Pacific Winds 20250618
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan, South Korea summit set for Tuesday on G7 fringes in Canada
Kyodo 20250617
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/549a71838a96-update1-japan-s-korea-summit-set-for-tuesday-on-g7-fringes-in-canada.html
The China Hawks’ China Hawk
The Wire China 20250615
https://www.thewirechina.com/2025/06/15/the-china-hawks-china-hawk-elbridge-colby/
New Zealand PM kicks off China visit with trade cooperation in focus
GT 20250617
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336366.shtml
Japan, U.S. still far from tariff deal after Ishiba-Trump summit
Kyodo 20250617
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/9510f16b39e7-update3-japan-us-still-far-from-tariff-deal-after-ishiba-trump-summit.html
Understanding Trump’s Decision to Approve the Nippon Steel Deal
CSIS 20250616
https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-trumps-decision-approve-nippon-steel-deal
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
U.S., Republic of Singapore Navies Deepen Partnership Through Exercise Pacific Griffin 2025
USN 7th Flt 20250616
https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/4218230/us-republic-of-singapore-navies-deepen-partnership-through-exercise-pacific-gri/
Island Waves
Australia overtakes China in the Pacific as America vacates the lane
Lowy 20250617
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-overtakes-china-pacific-america-vacates-lane
America’s Power Vacuum and China’s Offensive
The Diplomat 20250617
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/americas-power-vacuum-and-chinas-offensive/
SI represented at the fish conference in Taiwan
Solomon Star 20250617
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/si-represented-at-the-fish-conference-in-taiwan/
Taiwan donates solar energy system to Fiji
Taiwan News 20250617
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6136160
Vanuatu among three Pacific nations on Trump's expanded travel ban list
Daily Post (VU) 20250617
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-among-three-pacific-nations-on-trumps-expanded-travel-ban-list/article_80100bf0-cfff-57e2-b0ac-800f2d622e37.html
US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane and Cook Islands successful joint operation
Cook Islands News 20250616
https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/us-coast-guard-cutter-harriet-lane-and-cook-islands-successful-joint-operation/
Keeping PNG safe from detritus of war
AU DoD 20250617
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-06-17/keeping-png-safe-from-detritus-war
Taiwan + SCS
Disruptions to Trade in the Taiwan Strait Would Severely Impact China's Economy
CSIS 20250617
https://www.csis.org/analysis/disruptions-trade-taiwan-strait-would-severely-impact-chinas-economy
Taiwan seals deal to buy military drone software
Taipei Times 20250618
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/18/2003838809
Taiwan tracks 17 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250617
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6135761
PH using ‘right as our might’ vs. China, says AFP
GMA 20250617
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/949721/ph-using-right-as-our-might-vs-china-says-afp/story/
Fifteenth Annual South China Sea Conference
CSIS 20250617
https://www.csis.org/events/fifteenth-annual-south-china-sea-conference
Capabilities
China about to enter three-aircraft-carrier era as Fujian expected to enter service in 2025: official media
GT 20250617
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336334.shtml
Philippine naval upgrade more spectacle than strategy
Asia Times 20250617
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/philippine-naval-upgrade-more-spectacle-than-strategy/
‘Oversaturated’: Can the Navy make good on unmanned vessel demand after industry surge?
Breaking Defense 20250617
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/oversaturated-can-the-navy-make-good-on-unmanned-vessel-demand-after-industry-surge/
Steel and Silicon: Shipbuilding’s Defense Tech Moment
WOTR 20250617
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/steel-and-silicon-shipbuildings-defense-tech-moment/
U.S., Philippines sharpen logistics edge
US IndoPaCom 20250616
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4218318/us-philippines-sharpen-logistics-edge/
The Navy’s dynamic sub-hunting duo
Defense One 20250617
https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/06/navys-dynamic-sub-hunting-duo/406121/
China's burgeoning drone arsenal shows power of civil-military fusion
Defense One 20250617
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/06/chinas-drone-arsenal-shows-power-civil-military-fusion/406118/
China’s Spy Agencies Are Investing Heavily in A.I., Researchers Say
NYTimes 20250617
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/us/politics/chinas-ai-spy-agencies.html
Chinese scientists build world’s first 6G-powered electronic warfare system
SCMP 20250617
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3314310/chinese-scientists-build-worlds-first-6g-powered-electronic-warfare-system
CEOs push back on proposed cuts to commercial satellite imaging programs
Space News 20250617
https://spacenews.com/ceos-push-back-on-proposed-cuts-to-commercial-satellite-imaging-programs/
Why Study War? Military Readiness’s Intellectual Dimension
WOTR 20250617
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/why-study-war-military-readinesss-intellectual-dimension/
China Targets US Citizens with Biowarfare Weapons
Hudson 20250617
https://www.hudson.org/terrorism/china-targets-us-citizens-biowarfare-weapons-michael-sobolik
Australia – F/A-18F and EA-18G Sustainment Support
US DSCA 20250616
https://www.dsca.mil/Press-Media/Major-Arms-Sales/Article-Display/Article/4217508/australia-fa-18f-and-ea-18g-sustainment-support
Power
Trump’s State Department purge cuts deeper than in his first presidency
Lowy 20250617
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-s-state-department-purge-cuts-deeper-his-first-presidency
Exercises
Record troop turnout expected for Talisman Sabre drills in and around Australia
S&S 20250617
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-06-17/talisman-sabre-military-exercise-australia-18147334.html
Japan's large-scale live-fire exercise reveals malicious intention
China Military 20250617
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16391887.html
Dual Chinese Aircraft Carrier Strike Groups Continue to Operate in the Western Pacific
USNI 20250617
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/17/dual-chinese-aircraft-carrier-strike-groups-persist-to-operate-in-the-western-pacific