Pacific Winds 20250611
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Pentagon chief renews Trump's call for Indo-Pacific allies to increase burden sharing
Yonhap 20250611
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250611000300315
US-Korea alliance to change under Lee Jae-myung
Asia Times 20250610
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/us-korea-alliance-to-change-under-lee-jae-myung/
U.S. confident alliance with S. Korea will 'thrive' under Lee's leadership: State Dept.
Yonhap 20250611
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250611000400315
South Korea's new president will have to pick a side soon
Nikkei 20250610
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/South-Korea-s-new-president-will-have-to-pick-a-side-soon
Lee asks China's Xi to play constructive role for denuclearization of Korean Peninsula
Yonhap 20250610
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250610006752315
Xi urges China, S. Korea to lift strategic cooperative partnership to higher level
Xinhua 20250610
https://english.news.cn/20250610/675eebd858684f28afecd4c1a77a3a7e/c.html
South Korean President Lee, Xi pledge closer economic, security cooperation
Reuters 20250610
https://www.reuters.com/en/south-korean-president-lee-speak-chinas-xi-tuesday-ytn-tv-reports-2025-06-10/
Xi Jinping urges South Korea’s new president to set relations with China on ‘right course’
SCMP 20250610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313866/xi-jinping-urges-south-koreas-new-president-set-relations-china-right-course
Japan Looks to Boost Trust with S. Korea’s President Lee, Who Has Called for ‘Pragmatic Diplomacy’
Yomiuri 20250610
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250610-262039/
Hegseth Fails to Reassure Asian Allies at Shangri-La
FP 20250610
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/10/hegseth-trump-china-southeast-asia-allies/
Shangri-La Dialogue — more than US-China competition
Think China 20250610
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/shangri-la-dialogue-more-us-china-competition
How the Philippine Senate Elections Could Affect U.S. National Security
Heritage 20250610
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/how-the-philippine-senate-elections-could-affect-us-national-security
NATO chief says it must build Indo-Pacific ties to meet China’s military challenge
SCMP 20250610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313767/nato-chief-says-it-must-build-indo-pacific-ties-meet-chinas-military-challenge
The logic of neutrality in the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20250610
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/logic-neutrality-indo-pacific
Diplomacy as Theater: China’s Obsession with Beijing-Washington Summits
Hudson 20250610
https://www.hudson.org/politics-government/diplomacy-theater-chinas-obsession-beijing-washington-summits-miles-yu
Clock Ticks as U.S. and China Try to Undo Devastating Trade Curbs
NYTimes 20250610
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/business/economy/china-us-trade-talks.html
US-China: what’s really at stake in London
Asia Times 20250610
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/us-china-whats-really-at-stake-in-london/
1st meeting of China-U.S. economic, trade consultation mechanism opens in London
Xinhua 20250610
https://english.news.cn/20250609/d5d4692cb21c499f9d20675de895febc/c.html
Pressured by US tariffs, Chinese exports expand in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia
SCMP 20250610
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3313819/pressured-us-tariffs-chinese-exports-expand-vietnam-thailand-indonesia
World Bank warns of slowest global growth since 1960s amid Trump tariffs, trade tensions
SCMP 20250610
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3313910/world-bank-warns-slowest-global-growth-1960s-amid-trump-tariffs-trade-tensions
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Training ranges cut from 14 to 2: Revised plan for military training on Tinian now out
PDN 20250610
https://www.guampdn.com/news/training-ranges-cut-from-14-to-2-revised-plan-for-military-training-on-tinian-now/article_3b348219-d8dc-4323-89b0-fcf12d277bff.html
Chinese Aircraft Carrier Crosses Second Island Chain for 1st Time
Nippon 20250609
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2025060900165/chinese-aircraft-carrier-crosses-second-island-chain-for-1st-time.html
ROC (Taiwan) Navy’s Fleet of Friendship marks its 18th visit to Palau
Island Times 20250610
https://islandtimes.org/roc-taiwan-navys-fleet-of-friendship-marks-its-18th-visit-to-palau/
Defining security in the Micronesian way: The purpose of PCIS
GDP 20250610
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/defining-security-in-the-micronesian-way-the-purpose-of-pcis/article_3ce2b6d4-c820-4f0a-80a4-34fe8ed4678f.html
Island Waves
We Will Not Accept Options Other Than Independence
Post Courier (PNG) 20250610
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/we-will-not-accept-options-other-than-independence/
Pacific nations urged to 'stand together as a region' against 'external forces'
RNZ 20250611
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/563748/pacific-nations-urged-to-stand-together-as-a-region-against-external-forces
Taiwan + SCS
China is carrying out ‘dress rehearsals’ to take Taiwan. Here’s how the US should respond
Atlantic Council 20250609
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/china-is-carrying-out-dress-rehearsals-to-take-taiwan-heres-how-the-us-should-respond/
Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese military aircraft, 7 ships
Taiwan News 20250610
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6130494
Malaysia’s Silent Military Buildup on Borneo
The Diplomat 20250610
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/malaysias-silent-military-buildup-on-borneo/
Manalo, Rubio meet in Washington to strengthen PH-US alliance amid WPS tensions
GMA 20250610
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/948902/manalo-rubio-meet-in-washington-to-strengthen-ph-us-alliance-amid-wps-tensions/story/
Capabilities
Get Ready for the New Rules of War in the Indo-Pacific
WOTR 20250610
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/get-ready-for-the-new-rules-of-war-in-the-indo-pacific/
Japan says China is 'expanding' military presence in Pacific after aircraft carriers spotted in economic zone
ABC (AU) 20250610
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-10/japan-says-chinese-military-activity-expanding-in-pacific/105401494
U.S. Project at Philippine Navy Base to Support Unmanned Surface Vessels
USNI 20250609
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/09/u-s-project-at-philippine-navy-base-to-support-unmanned-surface-vessels
Nuclear war in Asia would be Australia’s problem, too. We must prepare
ASPI 20250610
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-war-in-asia-would-be-australias-problem-too-we-must-prepare/
US Bombers Step Up Combat Operations as Demand Grows
Air & Space 20250609
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-bombers-step-up-combat-operations-as-demand-grows/
What do we know so far about China’s advanced J-36 and J-50 fighter jets?
