Pacific Winds 20250603
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
‘Not mere pawns’ in big power rivalry: Asean asserts agency at Shangri-La Dialogue
SCMP 20250601
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312661/not-mere-pawns-big-power-rivalry-asean-asserts-agency-shangri-la-dialogue
US asks Australia to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP
SCMP 20250602
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3312668/us-asks-australia-increase-defence-spending-35-gdp
‘Act of self-harm’: Albanese resists Trump on tariffs and defence
AFR 20250601
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-stares-down-trump-on-tariffs-and-defence-20250601-p5m3v8
US defence or China trade? South Korea’s next president faces a tricky balancing act
SCMP 20250602
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312698/us-defence-or-china-trade-south-koreas-next-president-faces-tricky-balancing-act
Letter from Seoul: This isn’t just another election
Asia Times 20250602
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/letter-from-seoul-this-isnt-just-another-election/
Challenges await South Korea's next president in restoring stability
GT 20250602
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335276.shtml
The Meaning of U.S. Troop Withdrawals from Korea
CSIS 20250602
https://www.csis.org/analysis/meaning-us-troop-withdrawals-korea
Pete Hegseth Talked a Big Game to Indo-Pacific Allies—but Trump Mistrust Runs Deep
TIME 20250602
https://time.com/7290340/hegseth-shangri-la-dialogue-speech-indo-pacific-china-trump-mistrust/
Hegseth: The US will remain an Indo-Pacific power
Responsible Statecraft 20250602
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/hegseth-shangrila-remarks/
In the business of tanks but not trade? How Hegseth’s message is landing in Asia-Pacific
Straits Times 20250602
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/in-the-business-of-tanks-but-not-trade-how-hegseths-message-is-landing-in-asia-pacific
Japanese Defense Minister Calls for Enhancing Multinational Security Cooperation at Asia Security Summit in Singapore
Yomiuri 20250603
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250603-258152/
The urgent search for a new regional and global order
EAF 20250602
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/06/02/the-urgent-search-for-a-new-regional-and-global-order/
Stability of Asia-Pacific stems from inclusive cooperation, not zero-sum competition
GT 20250602
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335269.shtml
Australia’s trade would be fatally exposed in a US-China war
Asia Times 20250602
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/australias-trade-would-be-fatally-exposed-in-a-us-china-war/
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Deal, Vows Firm Response
Bloomberg 20250602
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-02/china-accuses-us-of-violating-trade-truce-vows-firm-response?srnd=homepage-americas
Who exactly is undermining the China-US Geneva consensus?
GT 20250603
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335286.shtml
US efforts to coerce China into trade concessions ‘will not work’, analysts say
SCMP 20250602
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312755/us-efforts-coerce-china-trade-concessions-will-not-work-analysts-say
Trump’s China rant can’t hide his trade war retreat
Asia Times 20250602
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/trumps-china-rant-cant-hide-his-trade-war-retreat/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Analyst: China's nuclear stockpile, which includes 'Guam Killer' missiles, fastest growing globally
PDN 20250602
https://www.guampdn.com/news/analyst-chinas-nuclear-stockpile-which-includes-guam-killer-missiles-fastest-growing-globally/article_61cd6d7c-0ddc-45ed-a6e6-f20e081362eb.html
Lecturer says China is less of a threat than perceived by US
GDP 20250602
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/lecturer-says-china-is-less-of-a-threat-than-perceived-by-us/article_8118de13-e659-4d07-bc7d-24fd90798416.html
Island Waves
Palau president wants Taiwan to get a fair go at PIF
RNZ 20250602
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/562825/palau-president-wants-taiwan-to-get-a-fair-go-at-pif
At Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, China-Pacific Islands Relations Steam Ahead
The Diplomat 20250602
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/at-foreign-ministers-meeting-china-pacific-islands-relations-steam-ahead/
Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way
The Conversation 20250602
https://theconversation.com/bougainville-wants-independence-chinas-support-for-a-controversial-mine-could-pave-the-way-254320
Foreign Ministers Tkatchenko and Wang Yi bolster PNG-China ties in Xiamen
Post Courier (PNG) 20250602
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/foreign-ministers-tkatchenko-and-wang-yi-bolster-png-china-ties-in-xiamen/
RSIPF maritime officers end machine gun training
Solomon Star 20250602
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/rsipf-maritime-officers-end-machine-gun-training/
The problem with Pacific regionalism: it’s us
Fiji Times 20250602
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/the-problem-with-pacific-regionalism-its-us/
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan says China deployed 2 aircraft carrier groups, dozens of ships
CNA (SG) 20250602
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/taiwan-china-deployed-2-aircraft-carrier-groups-dozens-ships-5162496
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese ships, 6 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250602
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6124530
Beijing’s Play for Sandy Cay
FP 20250601
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/01/south-china-sea-sandy-cay-philippines/
Philippines 'open' to deal with Beijing to ease South China Sea tension
Nikkei 20250602
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Philippines-open-to-deal-with-Beijing-to-ease-South-China-Sea-tension
Seoul monitoring China-installed buoys, citing possible military purpose
Yonhap 20250602
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250602010000320
Capabilities
America’s Latest Problem: A Three-Way Nuclear Race
FP 20250602
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/02/us-nuclear-weapons-deterrence-command-control-nc3-decapitation-strike-china-russia-strategy-geopolitics/
US Simulates Missile Strikes on Warships at China Choke Point
Newsweek 20250602
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-nmesis-simulated-exercise-china-ships-philippines-2079597
Philippines defense boss throws cold water on large F-16 buy from US
Defense News 20250602
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/06/02/philippines-defense-boss-throws-cold-water-on-large-f-16-buy-from-us/
Hegseth: Japan must spend and do more to deter China threat
Asahi 20250602
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15814182
Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR)
US DoD 20250602
https://media.defense.gov/2025/Jun/02/2003730341/-1/-1/1/FACT-SHEET-PARTNERSHIP-FOR-INDO-PACIFIC-INDUSTRIAL-RESILIENCE.PDF
AUKUS Pillar II Is Failing in Its Mission: It Needs Its Own “Optimal Pathway”
WOTR 20250602
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/aukus-pillar-ii-is-failing-in-its-mission-it-needs-its-own-optimal-pathway/
South Korea eyes expanded arms deals with PH
Inquirer (PH) 20250602
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/279009/south-korea-eyes-expanded-arms-deals-with-ph
China adds aerial refuelling to pilot training in move to boost combat readiness
SCMP 20250602
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312682/china-adds-aerial-refuelling-pilot-training-move-boost-combat-readiness
US cuts to commercial space imagery could endanger ‘long-term health’ of industry, say insiders
Breaking Defense 20250602
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/us-cuts-to-commercial-space-imagery-could-endanger-long-term-health-of-industry-say-insiders/
Pentagon Weapons Testing Office Budget to be Cut by 80%, Staff Reduced
USNI 20250602
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/02/pentagon-weapons-testing-office-budget-to-be-cut-by-80-staff-reduced
Pentagon won’t say how many civilians have left since February
Defense One 20250602
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/06/pentagon-wont-say-how-many-civilians-have-left-february/405742/
Power
The End of the Long American Century
FA 20250602
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/end-long-american-century-trump-keohane-nye
A US cavalier talks ‘imminent’ war in Singapore
Asia Times 20250601
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/a-us-cavalier-talks-imminent-war-in-singapore/
Exercises
PLA warships engage in live combat drills
China Military 20250602
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16389383.html
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 2, 2025
USNI 20250602
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/02/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-2-2025