Pacific Winds 20250515

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Asia without America, part 1: The cupboards are bare
Asia Times 20250514
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/asia-without-america-part-1-the-cupboards-are-bare/

Conservative heavyweights join forces in LDP panel on Indo-Pacific
Japan Times 20250514
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/14/japan/politics/new-ldp-panel-on-the-indo-pacific/

No, Australian trade isn’t diversifying away from China
ASPI 20250514
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/no-australian-trade-isnt-diversifying-away-from-china/

The illusion of progress in US-China tariff talks — why the pause is not a reset
ABC (AU) 20250514
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-14/why-the-us-tariff-pause-is-not-a-reset/105287962

Beyond Tariff Truce, China Readies for a Rocky Time With U.S.
NYTimes 20250514
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/world/asia/china-us-tariffs-security.html

U.S.-China Trade Deal Defies Expectations
FP 20250513
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/13/china-united-states-trade-tariff-negotiations-pause-economy/

US-China tariff wars: Hitting the pause button for now
Think China 20250513
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/us-china-tariff-wars-hitting-pause-button-now

Market uncertainty created by Trump worse than his 10% tariff on Australian exports, say analysts
Guardian (UK) 20250513
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/market-uncertainty-created-by-trump-worse-than-his-10-tariff-on-australian-exports-say-analysts

US issues worldwide restriction on using Huawei AI chips
Nikkei 20250514
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Huawei-crackdown/US-issues-worldwide-restriction-on-using-Huawei-AI-chips

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Governor calls region to leverage geopolitical significance at PIDB meeting on Saipan
PDN 20250514
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-calls-region-to-leverage-geopolitical-significance-at-pidb-meeting-on-saipan/article_84eda8e5-7351-4916-bbb9-50a65e2e336e.html

US Reveals Nuclear Submarine in China's Backyard
Newsweek 20250514
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-navy-submarine-guam-pacific-china-2072085

Mass casualty exercise on May 20 at Ritidian Beach
PDN 202500514
https://www.guampdn.com/news/only-a-drill-mass-casualty-exercise-on-may-20-at-ritidian-beach/article_e68af528-b37d-4eae-8a87-d6ce2c272eae.html

Island Waves

Direct seaweed export to China soon
Solomon Star 20250514
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/direct-seaweed-export-to-china-soon/

$20m Buala wharf project abandoned
Solomon Star 20250514
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/20m-buala-wharf-project-abandoned/

Chinese pressure is a part of Solomon Islands’ politics. Other Pacific countries should take note
ASPI 20250514
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinese-pressure-is-a-part-of-solomon-islands-politics-other-pacific-countries-should-take-note/

Fiji and NZ agree to deepen cooperation
FBCN 20250514
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-and-nz-agree-to-deepen-cooperation/

NZDF joins large South Pacific disaster exercise as new response group starts work
NZDF 20250514
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/navy/navy-news/nzdf-joins-large-south-pacific-disaster-exercise-as-new-response-group-starts-work/

US lawmakers renew call for increased engagement with Pacific island region
PIT 20250514
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-lawmakers-renew-call-for-increased-engagement-with-pacific-island-region

Taiwan + SCS

The Lai Ching-te government shifts gears
ASPI 20250514
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-lai-ching-te-government-shifts-gears/

The Beiping model: How China could absorb Taiwan without a war
Lowy 20250515
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beiping-model-how-china-could-absorb-taiwan-without-war

Mainland spokesperson slams Lai Ching-te's labeling of mainland as 'external hostile force'
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334029.shtml

Root cause for complexity across Taiwan Straits lies in DPP’s refusal to acknowledge 1992 Consensus and colluding with external forces: mainland spokesperson
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334016.shtml

Mainland spokesperson responds to Trump’s ‘unification’ remarks, urges intl community to support just cause against ‘Taiwan independence’
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334032.shtml

Mainland spokesperson slams Lai over ‘selective amnesia’ and whitewash on Japanese colonial atrocities in Taiwan
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334017.shtml

DPP authorities’ attempt to build ‘non-red’ supply chain serves its decoupling agenda, exposing its subservience to the US: spokesperson
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334038.shtml

Expert notes need for S. Korea to persuade China not to create conflict in Taiwan Strait
Yonhap 20250514
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250514000451315

Taiwan tracks 35 Chinese military aircraft, 10 ships
Taiwan News 20250514
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6109902

China, Singapore launch live-action maritime drill in South China Sea
GT 20250514
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334068.shtml

Capabilities

INDOPACOM chief highlights Army firepower as key to deterring China
S&S 20250514
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-05-13/paparo-army-fire-power-china-17782842.html

Army task forces ‘centerpiece’ for deterring China: INDOPACOM boss
Military Times 20250514
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-army/2025/05/14/army-task-forces-centerpiece-for-deterring-china-indopacom-boss/

US Typhon missile system in Philippines is a subtle headache for China
Defense News 20250414
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/05/14/us-typhon-missile-system-in-philippines-is-a-subtle-headache-for-china/

Envisioned Pentagon strategy may lead allies to explore 'greater flexibility' of USFK to counter China: ex-U.S. official
Yonhap 20250514
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250514001351315

AUKUS and deterrence: what, exactly, are we trying to deter?
ASPI 20250514
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-and-deterrence-what-exactly-are-we-trying-to-deter/

America’s Hard Power Must Get Harder
Project Syndicate 202500514
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/us-military-defense-systems-outdated-in-age-of-drones-autonomous-technology-by-todd-g-buchholz-and-michael-mindlin-2025-05

US shares sixth-generation fighter details, intensifying China air rivalry
SCMP 20250514
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310303/us-shares-sixth-generation-fighter-details-intensifying-china-air-rivalry

Candid Image Gives First Evidence Of China’s Secretive Armed Underwater Drone
Naval News 20250514
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/05/candid-image-gives-first-evidence-of-chinas-secretive-armed-underwater-drone/

No. of N. Korea's ICBMs may rise to 50 by 2035: U.S. intel report
Yonhap 20250514
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250514005400315

Navy leaders look to expand munitions options as supplies run low
Defense News 20250514
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/05/14/navy-leaders-look-to-expand-munitions-options-as-supplies-run-low/

Australia’s security architecture must evolve, not regress
ASPI 20250514
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-pick-australias-security-architecture-must-evolve-not-regress/

China’s bullet-shape satellite test paves the way for very low orbit surveillance network
SCMP 20250514
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310148/chinas-bullet-shape-satellite-test-paves-way-very-low-orbit-surveillance-network

China launches space computing satellite constellation
China Military 20250514
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16386061.html

Nuclear battery startup Zeno Power raises $50 million to expand in space and at sea
Space News 20250514
https://spacenews.com/nuclear-battery-startup-zeno-power-raises-50-million-to-expand-in-space-and-at-sea/

Exercises

More drills between PH, US troops set in Batanes, Palawan
Inquirer (PH) 20250514
https://www.inquirer.net/443405/more-drills-between-ph-us-troops-set-in-batanes-palawan/

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Says It Will Conduct First-Ever Joint Exercise With South Korean Marine Corps
The Diplomat 20250513
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/japan-ground-self-defense-force-says-it-will-conduct-first-ever-joint-exercise-with-south-korean-marine-corps/