SCMP 20250610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313615/what-do-we-know-so-far-about-chinas-advanced-j-36-and-j-50-fighter-jets
‘Spider’s Web’ warning: The US must prioritize drone defense to avoid Russia’s fate
Breaking Defense 20250610
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/spiders-web-warning-the-us-must-prioritize-drone-defense-to-avoid-russias-fate/
Chinese spacecraft prepare for orbital refueling test as US surveillance sats lurk nearby
Space News 20250610
https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-prepare-for-orbital-refueling-test-as-us-surveillance-sats-lurk-nearby/
Panel advances defense budget despite missing details from White House
Defense News 20250610
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/06/10/panel-advances-defense-budget-despite-missing-details-from-white-house/
House appropriators press Hegseth for FY26 spending plans, marking up without answers
Breaking Defense 20250610
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/house-appropriators-press-hegseth-for-fy26-spending-plans-marking-up-without-answers/
Hegseth questions Air Force plan to buy E-7, touts space-based recon
Defense News 20250610
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/06/10/hegseth-questions-air-force-plan-to-buy-e-7-touts-space-based-recon/
US Air Force’s nascent radar plane faces the axe
Defense One 20250610
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/06/air-force-radar-plane-may-be-cancelled/405954/
House Appropriators Offer Air, Space Forces $261 Billion in 2026
Air & Space 20250609
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/congress-air-force-budget/
Pentagon’s RDT&E budget revealed – Which next-gen systems get a cash influx in FY26?
Breaking Defense 20250609
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/exclusive-pentagons-rdte-budget-revealed-which-next-gen-systems-get-a-cash-influx-in-fy26/
Exercises
Japan sees 1st simultaneous operations by China carriers in Pacific
Kyodo 20250610
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/7d2b1b82d7c9-update2-japan-sees-1st-simultaneous-operations-by-china-carriers-in-pacific.html
Japan sights two Chinese aircraft carriers in Pacific for first time
Reuters 20250610
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/two-chinese-aircraft-carriers-seen-pacific-first-time-japan-says-2025-06-10/
Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Are Operating Beyond The First Island Chain For The First Time
TWZ 20250610
https://www.twz.com/sea/two-chinese-aircraft-carriers-are-operating-beyond-the-first-island-chain-for-the-first-time
China Sails Warships Beyond US Defense Line for First Time Ever
Newsweek 20250610
https://www.newsweek.com/china-news-two-aircraft-carriers-west-pacific-us-navy-2083189
China Sends Two Aircraft Carriers Into the Pacific for the First Time
NYTimes 20250610
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/world/asia/china-aircraft-carriers.html
Chinese aircraft carriers conduct training in Western Pacific
Xinhua 20250610
https://english.news.cn/20250610/392a98fbeb99406db82ad8fbc11e003c/c.html
PLA Navy aircraft carrier formations of Liaoning, Shandong conduct training in Western Pacific: spokesperson
GT 20250610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335817.shtml
Activities fully in line with intl law and intl practices, says FM on Japan claiming two Chinese aircraft carriers seen in Pacific at same time for first time
GT 20250610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1335811.shtml
Satellite Photo Shows US Aircraft Carrier in Pacific Rivalry With China
Newsweek 20250610
https://www.newsweek.com/us-news-aircraft-carrier-uss-nimitz-south-china-sea-2083217
America ARG and 31st MEU Marines Conduct Integrated Operations in Solomon Sea
US IndoPaCom 20250609
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4211076/america-arg-and-31st-meu-marines-conduct-integrated-operations-in-solomon-sea/