Pacific Winds 20250516
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Are America’s alliances a source of strength or a burden as it competes with China?
Brookings 20250515
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/are-americas-alliances-a-source-of-strength-or-a-burden-as-it-competes-with-china/
Asia without America, part 2: Japan’s Tang renaissance
Asia Times 20250515
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/asia-without-america-part-2-japans-tang-renaissance/
China-Philippine ties face reckoning after Marcos fails to thwart Duterte camp
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310363/china-philippine-ties-face-reckoning-after-marcos-fails-thwart-duterte-camp
U.S. experts voice concerns over Lee Jae-myung's foreign policy stance
Chosun 20250515
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/05/15/JRQHCAS3EBFLHGGXJNAZPD6G3M/
Poll shows more countries hold a favorable view of China than US: American media
GT 20250515
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334148.shtml
There is no US-Japan trade deal in sight
Nikkei 20250515
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/There-is-no-US-Japan-trade-deal-in-sight
US urged to ‘meet China halfway’ as envoy Perdue arrives in Beijing amid trade truce
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310520/us-urged-meet-china-halfway-envoy-arrives-beijing-amid-trade-truce
Mechanisms lay basis for sustainable China-US relations
GT 20250515
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334156.shtml
China’s trade stand pays off but more clashes with US to come, analysts warn
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3310410/chinas-trade-stand-pays-more-clashes-us-come-analysts-warn
China urges US to correct wrongful practice as US claims using Huawei chips ‘anywhere’ violates its export controls
GT 20250515
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334142.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam governor advocates for economic diversification as US military buildup continues
RNZ 20250515
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/561090/guam-governor-advocates-for-economic-diversification-as-us-military-buildup-continues
Taiwan signs criminal justice agreement with Marshall Islands
Taiwan News 20250515
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6111366
Lasky takes helm of Joint Task Force-Micronesia; Indo-Pacom deputy says stakes highest 'since WWII'
PDN 20250515
https://www.guampdn.com/news/lasky-takes-helm-of-joint-task-force-micronesia-indo-pacom-deputy-says-stakes-highest-since/article_d6afbdff-a7e4-4bad-b355-2ba9acd6539d.html
Navy SEAL takes command of year-old Joint Task Force-Micronesia
S&S 20250515
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-05-15/navy-seal-task-force-micronesia-17795618.html
Island Waves
A Trump administration playbook for the Pacific
Asia Times 20250515
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/a-trump-administration-playbook-for-the-pacific/
Coast Guard Pulled National Security Cutter From Planned Pacific Patrol To Support Border Surge
Defense Daily 20250515
https://www.defensedaily.com/coast-guard-pulled-national-security-cutter-from-planned-pacific-patrol-to-support-border-surge/budget/
RFMF joins exercise Talisman Sabre 2025
FBCN 20250515
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/rfmf-joins-exercise-talisman-sabre-2025/
Arrival of Foreign Airline Causes Concern for Local Aviation Firms
Post Courier (PNG) 20250515
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/arrival-of-foreign-airline-causes-concern-for-local-aviation-firms/
Pacific small armies’ forum reinvigorates relationships
NZDF 20250515
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/army/army-news/pacific-small-armies-forum-reinvigorates-relationships/
Taiwan + xCS
The Risk of War in the Taiwan Strait Is High—and Getting Higher
FA 20250515
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/risk-war-taiwan-strait-high-and-getting-higher
Taiwan regional leader distorts WWII history, spreads deceitful rhetoric: Chinese defense ministry spokesperson
GT 20250515
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334138.shtml
Taiwan sees spike in PLA military activity as island stages defence drills
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310348/taiwan-sees-spike-pla-military-activity-island-stages-defence-drills
Taiwan tracks 29 Chinese military aircraft, 11 ships
Taiwan News 20250515
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6111079
Japan protests China's work on new structure in East China Sea
NHK 20250514
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250514_02/
China Coast Guard legally patrols Diaoyu waters
China News 20250514
https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/ecnszw/hernfey9436475.shtml
Philippines should stop risky infringements and provocations: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20250515
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16386357.html
Philippine Navy unveils Western Naval Command
Manila Standard 20250515
https://manilastandard.net/news/314590414/philippine-navy-unveils-western-naval-command.html
U.S. Plans to Upgrade Philippine Military South China Sea Maritime Operations Hub
USNI 20250515
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/15/u-s-plans-to-upgrade-philippine-military-south-china-sea-maritime-operations-hub
PH mulls new arbitral suit over WPS vs. China at the Hague
Manila Standard 20250515
https://manilastandard.net/news/314590204/ph-mulls-new-arbitral-suit-over-wps-vs-china-at-the-hague.html
Capabilities
Identifying Pathways for U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation with Northeast Asian Allies
CSIS 20250515
https://www.csis.org/analysis/identifying-pathways-us-shipbuilding-cooperation-northeast-asian-allies
Asia’s Role In the US Shipbuilding Surge
The Diplomat 20250515
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/asias-role-in-the-us-shipbuilding-surge/
SECNAV Phelan: Fixing Colombia, Virginia Sub Production Top Priority
USNI 20250515
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/15/secnav-phelan-fixing-colombia-virginia-sub-production-top-priority
Readiness, Shipbuilding Top Priorities for Navy
US DoD 20250515
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4187514/readiness-shipbuilding-top-priorities-for-navy/
Japan falls further behind South Korea amid shipbuilding boom
Nikkei 20250516
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/Japan-falls-further-behind-South-Korea-amid-shipbuilding-boom
Pacific land force leaders seek ‘positional advantage’ against China
Defense News 20250515
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-army/2025/05/15/pacific-land-force-leaders-seek-positional-advantage-against-china/
Army prepping for Pacific conflict with prepositioned equipment, logistics hubs
Defense One 20250514
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/05/army-prepping-pacific-conflict-prepositioned-equipment-logistics-hubs/405331/
Fate Of Navy’s F/A-XX Future Fighter Is In Limbo
TWZ 20250514
https://www.twz.com/air/fate-of-navys-f-a-xx-future-fighter-is-in-limbo
Delaying Navy’s F/A-XX next gen fighter risks US being ‘outmatched’ by China, key lawmaker says
Breaking Defense 20250514
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/delaying-navys-f-a-xx-next-gen-fighter-risks-us-being-outmatched-by-china-key-lawmaker-says/
China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality
TWZ 20250515
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-10c-fighter-separating-myth-from-reality
Chinese arms shine in India-Pakistan conflict
Think China 20250514
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chinese-arms-shine-india-pakistan-conflict
Defense officials advocate for diverse target-tracking architecture
Defense News 20250515
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/05/15/defense-officials-advocate-for-diverse-target-tracking-architecture/
Space Force testing space-based sensors to track airborne targets
Breaking Defense 20250515
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/space-force-testing-space-based-sensors-to-track-airborne-targets/
Start-ups are trying to close the hypersonic missile gap with China
WaPo 20250515
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/14/hypersonic-startups-missiles-china/
Will satellite dogfights be the final frontier for the US-China space rivalry?
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310469/will-satellite-dogfights-be-final-frontier-us-china-space-rivalry
China launches satellites to start building the world’s first supercomputer in orbit
SCMP 20250515
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310506/china-launches-satellites-start-building-worlds-first-supercomputer-orbit
Lawmakers Frustrated by Lack of Details for Trump’s Defense Budget
Air & Space 20250514
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/lawmakers-frustrated-lack-defense-budget-details-trump/