Pacific Winds 20250513
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. and China Agree to Temporarily Slash Tariffs in Bid to Defuse Trade War
NYTimes 20250512
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/business/china-us-tariffs.html
US and China agree to 90-day pause on 'reciprocal' tariffs
ABC (AU) 20250512
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-12/us-treasury-secretary-90-day-pause-on-china-tariffs/105283686
US-China agree to ‘trade consultation mechanism’, conduct further talks: He Lifeng
SCMP 20250512
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309922/no-deal-sight-yet-china-and-us-enter-day-2-trade-talks-cool-tariff-tensions
U.S. and China Announce Big Tariff Rollback
FP 20250512
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/us-china-tariff-trade-agreement-geneva-meeting/
US-China tariff truce gives Asia time and space to reset
Asia Times 20250512
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/us-china-tariff-truce-gives-asia-time-and-space-to-reset/
Joint Statement on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva
Xinhua 20250512
https://english.news.cn/20250512/3bfe051fddb1495abced83014ba39298/c.html
U.S.-China trade deal gives countries chance to seek deals without being singled out as choosing sides: expert
Yonhap 20250513
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250513000200315
Biased AI Models Are Increasing Political Polarization
FP 20250512
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/biased-ai-models-political-polarization/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
USCGC Oliver Henry bolsters Marianas security; completes first Rota, Tinian shoreside patrols
USCG FM/SC 20250512
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/497590/uscgc-oliver-henry-bolsters-marianas-security-completes-first-rota-tinian-shoreside-patrols
Island Waves
China accused of foreign interference in Solomon Islands after minister quits international group
ABC (AU) 20250512
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-12/china-embassy-solomon-islands-embroiled-foreign-interference/105280538
TSI urges PRC Embassy not to meddle in SI politics
Solomon Star 20250512
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/tsi-urges-china-not-to-meddle-in-si-politics/
PRC Embassy denies political interference
Solomon Star 20250512
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/prc-embassy-denies-political-interference/
Marape Lauds PNG-Australia Relations
National (PNG) 20250512
https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-lauds-png-australia-relations/
Review Australian Supported Programmes Says MP
National (PNG) 20250512
https://www.thenational.com.pg/review-australian-supported-programmes-says-mp/
'Fighting is more frequent now': Human rights researcher warns of escalating conflict in West Papua
RNZ 20250512
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/560661/fighting-is-more-frequent-now-human-rights-researcher-warns-of-escalating-conflict-in-west-papua
Army Hits Snag in Effort to Keep Hawaii Training Range Land
Military.com 20250512
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/05/12/army-hits-snag-effort-keep-hawaii-training-range-land.html
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan conducts first live-fire drill of U.S.-supplied HIMARS
CNA (TW) 20250512
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202505120026
42 Abrams tanks to arrive in Taiwan in June
Taiwan News 20250512
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6108024
Can the US and Taiwan advance a shared vision?
Brookings 20250512
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-the-us-and-taiwan-advance-a-shared-vision/
Taiwan's Lai urges 'non-red' supply chain to counter 'unfair' China trade
Nikkei 20250513
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Taiwan-s-Lai-urges-non-red-supply-chain-to-counter-unfair-China-trade
FM spokesperson refutes DPP authorities' "Taiwan independence" fallacy
Xinhua 20250512
https://english.news.cn/20250512/f7dd35499a1a480db8a1084bdd34310d/c.html
Taiwan tracks 36 Chinese military aircraft, 10 ships
Taiwan News 20250512
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6107699
Manila should consider rationally what kind of ‘long-term policy’ it needs in S.China Sea
GT 20250512
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333877.shtml
US Army HIMARS unit deepens Philippines presence during South China Sea tensions
S&S 20250512
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-05-12/army-himars-philippines-china-sea-17763184.html
Capabilities
Abstract of white paper on China's national security in new era
Xinhua 20250512
https://english.news.cn/20250512/15ac85f452ad41d7ae1855f7009f44f9/c.html
Defense Ministry to Conduct Railgun Prototype Firing Test on MSDF Ship; Eyed as Hypersonic Weapon Countermeasure
Yomiuri 20250512
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250512-253916/
A counter to drone swarms: high-power microwave weapons
ASPI 20250512
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-counter-to-drone-swarms-high-power-microwave-weapons/
Beyond the percentage: Australia’s defence debate needs a smarter metric
ASPI 20250512
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beyond-the-percentage-australias-defence-debate-needs-a-smarter-metric/
‘Enhanced strike’ capabilities: a reckoning for New Zealand
IISS 20250512
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/05/enhanced-strike-capabilities-a-reckoning-for-new-zealand/
US loosens some rules for offensive counterspace ops, wargaming
Breaking Defense 202050512
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/exclusive-us-loosens-some-rules-for-offensive-counterspace-ops-wargaming/
Marines deploy a second F-35B squadron to Japan in modernization drive
S&S 20250512
https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2025-05-12/marine-f35-rotation-iwakuni-japan-17763036.html
Deploying North Korean Special Forces to Japan: A Potential Game Changer in the Korean Crisis
SWJ 20250512
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/05/12/north-korean-special-forces/
Cold War bomber, 21st century bill: B-52 upgrade faces fire
Asia Times 20250512
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/cold-war-bomber-21st-century-bill-b-52-upgrade-faces-fire/
Pentagon taps more firms to build commercial-military satellite network
Space News 20250512
https://spacenews.com/pentagon-taps-more-firms-to-build-commercial-military-satellite-network/
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 12, 2025
USNI 20250512
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/12/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-may-12-2025
Japan set for bigger role in Philippines after SDF’s debut in key drills
Japan Times 20250512
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/12/japan/philippines-military-japan-sdf-balikatan/
31st MEU, America ARG Prepare for Upcoming Western Pacific Deployment
USNI 20250512
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/12/31st-meu-america-arg-prepare-for-upcoming-western-pacific-deployment