Pacific Winds 20250813

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Lee, Trump to hold summit on Aug. 25 on security, economic partnership
Yonhap 20250812
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250812003400315

Seoul's and Washington's new leaders probably see eye to eye
Nikkei 20250812
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/seoul-s-and-washington-s-new-leaders-probably-see-eye-to-eye

Reviving Pyongyang-Washington Diplomatic Engagement: Between Economic Leverage and the Trump Factor
CSIS 20250811
https://www.38north.org/2025/08/reviving-pyongyang-washington-diplomatic-engagement-between-economic-leverage-and-the-trump-factor/

Pentagon ramps up pressure on Japan to hike defense spending
Nikkei 20250813
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/indo-pacific/pentagon-ramps-up-pressure-on-japan-to-hike-defense-spending

Quad alliance risks unravelling as Trump strains ties with India and Japan
SCMP 20250812
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321623/quad-alliance-risks-unravelling-trump-strains-ties-india-and-japan

U.S. Must Adapt to Allies Stance Toward China in Europe, Asia
USNI 20250812
https://news.usni.org/2021/09/16/panel-u-s-must-adapt-to-allies-stance-toward-china-in-europe-asia

Advancing Australia’s Trilateral Partnership With Two ASEAN Neighbors
The Diplomat 20250811
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/advancing-australias-trilateral-partnership-with-two-asean-neighbors/

US, China extend tariff truce by 90 days, staving off surge in duties
Reuters 20250812
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-china-extend-tariff-truce-by-90-days-staving-off-surge-duties-2025-08-12/

China says position on US ties, trade issues remains consistent and clear: FM on question of China-US trade truce by 90 days
GT 20250812
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340691.shtml

Koizumi presses Seoul to lift fishery curbs, meets S. Korea, China counterparts
Japan Times 20250812
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/12/japan/politics/japan-farm-minister-sk-foreign-minister-meet/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

U.S., Palau to Host Live-Fire Missile defense Drill in August
Island Times 20250812
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-palau-to-host-live-fire-missile-defense-drill-in-august/

Grooming Guam for War
GDP 20250812
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/grooming-guam-for-war/article_b2b6103b-9d0b-4b20-9737-c8289d743842.html

U.S. and Partners Conclude Month of Military Exercises in the Pacific While Eyeing China
FDD 20250812
https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/08/12/u-s-and-partners-conclude-month-of-military-exercises-in-the-pacific-while-eyeing-china/

Peace Corps returns to Palau, Renewing Historic Partnership
Island Times 20250812
https://islandtimes.org/peace-corps-returns-to-palau-renewing-historic-partnership/

Nauru, China sign deal
Islands Business 20250812
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/nauru-china-sign-deal/

East Micronesia Cable System lands in Nauru
Developing Telecoms 20250812
https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-technology/optical-fixed-networks/18905-east-micronesia-cable-system-lands-in-nauru.html

‘We cannot allow 2/3 of our island to be well-developed while 1/3 is left behind'
Marianas Press 20250812
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/we-cannot-allow-23-of-our-island-to-be-well-developed-while-13-is-left-b

Jets' transfer to Andersen nixed
GDP 20250812
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/jets-transfer-to-andersen-nixed/article_34ca73f0-29bf-4dd9-b7b8-c5008179447b.html

Singapore says it mutually agreed with US in shelving plans to base fighter jets on Guam
PDN 20250813
https://www.guampdn.com/news/singapore-says-it-mutually-agreed-with-us-in-shelving-plans-to-base-fighter-jets-on/article_4350237e-a4e0-4a47-94f1-cc9d39a3f735.html

Plan to base Singapore’s F-15 fighter jets in Guam cancelled
Straits Times 20250812
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/plan-to-base-singapores-f-15-fighter-jets-in-guam-cancelled

Singapore, US scrap plans for F-15 fighter jet training in Guam
SCMP 20250812
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3321552/singapore-us-scrap-plans-f-15-fighter-jet-training-guam

US Air Force cancels plan to host Singapore fighters on Guam
S&S 20250812
https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-08-12/singapore-guam-f-15-anderson-us-air-force-18737601.html

56 Years of Service: Palau, U.S. Mark Civic Action Team Handover
Island Times 20250812
https://islandtimes.org/56-years-of-service-palau-u-s-mark-civic-action-team-handover/

40 Taiwanese youth ambassadors to visit Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Guam
CNA (TW) 20250812
https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202508120009

Island Waves

Australia and Vanuatu close to signing Nakamal Agreement worth $500m
ABC (AU) 20250812
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-12/australia-and-vanuatu-close-to-signing-nakamal-agreement/105640026

Australia and PNG to finalise defence treaty as Naval base opens on Manus Island
ABC (AU) 22050812
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/australia-and-png-to-finalise-defence-treaty-as-naval-base-opens/105640748

PNG and Australia set to sign landmark Defence Treaty on Independence day
PINA 20250812
https://pina.com.fj/2025/08/12/png-and-australia-set-to-sign-landmark-defence-treaty-on-independence-day/

Australia spends $500m on Papua New Guinea's Lombrum naval base expansion
ABC (AU) 20250812
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-12/png-lombrum-naval-base-cost-blowout-revealed/105643830

Manus Prepares for Reopening of Lombrum Naval Base
Post Courier (PNG) 20250812
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/manus-prepares-for-reopening-of-lombrum-naval-base/

