Pacific Winds 20250601
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Pete Hegseth tells Asian defense chiefs the U.S. will stop Chinese aggression in the region
WashTimes 20250530
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/may/30/pete-hegseth-tells-asian-defense-chiefs-us-stop-chinese-aggression/
‘Imminent’ threat? Hegseth escalates tone on China in key Asia speech
Defense News 20250530
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/05/31/imminent-threat-hegseth-escalates-tone-on-china-in-key-asia-speech/
Pentagon chief warns of imminent China threat, pushes Asian allies to boost defence spending
Reuters 20250531
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/pentagon-chief-warns-imminent-china-threat-pushes-asian-allies-hike-defence-2025-05-31/
Hegseth, at Security Forum, Vows to Strengthen America’s Asian Alliances
NYTimes 20250531
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/world/asia/hegseth-security-allies-china.html
At Shangri-La Dialogue, Pete Hegseth warns China aims to alter Indo-Pacific status quo
SCMP 20250531
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312561/shangri-la-dialogue-pete-hegseth-warns-china-aims-alter-indo-pacific-status-quo
Hegseth urges Asian allies to boost defense spending, do 'their part' in face of 'real' China threats
Yonhap 20250531
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250531000251315
S. Korea almost absent in Hegseth's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
Yonhap 20250531
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250531001500315
Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore (As Prepared)
US DoD 20250530
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4202494/remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-the-2025-shangri-la-dialogue-in/
Chinese general fires back at US defence chief over Shangri-La Dialogue remarks
SCMP 20250531
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312608/chinese-general-fires-back-us-defence-chief-over-shangri-la-dialogue-remarks
Head of PLA National Defense University delegation criticizes certain countries without naming them in speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
GT 20250531
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1335203.shtml
China strongly deplores, firmly opposes U.S. Defense Secretary's negative remarks related to China at Shangri-La Dialogue: FM spokesperson
Xinhua 20250531
https://english.news.cn/20250601/217a324315d2451491d4e599a1c44810/c.html
‘Signal heard clearly, but its credibility is a big question mark,’ says expert attending Shangri-La Dialogue regarding Hegseth’s speech
GT 20250531
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1335195.shtml
Defense Minister Nakatani Calls for Greater Cooperation in Shangri-La Dialogue Address; Rules-Based Order Being ‘Hollowed out’
Yomiuri 20250531
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250531-257775/
Nakatani urges closer defense tie-ups amid erosion of rules-based order
Japan Times 20250531
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/31/japan/politics/gen-nakatani-defense-cooperation-shangri-la-dialogue/
Trilateral Defense Consultations Ministerial Meeting Joint Statement on Efforts to Deepen Our Defense Cooperation
JP MoD 20250531
https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2025/05/7e248c766252decfe548e0ff9d69b3cb0295b9c2.html
China Hopes to Improve Japan Ties Amid Conflict with U.S.; Resumption of Japanese Seafood Imports Seen as Attempt to Boost Ties with Neighbors
Yomiuri 20250531
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250531-257779/
Trump lauds Nippon Steel as "great partner" for U.S. Steel
Kyodo 20250531
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/05/b4c99f0291a6-update2-trump-lauds-nippon-steel-as-great-partner-for-us-steel.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Barksdale B-52s Wrap Up Bomber Task Force Mission to Guam
USAF PacAF 20250530
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4202291/barksdale-b-52s-wrap-up-bomber-task-force-mission-to-guam/
Island Waves
China Calls on PNG to Reflect for the Next 50 Years on Both Country’s Partnership
Post Courier (PNG) 20250531
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-calls-on-png-to-reflect-for-the-next-50-years-on-both-countrys-partnership/
China-PICs Foreign Ministers Meeting Offers Opportunity to Solidify Relations
Post Courier (PNG) 20250531
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-pics-foreign-ministers-meeting-offers-opportunity-to-solidify-relations/
Officers train for UN peacekeeping in Australia
FBCN 20250531
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/officers-train-for-un-peacekeeping-in-australia/
Taiwan + SCS
Exercises might be cover for strife
Taipei Times 20250601
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/01/2003837856
Taiwan tracks 12 PLA aircraft sorties and 9 ships
Taiwan News 20250531
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6124025
Chinese forces patrol Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea to ‘defend sovereignty’
SCMP 20250531
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312577/chinese-forces-patrol-scarborough-shoal-south-china-sea-defend-sovereignty
China Coast Guard patrols waters around Huangyan Dao
Xinhua 20250531
https://english.news.cn/20250531/128f54ec18ef40f4865a0e9ce038c863/c.html
Prabowo’s flawed logic on the Natuna joint development proposal
EAF 20250531
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/05/31/prabowos-flawed-logic-on-the-natuna-joint-development-proposal/
Capabilities
Richard Marles warns Australia cannot rely on US alone to counter Chinese military build-up
ABC (AU) 20250531
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-31/marles-defence-spending-united-states-indo-pacific-pete-hegseth/105361834
Richard Marles welcomes US commitment to Indo-Pacific in face of China’s military buildup
Guardian (AU) 20250531
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/31/richard-marles-welcomes-us-commitment-to-indo-pacific-in-face-of-chinas-military-buildup
The gathering storm: urgent geoeconomic threats and Australia’s national security crisis
ASPI 20250531
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-gathering-storm-urgent-geoeconomic-threats-and-australias-national-security-crisis/
North Korea Gets a Weapons Bonanza From Russia
NYTimes 20250531
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/world/asia/north-korea-russia-weapons.html
USINDOPACOM’s enduring presence in region
IPDF 20250529
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/05/forum-chronicles-usindopacoms-enduring-presence-in-region/
S. Korea stresses importance of maintaining USFK in talks with U.S. lawmakers
Yonhap 20250531
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250531002900315
China’s J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet Photographed Head-On For First Time
TWZ 20250531
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-36-very-heavy-stealth-tactical-jet-photographed-head-on-for-first-time
A Signal Point of Failure: Integrating BeiDou into U.S. Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Systems
WOTR 20250530
https://warontherocks.com/2025/05/a-signal-point-of-failure-integrating-beidou-into-u-s-positioning-navigation-and-timing-systems/
Space Force, SpaceX Launch GPS Satellite in Record Time
Air & Space 20250530
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-spacex-launch-gps-satellite-in-record-time/
Russia’s new Cosmos satellite orbiting near US sat, piques ASAT fears
Breaking Defense 20250530
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/russias-new-cosmos-satellite-orbiting-near-us-sat-piques-asat-fears/
Power
Why China Is Not Interested in Great Power Carve-ups
The Diplomat 20250530
https://thediplomat.com/2025/05/why-china-is-not-interested-in-great-power-carve-ups/
Exercises
U.S. Special Forces Train with USVs in the Philippines
Naval News 20250531
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/05/u-s-special-forces-train-with-usvs-in-the-philippines/