Pacific Winds 20250625

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Andrew Hastie calls for 'transparency' about US military's growing presence in Australia
ABC (AU) 20250624
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-24/hastie-demands-answer-about-us-militarys-growing-presence/105451834

Beneath the Mateship, a Quiet Crisis Is Brewing in the U.S.-Australia Alliance
Carnegie 20250623
https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/06/us-australia-alliance-quiet-crisis

Albanese government cuts to the heart of the US alliance
Lowy 20250624
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/albanese-government-cuts-heart-us-alliance

AUKUS unity in doubt as Anthony Albanese hesitates and UK PM Keir Starmer refuses to support President Trump's Iran strikes
Sky (AU) 20250624
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/aukus-unity-in-doubt-as-anthony-albanese-hesitates-and-uk-pm-keir-starmer-refuses-to-support-president-trumps-iran-strikes/news-story/b6c9a4166534b3ef9af39cf9d0d78cf9

Japan’s economic security strategy looks beyond the United States
AEF 20250625
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/06/24/japans-economic-security-strategy-looks-beyond-the-united-states/

Singapore seeks stronger China ties amid uncertainty over Trump tariffs
Nikkei 20250624
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Singapore-seeks-stronger-China-ties-amid-uncertainty-over-Trump-tariffs

Xi meets Singaporean PM, calling for boosting China-Singapore cooperation
Xinhua 20250624
https://english.news.cn/20250624/2bd36de2b3224e2bb57e5f0e0cd4c16d/c.html

Acting U.S. envoy cites 'other' defense costs to discuss beyond U.S. troops cost-sharing with S. Korea
Yonhap 20250624
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250624005900315

FM nominee Cho vows to pursue peace on Korean Peninsula through N. Korea-U.S. dialogue
Yonhap 20250624
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250624002651315

Is it worth being friends with the US?
Nikkei 20250624
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Is-it-worth-being-friends-with-the-US

What Happened to the US ‘Asia First’ Doctrine?
The Diplomat 20250625
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/what-happened-to-the-us-asia-first-doctrine/

Triangular Dynamics: Understanding the Philippines’ Relationships with Taiwan and China
NBAR 20250623
https://www.nbr.org/publication/triangular-dynamics-understanding-the-philippines-relationships-with-taiwan-and-china/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Fears Guam being used as a pawn after it was used as a decoy in US attack on Iran
ABC A(U) 20250624
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/fears-guam-being-used-as-a-pawn-by-military/105453138

Aldan on CJMT: Don't mess around with our environment
Marianas Press 20250624
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/aldan-on-cjmt-dont-mess-around-with-our-environment

Tinian’s growing military role draws concerns, support
Isla Public Media 20250624
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2025-06-24/tinians-growing-military-role-draws-concerns-support

Japan Maritime self-defense Force’s JS YAHAGI makes port call to Palau
Island Times 20250624
https://islandtimes.org/japan-maritime-self-defense-forces-js-yahagi-makes-port-call-to-palau/

U.S. Coast Guard strengthens partnership with Federated States of Micronesia at semi-annual Joint Committee Meeting
US IndoPaCom 20250623
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4223757/us-coast-guard-strengthens-partnership-with-federated-states-of-micronesia-at-s/

Ewatel accepted to JICA KCCP training
Island Times 20250624
https://islandtimes.org/ewatel-accepted-to-jica-kccp-training/

Island Waves

ASPI Defence Conference: Australia’s shared security with PNG and the Pacific
ASPI 20250624
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aspi-defence-conference-australias-shared-security-with-png-and-the-pacific/

Marape Awaits Date for Bilateral Talks with US President Trump
Post Courier (PNG) 20250624
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/marape-awaits-date-for-bilateral-talks-with-us-president-trump/

AIRPORT EXTENSION COULD BE BUILT FOR HALF THE COST
Solomon Star 20250624
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/airport-extension-could-be-built-for-half-the-cost/

$5M farm tech boost from China
Samoa Observer 20250624
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/114903

Fiji teams up with Japan for stronger defenses
FBCN 20250624
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-teams-up-with-japan-for-stronger-defenses/

Conroy to Tour Melanesia in Bid to Coment Austs Pacific Presence
Post Courier (PNG) 20250624
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/conroy-to-tour-melanesia-in-bid-to-cement-austs-pacific-presence/

