Pacific Winds 20250604
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Lee's 'pragmatic diplomacy' vision put to test in U.S. alliance, regional power ties
Yonhap 20250604
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250602009900315
Lee's presidential win heralds return to engagement with defiant N. Korea
Yonhap 20250604
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250602008400315
South Korea’s New President Could Transform the Korean Peninsula
FA 20250603
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/south-korea/lee-jae-myung-new-president-could-transform
Trump and Xi will likely speak this week, White House says
Reuters 20250602
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-chinas-xi-will-likely-speak-this-week-white-house-says-2025-06-02/
US-China tensions surge as tech and mineral wars intensify
Asia Times 20250603
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/us-china-tensions-surge-as-tech-and-mineral-wars-intensify/
China warns US pressure tactics, coercion won’t work for trade talks to happen
SCMP 20250603
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312911/china-warns-us-pressure-tactics-coercion-wont-work-trade-talks-happen
What has China done right to attract rising global favorability?
GT 20250604
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335364.shtml
The tariff war that’s accelerating Asia’s trade transformation
Lowy 20250603
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/tariff-war-s-accelerating-asia-s-trade-transformation
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Russia base strike a stark warning for US forces on Guam
Asia Times 20250603
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/russia-base-strike-a-stark-warning-for-us-forces-on-guam/
Lai welcomes Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine
Taiwan News 20250603
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6125792
Island Waves
China Courts the Pacific: Key Takeaways from the 2025 China–Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
CSIS 20250603
https://www.csis.org/analysis/china-courts-pacific-key-takeaways-2025-china-pacific-island-countries-foreign-ministers
From waves to wellness: How China-Vanuatu partnership charts a shared future
Daily Post (VU) 20250603
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/from-waves-to-wellness-how-china-vanuatu-partnership-charts-a-shared-future/article_467859e3-a91f-5b2a-a100-d870f0e25914.html
K4 Million Bridge Taking Shape
National (PNG) 20250603
https://www.thenational.com.pg/k4-million-bridge-taking-shape/
China’s King Long sets sight on intelligent transport solution
Solomon Star 20250603
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/chinas-king-long-sets-sight-on-intelligent-transport-solution/
Taiwan + SCS
Risk of military mishap rising as PLA steps up ‘salami slicing’: former Taiwan minister
SCMP 20250603
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312787/risk-military-mishap-rising-pla-steps-salami-slicing-former-taiwan-minister
US Indo-Pacific commander calls PLA operations in Taiwan Strait ‘rehearsals’, not just exercises
SCMP 20250603
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312807/us-indo-pacific-commander-calls-pla-operations-taiwan-strait-rehearsals-not-just-exercises
The end of Taiwan’s strategic flexiblity
Asia Times 20250603
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/the-end-of-taiwans-strategic-flexiblity/
Taiwan ready to test kamikaze sea drone designed to ‘support coastal assault operations’
SCMP 20250603
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3312794/taiwan-ready-test-kamikaze-sea-drone-designed-support-coastal-assault-operations
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese ships, 3 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250603
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6125458
AFP conducts maritime patrol in West PH Sea before Independence Day
ABS-CBN 20250603
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/3/afp-conducts-maritime-patrol-in-west-ph-sea-1935
Capabilities
The case against ramping up Australia’s defence spending
Lowy 20250603
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/case-against-ramping-australia-s-defence-spending
Strategic expert blasts Anthony Albanese's 'bizarre' attack on defence spending report as Australia faces a 'crisis situation'
Sky (AU) 20250603
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/strategic-expert-blasts-anthony-albaneses-bizarre-attack-on-defence-spending-report-as-australia-faces-a-crisis-situation/news-story/d7e4ef26011242b39111cc5e6f0ddb5a
AUKUS is where Australia can work out where it stands on nuclear deterrence
ASPI 20250603
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-is-where-australia-can-work-out-where-it-stands-on-nuclear-deterrence/
Trump asked Japan to help with Golden Dome missile shield, Nikkei reports
Reuters 202500603
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trump-asked-japan-help-with-golden-dome-missile-shield-nikkei-reports-2025-06-03/
The US Navy's five roads to ruin
Responsible Statecraft 20250603
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-navy-crisis/
How Chinese drones could defeat America
Asia Times 20250603
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/how-chinese-drones-could-defeat-america/
Allvin calls Ukraine drone strikes a wake-up call for US air defense
Defense News 20250603
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/06/03/allvin-calls-ukraine-drone-strikes-a-wake-up-call-for-us-air-defense/
Mass Drone Attack On Exposed Russian Bombers Puts Spotlight On Hardened Aircraft Shelter Debate
TWZ 20250603
https://www.twz.com/air/mass-drone-attack-on-exposed-russian-bombers-puts-spotlight-on-hardened-aircraft-shelter-debate
Pentagon pushes US dronemakers to innovate as quickly as Ukraine does
Defense One 20250603
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2025/06/pentagon-pushes-us-dronemakers-innovate-quickly-ukraine-does/405739/
Space Force awards BAE $1.2B deal for missile-tracking satellites
Defense News 20250603
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/06/03/space-force-awards-bae-12b-deal-for-missile-tracking-satellites/
USSF Release: https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4203699/ussf-strengthens-resilience-in-missile-warning-tracking-with-new-epoch-2-conste
Judith Collins tells security summit NZ setting up space squadron
RNZ 20250603
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/562940/judith-collins-tells-security-summit-nz-setting-up-space-squadron
Leaders excite GLAC about Army space, missile defense
US Space Command 20250603
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4204415/leaders-excite-glac-about-army-space-missile-defense/
Power
Trump's cost-benefit doctrine defines foreign policy, 80 years post-WWII
Nikkei 20250603
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Trump-s-cost-benefit-doctrine-defines-foreign-policy-80-years-post-WWII
Exercises
Chinese Carrier Strike Group Sails East of the Philippines in Deployment Record
USNI 20250602
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/02/chinese-carrier-strike-group-sails-east-of-the-philippines-in-deployment-record
Chinese aircraft carrier’s training normal, expert says as media claims Liaoning moves to furthest recorded distance
GT 202500603
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335323.shtml
PLA escalates ‘gray zone’ tactics near island chain
Taipei Times 20250604
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/04/2003838019
Kamandag 2025: Why US-Philippines joint drills matter now
Think China 20250602
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/kamandag-2025-why-us-philippines-joint-drills-matter-now
3d MLR Conducts Simulated Maritime Strikes with NMESIS
US IndoPaCom 20250602
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4204064/kamandag-9-3d-mlr-conducts-simulated-maritime-strikes-with-nmesis/
Japan-Australia Bilateral Exercise (Nichi-Gou Trident 25)
JMSDF 20250603
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202506/20250603en_3.pdf
PH, US, Japan coast guards to join exercise in Kagoshima from June 16 to 20
GMA 202500603
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/948209/ph-us-japan-coast-guards-to-join-exercise-in-kagoshima-from-june-16-to-20/story/
Live-MINEX25（Japan-U.S. Bilateral MCM Exercise）
JMSDF 20250603
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202506/20250603en_1.pdf