Pacific Winds 20250701
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. tariff measures to have grave impact on S. Korean economy: experts
Yonhap 20250630
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250630001251320
Japan Survey Finds Only 22% of Respondents Trust U.S.; Significant Drop From Joint Poll After Election
Yomiuri 20250630
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250630-266708/
Does Australia see China as a threat?
Lowy 20250630
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-australia-see-china-threat
When its foreign ministers meet this week, let the Quad step up
ASPI 20250630
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/when-its-foreign-ministers-meet-this-week-let-the-quad-step-up/
Trump says ‘getting along well’ with China, downplays ‘aggressive’ acts linked to Beijing
SCMP 20250630
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316303/trump-says-getting-along-well-china-downplays-hostile-acts
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Marianas residents voice deep concerns over US military expansion
RNZ 20250630
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565520/marianas-residents-voice-deep-concerns-over-us-military-expansion
On Revised DEIS: ‘We're much better place than we were 10 years ago’
Marianas Press 20250630
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/on-revised-deis-were-much-better-place-than-we-were-10-years-ago
Island Waves
Japan can help the Pacific become more resilient
ASPI 20250630
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/japan-can-help-the-pacific-become-more-resilient/
Why China's influence over one small Pacific island is worrying Australia
ABC (AU) 20250630
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-radio-national-hour/ben-doherty/105478960
Australian officials’ obsession with influence misguides regional devt
GT 20250630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337337.shtml
Accusing China of ‘branding’ South Pacific projects reveals Australia’s Monroe Doctrine mentality
GT 20250630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337336.shtml
Manele backs police force to provide security at PIF
ABC (AU) 20250630
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/manele-backs-police-force-to-provide-security-at-pif/105475912
Tjibaou on New Caledonia talks in Paris: “We want to resolve this now”
Islands Business 20250630
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/tjibaou-on-new-caledonia-talks-in-paris-we-want-to-resolve-this-now/
New Caledonia’s sovereignty push meets France’s Indo-Pacific ambitions
EAF 20250630
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/06/30/new-caledonias-sovereignty-push-meets-frances-indo-pacific-ambitions/
AN INTERVIEW WITH PROF TRANSFORM AQORAU
Solomon Star 20250630
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/an-interview-with-prof-transform-aqorau/
Women Soldiers Get Dormitory Thanks to Australia
National (PNG) 20250630
https://www.thenational.com.pg/women-soldiers-get-dormitory-thanks-to-australia/
Pacific Partnership 2025 Concludes Mission Stop in the Kingdom of Tonga, June 27, 2025
USN 20250630
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4229620/pacific-partnership-2025-concludes-mission-stop-in-the-kingdom-of-tonga-june-27/
Taiwan + SCS
Japan unlikely to intervene directly if China attacks Taiwan, expert says
S&S 20250630
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-06-30/japan-taiwan-invasion-china-senkaku-18289799.html
Cross-strait invasion unlikely as many nations watching: U.S. general
CNA (TW) 20250630
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202506300008
Taiwan releases new air raid guidelines
Taiwan News 20250630
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6145362
Give the A-10s to Taiwan and they can stop a Chinese sea invasion
Asia Times 20250630
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/give-the-a-10s-to-taiwan-and-they-can-stop-a-chinese-sea-invasion/
Taiwan’s President Takes on China, and His Opponents, in Speaking Tour
NYTimes 20250630
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/world/asia/taiwan-china-identity.html
Who is pushing Taiwan’s 23 million people to the front lines?
GT 20250630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337310.shtml
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250630
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6144944
The New Phase of Vietnam’s Reclamation in the Spratly Islands
SCSPI 202500630
http://www.scspi.org/en/dtfx/new-phase-vietnam%E2%80%99s-reclamation-spratly-islands
Australian destroyer conducts South China Sea Freedom of Navigation activity
Breaking Defense 20250630
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/06/australian-destroyer-conducts-south-china-sea-freedom-of-navigation-activity/
Capabilities
'Acting as opposing forces' first mentioned in China's dual carrier drills, shows expansion of China’s maritime defense capabilities: experts
GT 20250630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337345.shtml
China says aircraft carriers conduct combat training in Pacific
AFP 20250630
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250630-china-says-aircraft-carriers-conduct-combat-training-in-pacific
Japan needs to bolster defense capabilities steadily, says Ishiba
Japan Times 20250630
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/30/japan/ishiba-meets-sdf-commanders/
US builds next-generation bunker buster with China in mind
Asia Times 20250630
https://asiatimes.com/2025/06/us-builds-next-generation-bunker-buster-with-china-in-mind/
Pentagon awards $5 billion contract to speed up ship manufacturing
Defense News 20250630
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2025/06/30/pentagon-awards-5-billion-contract-to-speed-up-ship-manufacturing/
China Builds New Large Jet-Powered Ekranoplan
Naval News 20250630
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/china-builds-new-jet-powered-large-ekranoplan/
Chinese spacecraft begin rendezvous and proximity operations in geostationary orbit
Space News 20250630
https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-begin-rendezvous-and-proximity-operations-in-geostationary-orbit/
Exercises
Chinese aircraft carriers enter second island chain for first time
Taipei Times 20250630
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/06/30/2003839510
PLA Navy's Liaoning, Shandong carrier formations return to port after far seas training
GT 20250630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337308.shtml
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 30, 2025
USNI 20250630
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/30/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-30-2025