Pacific Winds 20250617
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
AUKUS faces bigger tests than Trump's 'America first' review, US and UK experts warn
ABC (AU) 20250616
https://amp.abc.net.au/article/105412740
What does Beijing make of Washington's AUKUS review?
ABC (AU) 20250616
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/what-does-beijing-make-of-washingtons-aukus-review/105417106
Australia Should Hope for AUKUS’s Collapse
PS 20250616
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/aukus-collapse-good-for-australia-by-gareth-evans-2025-06
Why PM Albanese should follow Shinzo Abe’s playbook at G7
USSC 20250616
https://www.ussc.edu.au/why-pm-albanese-should-follow-shinzo-abe-s-playbook-at-g7
Over half of Australians believe China will be most powerful country by 2035: poll
GT 20250616
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336239.shtml
Marcos Jr should follow his father on China
Asia Times 20250616
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/marcos-jr-should-follow-his-father-on-china/
South Korea's dilemma over hosting US bases tests Lee's diplomacy
Nikkei 20250616
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/South-Korea-s-dilemma-over-hosting-US-bases-tests-Lee-s-diplomacy
Lee’s election in S Korea: The time for wishful thinking has come
Asia Times 20250616
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/lees-election-in-s-korea-the-time-for-wishful-thinking-has-come/
The delicate dance around the China question
The Post (NZ) 20250617
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360725282/delicate-dance-around-china-question
Pete Hegseth’s Suprisingly Unsuprising Message at Shangri-La
RSS 20250616
https://rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IP25064.pdf
Trump says he would welcome China and Russia in G7, putting US at odds with bloc’s stance
SCMP 20250516
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3314660/trump-wouldnt-mind-china-joining-g7-says-was-mistake-throw-russia-out-former-g8
China Is Using Its Market Power To Influence Foreign Policymaking
AEI 20250616
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/china-is-using-its-market-power-to-influence-foreign-policymaking/
Is more than trade on the table after ‘great’ US-China talks in London?
SCMP 20250616
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3314633/more-trade-table-after-great-us-china-talks-london
Trump and Xi will act tough but won’t allow ‘free fall’ in US-China ties
SCMP 20250616
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3314521/trump-and-xi-will-act-tough-wont-allow-free-fall-us-china-ties-ryan-hass
Does Xi Have Trump’s Number?
FP 20250616
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/16/china-rare-earths-trade-war-deal-trump/
Leverage
CSIS 20250616
https://www.csis.org/analysis/leverage
‘Golden Share’ in U.S. Steel Gives Trump Extraordinary Control
NYTimes 20250615
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/us/politics/golden-share-us-steel-nippon-trump.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Navy secretary gives Guam, region 5-year exemption from DoD explosives safety regulations
PDN 20250616
https://www.guampdn.com/news/navy-secretary-gives-guam-region-5-year-exemption-from-dod-explosives-safety-regulations/article_b75f3d5e-ea23-456d-9c57-0bb18fe6a6f4.html
Can the island chain strategy contain China’s blue-water naval ambitions?
