Pacific Winds 20250702

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Rubio hosts US Indo-Pacific partners amid strained bilateral ties
Reuters 20250701
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/bilateral-frictions-overshadow-rubio-meeting-with-indo-pacific-partners-2025-07-01/

Quad foreign ministers meet amid deepening division, suspicion over US' unilateral policies
GT 20250701
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337410.shtml

Rubio wants Quad to deliver results, starting with critical minerals
Nikkei 20250702
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Rubio-wants-Quad-to-deliver-results-starting-with-critical-minerals

Jaishankar calls for ‘equilibrium’ with China, stronger convergence with US amid Indo-Pacific tensions
First Post 20250701
https://www.firstpost.com/world/jaishankar-calls-for-equilibrium-with-china-stronger-convergence-with-us-amid-indo-pacific-tensions-13902185.html

Australia Can’t Have Its Geopolitics Both Ways
FP 20250701
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/01/australia-trump-aukus-china-defense-spending/

Lee, New Zealand PM agree to deepen economic, defense cooperation
Yonhap 20250701
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250701009500315

Chinese FM announces sanctions on former Philippine senator Tolentino
GT 20250701
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337364.shtml

Trump complains about US-Japan trade talks as Bessent warns of higher tariffs
Reuters 20250630
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-treasurys-bessent-warns-countries-face-higher-tariff-rates-after-july-9-2025-06-30/

Trump complains about Japan not importing enough American rice
Kyodo 20250701
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56402

Japan chafes at Trump’s demand to buy more American rice
SCMP 20250701
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3316462/japan-chafes-trumps-demand-buy-more-american-rice

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Micronesian Summit in Majuro this week
RNZ 20250701
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565594/micronesian-summit-in-majuro-this-week

US territory fears being used as a pawn for military after being used as a decoy in Iranian attack
Irish Star 20250630
https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/territory-fears-being-used-pawn-35476663

No local preference in handing out military contracts
Marianas Press 20250701
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/no-local-preference-in-handing-out-military-contracts

Japan donated ICT equipment towards OEK digitalization
Island Times 20250701
https://islandtimes.org/japan-donated-ict-equipment-towards-oek-digitalization/

Japanese volunteer nurses bolster Palau’s Medical team for Pacific Mini Games
Island Times 20250701
https://islandtimes.org/japanese-volunteer-nurses-bolster-palaus-medical-team-for-pacific-mini-games/

Koa Moana 25 U.S. Marines and Sailors Lifesaving Kits Empowering Palau in Time for Pacific Mini Games
US Indo PaCom 20250630
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4231074/koa-moana-25-us-marines-and-sailors-lifesaving-kits-empowering-palau-in-time-fo/

Yamanguchi accepted to JICA KCCP training
Island Times 20250701
https://islandtimes.org/yamanguchi-accepted-to-jica-kccp-training/

Island Waves

B’ville Launches Maritime Security Partnership
Post Courier (PNG) 20250701
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/bville-launches-martime-security-partnership/

PM heads to Australia for security talks
FBCN 20250701
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/pm-heads-to-australia-for-security-talks/

Michaelia Cash urges Albanese to maintain ‘vital’ Pacific relations after Vanuatu dumped a key strategic pact
West Australian 20250701
https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/michaelia-cash-urges-albanese-to-maintain-vital-pacific-relations-after-vanuatu-dumped-a-key-strategic-pact-c-19212752

The impact of Donald Trump's second term in office on the Pacific
ABC (AU) 20250701
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/donald-trump-impact-second-term-on-pacific/105400466

Nine medical officers to China for specialist training
Solomon Star 20250701
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/nine-medical-officers-to-china-for-specialist-training/

New rescue fire service station at airport makes progress
Solomon Star 20250701
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/new-rescue-fire-service-station-at-airport-makes-progress/

Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred
RNZ 20250701
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565641/tuvalu-seeks-assurance-from-us-its-citizens-won-t-be-barred

Taiwan plans to attend Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands
Taiwan News 20250701
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6146305

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan to simulate Chinese invasion in major drill
Reuters 20250701
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-simulate-chinese-invasion-major-drill-2025-07-01/

