Pacific Winds 20250726
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
UK and Australia deepen AUKUS submarine pact with 50-year treaty
Reuters 20250724
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/uk-australia-deepen-aukus-submarine-pact-with-50-year-treaty-2025-07-24/
UK and Australia deepen AUKUS submarine pact with 50-year treaty
ABC (AU) 20250725
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-25/uk-australia-deeper-aukus-submarine-pact-50-year-treaty/105571618
Australia and UK sign 50-year defence treaty despite US wavering on Aukus submarine deal
Guardian (UK) 20250725
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/25/australia-uk-50-year-defence-treaty-aukus
Australian discomfort about partnering with Britain is misplaced
ASPI 20250725
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-discomfort-about-partnering-with-britain-is-misplaced/
Does China really pose an existential threat to America?
Lowy 20250725
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/does-china-really-pose-existential-threat-america
What Marcos Got From His Meeting With President Trump
The Diplomat 20250724
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/what-marcos-got-from-his-meeting-with-president-trump/
Japan Still Concerned U.S. Could Leverage Security Treaty for More Defense Purchases
Yomiuri 20250725
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250725-271849/
Politics, Trade, and the US-Japan Deal
Hudson 20250725
https://www.hudson.org/trade/politics-trade-us-japan-deal-paul-sracic
“The Largest Trade Deal in History”: Implications of the US-Japan Trade Deal
Hudson 20250725
https://www.hudson.org/trade/largest-trade-deal-history-implications-us-japan-trade-deal-william-chou
Trump remains open to dialogue with Kim to achieve 'fully denuclearized' N. Korea: White House
Yonhap 20250726
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250726000300315
SecAF visits Asia-Pacific to strengthen alliances, assess readiness
USAF 20250725
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4255815/secaf-visits-asia-pacific-to-strengthen-alliances-assess-readiness/
Vice FM Kim discusses alliance, economic ties with senior U.S. diplomat
YOnhap 20250725
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250725010200315
Trump’s trade war is testing Japan — and America’s alliances
Think China 20250724
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/trumps-trade-war-testing-japan-and-americas-alliances
Trump’s Tariffs Aren’t the Only US Policy Hurting South Korea’s Economy
The Diplomat 20250724
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/trumps-tariffs-arent-the-only-us-policy-hurting-south-koreas-economy/
Trump Makes Some Apparent Trade Deals in Asia, but Could be Poisoning the Waters Long Term
CFR 20250724
https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-makes-some-apparent-trade-deals-asia-could-be-poisoning-waters-long-term
US alters tech policy, puts chips on the table
ASPI 20250725
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-alters-tech-policy-puts-chips-on-the-table/
Experts React: Unpacking the Trump Administration’s Plan to Win the AI Race
CSIS 20240725
https://www.csis.org/analysis/experts-react-unpacking-trump-administrations-plan-win-ai-race
Trade deal with U.S. still weighs on Japan's inflation-hit economy
Kyodo 20250725
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/57943
US, Japan differ on details of tariff deal, with no clear start date
Nikkei 20250725
https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/US-Japan-differ-on-details-of-tariff-deal-with-no-clear-start-date
US auto industry blasts Japan tariff agreement as 'bad deal'
Nikkei 20250726
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/US-auto-industry-blasts-Japan-tariff-agreement-as-bad-deal
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System on Guam Now Available
US MDA 20250725
https://www.mda.mil/news/25news0007.html
US Army to Add Four New Patriot Missile Battalions, Including Guam Unit
Defense Post 20250725
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/25/us-army-adds-patriot-battalions/
Tinian: The Forgotten Island of the Atomic Age
The Diplomat 20250725
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/tinian-the-forgotten-island-of-the-atomic-age/
U.S. Ambassador explains Asylum seeker deal with Palau
Island Times 20250725
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-ambassador-explains-asylum-seeker-deal-with-palau/
Palau leaders reject U.S. proposal to host Asylum seekers
Island Times 20250725
https://islandtimes.org/palau-leaders-reject-u-s-proposal-to-host-asylum-seekers/
