Pacific Winds 20250627
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China’s Continental Conundrum: Nuclear Geopolitics and American Strategy in the Western Pacific
AEI 20250624
https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/chinas-continental-conundrum-nuclear-geopolitics-and-american-strategy-in-the-western-pacific/
The costly standoff between fragile superpowers
Think China 20250626
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/costly-standoff-between-fragile-superpowers?ref=top-hero
‘Tactical move’: why Japan pulled plug on US security talks amid defence spending row
SCMP 20250625
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3315653/tactical-move-why-japan-pulled-plug-us-security-talks-amid-defence-spending-row
What does Lee Jae Myung’s victory mean for South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and for Australia?
USSC 20250626
https://www.ussc.edu.au/what-does-lee-jae-myung-s-victory-mean-for-south-korea-s-indo-pacific-strategy-and-for-australia
Top security aide says S. Korea facing U.S. demand on defense spending hike
Yonhap 20250626
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250626010700315
Why South Korea's new president skipped the NATO summit
Responsible Statecraft 20250626
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/nato-summit-2672441725/
SCO defense ministers agree to strengthen communication, promote cooperation
GT 20250626
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337036.shtml
Gathering of 10 defense ministers in Qingdao highlights appeal of 'non-aligned SCO'
GT 20250626
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337082.shtml
Chinese Embassy rejects smears made by certain individuals in Philippine military over maritime drug cases
GT 20250626
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337032.shtml
Lee Jae-myung affirms strengthening cooperation with Japan and China, ‘placing emphasis on pragmatic diplomacy and ties with neighbors’
GT 20250626
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337047.shtml
Global Swing States and the New Great Power Competition
CNAS 20250626
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/Global-Swing-States_June-2025-final.pdf
Japan Can’t Accept US’s 25% Car Tariffs, Akazawa Reiterates
Bloomberg 20250626
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-26/japan-can-t-accept-us-s-25-car-tariffs-akazawa-reiterates
US allows ethane to be loaded and shipped to China, but not unloaded, letter says
Reuters 20250625
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-allows-ethane-be-loaded-shipped-china-not-unloaded-letter-2025-06-25/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Senator hits military's surreptitious use of Guam as a decoy in Iran strike|
PIT 20250626
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/senator-hits-military-s-surreptitious-use-of-guam-as-a-decoy-in-iran-strike
"Guam is not a decoy," Senator Barnett blasts D.C. over secret military move
KUAM 20250626
https://www.kuam.com/story/52880162/guam-is-not-a-decoy-senator-barnett-blasts-dc-over-secret-military-move
Updated military training plan includes civilian access, draws opposition
Marianas Variety 20250627
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/updated-military-training-plan-includes-civilian-access-draws-opposition/article_fcd87ccd-52f4-4d87-8352-49fd1de8a2df.html
'Diplomacy and peace are the way forward—not more bombs:' Activists protest military buildup in the CNMI
PIT 20250626
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/diplomacy-and-peace-are-the-way-forward-not-more-bombs-activists-protest-military-buildup-in-the
Activists disrupt Tinian Military Expansion meeting, call for peace and demilitarization
Marianas Press 20250626
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2025-06-26/activists-disrupt-tinian-military-expansion-meeting-call-for-peace-and-demilitarization
Island Waves
PNG Transfers BCL Shares to Bougainville
Post Courier (PNG) 20250626
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-transfers-bcl-shares-to-bougainville/
PNG hands over majority stakes in BCL to Autonomous Bougainville Government
RNZ 20250626
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565215/png-hands-over-majority-stakes-in-bcl-to-autonomous-bougainville-government
What a Potential Travel Ban on Tuvalu Reveals About US Foreign Policy Under Trump
The Diplomat 20250625
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/what-a-potential-travel-ban-on-tuvalu-reveals-about-us-foreign-policy-under-trump/
Pacific Islands delay security plan that could open door to China
Reuters 20250626
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/pacific-islands-delay-security-plan-that-could-open-door-china-2025-06-26/
Solomons–Australia partnership stronger
Solomon Star 20250626
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/solomons-australia-partnership-stronger/
Thank you Australia – $60M for roads upgrade
Solomon Star 20250626
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/thank-you-australia-60m-for-roads-upgrade/
$1.6m package to support governance of mining sector
Solomon Star 20250626
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/1-6m-package-to-support-governance-of-mining/
China in the Pacific – Joint statement of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Fiji Times 20250626
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/china-in-the-pacific-joint-statement-of-the-third-china-pacific-island-countries-foreign-ministers-meeting/
Fiji, Japan deepen digital partnership
Fiji Times 20250626
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-japan-deepen-digital-partnership/
Public servants tour China
Samoa Observer 20250625
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/114933
West Ambae village builds link with China
Daily Post (VU) 202500626
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/west-ambae-village-builds-link-with-china/article_8ef9675c-42db-54c2-b6f7-98a0c939855c.html
US Envoy Visits Ramu Academy
National (PNG) 20250626
https://www.thenational.com.pg/us-envoy-visits-ramu-academy/
Taiwan + xCS
Why Recent Surprise Attacks Against Russia and Iran Should Worry Taiwan
WOTR 20250625
https://warontherocks.com/2025/06/why-recent-surprise-attacks-against-russia-and-iran-should-worry-taiwan/
