Pacific Winds 20250710

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China
The Diplomat 20250708
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/japan-steps-up-new-security-assistance-to-countries-caught-between-us-and-china/

Trump signals continuing trade-defense link as tariff talks drag on
Japan Times 20250709
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/09/japan/politics/us-japan-south-korea-tariffs-defense/

Trump's tariff letter shatters Japan's hopes for a special relationship
Nikkei 20250709
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Trump-s-tariff-letter-shatters-Japan-s-hopes-for-a-special-relationship

China wins as Trump’s ‘Tariff Man’ act trashes Japan’s 2025
Asia Times 20250709
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/china-wins-as-trumps-tariff-man-act-trashes-japans-2025/

US should cherish significance of ties beyond transactions
Korea Times 202500709
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250709001000315

S. Korea to comply with existing terms of defense cost-sharing deal with U.S.
Yonhap 20250709
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250709008900315

Trump’s America First leaves Australia behind
EAF 20250709
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/07/09/trumps-america-first-leaves-australia-behind/

Philippine defence chief rules out US as factor in China's 'expansionist' agenda
Reuters 20250709
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/reuters-next-prospect-war-region-remote-not-imminent-says-philippine-defence-2025-07-09/

Advancing the Alliance: USFJ, JSDF transform future of Indo-Pacific Security
USJF JP 20250708
https://www.usfj.mil/Media/Press-Releases/Article-View/Article/4236317/advancing-the-alliance-usfj-jsdf-transform-future-of-indo-pacific-security/

US-Japan-India-Australia joint patrol: a show of unity masking deep divisions
China Military 20250709
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16396194.html

Closing NATO’s Indo-Pacific Gap
FP 20250709
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/09/nato-china-indo-pacific-australia-japan-trump/

U.S. Shapes New Strategy to Counter China’s Ascent
US-China Focus 20250709
https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/us-shapes-new-strategy-to-counter-chinas-ascent

What’s behind China’s continuously rising ‘perception score’?
GT 20250709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338012.shtml

Trump managed two trade deals in his 90-day tariff pause. Experts say China was a key factor
ABC (AU) 20250709
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-09/donald-trump-managed-two-tariff-deals-in-90-days/105505018

Trump’s tariffs may overshadow Rubio’s first official trip to Asia
Military Times 20250709
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/07/09/trumps-tariffs-may-overshadow-rubios-first-official-trip-to-asia/

Trump says steep copper tariffs in store as he broadens his trade war
Reuters 20250708
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-south-korea-seek-soften-tariff-blow-before-august-deadline-2025-07-08/

China’s Weaponisation of Rare Earths is a New Kind of Trade War
AEI 20250709
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/chinas-weaponisation-of-rare-earths-is-a-new-kind-of-trade-war/

China’s Bureaucratic Playbook for Critical Minerals: Control, Technology Transfer, and Manufacturing Dominance
Hudson 20250709
https://www.hudson.org/supply-chains/chinas-bureaucratic-playbook-critical-minerals-control-technology-transfer-william-chou

How China’s new rare-earth export controls target the Pentagon—and the world
Defense One 20250709
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/07/how-chinas-new-rare-earth-export-controls-target-pentagonand-world/406606/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Adelup: Military investment on Guam tops $5B
PDN 20250709
https://www.guampdn.com/news/adelup-military-investment-on-guam-tops-5b/article_790b0d07-c700-4835-b14d-abf08fb401fc.html

US Airmen deploy in support of Indo-Pacific Bomber Task Force exercise
USAF PacAF 20250708
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4237556/press-release-us-airmen-deploy-in-support-of-indo-pacific-bomber-task-force-exe/

Japan joins huge US-led Resolute Force Pacific air exercise
Nikkei 20250710
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Japan-joins-huge-US-led-Resolute-Force-Pacific-air-exercise

Micronesian Island Forum or Second Island Chain Alliance?
PIT 20250709
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/micronesian-island-forum-or-second-island-chain-alliance

China’s visa-free policy to extend to Micronesia amid expanding ‘circle of friends’
GT 20250709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337999.shtml

UXO on Tinian remains a significant concern
Marianas Press 20250709
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/uxo-on-tinian-remains-a-significant-concern

Saipan biz community welcomes REFORPAC troops
Marianas Press 20250709
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/saipan-biz-community-welcomes-reforpac-troops

Nauru president's tracing of family lineage in Guangdong strengthens people-to-people ties: expert
GT 20250709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337991.shtml

Island Waves

Pacific maritime policy could mend fragmentation, increase resilience
ASPI 20250709
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pacific-maritime-policy-could-mend-fragmentation-increase-resilience/

Australian cops to work with Fiji police tackling ilicit drugs
ABC (AU) 20250709
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/australian-cops-to-work-with-fiji-police/105510214

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea eye stronger defense ties
Antara 20250708
https://en.antaranews.com/news/364949/indonesia-papua-new-guinea-eye-stronger-defense-ties

