Pacific Winds 20250727
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
France Refocuses Its Indo-Pacific Strategy Amid a Shifting Global Order
The Diplomat 20250725
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/france-refocuses-its-indo-pacific-strategy-amid-a-shifting-global-order/
Japan’s Neighbors Anxiously Assess the Results of the Upper House Election
The Diplomat 20250726
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/japans-neighbors-anxiously-assess-the-results-of-the-upper-house-election/
Chinese premier calls for early formation of global AI governance framework
Xinhua 20250726
https://english.news.cn/20250726/602fe62f3e58494788b1cec5f6b3b87a/c.html
China proposes new global AI cooperation body to be headquartered in Shanghai, aiming to strengthen intl collaboration
GT 20250726
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339335.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
36 launchers, 14 radars in proposed Guam missile defense system
PDN 20250726
https://www.guampdn.com/news/36-launchers-14-radars-in-proposed-guam-missile-defense-system/article_28bd6ae5-cdac-4abe-bed7-618563a490f7.html
Final environmental impact statement done for 360-degree missile defense system
PDN 20250726
https://www.guampdn.com/news/final-environmental-impact-statement-done-for-360-degree-missile-defense-system/article_b6f62980-e06e-47f6-bbf5-d74d37a775e6.html
Urgent project: Guam missile defense system will take a decade to complete
PIT 20250726
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/department-of-defense-guam-missile-defense-system-is-a-10-year-project
621st CRW shows off mobility expertise during DLE
USAF 20250725
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4255424/621st-crw-shows-off-mobility-expertise-during-dle/
Island Waves
US Navy Strengthens Military Ties with PNG at IGAM Barracks
PNG Haus Bung 20250726
https://pnghausbung.com/us-navy-strengthens-military-ties-with-png-at-igam-barracks/
11 Ni-Vanuatu awarded Chinese Government Scholarships
Daily Post (VU) 20250726
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/11-ni-vanuatu-awarded-chinese-government-scholarships/article_f2a1e1d8-51a7-5dc6-ba51-94a7dc1cbced.html
“China in My Lens” Competition launched in Vanuatu
Daily Post (VU) 20250726
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/china-in-my-lens-competition-launched-in-vanuatu/article_ccbbc176-150f-59a3-b857-beda8bfa52f1.html
Australia empowers communities across TAFEA Province to fix solar systems, tackling waste and creating jobs
Daily Post (VU) 20250726
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/australia-empowers-communities-across-tafea-province-to-fix-solar-systems-tackling-waste-and-creating-jobs/article_dc7e71c4-e3a2-5ee0-9849-4a8fee5ad719.html
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan’s Han Kuang drills demonstrate its quills are growing sharper
Defense News 20250725
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/2025/07/25/taiwans-han-kuang-drills-demonstrate-its-quills-are-growing-sharper/
Strategic Implications of Taiwan’s 2025 Han Kuang Exercise
Defense News 20250725
https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/strategic-implications-of-taiwans-2025-han-kuang-exercise/
MND submits report on Han Kuang drills
Taipei Times 20250727
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/07/27/2003840992
Taiwan move to recall opposition lawmakers fails
Reuters 20250726
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-move-recall-opposition-lawmakers-fails-2025-07-26/
Taiwan Recall Campaign Fizzles, in a Setback to Its President
NYTimes 20250726
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/world/asia/taiwans-recall-china.html
KMT triumphs in recall vote amid growing public discontent with Taiwan's DPP authorities
GT 20250726
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339337.shtml
‘Failure’ for Taiwan’s William Lai as all 24 opposition KMT lawmakers survive mass recall vote
SCMP 20250726
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3319709/failure-taiwans-william-lai-all-24-opposition-kmt-lawmakers-survive-mass-recall-vote
Lai Ching-te’s ‘anti-China, pro-independence’ agenda overwhelmingly rejected by Taiwan island's mainstream public opinion: scholar
GT 20250727
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339338.shtml
All 24 KMT lawmakers, Hsinchu mayor survive recall votes
CNA (TW) 20250726
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202507260019
Taiwan tracks 17 Chinese military aircraft and 7 ships
Taiwan News 20250726
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6164677
Beijing’s South China Sea Campaign of Intimidation Has Run Aground
WOTR 20250725
https://warontherocks.com/2025/07/beijings-south-china-sea-campaign-of-intimidation-has-run-aground/
Japan Reports Rare Sighting of Chinese Navy Submarine Support Ship
USNI 20250725
https://news.usni.org/2025/07/25/japan-reports-rare-sighting-of-chinese-navy-submarine-support-ship
South Korean military plane apparently entered Japan ADIZ without notice
Japan Times 20250726
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/26/japan/south-korea-military-plane-japan-adiz/
Capabilities
Increasing Operational Access
JFQ 2025 Q3
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1310&context=joint-force-quarterly
150 THAAD Ballistic Missile Interceptors Fired By U.S. During Iran’s Barrages On Israel: Report
TWZ 20250725
https://www.twz.com/land/150-thaad-ballistic-missile-interceptors-fired-by-u-s-during-irans-barrages-on-israel-report
Japan, U.S. discussing scenario for nuclear weapons use: sources
Kyodo 20250726
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/58051
Exercises
PLA Navy Shifts Training Focus from Near-Shore to Blue-Water Operations
Jamestown 20250725
https://jamestown.org/program/pla-navy-shifts-training-focus-from-near-shore-to-blue-water-operations/