Pacific Winds 20250504
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Subservience puts New Zealand’s sovereignty and security at risk
NZ Herald 20250503
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/opinion-helen-clark-and-marco-de-jong-subservience-puts-new-zealands-sovereignty-and-security-at-risk/IHEVY3RVFZG3PEONGRX6AOD6AQ/
What Trump’s New Budget Says About U.S. Foreign Policy
FP 20250502
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/02/trump-white-house-2026-budget-state-department-defense/
Trump's 25% auto part tariff takes effect, in latest blow to Japan
Kyodo 20250503
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/b773aa5b27e0-trumps-25-auto-part-tariff-takes-effect-in-latest-blow-to-japan.html
Japan, U.S. Set For Tug-of-War In Tariff Negotiations;Both Sides Under Pressure, But Claim To Be In No Hurry
Yomiuri 20250503
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250503-252561/
Finance Minister: All Cards Should Be on Table in Tariff Negotitations; Japan Largest Foreign Holder of U.S. Bonds
Yomiuri 20250503
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250503-252472/
Japan wants all tariffs reviewed to reach deal with U.S.: negotiator
Kyodo 20250503
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/04ba9828f4ef-update1-japan-wants-all-tariffs-reviewed-to-reach-deal-with-us-negotiator.html
As China Looks for Way Out of U.S. Trade Deadlock, Fentanyl Could Be Key
NYTimes 20250503
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/world/asia/us-china-tariffs-fentanyl.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
President Simina Meets with U.S. Admiral, Reaffirms Strategic Partnership
FSM 202500503
https://gov.fm/president-simina-meets-with-u-s-admiral-reaffirms-strategic-partnership/
Island Waves
Pacific island nations see a US pullback – will China step up?
SCMP 20250503
https://www.scmp.com/print/week-asia/politics/article/3308874/pacific-island-nations-see-us-pullback-will-china-step
Fiji eyes Shanghai
Fiji TImes 20250503
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-eyes-shanghai/
New Caledonia talks on political future continues
RNZ 20250503
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/559783/new-caledonia-talks-on-political-future-continues
Taiwan + xCS
US ability to defeat China in Taiwan threatened, top Indo-Pacific commander warns
FT 20250503
https://www.ft.com/content/a78d7737-874f-47f9-9c50-9c6dd6c2bd44
Taiwan tracks 7 PLA aircraft and 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250503
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6101160
CCG deploys helicopter to expel Japanese aircraft illegally entering China’s airspace over Diaoyu Dao
GT 20250503
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333300.shtml
China Coast Guard helicopter enters Japan airspace off Senkakus
Kyodo 20250503
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/8dd76c8b756f-update1-china-coast-guard-chopper-briefly-enters-japan-airspace-off-senkakus.html
Capabilities
Japan to Conduct First Domestic Live-Fire Tests of Surface-to-Ship Missiles
The Diplomat 20250502
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/japan-to-conduct-first-domestic-live-fire-tests-of-surface-to-ship-missiles/
Marines say they’re ‘leading the way’ in battlefield autonomy
Defense One 20250503
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/marines-say-theyre-leading-way-battlefield-autonomy/405046/
Seaglider Aims To Deliver Small Groups Of Marines Low Over The Waves
TWZ 20250503
https://www.twz.com/sea/seaglider-aims-to-deliver-small-groups-of-marines-low-over-the-waves