Pacific Winds 20250514
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
The Failure of Middle Power Concerts: A Return to Power Politics?
AIIA 20250513
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-failure-of-middle-power-concerts-a-return-to-power-politics/
China warns that Cold War problems could be ‘reheated’ in Asia-Pacific region
SCMP 20250513
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310071/china-must-bolster-stability-national-security-amid-hostile-forces-beijing-white-paper
Post-US-China truce, wiser for Seoul, Tokyo to take the long road
Asia Times 20250513
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/post-us-china-truce-wiser-for-seoul-tokyo-to-take-the-long-road/
Trump Mistakenly Thinks Japan Is a Soft Target
FP 20250512
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/japan-trump-trade-tariffs-cars/
Japan Govt Fears U.S.-China Talks May Sideline Japan-U.S. Negotiations; Agreement Welcomed, Details to Be Analyzed
Yomiuri 20250513
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250513-254078/
Why stable China ties are vital for Australia
GT 20250513
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333966.shtml
North Korean Spy Arrest in China May Signal Beijing’s Unease over Growing Pyongyang-Moscow Ties
The Diplomat 20250513
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/north-korean-spy-arrest-in-china-may-signal-beijings-unease-over-growing-pyongyang-moscow-ties/
US eases trade war, pursues ‘strategic decoupling’ from China
Asia Times 20250513
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/us-eases-trade-war-pursues-strategic-decoupling-from-china/
Tariff Truce With China Demonstrates the Limits of Trump’s Aggression
NYTimes 20250512
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/business/economy/trump-trade-china-tariffs.html
Why Trump’s China trade war retreat may be fleeting
Asia Times 20250513
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/why-trumps-china-trade-war-retreat-may-be-fleeting/
Understanding the Temporary De-Escalation of the U.S.-China Trade War
CSIS 20250513
https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-temporary-de-escalation-us-china-trade-war
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Communist infiltrators or American Dream seekers? Why Chinese nationals risk their lives at sea to enter Guam
PIT 20250513
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/communist-infiltrators-or-american-dream-seekers-why-chinese-nationals-risk-their-lives-at-sea-to-e
U.S. Military presence boosts Peleliu’s economy, Governor says
Island Times 20250513
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-military-presence-boosts-pelelius-economy-governor-says/
Japan and Palau sign and exchange notes for project to improve water supply systems in Koror and Airai
Island Times 20250513
https://islandtimes.org/japan-and-palau-sign-and-exchange-notes-for-project-to-improve-water-supply-systems-in-koror-and-airai/
Prioritizing warfighting in Guam
GDP 20250513
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/prioritizing-warfighting-in-guam/article_122fb19c-e7d1-4936-9240-9481644a2374.html
Island Waves
No movement on Cook Islands-China deals months after signing
RNZ 202500513
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/560799/no-movement-on-cook-islands-china-deals-months-after-signing
One year on: no agreement for New Caledonia despite serious negotiations
ASPI 20250513
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/one-year-on-no-agreement-for-new-caledonia-despite-serious-negotiations/
Vadede tower in North Choiseul now online
Solomon Star 20250513
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/vadede-tower-in-north-choiseul-now-online/
Tariff talks – Fiji in US priority list
Fiji Times 20250513
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/tariff-talks-fiji-in-us-priority-list/
What or where is the Indo-Pacific? How a foreign policy pivot redefined the global map
The Conversation 20250513
https://theconversation.com/what-or-where-is-the-indo-pacific-how-a-foreign-policy-pivot-redefined-the-global-map-256406
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan worsens its vulnerability to a Chinese energy blockade
ASPI 20250513
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/taiwan-lacks-clarity-on-energy-security/
A Taipei Airlift: Lessons from Berlin
WOTR 20250513
https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/a-taipei-airlift-lessons-from-berlin/
Taiwan Army conducts drills in Kinmen to boost combat readiness
Taiwan News 20250513
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6109435
Taiwan tracks 31 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250513
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6108761
With New Zealand the latest to join, the Philippines is building a network of defence partners amid South China Sea tensions
Lowy 20250513
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/new-zealand-latest-join-philippines-building-network-defence-partners-amid-south
Indonesia’s South China Sea policy needs more than legalism
EAF 20250513
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/13/indonesias-south-china-sea-policy-needs-more-than-legalism/
Capabilities
Navy seeks to fast track nuclear weapons systems
Defense News 20250513
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2025/05/13/navy-seeks-to-fast-track-nuclear-weapons-systems/
US Navy wants sea-launched nuke missiles to hold China at bay
Asia Times 20250513
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/us-navy-wants-sea-launched-nuke-missiles-to-hold-china-at-bay/
AI is helping the Pentagon go from finding targets to predicting threats
Defense One 20250513
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/05/ai-helping-pentagon-go-finding-targets-predicting-threats/405279/
Space Force should get a quarter of Pentagon spending, if DoD is serious about countering China
Breaking Defense 20250513
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/space-force-should-get-a-quarter-of-pentagon-spending-if-dod-is-serious-about-countering-china/
China launches new communication technology test satellite
Xinhua 20250513
https://english.news.cn/20250513/38d49f65caac4a6a9628149c1d2fc046/c.html
China adds to classified TJS, Yaogan satellite series with two launches
Space News 20250512
https://spacenews.com/china-adds-to-classified-tjs-yaogan-satellite-series-with-two-launches/
GAO: SDA Tranche Achievement of MVP Could Help Save Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Decade
Defense Daily 20250513
https://www.defensedaily.com/gao-sda-tranche-achievement-of-mvp-could-help-save-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-in-decade/space/
Space debris crisis: the national security threat we’re ignoring
Space News 20250513
https://spacenews.com/space-debris-crisis-the-national-security-threat-were-ignoring/
Power
The Five Keys of Donald Trump’s Grand Strategy
Hudson 20250512
https://www.hudson.org/global-economy/five-keys-donald-trumps-grand-strategy-arthur-herman
Exercises
Army sending Hawaii-based troops to Philippine defensive exercise this summer
S&S 20250513
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-05-12/25th-infantry-division-jpmrc-luzon-us-army-17771477.html
Balikatan 2025: PH strengthens global ties for peace and preparedness
Inquirer (PH) 20240513
https://opinion.inquirer.net/183208/balikatan-2025-ph-strengthens-global-ties-for-peace-and-preparedness