Pacific Winds 20250711
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Rubio makes first visit to Asia as Trump tariffs loom
Reuters 20250709
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/rubio-makes-first-visit-asia-trump-tariffs-loom-2025-07-09/
ASEAN talks joined by U.S., China to begin with Trump's tariffs overshadowing
Yonhap 20250710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710000300315
Foreign minister promises Asian nations Australia will remain a 'reliable' partner with open markets
ABC (AU) 20250710
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-10/foreign-minister-penny-wong-asean-comments/105518328
ASEAN, China deepen relations amid US tariffs and global trade tensions
Nikkei 20250710
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/ASEAN-China-deepen-relations-amid-US-tariffs-and-global-trade-tensions
US overbearing attitude toward ASEAN exacerbates its predicament in the region
GT 20250710
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338074.shtml
AUKUS price tag could increase after US review: report
9News (AU) 20250710
https://www.9news.com.au/national/aukus-us-review-australia-could-be-asked-to-pay-more-reports/a4866bdd-2c01-40c6-b966-c8baeefe1567
AUKUS Aftershocks: France’s Enduring Indo-Pacific Interests
WOTR 20250709
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/aukus-aftershocks-frances-enduring-indo-pacific-interests/
Lee calls for efforts to restore inter-Korean relations
Yonhap 20250710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710009551315
Why North Korea’s Done Hedging
FP 20250710
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/10/north-korea-russia-china-nuclear-ambitions/
Trump’s bearhug for the Philippines
Lowy 20250710
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-s-bearhug-philippines
The Philippines May Turn Its Back on the U.S. Again
FP 20250709
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/09/philippines-sara-duterte-china-election-us-alliance/
No troops, no demands: China’s new appeal in a war-weary world
Think China 20250709
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/no-troops-no-demands-chinas-new-appeal-war-weary-world
How China is 'eating our lunch' with soft power
Responsible Statecraft 20250710
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-us-soft-power/
Malaysia says China ready to sign SEA nuclear weapons-free treaty
Reuters 20250710
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/malaysia-says-china-will-sign-southeast-asia-nuclear-weapons-free-zone-treaty-2025-07-10/
Trump’s tariff war risks undermining US alliances in East Asia
ASPI 20250710
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trumps-tariff-war-risks-undermining-us-alliances-in-east-asia/
For South Korea’s New President, Trump’s Tariffs Are an Ultimatum
Carnegie 20250709
https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/07/south-korea-trump-tariff-economy-lee
U.S. interested in S. Korea's proposal on shipbuilding, semiconductor cooperation: trade minister
Yonhap 22050710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710009600320
How NATO’s Post-WWII Defense Spending Can Inform Asia’s Strategic Shift
The Diplomat 20250710
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/how-natos-post-wwii-defense-spending-can-inform-asias-strategic-shift/
Analysis: China lifts Japanese seafood ban amid political maneuvering
Nikkei 20250710
https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/China-up-close/Analysis-China-lifts-Japanese-seafood-ban-amid-political-maneuvering
Trump’s New Tariffs Say More Than Just Numbers
The Diplomat 20250709
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/trumps-new-tariffs-say-more-than-just-numbers/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
It’s time for a US Indo-Pacific reset
Asia Times 20250710
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/its-time-for-a-us-indo-pacific-reset/
Advanced manufacturing leader chosen as Guam builds workforce for historic military buildup
GDP 20250710
https://www.postguam.com/business/local/advanced-manufacturing-leader-chosen-as-guam-builds-workforce-for-historic-military-buildup/article_4d13eebb-4624-40c4-a855-5c8a32033012.html
“No legal authority to assess developers tax on military projects”
Marianas Press 20250710
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/no-legal-authority-to-assess-developers-tax-on-military-projects
Military construction to top $5 billion, Ada seeking congressional help to capture BPT
GDP 20250710
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/military-construction-to-top-5-billion-ada-seeking-congressional-help-to-capture-bpt/article_580687e5-e305-4d6d-aaa3-8b39c4819134.html
$8.9M contract modification for the Aegis Guam System
US DoD 20250709
https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4238652//
Gray-zone gambits: China’s hybrid threats against Taiwan’s Pacific allies
PacForum 20250710
https://pacforum.org/publications/pacnet-54-gray-zone-gambits-chinas-hybrid-threats-against-taiwans-pacific-allies/
US, allies launch largest Pacific air exercise with REFORPAC 2025
USAF 20250710
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4240598/us-allies-launch-largest-pacific-air-exercise-with-reforpac-2025/
Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to Guam, July 8, 2025
USN PacFlt 20250709
https://www.cpf.navy.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/4238773/readout-pacific-fleet-commanders-travel-to-guam-july-8-2025/
Island Waves
China Eying PNG for Emerging Agriculture Opportunities
Post COurier (PNG) 20250710
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-eyeing-png-for-emerging-agriculture-opportunities/
