Pacific Winds 20250716
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
South Korea states intent to take wartime military control from US
Nikkei 20250715
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/South-Korea-states-intent-to-take-wartime-military-control-from-US
Presidential office calls defense chief nominee's remarks on wartime command 'personal opinion'
Yonhap 22050715
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250715008100315
If the US is pushing Japan, Australia to make Taiwan pledge, will they agree?
SCMP 20250715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3318190/if-us-pushing-japan-australia-make-taiwan-pledge-will-they-agree
Is US pushing its Asian allies to do more to counter China?
SCMP 20250715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3318119/us-pushing-its-asian-allies-do-more-counter-china
Pentagon wants to make AUKUS work but some stakeholders have ‘serious concerns’, senior US defence official says
Guardian 20250714
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/14/divided-us-military-opinion-on-aukus-pact-as-review-continues
AUKUS is a flawed but sensible way to burden-share in the Pacific
S&S 20250714
https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2025-07-14/aukus-flawed-but-sensible-18439473.html
Anthony Albanese to meet China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing
ABC (AU) 20250715
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/anthony-albanese-to-meet-xi-jinping-and-li-qiang-in-beijing/105531664
Xi meets Australian PM in Beijing
Xinhua 20250715
https://english.news.cn/20250715/0c8dd1275f154ac4a67de7eba1c37ffa/c.html
Australia and China call for more dialogue, cooperation at leaders' meeting
Reuters 20250715
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/australia-pm-albanese-discuss-trade-security-meeting-with-chinas-xi-2025-07-15/
Looking forward to seeing China-Australia relations cruise steadily in the ‘stratosphere’
GT 20250715
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338448.shtml
Australian Prime Minister complains to President Xi about Chinese live-fire exercises
AP 20250715
https://apnews.com/article/australia-prime-minister-albanese-china-xi-beijing-79143ddb0cb896a12c6a4fdbd80dbaf6
Australian concerns over live fire drill brushed aside in Xi meeting
ABC (AU) 20250715
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/albanese-xi-meeting-live-fire-drills-beijing/105535036
Australian Leader’s Bonhomie in China Belies Delicate Balancing Act
NYTimes 20250715
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/world/asia/china-australia-trade-security.html
China is still coercing Australia—with implicit threats
ASPI 20250715
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/china-is-still-coercing-australia-with-implicit-threats/
Will Trump visit China — and when?
Think China 20250714
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/will-trump-visit-china-and-when
Japan looks to Australia, India, Europe to help counter China
Nikkei 20250716
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Japan-looks-to-Australia-India-Europe-to-help-counter-China
Marcos plans US trip this month to talk tariffs, South China Sea
Asia Times 20250715
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/marcos-plans-us-trip-this-month-to-talk-tariffs-south-china-sea/
Global views of China improve but remain negative: Pew survey
Nikkei 20250716
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Global-views-of-China-improve-but-remain-negative-Pew-survey
Why Marco Rubio’s Asia Visit Was a Total Bust
FP 20250715
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/15/rubio-asia-asean-malaysia-indo-pacific-us-china-geopolitics/
Developing a shared Australia–Japan agenda for economic security
USSC 20250715
https://www.ussc.edu.au/developing-a-shared-australia-japan-agenda-for-economic-security
The America First approach to trade and tariffs is only getting started
Lowy 20250715
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/america-first-approach-trade-tariffs-only-getting-started
U.S. Tariff Notice: Unreasonable to Make Demands That Only Benefit One’s Own Interests
Yomiuri 20250715
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250715-269652/
Double-edged sword: US probe into China’s drone dominance is a risk, analysts say
SCMP 20250715
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3318317/double-edged-sword-us-probe-chinas-drone-dominance-risk-analysts-say
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Those plane sounds? Part of large-scale Air Force exercises, B-52s on Guam
PDN 20250715
https://www.guampdn.com/news/those-plane-sounds-part-of-large-scale-air-force-exercises-b-52s-on-guam/article_54f5d6ad-fd49-4f9a-b693-6746067766fd.html
Large-scale Air Force exercise with aircraft mobilized
KUAM 20250715
https://www.kuam.com/story/52922610/largescale-air-force-exercise-with-aircraft-mobilized
House urged to impose developer's tax on military construction projects
Marianas Variety 20250715
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/house-urged-to-impose-developers-tax-on-military-construction-projects/article_62b95a9f-c47a-413c-a3eb-642c836ff708.html
Whipps opens 4th Taiwan-Palau Trade and Cultural Show, touting 41% Trade growth
Island Times 20250715
https://islandtimes.org/whipps-opens-4th-taiwan-palau-trade-and-cultural-show-touting-41-trade-growth/
Damaged, moldy barracks in Guam are getting a $297 million makeover
Task & Purpose 20250715
https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/guam-barracks-replacement-contract/
Island Waves
Pro-independence and French loyalists groups unhappy with terms of new accord
ABC (AU) 20250715
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pro-independence-and-french-loyalists-groups-unhappy-with-accord/105532278
Is New Caledonia's agreement, championed by Macron, a 'new chapter' or a 'betrayal'?