No deal yet for Fiji
FBCN 20250709
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/no-deal-yet-for-fiji/

Australia-backed infrastructure projects foster development
Solomon Star 20250709
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/australia-backed-infrastructure-projects-foster-development/

PM Manele meets Chief of Australia’s Defence Force
SIBC 20250709
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/pm-manele-meets-chief-of-australias-defence-force/

Lofung outpost handover at Western Border
Solomon Star 20250709
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/lofung-outpost-handover-at-western-border/

Taiwan + SCS

Trump threatened to bomb Beijing if China invaded Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250709
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6152533

What happens in Taiwan's military exercise to defend against China?
BBC 20250708
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly21zrnk79o

Taiwan launches biggest war games with simulated attacks against military command
Reuters 20250709
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-launches-annual-war-games-with-simulated-attacks-against-military-command-2025-07-09/

Taiwan’s biggest-ever war games aim for combat realism: ‘prepare for the unexpected’
SCMP 20250709
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317562/taiwans-biggest-ever-war-games-aim-combat-realism-prepare-unexpected

Mainland: DPP authorities' 'military exercise' can't change inevitable failure of 'Taiwan independence'
China Military 20250709
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16396182.html

China’s ‘Taiwanese separatist’ hotline shows expanding lawfare strategy
ASPI 20250709
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-taiwanese-separatist-hotline-shows-expanding-lawfare-strategy/

Export ban for Taiwan firms a stern warning for separatist forces: Beijing
SCMP 20250709
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3317470/taiwan-aerospace-shipbuilding-hit-beijing-export-ban

MOFCOM adds 8 entities from Taiwan island on export control list
GT 20250709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337944.shtml

Taiwan tracks 31 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250709
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6151880

Vietnam Intercepts China Research Ship Near Coast
Newsweek 20250708
https://www.newsweek.com/vietnam-protests-china-ocean-research-ship-survey-eez-2096040

Capabilities

U.S. think tank proposes slashing USFK troop level to about 10,000 from 28,500
Yonhap 20250710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710000251315

'Restrainers' propose slashing US troop numbers in South Korea, Okinawa
Nikkei 20250710
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/Restrainers-propose-slashing-US-troop-numbers-in-South-Korea-Okinawa

Japan opens Osprey base on Kyushu as China ramps up military presence
Kyodo 202500709
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56959

China’s J-20S Two-Seat Stealth Fighter Poised For Operational Service
TWZ 20250708
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-20s-two-seat-stealth-fighter-poised-for-operational-service

Fighter pilots integrate drones into air combat training
Defense News 20250709
https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/2025/07/09/fighter-pilots-integrate-drones-into-air-combat-training/

The Navy wants more ships, but can it get them built?
Task & Purpose 20250709
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-navy-budget-ships/

‘Catastrophic failures’: Defence budget squeeze hits navy maintenance
ASPI 20250709
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/catastrophic-failures-defence-budget-squeeze-hits-navy-maintenance/

New aircraft carriers face years of delivery delays
Defense News 20250709
https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/2025/07/09/new-aircraft-carriers-face-years-of-delivery-delay/

Japan’s used destroyers: a game-changer for Philippines security?
SCMP 20250709
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3317464/japans-used-destroyers-game-changer-philippines-security

Patriot Missile Stockpile Concerns Grow, Pentagon Claims It Has Enough
TWZ 20250708
https://www.twz.com/news-features/concerns-over-stockpile-of-patriot-missiles-grow-pentagon-claims-it-has-enough

Pentagon trials drone-spotting air traffic suite at US bases worldwide
Defense News 20250709
https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2025/07/09/pentagon-trials-drone-spotting-air-traffic-suite-at-us-bases-worldwide/

South Korea’s New Government and Defense Policy Is Taking Shape
WOTR 20250709
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/in-brief-south-koreas-new-government-and-defense-policy-is-taking-shape/

If only we could expect surprises in Japan’s Defense White Paper
Asia Times 20250709
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/if-only-we-could-expect-surprises-in-japans-defense-white-paper/

China’s rare earth dominance to continue as US investment lags: analysts
SCMP 20250709
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317546/chinas-rare-earth-dominance-continue-us-investment-lags-analysts

DARPA ends cargo seaplane program, eyes new uses for tech
Defense News 20250709
https://www.militarytimes.com/air/2025/07/09/darpa-ends-cargo-seaplane-program-eyes-new-uses-for-tech/

Exercises

RESOLUTE SPACE 25: Guardians ready to lead service’s largest exercise
US Space Force 20250708
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4238192/resolute-space-25-guardians-ready-to-lead-services-largest-exercise/

USS George Washington Departs Manila, Continues Indo-Pacific Patrol
USN 20250709
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4237944/uss-george-washington-departs-manila-continues-indo-pacific-patrol/