Pacific Winds 20250708
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Clock ticks towards Pentagon AUKUS review deadline
Lowy 20250707
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/clock-ticks-towards-pentagon-aukus-review-deadline
Allied burden-sharing must reshape Australia’s defence priorities
Lowy 20250708
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/allied-burden-sharing-must-reshape-australia-s-defence-priorities
Why Albanese is echoing Curtin’s call to America
Lowy 20250707
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-albanese-echoing-curtin-s-call-america
Who are the stumbling blocks preventing Canberra from the ‘Australian way’?
GT 20250707
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337824.shtml
Korea-US ties under strain
Korea Times 20250707
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250707000500315
Singapore must engage U.S. and China while keeping neighbors onside
Nikkei 20250707
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Singapore-must-engage-U.S.-and-China-while-keeping-neighbors-onside
Rubio to make first visit to Asia for ASEAN meeting
Reuters 20250707
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/rubio-make-first-visit-indo-pacific-region-asean-meeting-2025-07-07/
All eyes on Beijing as Taiwan set to attend Japan’s atomic bomb memorials for first time
SCMP 20250707
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317267/all-eyes-beijing-taiwan-set-attend-japans-atomic-bomb-memorials-first-time
Trump Tells Japan and South Korea Their Tariff Rate: 25%
NYTimes 20250707
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/us/politics/trump-tariffs-japan-south-korea.html
Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia
Nikkei 20250708
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Trump-imposes-25-tariffs-on-Japan-South-Korea-Malaysia
Trump says U.S. will impose 25 pct tariffs on S. Korean goods from Aug. 1
Yonhap 20250708
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250708000253315
South Korea will not take the Trump tariffs lying down
AEF 20250707
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/07/07/south-korea-will-not-take-the-trump-tariffs-lying-down/
The West Can’t Survive the Sanctions It Needs to Deter China
The Diplomat 20250707
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/the-west-cant-survive-the-sanctions-it-needs-to-deter-china/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Japan-Nauru Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250707
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202507/20250707en.pdf
More than 78,000 in FSM to benefit from US$17.9m climate-health programme
RNZ 20250707
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/566172/more-than-78-000-in-fsm-to-benefit-from-us-17-point-9m-climate-health-programme
Small biz on Tinian buzzing as military construction hits high gear
Marianas Press 20250707
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/sports/small-biz-on-tinian-buzzing-as-military-construction-hits-high-gear
Island Waves
$734m vuvale package
FBCN 20250707
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/734m-vuvale-package/
NZDF not considering recruiting personnel from Pacific nations
RNZ 20250707
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/566154/nzdf-not-considering-recruiting-personnel-from-pacific-nations
Taiwan + SCS
Don’t kid yourself, Australia: a Taiwan war would spread across the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20250707
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/dont-kid-yourself-australia-a-taiwan-war-would-spread-across-the-indo-pacific/
New HIMARS, missiles, drones to be tested during drills
Taipei Times 20250707
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/07/2003839897
‘10 lectures’ campaign reveals Lai’s ‘dictatorial ambitions’
GT 20250707
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337815.shtml
Partners’ training forum boosts Taiwan’s international presence despite CCP coercion
IPDF 20250706
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/07/partners-training-forum-boosts-taiwans-international-presence-despite-ccp-coercion/
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval ships around country
Taiwan news 20250707
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6150092
Capabilities
China’s nuclear triad still a one-legged giant
Asia Times 20250707
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/chinas-nuclear-triad-still-a-one-legged-giant/
Australia urgently needs a national security strategy
ASPI 20250707
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-urgently-needs-a-national-security-strategy/
2nd F-35, J-20 Encounter Reported As China’s PLAAF Uses Mighty Dragons As Frontline Jets For Interceptions
Eurasian Times 20250707
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/another-f-35-vs-j-20-clash-brewing-as-china-uses/
Lockheed delivers first SPY-7 radar antennas to Japan
Breaking Defense 20250707
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/lockheed-delivers-first-spy-7-radar-antennas-to-japan/
Project Revolver: The U.S. Navy’s Concept for Multi-Packed Torpedoes in the Indo-Pacific
Naval News 20250707
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/07/u-s-navy-multi-packing-cutting-edge-torpedoes-for-magazine-depth-in-the-indo-pacific/
Carrier John F. Kennedy Delivery Delayed 2 Years, Fleet Will Drop to 10 Carriers For 1 Year
USNI 20250707
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/07/carrier-john-f-kennedy-delivery-delayed-2-years-fleet-will-drop-to-10-carriers-for-1-year
Japan Coast Guard trains Indonesian counterparts to secure sea lane safety
NHK 20250707
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250707_24/
China Isn’t Ready to Replace USAID
FP 20250707
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/07/usaid-china-trump-xi-jinping-foreign-aid-welfare/
Space Force Awards $2.4B Contract for New Nuclear Command and Control Satellites
Air & Space 20250707
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-contract-new-nuclear-command-control-satellites/
Exercises
US and Philippine Air Forces to begin exercise Cope Thunder
USAF PacAF 20250706
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4235528/press-release-us-and-philippine-air-forces-to-begin-exercise-cope-thunder/
US sends F-35 planes to the Philippines for military drills
Manila Standard 20250707
https://manilastandard.net/news/314612718/us-sends-f-35-planes-to-the-philippines-for-military-drills.html
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 7, 2025
USNI 20250707
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/07/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-july-7-2025