Pacific Winds 20250626
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Transparency and the Australia-US alliance
Lowy 20250625
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/transparency-australia-us-alliance
AUKUS vital to ‘deter Chinese aggression’, say US lawmakers, as Trump urged to recommit to submarine deal
Guardian (UK) 20250624
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/24/aukus-review-us-australia-uk-trump-nuclear-submarine-deal
Japan PM’s NATO no-show a shot across Trump’s bow
Asia Times 20250625
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/japan-pms-nato-no-show-a-shot-across-trumps-bow/
Survey: 52% in Japan, 55% in South Korea Say Relations Are Positive; Japan Cautious Over New S. Korean President
Yomiuri 20250625
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250625-265822/
A partnership with limits: Lee Jae-myung’s China reset
Think China 20250624
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/partnership-limits-lee-jae-myungs-china-reset
Improving China ties a 'necessary matter' for South Korea
GT 20250625
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336967.shtml
Seoul envoy stresses 'strong' S. Korea-U.S. commitment to alliance despite leadership changes
Yonhap 20250626
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250626000200315
A Distracted Washington Is a Win for Beijing
FP 20250624
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/24/china-iran-israel-united-states-war-cease-fire-diplomacy/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Barnett condemns use of Guam as military decoy, calls for recommitment to diplomacy
PDN 20250625
https://www.guampdn.com/news/barnett-condemns-use-of-guam-as-military-decoy-calls-for-recommitment-to-diplomacy/article_79c1653a-6cfa-4398-96bb-56a220bf64e6.html
Tinian military plans raise more questions and bigger hopes
Isla Public Media 20250625
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2025-06-25/tinian-military-plans-raise-more-questions-and-bigger-hopes
Residents sound off on military noise pollution
Marianas Press 20250625
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/residents-sound-off-on-military-noise-pollution
U.S. Marines and Sailors Commence Koa Moana 2
US IndoPaCom 20250624
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4225111/us-marines-and-sailors-commence-koa-moana-2/
Island Waves
PNG and Bougainville leaders to finalise independence agreements on Thursday
RNZ 20250625
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565109/png-and-bougainville-leaders-to-finalise-independence-agreements-on-thursday
Macron invites all New Caledonia stakeholders for Paris talks
RNZ 20250625
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565119/macron-invites-all-new-caledonia-stakeholders-for-paris-talks
Minister Conroy arrives
Solomon Star 20250625
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/minister-conroy-arrives-2/
Australia to boost cyber security and provide vehicles for Solomon Islands Pacific Islands Forum
ABC (AU) 20250626
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-26/australia-to-support-solomon-islands-pacific-islands-forum/105461512
Jiangsu, Malaita establish sister-province relationship
Solomon Star 20250625
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/jiangsu-malaita-establish-sister-province-relationship/
Trump administration's cuts to USAID budget have had a flow-on effect in Australia to the tune of $400 million.
