Pacific Winds 20250620
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US-China: Rather than mutual understanding, strive for competition without conflict
Lowy 20250619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/us-china-rather-mutual-understanding-strive-competition-without-conflict
China positions itself as an alternative to ‘unpredictable’ Trump
Asia Times 20250619
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/china-positions-itself-as-an-alternative-to-unpredictable-trump/
No Trump photo-op for the PM but a reminder where Australia’s future lies
Lowy 20250619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/no-trump-photo-op-pm-reminder-where-australia-s-future-lies
What is US calculating by AUKUS review
China Military 20250619
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16392177.html
Quad: The Next Phase
CNAS 20250619
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/quadnextphase_final-WEB.pdf
China-New Zealand ties built on healthy engagement
GT 20250619
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336534.shtml
South Korea’s New President Wants Flexible Diplomacy
FP 20250618
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/18/lee-jae-myung-south-korea-president-diplomacy/
Australians see through tariff fears to real economic threat
Lowy 20250619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australians-see-through-tariff-fears-real-economic-threat
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Expeditionary Theater Support Group established in Guam, Further Enhancing Air Force’s Indo-Pacific Capabilities
USAF PacAF 20250618
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4221521/expeditionary-theater-support-group-established-in-guam-further-enhancing-air-f/
CNMI, DoD leaders discuss regional defense during Stakeholders Meeting in Saipan
DVIDS 20250619
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/501062/cnmi-dod-leaders-discuss-regional-defense-during-stakeholders-meeting-saipan
Tabletop exercise assesses Guam's preparedness amidst real-world threats
KUAM 20250619
https://www.kuam.com/story/52863099/tabletop-exercise-assesses-guams-preparedness-amidst-realworld-threats
PACAF Air Domain Awareness Symposium strengthens relationship with regional allies, partners
USAF AAFB 20250619
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4219836/pacaf-air-domain-awareness-symposium-strengthens-relationship-with-regional-all/
Island Waves
New Zealand halts funding to Cook Islands over former colony's deepening ties with China
ABC (AU) 20250619
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-19/new-zealand-halts-funding-cook-islands-deepening-china-ties/105435744
New Zealand halts Cook Islands funding over China row
Reuters 20250619
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/new-zealand-halts-cook-islands-funding-over-china-row-2025-06-18/
Explainer: Why has New Zealand paused funding to the Cook Islands over China deal?
RNZ 20250619
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564618/explainer-why-has-new-zealand-paused-funding-to-the-cook-islands-over-china-deal
Pacific island nations must reboot regional AI leadership
EAF 20250619
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/06/19/pacific-island-nations-must-reboot-regional-ai-leadership/
Local ocean enforcers upskill with US Coast Guard
Samoa Observer 20250619
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/114844
Pro-independence advocates urge Melanesian Spearhead Group to elevate ULMWP membership
RNZ 20250619
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564583/pro-independence-advocates-urge-melanesian-spearhead-group-to-elevate-ulmwp-membership
School visit deepens Pacific partnerships
AU DoD 20250619
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-06-19/school-visit-deepens-pacific-partnerships
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan on alert over China's military activities in Pacific
Reuters 20250619
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-alert-over-chinas-military-activities-pacific-2025-06-19/
Taiwan must turn toward real allies
Nikkei 20250619
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Taiwan-must-turn-toward-real-allies
New South Korean government unlikely to commit to Taiwan's defense: Expert
CNA (TW) 20250619
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202506190030
Japan destroyer sails Taiwan Strait after China jet encounter
Kyodo 20250619
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/332bf02a1394-urgent-japan-destroyer-sails-taiwan-strait-after-china-jet-encounter.html
Malfunctions, overreactions and a steep learning curve: wargaming a Chinese attack on Taiwan
Guardian 20250618
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/18/taiwan-war-games-china-attack
US mainstay of Taiwan Strait patrols, the P-8, in spotlight at Paris Air Show
SCMP 20250619
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315054/us-mainstay-taiwan-strait-patrols-p-8-spotlight-paris-air-show
Taiwan Pursues Homegrown Chinese Spies as Beijing’s Influence Grows
Defense Post 20250619
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/06/19/taiwan-homegrown-chinese-spies/
Taiwan tracks 25 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250619
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6137783
CCG lawfully handles illegal activities by Philippine vessels in waters near Banyue Jiao and Jianzhang Jiao: spokesperson
GT 20250619
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336546.shtml
Hedging ways out of troubled waters in South China Sea
Asia Times 20250619
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/hedging-ways-out-of-troubled-waters-in-south-china-sea/
Capabilities
Now show the US, and Australians, how AUKUS addresses China threat
ASPI 20250619
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/now-show-the-us-and-australians-how-aukus-addresses-china-threat/
Australia needs an independent security strategy, not to serve US interests
GT 20250619
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336544.shtml
Campbell warns substantial USFK troop adjustment will be 'misinterpreted' as reduced U.S. commitment
Yonhap 20250619
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250619000651315
China’s nuclear arms surge marks end of a deterrent era
Asia Times 20250619
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/chinas-nuclear-arms-surge-marks-end-of-a-deterrent-era/
US to Field Second ‘Dark Eagle’ Hypersonic Weapon in 2026
Defense Post 20250618
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/06/18/us-second-dark-eagle-hypersonic/
Japan Commissions Eighth Mogami-class Frigate ‘Yubetsu’ 「ゆうべつ」
Naval News 29259619
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/japan-commissions-eighth-mogami-class-frigate-yubetsu-%e3%80%8c%e3%82%86%e3%81%86%e3%81%b9%e3%81%a4%e3%80%8d/
How the Arsenal of Democracy Can Get Back on its Feet with Some Help from the Past
WOTR 20250619
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/how-the-arsenal-of-democracy-can-get-back-on-its-feet-with-some-help-from-the-past/
CRS Report to Congress on U.S. Strategic Bombers
USNI 20250619
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/19/report-to-congress-on-u-s-strategic-bombers
China's commercial space sector strives to reach new heights
Xinhua 20250619
https://english.news.cn/20250619/6fff022182e444a085ab9f0909437915/c.html
Chinese sats appear to be attempting first-ever on-orbit refueling, sat tracking firms say
Breaking Defense 20250619
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/chinese-sats-appear-to-be-attempting-first-ever-on-orbit-refueling-sat-tracking-firms-say/
Rethinking Rules of Engagement for Space
CSIS 20250618
https://www.csis.org/analysis/rethinking-rules-engagement-space
Imagining the Near-Future of American Irregular Warfare in the Indo-Pacific
SWJ 20250618
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/06/18/imagining-iw-in-the-indo-pacific/
Power
Three Alternative Approaches to Deterrence in Europe and the Indo-Pacific
WOTR 20250619
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/three-alternative-approaches-to-deterrence-in-europe-and-the-indo-pacific/
Optimal Deterrence
CFR 20250618
https://www.cfr.org/report/optimal-deterrence
Exercises
N. Korea fires 10 multiple rocket launcher shells after trilateral air drills
Yonhap 20250619
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250619008451315