Pacific Winds 20250805

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

The China guessing game
EAF 20250804
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/04/the-china-guessing-game/

Japan fears both Trump abandonment and entrapment
Asia Times 20250804
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/japan-fears-both-trump-abandonment-and-entrapment/

S. Korea begins dismantling anti-N. Korea loudspeakers along border
Yonhap 20250804
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250804003152315

S. Korean FM’s remarks reflect Seoul’s ambivalence amid US pressure: expert
GT 20250804
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340069.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Tip of the Spear
Inside Story 20250804
https://insidestory.org.au/tip-of-the-spear/

Environmental report warns of ‘major’ impact from missile defense shield on Guam
S&S 20250804
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-08-04/guam-defense-housing-health-care-18660507.html

Guam Missile Defense awards top $1.7B; $36.9M for flagged Andersen housing
PDN 20250804
https://www.guampdn.com/news/guam-missile-defense-awards-top-1-7b-36-9m-for-flagged-andersen-housing/article_4ddd8257-487d-425e-ad3d-82aca1d5ed08.html

US restoring Pacific island wartime airfield for deterrence
Mainichi 20250804
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250804/p2g/00m/0na/027000c

Sen. Babauta questions contract for US troops meals
Marianas Variety 20250804
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/sen-babauta-questions-contract-for-us-troops-meals/article_920f9f99-3f67-46e6-a046-80a9dcd70f34.html

In Control: Training push ensures skies are safe during REFORPAC
USAF AAFB 20250803
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4262978/in-control-training-push-ensures-skies-are-safe-during-reforpac/

The Central Pacific is central to countering China
WashExam 20250804
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/3489333/the-central-pacific-is-central-to-countering-china/

Guam Air Guard activates new squadron
GDP 20250804
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-air-guard-activates-new-squadron/article_cd003874-3fe8-44c1-9f0b-a805d8d19b52.html

Island Waves

China, US could be excluded from Pacific Islands Forum amid pressure over Taiwan
ABC (AU) 20250804
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-04/solomon-islands-pacific-island-forum-could-exclude-taiwan-china/105608752

Solomon Islands reported to restrict meeting to members amid dispute over Taiwan’s participation; expert slams DPP, external forces for manipulation
GT 20250804
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340062.shtml

US tariffs: Some Pacific nations get relief, others face increase
RNZ 20250804
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/568912/us-tariffs-some-pacific-nations-get-relief-others-face-increase

Fiji pushes for deeper tariff cuts with the US
FBCN 20250804
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-pushes-for-deeper-tariff-cuts-with-the-us/

New Caledonian leader outlines road to bring Bougival Accord into effect
ABC (AU) 20250804
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/ponga-outlines-road-to-bring-bougival-accord-into-effect/105609170

Cook Islands opposition rejects independence, calls for greater self-sufficiency
RNZ 20250804
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/568905/cook-islands-opposition-rejects-independence-calls-for-greater-self-sufficiency

The 'right to choose' key to the Cook Islands-NZ relationship - Peters
RNZ 20250804
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/568960/the-right-to-choose-key-to-the-cook-islands-nz-relationship-peters

AusAid supports Emu Harbour health clinic
Solomon Star 20250804
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/ausaid-supports-emu-harbour-health-clinic/

Australian, US and PNG Soldiers Conduct Exercises
National (PNG) 20250804
https://www.thenational.com.pg/australian-united-states-and-png-soldiers-conduct-exercises/

Talisman Sabre Ends in PNG with renewed Calls for Stronger Defence Ties
Post Courier (PNG) 20250804
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/talisman-sabre-ends-in-png-with-renewed-calls-for-stronger-defence-ties/

Multicultural but monolingual:Australia’s Pacific disconnect
Lowy 20250804
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/multicultural-monolingual-australia-s-pacific-disconnect

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan and mainland China coastguards engage in close Dongsha Island encounter
SCMP 20250804
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3320681/taiwan-and-mainland-china-coastguards-engage-close-dongsha-island-encounter

Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese military aircraft and 7 ships
Taiwan News 20250804
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6170636

Coast guard: Around 21 to 28 Chinese research vessels spotted in Philippine EEZ this year
ABS-CBN 20250804
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/coast-guard-around-21-to-28-chinese-research-vessels-spotted-in-philippine-eez-this-year-1452

PLA conducts patrol in South China Sea, on high alert for destabilizing activities
China Military 20250804
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/VOICES/16400640.html

India-Philippines joint drill only complicates region
GT 20250804
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340076.shtml

Japanese vessel expelled after illegally entering territorial waters of China's Diaoyu Dao
GT 20250804
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340060.shtml

Capabilities

FM Cho says U.S. troops in S. Korea to remain as is amid drawdown reports
Yonhap 20250804
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250804004300315

Military to upgrade command, control system for combined S. Korea-U.S. operations
Yonhap 20250804
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250804002400315

Army plans to grow Patriot battalions, plus one for Guam
Defense News 20250804
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/08/04/army-plans-to-grow-patriot-battalions-plus-one-for-guam/

Missile Proliferation in the Indo-Pacific: Escalating Tensions in a Shifting Strategic Landscape
GPM 20250804
https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/missile-proliferation-in-the-indo-pacific-escalating-tensions-in-a-shifting-strategic-landscape/

N. Korea slams Japan's reported move to deploy upgraded anti-ship missiles in Kumamoto
Yonhap 20250804
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250804000600315

Defense Ministry Plans to Develop Laser Beam Systems to Intercept Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Deploy on Self-Defense Force Ships
Yomiuri 20250804
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250804-273700/

Japan set to land Australia frigate order in first warship export deal
Nikkei 20250805
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/aerospace-defense-industries/japan-set-to-land-australia-frigate-order-in-first-warship-export-deal2

Japanese MHI Set To Receive Nod For Australian Frigate Requirement
Naval News 20250804
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/upgraded-mogami-set-to-win-sea-3000/

Sources of scale: US and Indo-Pacific allies defence-industrial cooperation
IISS 20250804
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/08/sources-of-scale-us-and-indo-pacific-allies-defence-industrial-cooperation/

U.S. Navy Ships Are Languishing in Repair Yards
WSJ 20250804
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-navy-ships-are-languishing-in-repair-yards-e6358adf

The remote Australian port caught in a US-China security tussle
FT 20250803
https://www.ft.com/content/1d503288-85bf-44fb-9ec5-0c18ace65c09

New Chinese Stealth Tactical Jet Breaks Cover
TWZ 20250804
https://www.twz.com/air/new-chinese-stealth-tactica-jet-breaks-cover

Chinese scientists draw on Ukraine war lessons and propose an upgrade for PLA drones
SCMP 20250804
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3320573/chinese-scientists-draw-ukraine-war-lessons-and-propose-upgrade-pla-drones

China’s drone swarms just got smarter, faster and harder to kill
Asia Times 20250804
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/chinas-drone-swarms-just-got-smarter-faster-and-harder-to-kill/

China's Long March-12 rocket launches new internet satellites
Xinhua 20250804
https://english.news.cn/20250804/1a876b14d077487cb938c98e059900dc/c.html

Tracking Moving Aircraft Via Radar Satellites Instead Of Surveillance Jets Still Far From Reality
TWZ 20250804
https://www.twz.com/space/track-moving-aircraft-via-radar-satellites-instead-of-surveillance-jets-still-far-from-reality

Space Force Zeroes in on Targeting from Orbit, but Timeline Unclear
Air & Space 20250804
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-airborne-ground-moving-target-indication/

Space Force preps infrastructure, operators for target-tracking mission
Defense News 20250804
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/08/04/space-force-preps-infrastructure-operators-for-target-tracking-mission/

Lessons from this year’s unfunded priority lists
Defense One 20250804
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/08/lessons-years-unfunded-priority-lists/407179/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: August 4, 2025
USNI 20250804
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/04/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-august-4-2025