ABC (AU) 20250625
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/us-aid-cuts-impact/105457550
Selected US visa hopefuls told make social media accounts public, “Every visa review is a national security decision.” — U.S. Embassy, Suva
Fiji Times 20250626
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/selected-us-visa-hopefuls-told-make-social-media-accounts-public-every-visa-review-is-a-national-security-decision-u-s-embassy-suva/
What Timor-Leste’s China ties really mean for ASEAN
Think China 20250624
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/what-timor-lestes-china-ties-really-mean-asean
U.S. Marine Sentenced to 7 Yrs for Sexual Assault in Okinawa
Yomiuri 20250625
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20250625-265760/
Taiwan + SCS
Learning from Ukraine and Israel, Taiwan to issue new air-raid guidance
Reuters 20250625
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/learning-ukraine-israel-taiwan-issue-new-air-raid-guidance-2025-06-25/
Han Kuang mobilization largest ever, minister says
Taipei Times 20250626
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/26/2003839271
UK foreign secretary says more freedom of navigation patrols to be held in Taiwan Strait
Taiwan News 20250625
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6141711
Beijing’s economic playbook for Taiwan: big carrots and small sticks
ASPI 20250625
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beijings-economic-playbook-for-taiwan-big-carrots-and-small-sticks/
China, Taiwan clash over history, Beijing says can't 'invade' what is already its territory
Reuters 20250625
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-taiwan-clash-over-history-beijing-says-cant-invade-what-is-already-chinese-2025-06-25/
Taiwan Affairs Office slams Lai’s speech as separatist act
GT 20250625
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336931.shtml
President Lai's remark on 'impurities' draws criticism
CNA 20250625
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202506250014
Mainland slams DPP for ‘selling out’ Taiwan amid US tariffs
GT 20250625
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336976.shtml
Former president Ma Ying-jeou’s latest visit and Taiwan’s China divide
Lowy 20250626
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/former-president-ma-ying-jeou-s-latest-visit-taiwan-s-china-divide
Taiwan tracks 37 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250625
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6141705
China rejects Japan’s groundless accusation over East China Sea development, says activities are within undisputed Chinese jurisdiction: FM spokesperson
GT 20250625
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1336950.shtml
Australian navy joins UK to conduct freedom of navigation exercises in contested South China Sea
ABC (AU) 20250625
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-25/australia-navy-joins-uk-freedom-of-navigation-south-china-sea/105460748
PCG reaffirms West Philippine Sea position, addresses disinformation
PIA 20250625
https://pia.gov.ph/pcg-reaffirms-west-philippine-sea-position-addresses-disinformation/
Capabilities
Why South Korea won’t build the bomb
ASPI 20250625
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-south-korea-wont-build-the-bomb/
China’s Pacific carrier deployment signals new phase in tensions with Japan
Lowy 20250625
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-s-pacific-carrier-deployment-signals-new-phase-tensions-japan
Congress Eyes Ammunition Plant at former U.S. Naval Base in the Philippines
USNI 20250624
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/24/congress-eyes-ammunition-plant-at-former-u-s-naval-base-in-the-philippines
China’s Feitian 2 hypersonic vehicle shows critical capabilities in test flight
SCMP 20250625
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315819/chinas-feitian-2-hypersonic-vehicle-shows-critical-capabilities-test-flight
The Emerging Role of UUVs: AUKUS as a Platform for Development
CSIS 20250625
https://www.csis.org/blogs/new-perspectives-asia/emerging-role-uuvs-aukus-platform-development
GSDF Tests Surface-to-Ship Missile in Japan for 1st Time, Responding to Tense Security Environment
Yomiuri 20250625
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250625-265887/
How To Keep the U.S. Maritime Revival Afloat
Heritage 20250625
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/how-keep-the-us-maritime-revival-afloat
Senators concerned with Navy shipbuilding delays, budget
Navy Times 20250624
https://www.navytimes.com/congress/2025/06/24/senators-concerned-with-navy-shipbuilding-delays-budget/
We Need a Marine Corps, Part III: A Corps Recentered
WOTR 20250624
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/we-need-a-marine-corps-part-iii-a-corps-recentered/
Satellite imagery firms escalate warnings over budget cuts
Space News 20250625
https://spacenews.com/satellite-imagery-firms-escalate-warnings-over-budget-cuts/
Why the U.S. Should Give Australia Its Old B-2 Fleet
Heritage 20250623
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/why-the-us-should-give-australia-its-old-b-2-fleet
Cyber Crossroads in the Indo-Pacific
CNAS 20250624
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/cyber-crossroads-in-the-indo-pacific
Exercises
Chinese aircraft carriers conduct about 1120 flight ops near Japan
Naval News 20250624
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/chinese-aircraft-carriers-conduct-about-1120-flight-ops-near-japan/
UK aircraft carrier in Pacific on rare deployment
BBC 20250624
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gp07yqnjo
U.K. Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Arrives in Singapore
USNI 20250624
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/24/u-k-aircraft-carrier-hms-prince-of-wales-arrives-in-singapore
In Singapore, UK Carrier Strike Group commanders talk upcoming exercises, with key F-35 role
Breaking Defense 20250625
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/in-singapore-uk-carrier-strike-group-commanders-talk-upcoming-exercises-with-key-f-35-role/