Pacific Winds 20250621
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
'Standard' of 5 pct GDP defense spending applies to S. Korea, Asian allies: Pentagon
Yonhap 20250620
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250620000253315
Pentagon says Japan must meet ‘global standard’ and spend 5% of GDP on defense
Japan Times 20250620
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/20/japan/japan-us-defense-spending-5-percent-gdp/
S. Korea says share of its defense spending against GDP 'very high' compared with key U.S. allies
Yonhap 20250620
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250620003500315
Maritime security strategies for Japan and Australia
USSC 20250620
https://www.ussc.edu.au/maritime-security-strategies-for-japan-and-australia-report-of-the-inaugural-jade-fellows
Sovereignty: more than a slogan, less than absolute
ASPI 20250620
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/sovereignty-more-than-a-slogan-less-than-absolute/
Leaders of China, New Zealand discuss trade, Pacific security
Reuters 20250620
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/new-zealand-pm-luxon-meets-chinas-xi-jinping-2025-06-20/
Xi meets NZ Prime Minister, calls for greater emphasis on cooperation
GT 20250620
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336635.shtml
Nippon Steel buyout spat hints at business fragility in U.S.
Kyodo 20250620
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/06/23fd70b14a34-focus-nippon-steel-buyout-spat-hints-at-business-fragility-in-us.html
U.S. seeks to revoke waivers to restrict allies from sending U.S. chipmaking tools to China: report
Yonhap 20250621
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250621000200315
The TikTok ban that wasn’t
Brookings 20250620
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-tiktok-ban-that-wasnt/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Pentagon Solicits Battle Management Prototypes to Bolster Integrated Defense in Guam
Defense Post 20250619
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/06/19/pentagon-battle-management-guam/
700 troops coming to CNMI in summer for Air Force-led multilateral exercise
PIT 20250620
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/700-troops-coming-to-cnmi-for-large-scale-air-force-led-exercise-in-summer
Marines plant trees for Mariana eight-spot butterfly at firing range
PDN 20250620
https://www.guampdn.com/news/marines-plant-trees-for-mariana-eight-spot-butterfly-at-firing-range/article_932b1266-ffb5-40cf-b33a-68b6e77bf1ab.html
Camp Blaz Begins Habitat Planting to Protect Endangered Butterfly
KUAM 20250620
https://www.kuam.com/story/52865262/camp-blaz-begins-habitat-planting-to-protect-endangered-butterfly
Island Waves
China could be major beneficiary of New Zealand's move on Cook Islands - security expert
RNZ 20250620
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564679/china-could-be-major-beneficiary-of-new-zealand-s-move-on-cook-islands-security-expert
Mark Brown: Cook Islands 'not consulted' on NZ-China agreements
RNZ 20250620
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564705/mark-brown-cook-islands-not-consulted-on-nz-china-agreements
Mark Brown slams New Zealand for its 'patronising approach' over China deal
RNZ 20250620
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564705/mark-brown-slams-new-zealand-for-its-patronising-approach-over-china-deal
Tonga-US relations: “All of us are seriously alarmed,” says PM Eke
Matangi Tonga 20250620
https://matangitonga.to/2025/06/20/tonga-us-relations-all-us-are-seriously-alarmed-says-pm-eke
Bougainville and Papua New Guinea struggle to find common ground
RNZ 20250620
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/564696/bougainville-and-papua-new-guinea-struggle-to-find-common-ground
10 Countries to Participate in PNGDF Week
National (PNG) 20250620
https://www.thenational.com.pg/10-countries-to-participate-in-pngdf-week/
Peace Corps Tonga welcomes 14 new trainees
Matangi Tonga 20250620
https://matangitonga.to/2025/06/20/peace-corps-tonga-welcomes-14-new-trainees
IOM, Japanese Government to Give Two Vehicles and Medical Supplies
National (PNG) 20250620
https://www.thenational.com.pg/iom-japanese-government-give-two-vehicles-and-medical-supplies/
China’s meeting was mostly talk, but the Pacific still listened
ASPI 20250620
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-meeting-was-mostly-talk-but-the-pacific-still-listened/
French patrol vessel Auguste Bénébig makes third stop in Port Vila
Daily Post (VU) 20250620
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/french-patrol-vessel-auguste-b-n-big-makes-third-stop-in-port-vila/article_1249ece6-b560-5b4b-ae88-d82e573c26e5.html
Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill Submits Tank Closure Plan to Regulators
USN 20250620
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4221670/navy-closure-task-force-red-hill-submits-tank-closure-plan-to-regulators/
Taiwan + SCS
British naval ship transits Taiwan Strait for 1st time in 4 years
Taiwan News 20250620
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6138553
UK Royal Navy vessel sails through Taiwan Strait
Reuters 20250619
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/uk-royal-navy-vessel-sails-through-taiwan-strait-2025-06-19/
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Destroyer Passed Through Taiwan Strait in Mid-June Amid China’s Intensifying Military Activities
Yomiuri 20250620
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250620-265112/
China firmly opposes any provocations in name of 'freedom of navigation' through Taiwan Straits
GT 20250620
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336628.shtml
China sends scores of planes across central line in Taiwan Strait
AP 20250620
https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-planes-center-line-british-ship-b1618804e7a4bc66c411cb3cb171480a
China sends scores of aircraft across median line
Taipei Times 20250621
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/21/2003839004
Taiwan tracks 50 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250620
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6138578
South China Sea: China Coast Guard uses water cannon to expel Philippine vessel from shoal
SCMP 20250620
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3315181/south-china-sea-china-coast-guard-uses-water-cannon-expel-philippine-vessel-shoal
CCG expels Philippine official vessel near Huangyan Dao
GT 20250620
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336612.shtml
Over 50 Chinese vessels swarm WPS reef – PCG
Inquirer (PH) 20250620
https://www.inquirer.net/447317/over-50-chinese-vessels-swarm-wps-reef-pcg/
Capabilities
We Need a Marine Corps, Part II: A Corps Confounded
WOTR 20250619
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-ii-a-corps-confounded/
North Korea’s Sea-Based WMD Capability: The Second Leg of the Nuclear Triad
CSIS 20250620
https://beyondparallel.csis.org/north-koreas-sea-based-wmd-capability-the-second-leg-of-the-nuclear-triad/
Navy holds launch ceremony for new 3,600-ton frigate
Yonhap 20250620
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250620003900315
Chinese engineers bring artillery-launched drones from concept to life
SCMP 20250620
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315157/chinese-engineers-bring-artillery-launched-drones-concept-life
Pentagon struggles to build unified satellite network
Space News 20250620
https://spacenews.com/pentagon-struggles-to-build-unified-satellite-network/
Exercises
Chinese aircraft carriers conducted over 1,000 sorties during Pacific training
Japan Times 20250620
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/20/japan/china-aircraft-carriers-1000-sorties/
Japan-US-Philippines hold coast guard drills with eye on China
Manila Standard 20250620
https://manilastandard.net/news/314605494/japan-us-philippines-hold-coast-guard-drills-with-eye-on-china.html