Pacific Winds 20250704
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
South Korean leader seeks early visit to Japan, stresses cooperation
Kyodo 20250703
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56604
South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung caps first month in office with pledge to improve China, Russia ties
SCMP 20250703
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316801/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-caps-first-month-office-pledge-improve-china-russia-ties
South Korean President pledges early improvement of relations with China; China ties crucial for Seoul amid trade uncertainties: expert
GT 20250703
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337595.shtml
Lee vows to improve relations with N. Korea based on cooperation with U.S.
Yonhap 20250703
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250703003200315
Rubio's visit to S. Korea unlikely to take place in near future: presidential office
Yonhap 20250703
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250703002551315
Rubio postpones Japan, South Korean trip to focus on Mideast conflict
NIkkei 20250704
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Rubio-postpones-Japan-South-Korean-trip-to-focus-on-Mideast-conflict
Top military officers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to meet in Seoul next week
Yonhap 20250703
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250703001000315
Despite it all, China dominates Australian trade—again
ASPI 20250703
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/despite-it-all-china-dominates-australian-trade-again/
The Cost of Silence: How Australia’s US Alliance Is Testing Its Core Values
AIIA 20250702
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-cost-of-silence-how-australias-us-alliance-is-testing-its-core-values/
For Quad to be taken seriously, it must formalise and expand
ASPI 20250703
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/for-quad-to-be-taken-seriously-it-must-formalise-and-expand/
Critical minerals at a critical moment: Testing the Quad’s resolve
Lowy 20250703
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/critical-minerals-critical-moment-testing-quad-s-resolve
Concerns Loom Over Japan-U.S. Tariff Talks After Trump Comment; Ishiba Unable to Make Certain Concessions Ahead of Upper House Election
Yomiuri 20250703
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20250703-267606/
Lee says making utmost efforts on tariff talks with U.S. ahead of July 8 deadline
Yonhap 20250703
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250703002851315
The Fantasy of a Grand Bargain Between America and China
FA 20250703
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/fantasy-grand-bargain-between-america-and-china
US Lifts Chip Design Export Curbs as Part of New China Deal
Bloomberg 20250702
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-03/siemens-says-us-has-rescinded-chip-software-curbs-on-china
US paves way to resume ethane exports to China amid trade truce
Reuters 20250702
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-lifts-restrictions-enterprise-products-ethane-shipments-china-2025-07-02/
The deadline for Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ trade tariffs is looming
Asia Times 20250703
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/the-deadline-for-trumps-reciprocal-trade-tariffs-is-looming/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
$41M A&E IDIQ awarded for electrical engineering projects focused on Guam and the CNMI
US DoD 20250702
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4233976//
DOD's investments in Guam reach $3.9B
PIT 20250703
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/dod-s-investments-in-guam-reach-3-9b
Island Waves
Bougainville pins hopes on Melanesian Agreement for independence
RNZ 20250703
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565853/bougainville-pins-hopes-on-melanesian-agreement-for-independence
Macron, top leaders open New Caledonia’s summit in Paris
RNZ 20250703
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565868/macron-top-leaders-open-new-caledonia-s-summit-in-paris
Fiji willing to provide 5000 personnel to Australian Defence Force - Rabuka
RNZ 20250703
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/565854/fiji-willing-to-provide-5000-personnel-to-australian-defence-force-rabuka
Fiji's Prime Minister calls for treaty-level pact with Australia amid China concerns
PMN 20250703
https://pmn.co.nz/read/pacific-region/fiji-s-prime-minister-calls-for-treaty-level-pact-with-australia-amid-china-concerns
Fiji says China military base not welcome as Pacific islands steer between superpowers
Fiji Times 20250703
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-says-china-military-base-not-welcome-as-pacific-islands-steer-between-superpowers/
'China setting up military base in Pacific' false narrative, Chinese Embassy refutes Australian media's hype over Fiji PM's China-related remarks
GT 20250703
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337548.shtml
No dispute, Huawei tower project makes progress
Solomon Star 20250703
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/no-dispute-huawei-tower-project-makes-progress/
