Pacific Winds 20250517
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Showcasing the economic benefits of AUKUS—today
ASPI 20250516
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/showcasing-the-economic-benefits-of-aukus-today/
US uses ‘poison pills’ to isolate China from supply chains
Asia Times 20250516
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/us-uses-poison-pills-to-isolate-china-from-supply-chains/
S. Korea again requests exemption from all U.S. tariffs; 2nd round of technical talks to be held next week
Yonhap 22050516
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250516001854320
Japan warms to lower US tariffs after pushing for full elimination
Nikkei 20250517
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Japan-warms-to-lower-US-tariffs-after-pushing-for-full-elimination
APEC ministers air concerns over 'fundamental' trade challenges
Nikkei 20250516
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/APEC-ministers-air-concerns-over-fundamental-trade-challenges
APEC should support multilateralism amid economic turmoil: Chinese official
GT 20250517
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334246.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Air Force general on Guam touts US readiness, warns adversaries against ‘miscalculation’
S&S 20250515
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-05-15/guam-air-force-war-readiness-17794441.html
Pacific island eyes 'big' ceremony on 80th atomic bombing anniversary
Mainichi 20250516
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250515/p2a/00m/0in/016000c
Island Waves
Pacific health systems: Breaking the aid dependency cycle
Lowy 20250516
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/pacific-health-systems-breaking-aid-dependency-cycle
Pacific island countries need support to address information manipulation
ASPI 20250516
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pacific-island-countries-need-support-to-address-information-manipulation/
Indonesia bombs West Papuan villages again – Civilians flee to the bush
Islands Business 20250516
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/indonesia-bombs-west-papuan-villages-again-civilians-flee-to-the-bush/
Eighteen separatists killed in Papua region, Indonesian military says
Reuters 20250515
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-military-says-18-separatists-killed-operation-papua-region-2025-05-15/
Wewak Has Plenty to Offer Despite Setback Says MP
National (PNG) 20250516
https://www.thenational.com.pg/wewak-has-plenty-to-offer-despite-setback-says-mp/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan more likely to face blockade or economic warfare from Beijing than invasion: panel
SCMP 20250516
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310547/taiwan-more-likely-face-blockade-or-economic-warfare-beijing-invasion-panel
Why China Will Not Invade Taiwan (For Now)
The Diplomat 20250516
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/why-china-will-not-invade-taiwan-for-now/
China’s invasion barges play military mind games with Taiwan
Asia Times 20250516
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/chinas-invasion-barges-play-military-mind-games-with-taiwan/
Taiwan president rallies the troops ahead of possible Chinese drills
Reuters 20250516
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-president-rallies-troops-ahead-possible-chinese-drills-2025-05-16/
Ex-officer urges more US military aid
Taipei Times 20250517
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/17/2003837042
US lawmakers introduce bill to codify ‘six assurances’
Taipei Times 20250517
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/17/2003837043
US lawmakers push bill to codify ‘Six Assurances’ to Taiwan, ‘political stunt to deceive DPP
GT 20250517
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334250.shtml
No matter how hard he pushes ‘green terror,’ Lai Ching-te cannot hide his failure
GT 20250517
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334254.shtml
Taiwan tracks 21 Chinese military aircraft, 7 ships
Taiwan News 20250516
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6112246
Capabilities
Asia’s Role In the US Shipbuilding Surge
The Diplomat 20250515
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/asias-role-in-the-us-shipbuilding-surge/
US trade chief meets South Korea's shipbuilders for possible cooperation
Nikkei 20250516
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/US-trade-chief-meets-South-Korea-s-shipbuilders-for-possible-cooperation
How to help the US Navy as it helps us: build a joint submarine facility
ASPI 20250516
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-to-help-the-us-navy-as-it-helps-us-build-a-joint-submarine-facility/
Army may halve planned HADES buy from 12 to 6 new spy planes
Breaking Defense 20250515
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/army-halves-planned-hades-buy-expects-to-field-six-new-spy-planes/
Army general says deep aviation cuts aren’t set in stone, might ‘walk something back’
Breaking Defense 20250516
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/army-general-says-deep-aviation-cuts-arent-set-in-stone-might-walk-something-back/
Army halts tactical UAS competition without clear plan forward
Defense News 20250516
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/05/16/army-halts-tactical-uas-competition-without-clear-plan-forward/
Commercial Space Security Dilemmas
AIIA 20250516
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/commercial-space-security-dilemmas/
US Space Force’s ‘orbital carrier’ risks escalating arms race, China’s PLA warns
SCMP 20250516
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3310658/chinas-pla-warns-us-space-force-orbital-carrier-risks-escalating-cosmic-arms-race
Beyond launch: SpaceX’s expanding role in U.S. defense
Space News 22050516
https://spacenews.com/spacexs-expanding-role-in-u-s-defense/
SES to demonstrate ‘satellite orchestration’ tech for military communications
Space News 22050516
https://spacenews.com/ses-to-demonstrate-satellite-orchestration-tech-for-military-communications/
How Golden Dome Will Help Create Space Superiority
Air & Space 20250515
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/how-golden-dome-will-help-create-space-superiority/
USFK chief stresses continued troop presence in S. Korea amid China-Russia threats
Chosun 20250516
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/05/16/DZVZINLLJRDK7HLJUI7LSXKC4U/
US Forces Korea leader says his troops deter China, guard ‘freedom’s front yard’
S&S 20250516
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-05-16/brunson-south-korea-china-lanpac-17807125.html
Power
Sleepwalking Into a New Imperial Age
PS 20250515
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/foreign-aid-cuts-could-destabilize-global-south-and-fuel-resource-competition-by-ricardo-hausmann-2025-05
Mutually Assured Development Destruction
PS 20250515
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/wealthy-countries-must-fill-development-financing-gap-left-by-america-by-jayati-ghosh-2025-05
Democracy in South Asia amid U.S. Aid Cuts
CNAS 20250515
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/south-asia-democracy-final.pdf
Exercises
S. Korean, U.S. militaries stage joint airdrop supply drills
Yonhap 20250516
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250516002200315