How Trump’s Strike on Iran Might Affect China’s Calculus on Taiwan
NYTimes 20250626
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/world/asia/iran-china-trump-taiwan.html
Taiwan says it is determined to defend itself as China vows to boost combat readiness
Reuters 20250626
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-military-vows-boost-combat-readiness-after-taiwan-president-speeches-2025-06-26/
Defense minister highlights gray-zone response, HIMARS deployment in drills
CNA (TW) 20250626
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202506260023
Civil-military cooperation enhances Taiwan's defense resilience: Lai
CNA (TW) 20250626
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202506260016
The Most Important US Roles on Taiwan Don’t Require Senate Confirmation
The Diplomat 20250626
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/the-most-important-us-roles-on-taiwan-dont-require-senate-confirmation/
'No alternative' to millions of drones for Taiwan defense: Auterion CEO
Nikkei 20250626
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/No-alternative-to-millions-of-drones-for-Taiwan-defense-Auterion-CEO
Obscured by Geopolitics, Taiwan’s Constitutional Crisis Simmers in the Background
The Diplomat 20250625
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/obscured-by-geopolitics-taiwans-constitutional-crisis-simmers-in-the-background/
Beware of Lai's fallacious 'unity' discourse
GT 20250626
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337059.shtml
Taiwan tracks 33 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250626
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6142672
West PH Sea: Recent US-PH-Japan sea drills viewed as ‘counter-China’ effort
Inquirer (PH) 20250625
https://www.inquirer.net/447788/west-ph-sea-us-ph-japan-sea-drills-viewed-as-counter-china-effort/
Maritime Patrol Aircraft for Underwater Surveillance in the South China Sea
RSIS 20250625
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/maritime-patrol-aircraft-for-underwater-surveillance-in-the-south-china-sea/
Chinese Platforms in the Yellow Sea’s South Korea-China PMZ
CSIS 20250623
https://beyondparallel.csis.org/chinese-platforms-in-the-yellow-seas-south-korea-china-pmz/
Capabilities
China’s Growing Nuclear Buildup and the Global Nuclear Outlook
The Diplomat 20250625
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/chinas-growing-nuclear-buildup-and-the-global-nuclear-outlook/
China moving ‘breathtakingly fast’ in space military tech, posing threat to US: commander
SCMP 20250626
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3315846/china-moving-breathtakingly-fast-space-military-tech-posing-threat-us-commander
Can Washington Counter Beijing Without Repeating Cold War Mistakes?
CSIS 22050626
https://www.csis.org/analysis/can-washington-counter-beijing-without-repeating-cold-war-mistakes
Enabling Forward Sustainment
CSIS 20250626
https://www.csis.org/analysis/enabling-forward-sustainment
Reclaiming Air Superiority: The Urgent Case for Air Battle Management in Near-Peer Rivalry
Mitchell 20250626
https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/app/uploads/2025/06/MI_Forum_57-Reclaiming-Air-Superiority-FINAL.pdf
Australia should stop pretending to be a military hegemon
Lowy 20250627
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-should-stop-pretending-be-military-hegemon
Considering combat operations from the Australian homeland
ASPI 20250626
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aspi-defence-conference-considering-combat-operations-from-the-australian-homeland/
Beyond White Papers: How Australia should rethink strategic planning
Lowy 20250626
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beyond-white-papers-how-australia-should-rethink-strategic-planning
China warns Philippines not to introduce weapons in Asia-Pacific
China Daily 20250626
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202506/26/WS685d5012a310a04af22c8ba3.html
China to Hegseth: US on Path to 'Fire and Suffering'
Newsweek 20250626
https://www.newsweek.com/china-pete-hegseth-us-military-taiwan-arms-sales-warning-2090985
China set to deploy drone 'mothership' that can carry 100 small drones
Nikkei 20250627
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/China-set-to-deploy-drone-mothership-that-can-carry-100-small-drones
Lightning Carriers: The Marines’ secret weapon in the Pacific
Task & Purpose 20250626
https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/marine-corps-lightning-carrier-pacific/
Pentagon formally unveils $961.6 billion budget for 2026, with reconciliation help
Breaking Defense 20250626
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/pentagon-formally-unveils-961-6-billion-budget-for-2026-with-reconciliation-help/
DOD’s budget request finally drops, combining a real decrease with a one-time boost
Defense One 20250626
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/06/dods-budget-request-finally-drops-combining-real-decrease-one-time-boost/406345/
Navy’s 2026 shipbuilding budget seeks just 3 warships in base request, 16 in reconciliation
Breaking Defense 20250626
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/navys-2026-shipbuilding-budget-seeks-just-3-warships-in-base-request-16-in-reconciliation/
US Navy ‘Desperately’ Seeking to Stem ICBM Submarine Delay
Bloomberg 20250625
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-25/us-navy-desperately-seeking-to-stem-icbm-submarine-delay
The Strategic Consequences of Deferred Maintenance: Challenges to the Resilience of U.S. Sea Power
SWJ 20250625
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/06/25/the-strategic-consequences-of-deferred-maintenance-challenges-to-the-resilience-of-u-s-sea-power/
Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Highlights
USNI 20250625
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/26/department-of-the-navy-fiscal-year-2026-budget-highlights
Navy budget seeks to boost modernization of fleet, shipyards
Defense News 20250626
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/06/26/navy-budget-seeks-to-boost-modernization-of-fleet-shipyards/
Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ would give Space Force a nearly $40 billion budget
Space News 20250626
https://spacenews.com/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-would-give-space-force-a-nearly-40-billion-budget/