SCMP 20250616
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314589/can-island-chain-strategy-contain-chinas-blue-water-naval-ambitions
Palacios comments on peaceful protest against DoD activities
Marianas Press 20250616
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/peaceful-protest-interrupts-dod-presentation-on-us-military-activities-in-m
Blue Ridge Arrives in Guam
USN 20260616
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4217258/blue-ridge-arrives-in-guam/
Island Waves
Three Pacific nations in Trump's expanded travel ban list
RNZ 20250616
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564249/three-pacific-nations-in-trump-s-expanded-travel-ban-list
Japan-Solomon Islands Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250616
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202506/20250616en.pdf
Anzac delegation rounds off Pacific tour with constructive Timor-Leste visit
NZDF 20250616
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/anzac-delegation-rounds-off-pacific-tour-with-constructive-timor-leste-visit/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan, U.S. to outmatch China militarily in 2027: Ex-Pacific Command chief
CNA (TW) 20250616
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202506160007
US former rear admiral defends non-escalation in Taiwan Strait
Taiwan News 20250616
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6134844
US drive for domestic drones risks sidelining Taiwan, report warns
Nikkei 20250616
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/US-drive-for-domestic-drones-risks-sidelining-Taiwan-report-warns
HIMARS army unit to be established next month
Taipei Times 20250617
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/17/2003838750
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval ships around nation
Taiwan News 20250616
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6134825
PLA patrols in the South China Sea as Philippines, Japan hold joint drills
SCMP 20250616
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314546/pla-patrols-south-china-sea-philippines-japan-hold-joint-drills
Holding the Line: China’s Expanding Patrols around Scarborough Shoal
CSIS 20250616
https://amti.csis.org/holding-the-line-chinas-expanding-patrols-around-scarborough-shoal/
US Stealth Jet Carrier Patrols South Pacific Amid China Rivalry
Newsweek 20250616
https://www.newsweek.com/uss-america-amphibious-assault-ship-australia-china-pacific-2085982
Capabilities
China’s nuclear arsenal surges 20% in one year, reaching over 600 warheads: SIPRI
Breaking Defense 20250616
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/chinas-nuclear-arsenal-surges-20-in-one-year-reaching-over-600-warheads-sipri/
China’s nuclear stockpile is growing fast, ICBMs may match US, Russia around 2030: SIPRI
SCMP 20250616
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314205/chinas-nuclear-stockpile-growing-fast-icbms-may-match-us-russia-around-2030-sipri
China's nuclear arsenal hits 600 warheads, up 100 from year before
Kyodo 20250616
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/2eb050f570ac-chinas-nuclear-arsenal-hits-600-warheads-up-100-from-year-before.html
FM responds to SIPRI report hyping China’s nuclear arsenal growth
GT 20250616
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336261.shtml
World entering new era as nuclear powers build up arsenals, SIPRI think tank says
Reuters 20250615
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/world-entering-new-era-nuclear-powers-build-up-arsenals-sipri-think-tank-says-2025-06-15/
Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms
SIPRI 20250616
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/nuclear-risks-grow-new-arms-race-looms-new-sipri-yearbook-out-now
New US nuke missile drops first-strike gauntlet on China
Asia Times 20250616
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/new-us-nuke-missile-drops-first-strike-gauntlet-on-china/
Japan Suspects Chinese Flattops Conducted Drills against U.S.
Yomiuri 20250616
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250616-264367/
China’s aircraft carriers send message in the open Pacific for the first time – and bigger and more powerful ships are coming
CNN 20250616
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/16/asia/china-aircraft-carriers-pacific-intl-hnk-ml
Conflict between China, Philippines could involve U.S. and lead to a clash of superpowers
CBS (60 Minutes) 20250615
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-philippines-conflict-could-involve-us-60-minutes-transcript-2025-06-15/
Pentagon Reviewing Base Defense as Experts Warn of Pacific Threats
Air & Space 20250615
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-reviewing-base-defense-as-experts-warn-of-pacific-threats/
Navy’s preliminary budget undercuts shipbuilding, senator says
Navy Times 20250616
https://www.navytimes.com/congress/2025/06/16/navys-preliminary-budget-undercuts-shipbuilding-senator-says/
We Need a Marine Corps, Part I: A Corps in Crisis
WOTR 20250616
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-i-a-corps-in-crisis/
The underlying risk of Japan’s undersea cables
Japan Times 20250616
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/16/japan/explainer-japan-undersea-cables/
Army seeks hefty boost in network funding in Pentagon procurement proposal
Breaking Defense 20250616
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/army-seeks-hefty-boost-in-network-funding-in-pentagon-procurement-proposal/
Threat of US-China land grab in space demands urgent legal reforms
SCMP 20250615
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3314156/threat-us-china-land-grab-space-demands-urgent-legal-reforms
Commercial remote sensing: The critical U.S. National Security Space imperative
Breaking Defense 20250616
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/commercial-remote-sensing-the-critical-u-s-national-security-space-imperative/
Power
Imperial President at Home, Emperor Abroad
FA 22050616
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/imperial-president-home-emperor-abroad
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 16, 2025
USNI 20250616
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/16/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-16-2025