Justice sector leaders embark on transformational leadership journey in Aust
Solomon Star 20250624
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/justice-sector-leaders-embark-on-transformational-leadership-journey-in-aust/

Pacific Partnership 2025 commences mission stop in Kingdom of Tonga
USN PacFlt 20250623
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4223481/pacific-partnership-2025-commences-mission-stop-in-kingdom-of-tonga/

China’s South Pacific foothold and how to prevent it
Lowy 20250625
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-s-south-pacific-foothold-how-prevent-it

Taiwan + xCS

So What? Reassessing the Military Implications of Chinese Control of Taiwan
TNSR 20250624
https://tnsr.org/2025/06/so-what-reassessing-the-military-implications-of-chinese-control-of-taiwan/

Americans back military defense of Taiwan: poll
Taipei Times 20250625
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/25/2003839207

Coast Guard reports Chinese vessel circled Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250624
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6140785

China says Taiwan president spreading 'heresy' with sovereignty speech
Reuters 20250623
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-taiwan-president-spreading-heresy-with-sovereignty-speech-2025-06-23/

'Oppose CCP and safeguard Taiwan' key to unity: Lai
CNA (TW) 20250624
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202506240029

Beijing accuses Taiwan’s William Lai of inciting cross-strait confrontation in speech
SCMP 20250624
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3315652/beijing-accuses-taiwans-william-lai-inciting-cross-strait-confrontation-speech

Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250624
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6140743

Iran-US conflict raises concerns for Philippines in South China Sea: ‘distracted America’
SCMP 20250624
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315585/iran-us-conflict-raises-concerns-philippines-south-china-sea-distracted-america

PH Navy ready to secure oil exploration, drilling ops in WPS
PNA 20250624
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1252825

​China Calls Them Fish Farms. South Korea Fears They Have Another Use.
NYTimes 20250624
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/world/asia/china-south-korea-sea-dispute.html

Japan protests against new Chinese structure in East China Sea
Reuters 20250624
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japan-protests-against-new-chinese-structure-east-china-sea-2025-06-24/

More nations voice concern over China’s water cannon attacks
Inquirer (PH) 20250624
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/282130/more-nations-air-concern-vs-ccg-water-cannoning-off-zambales

Capabilities

Japan conducts first domestic missile test
Defense News 20250624
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/06/24/japan-conducts-first-domestic-missile-test/

China’s Fujian carrier flexes mass swarm attack power
Asia Times 20250624
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/chinas-fujian-carrier-flexes-mass-swarm-attack-power/

Mapped: How China Staged Double Aircraft Carrier Show of Force in Pacific
Newsweek 20250624
https://www.newsweek.com/china-aircraft-carriers-liaoning-shandong-western-pacific-exercise-2089748

Transform, Campaign, Repeat: Winning in the Indo-Pacific
MWI 20250624
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/transform-campaign-repeat-winning-in-the-indo-pacific/

US congressmen urge Trump administration to continue 'critical' AUKUS submarine deal to secure Indo-Pacific
ABC (AU) 20250624
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-24/us-congressmen-lobby-trump-administration-continue-aukus-deal/105455188

Missile Defense Agency’s long-range radar tracks ICBM test target for first time
Breaking Defense 20250624
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/missile-defense-agencys-long-range-radar-tracks-icbm-test-target-for-first-time/
MDA Release: https://www.mda.mil/news/25news0006.html

The Trump Administration’s Proposed Innovation in Defence Acquisitions and its Implications for US Security
AIIA 20250624
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-trump-administrations-proposed-innovation-in-defence-acquisitions-and-its-implications-for-us-security/

US Space Command’s Gen. Whiting talks Golden Dome, EW and China’s space-based kill chain
Breaking Defense 20250624
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/us-space-commands-gen-whiting-talks-golden-dome-ew-and-chinas-space-based-kill-chain/

Exercises

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shandong Intensifies Activities in Pacific; Defense Ministry Monitors Observe 70 Takeoffs and Landings from Friday to Sunday
Yomiuri 20250624
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250624-265627/

U.S., Australia, and Japan Strengthen Ties During Southern Jackaroo 25
USN 20250624
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4223986/us-australia-and-japan-strengthen-ties-during-southern-jackaroo-25/