Taiwan to mark World War Two end in history narrative battle with China
Reuters 20250502
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-mark-world-war-two-end-history-narrative-battle-with-china-2025-05-02/
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese ships, 5 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250502
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6100429
How Will South Korea’s Next President Deal With China’s Maritime Encroachment?
The Diplomat 20250501
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/how-will-south-koreas-next-president-deal-with-chinas-maritime-encroachment/
Capabilities
China’s military reveals details of Type 094 nuclear submarine for first time
SCMP 20250502
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308686/chinas-military-reveals-details-type-094-nuclear-submarine-first-time
China’s military responds to Hegseth’s warning about hypersonic missile threat to carriers
WashTimes 20250501
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/may/1/chinas-military-responds-hegseths-warning-hypersonic-missile-threat/
China’s counter-UAV efforts reveal more than technological advancement
Defense One 20250502
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/chinas-counter-uav-efforts-reveal-more-technological-advancement/405031/
China Building Ship That Could Be Used Against Taiwan; Satellites Spot Dual-Use Vessel about 200 Meters Long
Yomiuri 20250502
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250502-252303/
The Indo-Pacific: Where Scale Matters
CFR 20250502
https://www.cfr.org/article/indo-pacific-where-scale-matters
What else we could do with the money: AUKUS Plan Bs from a CSBA exercise
ASPI 20250501
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/what-else-we-could-do-with-the-money-aukus-plan-bs-from-a-csba-exercise/
Navy, Marine Corps chiefs hammer amphib readiness in back-to-back addresses
Breaking Defense 20250502
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/navy-marine-corps-chiefs-hammer-amphib-readiness-in-back-to-back-addresses/
Making Sure Wingman Drones Don’t Hit Their Crewed Companions Still A Challenge Marines Say
TWZ 20250430
https://www.twz.com/air/making-sure-wingman-drones-dont-hit-their-crewed-companions-still-a-challenge-marines-say
Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosive Test Facility
CSIS 20250502
https://beyondparallel.csis.org/yongdok-tong-nuclear-high-explosive-test-facility-part-2/
The U.S. Can’t Handle a War
AEI 20250502
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/the-u-s-cant-handle-a-war/
New CIA videos aim to lure Chinese officials
Reuters 20250501
https://www.reuters.com/world/new-cia-videos-aim-lure-chinese-officials-2025-05-01/
New CIA videos seek to lure Chinese officials to leak secrets to US
SCMP 202500502
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3308744/new-cia-videos-seek-lure-chinese-officials-leak-secrets-us
CIA's Mandarin-language spy recruiting ads mocked in China
Nikkei 20250502
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/US-China-tensions/CIA-s-Mandarin-language-spy-recruiting-ads-mocked-in-China
Philippine Authorities Call Out Alleged Chinese Election Interference
The Diplomat 20250502
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/philippine-authorities-call-out-alleged-chinese-election-interference/
CRS Report to Congress on Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon
USNI 20250502
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/02/report-to-congress-on-armys-long-range-hypersonic-weapon
Trump requests $892.6 billion base defense budget, a real-terms cut
Defense News 20250502
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2025/05/02/trump-requests-8926-billion-base-defense-budget-a-real-terms-cut/
Trump administration to request $1T defense budget using reconciliation funds
Breaking Defense 20250502
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/trump-administration-to-request-1t-defense-budget-using-reconciliation-funds/
Power
Will China Escalate?
FA 20250502
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/will-china-escalate
Trump’s national security strategy: from Pax Americana to Pact Americana
ASPI 20250502
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trumps-national-security-strategy-from-pax-americana-to-pact-americana/
Exercises
Philippines, U.S. and Australian Forces Simulate Amphibious Invasion in Balikatan
USNI 20250501
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/01/philippines-u-s-and-australian-forces-simulate-amphibious-invasion-in-balikatan
Project Carabao: Wet-Wing Refueling
USAF AAFB 20250502
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4172148/project-carabao-wet-wing-refueling/