Pacific Winds 20250522
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Anthony Albanese to visit China for second time amid Xi Jinping's push for 'mature' ties with Australia
ABC (AU) 20250521
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-21/anthony-albanese-to-meet-xi-jinping-in-china/105312020
US–Australia alliance wanes under Washington’s whims
EAF 20250521
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/21/us-australia-alliance-wanes-under-washingtons-whims/
Asia without America: liberal Taiwan in a realist world
Asia Times 20250521
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/asia-without-america-part-3-liberal-taiwan-in-a-realist-world/
China slams US’ chip ban attempt, warns legal liability
GT 20250521
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334601.shtml
Nvidia’s Chief Says U.S. Chip Controls on China Have Backfired
NYTimes 20250521
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/business/nvidia-china-washington-chip-controls-failure.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Online forum to examine security and insecurity in Micronesia region
GDP 20250521
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/online-forum-to-examine-security-and-insecurity-in-micronesia-region/article_a37d1339-e28f-4714-b4ad-0515ea580674.html
Air Force test-launches unarmed Minuteman III missile
Defense News 20250521
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/05/21/air-force-test-launches-unarmed-minuteman-iii-missile/
Island Waves
China's top diplomat to chair third China-Pacific Island countries foreign ministers' meeting
Xinhua 20250521
https://english.news.cn/20250521/f8b08130a996409ea61db46578e6935f/c.html
Wang Yi To Chair the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
CH MoFA 20250521
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GrdLEMqbAAMQsK0?format=jpg&name=large
Taiwan warns of growing Chinese influence in Pacific, urges transparent ties
PINA 20250521
https://pina.com.fj/2025/05/21/taiwan-warns-of-growing-chinese-influence-in-pacific-urges-transparent-ties/
Penny Wong’s Pacific tour set to strengthen regional partnership and development
RNZ 20250521
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/561644/penny-wong-s-pacific-tour-set-to-strengthen-regional-partnership-and-development
Australia to stay tariff-free for Pacific Islands struggling with aid cuts, says foreign minister
Reuters 20250520
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-stay-tariff-free-pacific-islands-struggling-with-aid-cuts-says-foreign-2025-05-20/
$4m for plan | Minister says Australia ‘here to stay’
Fiji Times 20250521
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/4m-for-plan-minister-says-australia-here-to-stay/
Australia fills gap left by USAID withdrawal
FBCN 20250521
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-fills-gap-left-by-usaid-withdrawal/
Pacific peoples voice on climate change “should be heard in the world”
Matangi Tonga 20250521
https://matangitonga.to/2025/05/21/pacific-peoples-voice-climate-change-wong
Pacific must not become a ‘military zone’ amid rise of China, New Zealand’s deputy PM warns
Guardian 20250521
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/winston-peters-new-zealand-deputy-pm-pacific-china-influence
New Caledonia, French Polynesia at UN decolonisation seminar in Dili
RNZ 20250521
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/561634/new-caledonia-french-polynesia-at-un-decolonisation-seminar-in-dili
Upgrades to Air Transport Wing Unveiled
PNG Haus Bung 20250521
https://pnghausbung.com/upgrades-to-air-transport-wing-road-unveiled/
More than 140 receive Free Medical Help from Visiting Chinese Doctors
Post Courier (PNG) 20250521
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/more-than-140-receive-free-medical-help-from-visiting-chinese-doctors/
US Charge d’Affaires visit Auki
Solomon Star 20250521
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/us-charge-d-affaires-visit-auki/
Taiwan + SCS
PLA conducts amphibious landing drill in strait as Taiwanese leader marks first year
SCMP 20250521
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3311146/pla-conducts-amphibious-landing-drill-strait-taiwanese-leader-marks-first-year
US commander says China on 'dangerous course' with Taiwan invasion rehearsals
Taiwan News 20250521
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6115794
China’s drills are invasion rehearsals: US admiral
Taipei Times 20250522
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/22/2003837302
Deterrence key for Taiwan: Rubio
Taipei Times 20250522
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/05/22/2003837304
Lai hopes Japan will help deter China from attacking Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250521
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6115828
