Pacific Winds 20250703

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Jul 02, 2025

Alliances

Australia-United States: How to disagree with a superpower
Lowy 20250702
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-united-states-how-disagree-superpower

NATO’s 5% pledge and the quiet drift from the Indo-Pacific
Lowy 20250702
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/nato-s-5-pledge-quiet-drift-indo-pacific

Iwaya Tells Rubio Japan Will Use Own Judgment to Strengthen Defense Capabilities; No Spending Figure Discussed
Yomiuri 20250703
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250703-267253/

Rubio urges Japan to beef up defenses, but leaves out spending target
Japan Times 20250702
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/02/japan/politics/iwaya-rubio-defense-talks/

Japan, U.S., Australia, India to bolster critical mineral cooperation
Kyodo 20250702
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56478

India, the Quad, and China’s Shadow: Building a Coherent Indo-Pacific Strategy
The Diplomat 20250703
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/india-the-quad-and-chinas-shadow-building-a-coherent-indo-pacific-strategy/

China urged to keep close eye on US-led Quad as trade tensions fail to dent solidarity
SCMP 20250702
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316702/china-urged-keep-close-eye-us-led-quad-trade-tensions-fail-dent-solidarity

Quad: a cornerstone of the ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy,’ or merely a ‘platform for diplomacy’?
GT 20250702
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337477.shtml

Charm and Coercion Shape China’s Expanding Security Footprint in Southeast Asia
The Diplomat 20250701
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/charm-and-coercion-shape-chinas-expanding-security-footprint-in-southeast-asia/

A Bull in the China Policy Shop
FP 20250702
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/02/trump-china-policy-tariffs-strategy-trade-aid-cuts/

Rubio to make first trip to Asia, visiting Japan, South Korea, Malaysia
Nikkei 20250702
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Rubio-to-make-first-trip-to-Asia-visiting-Japan-South-Korea-Malaysia

Does the United States need a China rethink?
Brookings 20250702
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/does-the-united-states-need-a-china-rethink/

Why America’s East Asian Allies Skipped the NATO Summit
RCD 20250702
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/07/02/why_americas_east_asian_allies_skipped_the_nato_summit_1120094.html

S. Korea, China discuss APEC cooperation, steel structures in Yellow Sea
Yonhap 20250702
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250702004551315

Growing USFJ's role?
Korea Times 20250702
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250702000500315

Japan silent on Trump tariff threat, vows "sincere" trade talks
Kyodo 20250702
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56525

How U.S.-Japan Tariff Talks Got Stuck on Cars and Rice
NYTimes 20250702
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/business/trump-tariffs-japan-rice-cars.html

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Quad nations complete their first joint coast guard sail with stop on Guam
S&S 20250702
https://www.stripes.com/branches/coast_guard/2025-07-02/coast-guard-inaugural-quad-sail-18312232.html

Coast Guard Cutter Stratton makes Guam port as part of Pacific patrol
PDN 202500702
https://www.guampdn.com/news/coast-guard-cutter-stratton-makes-guam-port-as-part-of-pacific-patrol/article_f7e98f60-ce2d-4eb7-87e3-ee91e58f8059.html

President Simina Arrives in Majuro for the 27th MIF, Meets with U.S. Department of the Interior’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary William “Bill” Hague
FSM 20250701
https://gov.fm/president-simina-arrives-in-majuro-for-the-27th-mif-meets-with-u-s-department-of-the-interiors-principal-deputy-assistant-secretary-william-bill-hague/

Island Waves

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan to mix war games and urban survival tests under 24/7 live fire in Han Kuang first
SCMP 20250702
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316543/taiwan-mix-war-games-and-urban-survival-tests-under-24/7-live-fire-han-kuang-first

Taiwan extends Han Kuang 41 drills to 10 days
Taiwan News 20250702
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6147249

PLA landing ship spotted off northern Taiwan ahead of island’s biggest military drill
SCMP 20250702
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316700/pla-landing-ship-spotted-northern-taiwan-ahead-islands-biggest-military-drill

Washington stands strong in its Taiwan policy
EAF 20250702
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/07/02/washington-stands-strong-in-its-taiwan-policy/

S. Korea’s role in a Taiwan crisis on which North might piggyback
Asia Times 20250702
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/s-koreas-role-in-a-taiwan-crisis-on-which-north-might-piggyback/

'Taiwan independence' separatism is greatest disaster to island, says mainland spokesperson on Lai's latest remarks on cross-Straits ties
GT 20250702
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337452.shtml

Chinese pressure stresses Taiwan’s democracy
Asia Times 20250702
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/chinese-pressure-stresses-taiwans-democracy/

China might plan more attacks on leaders, experts say
Taipei Times 20250703
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/03/2003839667

Taiwan tracks 53 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval ships
Taiwan News 202500702
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6147029

Philippine Coast Guard commodore on mission to 'expose' China
Nikkei 20250702
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Philippine-Coast-Guard-commodore-on-mission-to-expose-China

Filipino military pushes naval base upgrades, fearing Chinese spying
Defense News 20250702
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/07/02/filipino-military-pushes-naval-base-upgrades-fearing-chinese-spying/

US flexes naval power in West PH Sea with USS George Washington patrol
ABS-CBN 20250702
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/us-flexes-naval-power-in-west-ph-sea-with-george-washington-patrol-2034

Capabilities

Missile Defense Agency Issues Lockheed Martin Aegis Contract Worth Up to $2.97B
USNI 20250701
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/01/missile-defense-agency-issues-lockheed-martin-aegis-contract-worth-up-to-2-97b

Does North Korea Really Have So Few ICBMs?
CSIS 20250701
https://www.38north.org/2025/07/does-north-korea-really-have-so-few-icbms/

N. Korea already using Russia's Pantsir-S1 air-defense system: report
Yonhap 20250702
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250702002000315

Japan’s MHI launches eleventh Mogami-class multirole frigate for JMSDF
Naval News 20250702
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/07/japans-mhi-launches-eleventh-mogami-class-multirole-frigate-for-jmsdf/

KC-135 Tankers Set To Get Drone Launchers
TWZ 20250701
https://www.twz.com/air/kc-135-tankers-set-to-get-drone-launchers

What budget infighting means for America’s F-47 and a conflict over Taiwan
SCMP 20250702
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316518/what-budget-infighting-means-americas-f-47-and-conflict-over-taiwan

Setting the scene: Army to test new hub for stockpiling in Australia
Defense News 20250702
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/07/02/setting-the-scene-army-to-test-new-hub-for-stockpiling-in-australia/

Whiting strengthens partnerships, integration in Indo-Pacific
US SpaceCom 20250701
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4232165/whiting-strengthens-partnerships-integration-in-indo-pacific/

‘What ACE Is All About’: Dispersion Protects Airmen, Planes During Iran Attack
Air & Space 20250702
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-ace-dispersion-iran-attack/

Exercises

Navy’s biennial global exercise to include Canadian, Japanese, NATO officials
Breaking Defense 20250702
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/navys-biennial-global-exercise-to-include-canadian-japanese-nato-officials/

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