China donates livelihood supplies to Malaita
Solomon Star 20250703
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/china-donates-livelihood-supplies-to-malaita/
Joint Military Ops ‘Exercise Pukpuk’ Comes to a Close
Post Courier (PNG) 20250703
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/joint-military-ops-exercise-pukpuk-comes-to-a-close/
Honolulu water agency sues US Navy over Red Hill fuel spill damage
Navy TImes 20250702
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2025/07/03/honolulu-water-agency-sues-us-navy-over-red-hill-fuel-spill-damage/
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan launches 6th stealth missile corvette for Navy
Taiwan News 20250703
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6148143
Taiwan tracks 41 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250703
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6147905
US aircraft carrier holds ‘typical’ ops in West PH Sea; China’s ire seen
Inquirer (PH) 20250702
https://www.inquirer.net/448391/us-aircraft-carrier-held-typical-ops-in-west-ph-sea-chinas-ire-seen/
US aircraft carrier makes Philippines port call as the allies increase defence cooperation
Straits Times 20250703
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-aircraft-carrier-makes-philippines-port-call
PLA conducts combat-readiness patrols in S.China Sea, ‘operations normalized’: expert
GT 20250703
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337559.shtml
Japan pulls out of US news conference over South Korean police chief’s disputed island visit
SCMP 20250703
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3156498/japan-pulls-out-us-news-conference-over-south-korean-police
Capabilities
Air Force suspends plan to land cargo rockets on remote Pacific atoll
S&S 20250703
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-07-02/johnson-atoll-rocket-air-force-18319741.html
Meet China’s first home-grown carrier, the Shandong – a bridge to a blue-water future
SCMP 20250703
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316800/meet-chinas-first-home-grown-carrier-shandong-bridge-blue-water-future
How are Chinese aircraft carriers pushing limits and testing boundaries in the Pacific?
SCMP 20250703
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316817/how-are-chinese-aircraft-carriers-pushing-limits-and-testing-boundaries-pacific
Congress passes Trump’s reconciliation megabill with $150B for defense
Breaking Defense 20250703
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/congress-passes-trumps-reconciliation-megabill-with-150b-for-defense/
House passes Trump megabill with $150 billion in military funding
Defense News 20250703
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2025/07/03/house-passes-trump-megabill-with-150-billion-in-military-funding/
House Passes Reconciliation Bill With $150B for Defense, Sends it to Trump’s Desk
USNI 20250703
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/03/house-passes-reconciliation-bill-with-150b-for-defense-sends-it-to-trumps-desk
CRS Report to Congress on Proposed Defense Funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
USNI 20250703
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/03/report-to-congress-on-proposed-defense-funding-in-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act
Trump wants US$30 billion for China shipbuilding race. Here’s why victory won’t come easy
SCMP 20250703
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3316622/trump-wants-us30-billion-china-shipbuilding-race-heres-why-victory-wont-come-easy
Trump’s Plan to Revive U.S. Shipping Stumbles
WSJ 20250702
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-plan-to-revive-u-s-shipping-stumbles-cd855249
A Workforce Strategy for America’s Shipbuilding Future
WOTR 20250703
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/a-workforce-strategy-for-americas-shipbuilding-future/
South Korea shipbuilders catch rising tide of US Navy business
Nikkei 20250704
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense-Industries/South-Korea-shipbuilders-catch-rising-tide-of-US-Navy-business
Partnering for forward deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: Overcoming barriers to US-Australia cooperation on Australia’s GWEO Enterprise
USSC 20250703
https://www.ussc.edu.au/partnering-for-forward-deterrence-in-the-indo-pacific-overcoming-barriers-to-us-australia-cooperation-on-australia-s-gweo-enterprise
Marine Force Design Is Four Decades in the Making
WOTR 20250702
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/marine-force-design-is-four-decades-in-the-making/
Marines Axe Adoption Of Ground-Launched Tomahawk Cruise Missile
TWZ 20250703
https://www.twz.com/land/marines-axe-adoption-of-ground-launched-tomahawk-cruise-missile
The Army’s role in the Pacific
Defense One 20250702
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/07/armys-role-pacific/406505/
Does North Korea Really Have So Few ICBMs?
CSIS 20250701
https://www.38north.org/2025/07/does-north-korea-really-have-so-few-icbms/
Taiwan, South Korea and Japan also need to spend 5 percent on defence
ASPI 20250703
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/taiwan-south-korea-and-japan-also-need-to-spend-5-percent-on-defence/