Pacific Winds 20250505
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Australia’s election: After branding his opponents Trump-like, Albanese now needs to work with the US President
Lowy 20250504
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-s-election-after-branding-his-opponents-trump-albanese-now-needs-work-us
Australia's reelected government says US-China tussle to be top priority
Reuters 20250504
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-reelected-government-says-us-china-tussle-be-top-priority-2025-05-04/
Xi to pay state visit to Russia, attend Great Patriotic War Victory celebration on May 7-10
GT 20250504
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333318.shtml
Japan Presses U.S. to Scrap 25％ Auto Tariffs as Ishiba Refuses Partial Trade Deal; No Deal Without ‘Total Rollback’
Yomiuri 20250504
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250504-252640/
Japan-U.S. Tariff Negotiations: Seek Progress with Focus on Specified Issues
Yomiuri 20250504
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250504-252678/
Trump signals willingness to lower China tariffs ‘at some point’
SCMP 20250505
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3309049/trump-signals-willingness-lower-china-tariffs-some-point
Island Waves
Fiji secures US funding for ICT upgrades
FBCN 20250504
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-secures-us-funding-for-ict-upgrades/
Taiwan + xCS
US admiral concerned over China’s exercises
Taipei Times 20250505
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2025/05/05/2003836333
Legislative delegation underscores Taiwan commitment to defense
Taiwan News 20250504
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/6101405
Taiwan tracks 8 PLA aircraft and 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250504
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6101433
China denounces Japanese civilian aircraft's incursion into Diaoyu Dao airspace
Xinhua 20250504
https://english.news.cn/20250504/dd994b3ce36349749426ff8a2c2bca0c/c.html
China rebuts Japan's assertion of airspace intrusion near Senkakus
Kyodo 20250504
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/2b0dd4696044-china-rebuts-japans-assertion-of-airspace-intrusion-near-senkakus.html
China-Japan dispute flares up after ‘ultranationalists’ fly plane over Diaoyu Islands
SCMP 202500504
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309011/china-and-japans-diaoyu-islands-dispute-flares-again-over-intrusions
PLA Navy’s second Type 054B frigate officially commissioned, conducts combat drill in South China Sea
GT 20250504
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333320.shtml
Vietnam protests China, PH claims on Sandy Cay
Inquirer (PH) 20250504
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/275652/vietnam-protests-china-ph-claims-on-sandy-cay
Capabilities
America’s New Pacific Army Commander Lays Out His China Strategy
WSJ 20250504
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/americas-new-pacific-army-commander-lays-out-his-china-strategy-87f2f5b7
What Could Japan’s Coast Guard Do in an Armed Attack?
THe Diplomat 20250504
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/what-could-japans-coast-guard-do-in-an-armed-attack/