Han Kuang drills to last 10 days, 9 nights, focus on 'gray zone' tactics
CNA (TW) 20250701
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202507010023

Drills to feature civil-military cooperation
Taipei Times 20250701
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/02/2003839604

Possible Conflict in the Taiwan Strait: Southeast Asia Can Help US Maintain Focus
Fulcrum 20250701
https://fulcrum.sg/possible-conflict-in-the-taiwan-strait-southeast-asia-can-help-us-maintain-focus/

What the Go-Bag Craze Reveals About Taiwan’s War Readiness
The Diplomat 20250630
https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/what-the-go-bag-craze-reveals-about-taiwans-war-readiness/

Every day is Independence Day in Taiwan
ASPI 20250701
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/every-day-is-independence-day-in-taiwan/

Lai Ching-te's 'defense lecture' a political fraud that binds the military and deceives the public
GT 20250702
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337425.shtml

Chinese Type 072A seen off northern Taiwan: MND
Taipei Times 20250701
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/02/2003839606

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese naval ships, 7 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250701
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6145948

Chinese Aircraft Perform Surveillance Flights Over Philippine Sea
USNI 20250630
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/30/chinese-aircraft-perform-surveillance-flights-over-philippine-sea-russian-navy-pacific-fleet-finishes-drills

China Coast Guard patrols waters around Huangyan Dao
China Military 20250701
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16394524.html

South China Sea states strengthen capacity to counter China’s overreach
IPDF 20250701
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/07/south-china-sea-states-strengthen-capacity-to-counter-chinas-overreach/

Capabilities

Trump’s Golden Dome: will the numbers add up to deter China in the Indo-Pacific?
SCMP 20250701
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316381/trumps-golden-dome-will-numbers-add-deter-china-indo-pacific

Trump’s Golden Dome: will the numbers add up to deter China in the Indo-Pacific?
Defense News 20250701
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/06/30/missile-defense-agencys-fy26-budget-targets-homeland-missile-defense/

Railgun Installed On Japanese Warship Seen In New Photos
TWZ 20250701
https://www.twz.com/sea/railgun-installed-on-japanese-warship-seen-in-new-photos

Marines testing ‘narco sub’ for contested logistics in the Indo-Pacific
Defense One 20250701
https://www.defenseone.com/defense-systems/2025/07/marines-testing-narco-sub-contested-logistics-indo-pacific/406461/

Top US general in Japan details command overhaul, cites growing threat from China
S&S 20250630
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-06-30/usfj-jost-command-restructure-china-18290617.html

One Step the U.S. Must Take To Restore the Navy
Heritage 20250701
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/one-step-the-us-must-take-restore-the-navy-0

Overcoming the Barriers to Forward Deterrence
CSIS 20250701
https://www.csis.org/analysis/overcoming-barriers-forward-deterrence

Pentagon reliant on Chinese suppliers and ‘not prepared’ for war, report warns
SCMP 20250701
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316475/pentagon-reliant-chinese-suppliers-and-not-prepared-war-report-warns

Quad coast guards launch maiden mission to boost security in Indo-Pacific
Hindustan Times 20250701
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/quad-coast-guards-launch-maiden-mission-to-boost-security-in-indopacific-101751310374437.html

Space Force Boosting an Ecosystem of GPS Alternatives in Low-Earth Orbit
Air & Space 20250701
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-ecosystem-gps-alternatives-leo/

Blackbeard ‘Cheap’ Hypersonic Strike Missile Being Developed For U.S. Army
TWZ 20250630
https://www.twz.com/land/blackbeard-cheap-hypersonic-strike-missile-being-developed-for-u-s-army

Another U.S. Navy Hypersonic Program Halted in ‘Strategic Pause’
Naval News 20250701
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/07/another-u-s-navy-hypersonic-program-halted-in-strategic-pause/

Exercises

Navy, Marine Corps in Planning for Third Large-Scale Exercise
Seapower 20250701
https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-marine-corps-in-planning-for-third-large-scale-exercise/

Chinese state media reveals J-20, J-16, J-15 fighter jets resolutely react to foreign provocations
GT 20250701
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202506/1337229.shtml