Pacific Winds 20250525

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

At Summit With GCC and ASEAN, China’s Maritime Ambitions Complicate Its Trade Alliance Plans
The Diplomat 20250523
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/at-summit-with-gcc-and-asean-chinas-maritime-ambitions-complicate-its-trade-alliance-plans/

Trump touts "partnership" between Japan's Nippon Steel, U.S. Steel
Kyodo 20250524
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/dc4fa379a0cf-update2-trump-oks-nippons-buyout-of-us-steel-white-house-official.html

Trump Shocks With US Steel-Nippon Approval But Details Elusive
Bloomberg 20250523
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-23/trump-backs-us-steel-nippon-partnership-following-cfius-review

Trump's trade war puts Australian beef centre stage in Shanghai
ABC (AU) 20250524
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-24/shanghai-expo-during-trump-tariffs-puts-aussie-beef-centre-stage/105326724

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Report: Guam among possible relocation sites for 4,500 US troops from South Korea
PDN 20250524
https://www.guampdn.com/news/report-guam-among-possible-relocation-sites-for-4-500-us-troops-from-south-korea/article_95bcc1a1-4320-4c9b-bd1b-2a288d012281.html

Media report: 4,500 US troops in S. Korea could be moved to Guam
GDP 20250524
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/media-report-4-500-us-troops-in-s-korea-could-be-moved-to-guam/article_1906628b-f03f-4588-8cb0-67b78cd47000.html

Guam Defense System Facing Delays, Planning Problems, GAO Says
Bloomberg 20250522
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-22/guam-defense-system-facing-delays-planning-problems-gao-says

Palau president concludes Taiwan visit
Taiwan News 20250524
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6118866

Island Waves

China donates VT1 million in building materials to South West Santo school
Daily Post (VU) 20250524
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/china-donates-vt1-million-in-building-materials-to-south-west-santo-school/article_6e6b052a-ae3c-5930-b18f-c02bdeac981a.html

Foreign Minister Wong strengthens ties during official Vanuatu visit
Daily Post (VU) 20250524
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/foreign-minister-wong-strengthens-ties-during-official-vanuatu-visit/article_2c8eaac3-cbbb-5f48-ad39-073176a71ab0.html

Taiwan + xCS

Taiwan tracks 8 PLA aircraft and 15 ships
Taiwan News 20250524
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6118706

Foreign ministry voices concerns over China's establishment of no-sail zone in overlapping waters
Yonhap 20250524
https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250524001000315

Sandy Cay attack should hasten end of ambiguity in West Philippine Sea
Phil Star 20250524
https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2025/05/24/2445502/sandy-cay-attack-should-hasten-end-ambiguity-west-philippine-sea

WPS research missions won't stop despite China aggression — BFAR
GMA 20250524
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/947208/wps-research-missions-won-t-stop-despite-china-aggression-bfar/story/

Capabilities

N. Korea in 'strongest strategic position' in decades: U.S. intel report
Yonhap 20250524
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250524000800315

Inside Kim Jong Un’s Threat Perception
The Diplomat 20250524
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/inside-kim-jong-uns-threat-perception/

Distributed Maritime Operations, Logistics, Industry, and American Strategy in Asia
Military Strategy Magazine 2025 Spring
https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/distributed-maritime-operations-logistics-industry-and-american-strategy-in-asia/

Optimizing U.S. and Allied Forces for Deterrence and Defense Throughout Indo-Pacom: From Korea to Australia and Everywhere in Between
SWJ 20250524
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/05/24/us-allies-deterrence-indo-pacific/

Could next-gen fighter jets and ‘loyal wingmen’ help US offset China’s numbers?
SCMP 20250524
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3311587/could-next-gen-fighter-jets-and-loyal-wingmen-help-us-offset-chinas-numbers

Taipei to Okinawa? China achieves 600km ‘error-free’ underwater communication with sound
SCMP 20250524
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3311463/taipei-okinawa-china-achieves-600km-error-free-underwater-communication-sound

Reconciliation Bill Moves $4.5B for Virginia-class Buy in 2026
USNI 20250523
https://news.usni.org/2025/05/23/reconciliation-bill-moves-4-5b-for-virginia-class-buy-in-2026

Anti-missile system intensifies US-China nuclear competition
Asia Times 20250524
https://asiatimes.com/2025/05/anti-missile-system-intensifies-us-china-nuclear-competition/