Boost for Customs, border control by Australia
Solomn Star 20250710
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/boost-for-customs-border-control-by-australia/
Refurbished Gizo Police Facilities Opened, Marking Security Milestone in Solomon Islands
SIBC 20250709
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/refurbished-gizo-police-facilities-opened-marking-security-milestone-in-solomon-islands/
Morobe Officials Visit Australian Navy Vessel Docker in Lae
National (PNG) 20250710
https://www.thenational.com.pg/morobe-officials-visit-australian-navy-vessel-docked-in-lae/
Taiwan + xCS
Why Southeast Asia should help Washington think clearly on Taiwan
Think China 20250709
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/why-southeast-asia-should-help-washington-think-clearly-taiwan
Japan—and the Alliance—Prepare to Address a Taiwan Contingency
Hudson 20250710
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/japan-alliance-prepare-address-taiwan-contingency-james-przystup
Lai vows to protect Taiwan's democracy
Taiwan News 20250710
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6153084
Han Kuang-41 Exercise a futile display
GT 20250710
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338072.shtml
Taiwan debuts US-made Abrams tanks during live-fire drills as PLA flexes muscles
SCMP 20250710
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317754/taiwan-debuts-us-made-abrams-tanks-during-live-fire-drills-pla-flexes-muscles
Hong Kong police arrest four individuals linked to a Taiwan-based group on suspicion of conspiracy to subvert state power
GT 20250710
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338071.shtml
US think tank report calls for removal of all 500 US military trainers in Taiwan
Taipei Times 20250710
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/10/2003840076
Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250710
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6152913
Australia’s freedom-of-navigation activities raise more questions than answers
ASPI 20250710
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australias-freedom-of-navigation-activities-raise-more-questions-than-answers/
Safeguarding Maritime Safety in the South China Sea: China in Action
SCSPI 20250709
http://www.scspi.org/en/yjbg/safeguarding-maritime-safety-south-china-sea-china-action
Chinese fighter jet flies close to Japan SDF plane: sources
Kyodo 20250710
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/57064
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
Japan Times 20250710
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/china-japan-aircraft-encounter/
Chinese government ships enter Japan's territorial waters
NHK 20250709
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250709_08/
Capabilities
Aligning global military posture with U.S. interests
Defense Priorities 20250709
https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/aligning-global-military-posture-with-us-interests/#posture-in-asia-resilience-and-war-prevention
U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms
USNI 20250709
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/09/u-s-army-expanding-presence-in-the-philippines-as-china-threat-looms
Quad logistics integration strengthens Indo-Pacific defense posture
IPDF 20250710
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/07/quad-logistics-integration-strengthens-indo-pacific-defense-posture/
China Surveys Seabeds Where Naval Rivals May One Day Clash
NYTimes 20250710
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/world/asia/china-ships-taiwan-guam.html
Fifth-generation fighters make cameo appearance as China unveils production facilities
SCMP 20250710
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities
Forging Forward: South Korea’s Proactive Cyber Defense and Strategic Cooperation with the United States
CSIS 20250710
https://www.csis.org/analysis/forging-forward-south-koreas-proactive-cyber-defense-and-strategic-cooperation-united
US Naval Revival in the Indo-Pacific Ramps Up
The Diplomat 20250710
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/us-naval-revival-in-the-indo-pacific-ramps-up/
MARAD Is a Mess, and That’s Bad News for Our Maritime Revival
Heritage 20250709
https://www.heritage.org/trade/commentary/marad-mess-and-thats-bad-news-our-maritime-revival
China’s orbital maneuvers blur the line between peaceful and provocative
Space news 20250710
https://spacenews.com/chinas-orbital-maneuvers-blur-the-line-between-peaceful-and-provocative/
Navy Puts Gutted F/A-XX Next Generation Fighter Program In Wishlist To Congress: Reports
TWZ 20250709
https://www.twz.com/air/navy-puts-gutted-f-a-xx-next-generation-fighter-program-in-wishlist-to-congress-reports
CRS Report to Congress on SSN(X) Next Generation Submarine Program
USNI 20250710
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/10/report-to-congress-on-ssnx-next-generation-submarine-program
Japan may expand military exports to Southeast Asia with incremental steps
China Military 20250710
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16396271.html
Winning on economics means losing on national security
ASPI 20250710
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/winning-on-economics-means-losing-on-national-security/
Exercises
S. Korea, U.S., Japan set to hold trilateral Freedom Edge drills in Sept.
Yonhap 20250710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710005900315
U.S. Marine F-35s Operate from U.K. Aircraft Carrier in the Pacific
USNI 20250710
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/10/u-s-marine-f-35s-operate-from-u-k-aircaft-carrier-in-the-pacific