ABC (AU) 20250715
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/new-caledonia-agreement-proposal-state-nationality/105528764
Australia must fight for its voice in the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20250715
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-must-fight-for-its-voice-in-the-indo-pacific/
Pacific media freedom: an update
DevPolicy 20250713
https://devpolicy.org/pacific-media-freedom-update-20250613/
Pacific leaders unite behind call for regional security and shared peace
Matangi Tonga 20250715
https://matangitonga.to/2025/07/15/pacific-leaders-unite-behind-call-regional-security-and-shared-peace
Tagabe Bridge to be reconstructed with Japanese aid
Daily Post 20250715
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/tagabe-bridge-to-be-reconstructed-with-japanese-aid/article_173ae75e-8463-5d0e-bbb9-cf1b07dc583a.html
King commissions China-Aid 2.25MW wind farm at Lapaha
Matangi Tonga 20250715
https://matangitonga.to/2025/07/14/king-commissions-china-aid-225mw-wind-farm-lapaha
China’s military expansion toward the Southwest Pacific and Oceania
GIS Reports 20250715
https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/china-military-expansion-2/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwanese leader said to be planning US ‘stopover’ that’s set to anger Beijing
SCMP 22050715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3318239/taiwanese-leader-said-be-planning-us-stopover-thats-set-anger-beijing
Government should be 'prepared to act' on Taiwan, Angus Taylor says
ABC (AU) 20250715
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/government-should-be-prepared-to-act-on-taiwan-taylor-says/105535912
Japan's defense white paper highlights China's military drills around Taiwan
CNA (TW) 20250715
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202507150029
Taiwan tensions may heighten as Beijing boosts military activities: Japan defence report
SCMP 20250715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3318315/taiwan-tensions-may-heighten-beijing-boosts-military-activities-japan-defence-report
Philippines enhances security cooperation with Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6156189
Taiwanese Troops Train To Use Subway To Their Advantage During Chinese Invasion Of Taipei
TWZ 20250714
https://www.twz.com/news-features/taiwanese-forces-train-to-use-capital-city-subway-during-a-chinese-invasion
Taiwan tracks 26 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6155903
S. Korea 'strongly' protests Japan's renewed claim to Dokdo in defense white paper
Yonhap 20250715
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250715004600315
Japan, South Korea expose China’s maritime overreach
IPDF 20250715
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/07/japan-south-korea-expose-chinas-maritime-overreach/
Philippines stir up trouble in South China Sea with illegal "award"
China Military 20250716
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16397134.html
Capabilities
Is the U.S. Ready for the Next War?
New Yorker 20250714
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/21/is-the-us-ready-for-the-next-war
Jammed and confused: Alaska trial shows pitfalls of fielding US drones
Military Times 20250715
https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2025/07/15/jammed-and-confused-alaska-trial-shows-pitfalls-of-fielding-us-drones/
Unmanned & Unfinanceable? The Problems with Scaling America’s Autonomous Fleet
WOTR 20250715
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/unmanned-unfinanceable-the-problems-with-scaling-americas-autonomous-fleet/
Hegseth’s drone dominance policy needs offshore production help
Asia Times 20250715
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/hegseths-drone-dominance-policy-needs-offshore-production-help/
With China and Trump, Japan defense report says world entering ‘new era of crisis’
Japan Times 20250715
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/15/japan/politics/japan-defense-white-paper-2025/
Japan's defense report expresses strong concern over Chinese military activities
NHK 20250715
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250715_10/
Japan Shows Strong Concerns over China's Military Activities
Jiji Press 20250715
https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2025071500362/
Chinese FM lashes out Japan's new defense white paper hyping 'China threat' narrative
GT 20250715
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338435.shtml
DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2025 (Digest)
JP MoD 20250715
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/wp/wp2025/pdf/DOJ2025_Digest_EN.pdf
North Korea Focuses on Improving Nuclear and Missile Arsenal
Naval News 20250715
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/07/north-korea-focuses-on-improving-nuclear-and-missile-arsenal/
Space Force MILNET constellation emerges as top ‘unfunded priority’
Space News 20250715
https://spacenews.com/space-force-milnet-constellation-emerges-as-top-unfunded-priority/
The Fragility of U.S. Spacepower in a Multipolar World
WOTR 20250715
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/the-fragility-of-u-s-spacepower-in-a-multipolar-world/
Exercises
F-15EX Arrives In Japan For The First Time As Part Of Massive Pacific Exercise
TWZ 20250715
https://www.twz.com/air/f-15ex-arrives-in-japan-for-the-first-time-as-part-of-massive-pacific-exercise
Events
Mesh Sensing for Air and Missile Defense
CSIS 21 July 11AM-12PM EDT
https://www.csis.org/events/mesh-sensing-air-and-missile-defense