Palauans React to U.S. Proposal to host Asylum seekers
Island Times 20250725
https://islandtimes.org/palauans-react-to-u-s-proposal-to-host-asylum-seekers/
OEK calls on President to prevent Palauans from being sent to Guantanamo
Island Times 20250725
https://islandtimes.org/oek-calls-on-president-to-prevent-palauans-from-being-sent-to-guantanamo/
U.S. Military exercise behind loud aircraft noise in Palau, officials confirm
Island Times 20250725
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-military-exercise-behind-loud-aircraft-noise-in-palau-officials-confirm/
USS Cincinnati Conducts a Port Visit to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
USN 20250725
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4255361/uss-cincinnati-conducts-a-port-visit-to-the-republic-of-the-marshall-islands/
Island Waves
Questions over Solomon Islands sovereignty, as cabinet weighs up Taiwan PIF entry
ABC (AU) 20250725
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/opposition-mp-says-solomon-islands-risk-wedge-over-taiwan/105571624
HMNZS Canterbury concludes week-long Fiji deployment
NZ DF 20250725
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/hmnzs-canterbury-concludes-week-long-fiji-deployment/
OK Tedi Hosts First PNG Mining Seminar in Jaoan
PNG Haus Bung 20250725
https://pnghausbung.com/ok-tedi-hosts-first-png-mining-seminar-in-japan/
Taiwan + xCS
How China Intensified Its Tactics Against Taiwan
CFR 20250725
https://www.cfr.org/article/how-china-intensified-its-tactics-against-taiwan
Taiwan not a vital US interest
Responsible Statecraft 20250725
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/taiwan-war-china/
26 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships tracked around Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250725
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6163956
Japan claims first spotting of China’s new submarine rescue ship in Tsushima Strait transit; experts say move, if confirmed, is normal, legitimate
GT 20250725
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339286.shtml
Capabilities
US and its allies unprepared to repel saturation missile attacks
Asia Times 20250725
https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/us-and-its-allies-unprepared-to-repel-saturation-missile-attacks/
JINSA Study: https://jinsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cost-Estimates-During-the-U.S.-Israel-Iran-War-07-21-25.pdf
Israel’s 12-Day War Revealed Alarming Gap in America’s Missile Stockpile
WSJ 20250725
https://www.wsj.com/world/israel-iran-us-missile-stockpile-08a65396
Global expansion of Patriot missiles fails to ease US's hegemonic anxiety
China Military 20250725
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/OPINIONS_209196/Opinions_209197/16398841.html
Undersea sensors—a US trump card China knows it must eliminate
ASPI 20250725
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/undersea-sensors-a-us-trump-card-china-knows-it-must-eliminate/
China unveils the largest crystal for high-powered laser weapons
SCMP 20250725
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3319446/china-unveils-largest-crystal-high-powered-laser-weapons
Decades of Troubles for Air Force Maintainers Set to Get Worse with Job Consolidation
Military.com 20250725
https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/07/25/decades-of-troubles-air-force-maintainers-set-get-worse-job-consolidation.html
How China’s new Information Support Force gears military up for PLA modernisation
SCMP 20250725
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3319592/how-chinas-new-information-support-force-gears-military-pla-modernisation
Preparing for a Long War
Hudson 20250725
https://www.hudson.org/defense-strategy/preparing-long-war-mike-watson
CRS Report to Congress on SSN(X) Next-Generation Submarine
USNI 20250725
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/25/report-to-congress-on-ssnx-next-generation-submarine-2
Power
China’s Aggression Isn’t About Communism – It’s About Empire
The Diplomat 20250725
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/chinas-aggression-isnt-about-communism-its-about-empire/
Exercises
Japanese fighter jets scramble 157 times in April-June period
Japan Times 20250725
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/25/japan/fighter-jets-scramble/
South Korean military plane entering defense zone "regrettable": Japan
Kyodo 22050725
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/57994
US, Australian troops lead record logistics push during Talisman Sabre drills
S&S 20250724
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-07-24/talisman-sabre-exercise-logistics-18537716.html