Taiwan tracks 15 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships
Taiwan News 20250521
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6115790
China, US exchange barbs over South China Sea at UNSC
NHK 20250521
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250521_10/
Chinese envoy criticizes US of hyping S.China Sea issue at Security Council debate
GT 20250521
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334534.shtml
Maritime Rights and National Security: China’s Evolving Security Discourse
The Diplomat 20250521
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/maritime-rights-and-national-security-chinas-evolving-security-discourse/
PH wants 'intensified negotiations' on SCS code, says DFA official
GMA 20250521
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/946873/ph-wants-intensified-negotiations-on-scs-code-says-dfa-official/story/
No tolerance for disrespect of Philippines sovereignty – Marcos
PhilStar 20250521
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/21/2444626/no-tolerance-disrespect-philippines-sovereignty-marcos
Capabilities
US military faces ‘readiness crisis’ to modernise as China advances: Pentagon
SCMP 20250521
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3311135/us-military-faces-readiness-crisis-modernise-china-advances-pentagon
The PLA Navy Comes of Age: Big Decks and More
USNI Proceedings May 2025
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2025/may/pla-navy-comes-age-big-decks-and-more
Buying KC-130Js Key To Navy’s Ability To Fight In Pacific: Reserve Boss
TWZ 20250521
https://www.twz.com/air/buying-kc-130js-key-to-navys-ability-to-fight-in-pacific-reserve-boss
Army eyes cancellation of new logistics boat, halting TOW missile buys
Breaking Defense 20250520
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/army-eyes-cancellation-of-new-logistics-boat-halting-tow-missile-buys/
Integration on Virginia-class subs the ‘greatest risk’ for nuclear sea-launched cruise missile: Navy official
Breaking Defense 20250521
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/integration-on-virginia-class-subs-the-greatest-risk-for-nuclear-sea-launched-cruise-missile-navy-official/
Why the Nuclear Gravity Bomb Has Gotten a Reboot
WOTR 20250520
https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/why-the-nuclear-gravity-bomb-has-gotten-a-reboot/
PLA researchers rank Cold War relic B-52 a bigger nuclear threat than F-35, B-2
SCMP 20250521
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310877/pla-researchers-rank-cold-war-relic-b-52-bigger-nuclear-threat-f-35-b-2
Railguns, missiles and lasers: Japan uses massive defense event to highlight shift
Japan Times 20250521
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/21/japan/dsei-japan-defense-exhibition/
Space Force Losing 14 Percent of Civilian Workers as It Faces ‘Outsize Impact’ of Pentagon Job Cuts
Air & Space 20250520
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-losing-14-percent-of-civilian-workers-outsize-impact-pentagon-job-cuts/
What If Our Assumptions About a War with China Are Wrong?
MWJ 20250520
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/what-if-our-assumptions-about-a-war-with-china-are-wrong/
Beijing’s blurred red lines and the strategy of ambiguity
Asia Times 20250521
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/beijings-blurred-red-lines-and-the-strategy-of-ambiguity/
Boeing on track to deliver fifth, sixth KC-46As to Japan this year: Exec
Breaking Defense 20250521
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/boeing-on-track-to-deliver-fifth-sixth-kc-46as-to-japan-this-year-exec/
It’s not just software. Physical critical equipment can’t be trusted, either
ASPI 20250521
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/its-not-just-software-physical-critical-equipment-cant-be-trusted-either/
Power
US is not withdrawing from the world, Rubio says during testy hearings in Congress
Reuters 20250520
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rubio-face-tough-questions-trump-policies-congress-2025-05-20/
Secretary of State Rubio, clashing with senators, says China will not replace US on global aid
SCMP 20250521
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3311139/secretary-state-rubio-clashing-senators-says-china-will-not-replace-us-global-aid
Undermining WHO, skipping G20: Can US still claim it ‘isn’t withdrawing from the world’?
GT 20250521
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1334593.shtml
Exercises
U.S. Marines Extend Reach Through Exercises in the Philippines
USNI 20250520
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/20/u-s-marines-extend-reach-through-exercises-in-the-philippines
Events
Has the World Arrived in a New Nuclear Age?
Carnegie 22 May 10-1130 EDT
https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/05/has-the-world-arrived-in-a-new-nuclear-age?lang=en