New strategy aims to fortify Fiji against regional dangers
FBCN 20250812
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/new-strategy-aims-to-fortify-fiji-against-regional-dangers/

China, US pledge funds for Pacific Islands ahead of key meeting they will not attend
Straits Times 20250812
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/china-us-pledge-funds-for-pacific-islands-ahead-of-key-meet-they-will-not-attend

Government quizzed over $2b Pacific guarantee for ANZ
AFR 20250812
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/government-quizzed-over-2b-pacific-guarantee-for-anz-20250812-p5mm80

$60 million for regional fisheries
Islands Business 20250812
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/60-million-for-regional-fisheries/

Deputy Secretary Landau’s Meeting with the Pacific Islands Ambassadors and Representatives
US DoS 20250811
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/08/deputy-secretary-landaus-meeting-with-the-pacific-islands-ambassadors-and-representatives/

U.S. supports Taiwan's Pacific Islands Forum attendance: Official
CNA (TW) 22050812
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202508120011

Friends to all: Falepili Union Treaty sets Tuvalu’s security, Australia must deliver
ASPI 20250812
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/friends-to-all-falepili-union-treaty-sets-tuvalus-security-australia-must-deliver/

Cook Islands deal has ‘nothing to do with military or security agenda’, says Chinese ambassador
RNZ 20250812
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/569694/cook-islands-deal-has-nothing-to-do-with-military-or-security-agenda-says-chinese-ambassador

Chinese envoy stresses partnership agreement with Cook Islands ‘has nothing to do with military or security agenda’: media
GT 20250812
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340703.shtml

Australia and NZ drive $2.57 billion surge
FBCN 20250812
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-and-nz-drive-2-57-billion-surge/

Aust-SI team up to strengthen justice system
Solomon Star 20250812
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-si-team-up-to-strengthen-justice-system/

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan’s failed recall and the uncertain road ahead with China
Think China 20250811
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/taiwans-failed-recall-and-uncertain-road-ahead-china

Taiwan-South Korea meeting cancellation sparks diplomatic tension
Taiwan News 20250812
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6177099

Is the Republican Party Moving Away From Taiwan?
The Diplomat 20250811
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/is-the-republican-party-moving-away-from-taiwan/

Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese military aircraft and 5 ships
Taiwan News 20250812
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6177003

Brawner calls out China for violating deal from 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff
GMA 20250812
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/955595/brawner-china-wps-scarborough-shoal-south-china-sea-bajo-de-masinloc/story/

China’s clumsy sea aggression marks escalation with Philippines
Asia Times 20250812
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/chinas-clumsy-sea-aggression-marks-escalation-with-philippines/#

Chinese Vessels Collide While Pursuing Philippine Patrol Ship in South China Sea
The Diplomat 20250812
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/chinese-vessels-collide-while-pursuing-philippine-patrol-ship-in-south-china-sea/

Capabilities

Gutting U.S. Government Humanitarianism Makes the Defense Department’s Job Harder
WOTR 20250811
https://warontherocks.com/2025/08/gutting-u-s-government-humanitarianism-makes-the-defense-departments-job-harder/

Sea control, not stockpiles, will secure Australia’s future
Lowy 20250812
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/sea-control-not-stockpiles-will-secure-australia-s-future

China Creates World’s No. 1 Shipbuilder, Driven by Rivalry With U.S.
WSJ 20250811
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china-shipbuilding-company-trump-rivalry-17eb6265

‘Threat Can’t be Ignored’: Marines Refine MV-22B Osprey Anti-submarine Role in Pacific
USNI 20250812
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/12/threat-cant-be-ignored-marines-refine-mv-22b-osprey-anti-submarine-role-in-pacific

CRS Report to Congress on MQ-25 Stingray
USNI 20250812
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/12/report-to-congress-on-mq-25-stingray

More MQ-58 Variants In The Works After Marines Move To Make Valkyrie A Full Program Of Record
TWZ 20250812
https://www.twz.com/air/more-mq-58-variants-in-the-works-after-marines-move-to-make-valkyrie-a-full-program-of-record

China’s new stealth launcher is aimed at space debris. Can it also be used as a weapon?
SCMP 20250812
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321437/chinas-new-stealth-launcher-aimed-space-debris-can-it-also-be-used-weapon

Space Force 2026 budget: an $11B boon or bubble?
Space News 20250812
https://spacenews.com/the-space-forces-26-budget-an-11b-boon-or-bubble/

Could DoD buck ‘congressional intent’ on billions in reconciliation?
Breaking Defense 20250812
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/could-dod-buck-congressional-intent-on-billions-in-reconciliation/

Exercises

N. Korea holds firing drills ahead of planned S. Korea-U.S. joint military exercises
Yonhap 20250812
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250812000700315

Military chief urges firm readiness ahead of S. Korea-U.S. combined drills
Yonhap 20250812
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250812008600315

British navy carrier group makes port call in Japan, 1st in 4 years
Kyodo 20250813
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/59106

British warships arrive in S. Korea for Indo-Pacific mission
Yonhap 20250812
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250812010851320

Japan-New Zealand Goodwill Exercise
JMSDF 20250812
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202508/20250812en.pdf

Warships of China-Russia joint maritime patrol reach Kamchatka for replenishment
GT 20250812
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340714.shtml