Pacific Winds 20250608

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Recalibrating direction of giant ship of China-U.S. relations
Xinhua 20250607
https://english.news.cn/20250607/00b503b3e40748bbadbb6659473c67dd/c.html

South Korea has a new president. Will it have a different China policy?
SCMP 20250607
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313338/south-korea-has-new-president-will-it-have-new-china-policy

South Korea's Lee, Trump agree to work towards swift tariff deal, Lee's office says
Reuters 20250606
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-south-koreas-new-president-lee-speak-by-phone-lees-office-says-2025-06-06/

Li Qiang’s realist pitch seeks to reset Sino-Japan ties
Asia Times 20250607
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/li-qiangs-realist-pitch-seeks-to-reset-sino-japan-ties/

Japan, U.S. yet to find common ground on tariffs but want quick deal
Kyodo 20250607
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/aa10e22e61ff-update1-japan-us-yet-to-find-middle-ground-on-tariffs-but-want-quick-deal.html

Akazawa: Japan, U.S. Still Unable to Agree After 5th Round of Tariff Talks; Countries Hope to Reach Agreement on Sidelines of G7 Summit
Yomiuri 20250607
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250607-260893/

Xi-Trump call a ‘step back from the brink’, but China’s neighbours still caught in rivalry
SCMP 20250607
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313442/xi-trump-call-step-back-brink-chinas-neighbours-still-caught-rivalry

Australia Rejects US Push for Increased Defense Spending
The Diplomat 20250607
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/australia-rejects-us-push-for-increased-defense-spending/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Secretary of the Army set to visit Guam
PDN 20250607
https://www.guampdn.com/news/secretary-of-the-army-set-to-visit-guam/article_8f8aca5b-ec84-447f-b27c-8b52de423fb6.html

Guam faces setbacks in UN decolonization efforts under Trump administration
GDP 20250607
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-faces-setbacks-in-un-decolonization-efforts-under-trump-administration/article_2fbf4531-9da7-458d-bf6f-e4077fa59a78.html

PH medical teams lauded for outreach program in Micronesia
Inquirer (PH) 20240607
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/279653/ph-medical-teams-lauded-for-outreach-program-in-micronesia

Island Waves

China to fully fund Vanuatu Parliament Chamber repairs
Daily Post (VU) 20250607
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/china-to-fully-fund-vanuatu-parliament-chamber-repairs/article_29778d36-5f0f-5494-9b85-e21d3e9d638b.html

Ministry of Trade pushes for new export deals with China
Daily Post (VU) 20250607
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/ministry-of-trade-pushes-for-new-export-deals-with-china/article_4d5d2491-c5cf-581e-9420-81b72ee88903.html

Tonga's public debt declining, says PM
Matangi Tonga 20250607
https://matangitonga.to/2025/06/07/tongas-public-debt-declining-says-pm

PNG Journos Boost Skills in Mobile Journalism Soacial MEdia Training
PNG Haud Bung 20250607
https://pnghausbung.com/png-journos-boost-skills-in-mobile-journalism-social-media-training/

Hot race for Pacific’s deep sea mineral wealth
Asia Times 20250607
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/hot-race-for-pacifics-deep-sea-mineral-wealth/

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan produces over 100 Hsiung Sheng missiles
Taiwan News 20250607
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6129229

Taiwan’s latest security measures cut cross-strait travel, prompting pushback
SCMP 20250607
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3313358/taiwans-latest-security-measures-cut-cross-strait-travel-prompting-pushback

Taiwan tracks 34 PLA aircraft sorties and 9 ships
Taiwan News 20250607
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6129159

Vietnam ramping up expansion of South China Sea outposts: Chinese think tank
SCMP 20250607
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313485/vietnam-ramps-expansion-south-china-sea-outposts-think-tank

Capabilities

DoD 3.0: Rebooting the Pentagon for the Next War
MWI 20250606
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/dod-3-0-rebooting-the-pentagon-for-the-next-war/

Air Force Ready to Deploy More Nukes Once Arms Control Treaty Ends
Air & Space 20250606
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-ready-to-deploy-more-nukes-once-arms-control-treaty-ends/

This Could Be Our Best View Yet Of China’s J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet
TWZ 20250606
https://www.twz.com/air/this-could-be-our-best-view-yet-of-chinas-j-36-very-heavy-stealth-tactical-jet

China “Threatens” U.S. Navy Warships With Submarine-Launched AI-Enabled Torpedoes; World’s Biggest Navy Getting Smarter, Deadlier?
Eurasian Times 20250607
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/china-challenging-u-s-navy-warships-with/

Power

The Trump Doctrine
Project Syndicate 20250606
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/trump-doctrine-us-becoming-like-countries-it-criticized-by-richard-haass-2025-06

Trump’s Golden Dome will make US – and world – less safe
Asia Times 20250607
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/trumps-golden-dome-will-make-us-and-world-less-safe/

Exercises

China sends its most advanced carrier into disputed waters near Korea
Chosun 20250606
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/06/06/JL4QEZSHPBD7VK2OWMO5IEH2GE/

US military's logistics drill aims to burnish East Asia crisis response
Reuters 20250606
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-militarys-logistics-drill-aims-burnish-east-asia-crisis-response-2025-06-06/