Pacific Winds 20250814

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Lee-Trump summit may prove to be 'inflection' point in alliance: experts
Yonhap 20250813
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250813004400315

Lee to visit Japan from Aug. 23-24 for summit talks with Japanese PM Ishiba
Yonhap 20250813
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250813009351315

South Korea's president Lee to visit Japan Aug. 23-24 to meet PM Ishiba
Kyodo 20250813
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/59170

New Philippine-Japanese Defense Pact to go into Effect Next Month
USNI 20250812
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/12/new-philippine-japanese-defense-pact-to-go-into-effect-next-month

Can Australia rally the Indo-Pacific allies?
Lowy 20250813
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/can-australia-rally-indo-pacific-allies

Lawmakers exhort Trump: Keep security pact with Australia and UK alive
Defense News 20250812
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2025/08/12/lawmakers-exhort-trump-keep-security-pact-with-australia-and-uk-alive/

US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says
Reuters 20250812
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-trade-team-will-meet-chinese-officials-two-or-three-months-bessent-says-2025-08-12/

Japan starts anti-dumping probe into steel from China, South Korea
Nikkei 20240813
https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/trade/japan-starts-anti-dumping-probe-into-steel-from-china-south-korea

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

The labyrinth of Pacific Islands policy under Trump
Pacific Security Hub 20250813
https://www.pacificsecurityhub.org/2025/08/13/the-labyrinth-of-pacific-islands-policy-under-trump/

Plans for Singapore F-15 training detachment in Guam cancelled
Breaking Defense 20250812
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/plans-for-singapore-f-15-training-detachment-in-guam-cancelled/

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

Island Waves

Australia pays premium price for Pacific partnership
Lowy 20250813
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-pays-premium-price-pacific-partnership

Australia and Vanuatu agree to $500m deal, but details remain scarce
ABC (AU) 20250813
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-13/australia-vanuatu-initial-nakamal-agreement/105650044

Australia and Vanuatu close to signing Nakamal Agreement worth $500m
Daily Post (VU) 20250813
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/australia-and-vanuatu-close-to-signing-nakamal-agreement-worth-500m/article_cf5e3ee7-cb79-58bc-8804-fb5e270ccde9.html

Pacific sovereignty maintains the same malleability down China’s belt and road
EAF 20250813
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/13/pacific-sovereignty-maintains-the-same-malleability-down-chinas-belt-and-road/

China to back climate fight of Pacific islands
China Daily 20250813
https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/617828

Samoa backs Solomon Islands' move to defer partner talks at Pacific Islands Forum
RNZ 20250813
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/569825/samoa-backs-solomon-islands-move-to-defer-partner-talks-at-pacific-islands-forum

Pacific unity at risk over forum snub
FBCN 20250813
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/pacific-unity-at-risk-over-forum-snub/

'Nothing stopping' China from meeting Pacific Islands Forum leaders, says expert
RNZ 20250814
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/569924/nothing-stopping-china-from-meeting-pacific-islands-forum-leaders-says-expert

FBI expands reach to Cook Islands as US seeks to 'counter Chinese influence'
RNZ 20250813
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/569815/fbi-expands-reach-to-cook-islands-as-us-seeks-to-counter-chinese-influence

How transparent is Australian aid?
Fiji Times 20250813
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/how-transparent-is-australian-aid/

Australia Donates Armoured Vehicles Worth K8.3M to PNGDF
The National (PNG) 20250813
https://www.thenational.com.pg/australia-donates-armoured-vehicles-worth-k8-3-million-to-pngdf/

PM Hails Lombrum Naval Base Restoration
PNG Haus Bung 20250813
https://pnghausbung.com/pm-hails-lombrum-naval-base-restoration/

US Partners with PNG to Remove War UXO
PNG Haus Bung 20250813
https://pnghausbung.com/u-s-partners-with-png-to-remove-war-uxos/

PNG welcomes humanitarian mission
AU DoD 20250813
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-08-13/png-welcomes-humanitarian-mission

Solomon Islands Journalists Undergo Digital Media Training in Australia
SIBC 20250813
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/solomon-islands-journalists-undergo-digital-media-training-in-australia/

Taiwan + SCS

Why is Taiwan’s William Lai facing ‘extraordinary’ Japanese media backlash?
SCMP 20250813
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321758/why-taiwans-william-lai-facing-extraordinary-japanese-media-backlash

Taiwan’s New Naval Drones Could Strike Any Chinese Invasion
Naval News 20250813
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/taiwans-new-naval-drones-could-strike-any-chinese-invasion/

Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese military aircraft and 6 ships
Taiwan News 20250813
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6178036

Chinese fighter 'intercepts' Philippine plane over disputed shoal, Manila says
Reuters 20250813
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-fighter-intercepts-philippine-plane-over-disputed-shoal-manila-says-2025-08-13/

US briefly deploys 2 warships to a disputed South China Sea shoal after Chinese collision
AP 20250813
https://apnews.com/article/scarborough-shoal-south-china-sea-united-states-philippines-e55c1bf3178dee330028bb7267e9a08d

China's military says it 'drove away' US destroyer near Scarborough Shoal
Reuters 20250813
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-military-says-it-drove-away-us-destroyer-near-scarborough-shoal-2025-08-13/

Chinese military ‘warns off’ US destroyer from South China Sea’s Scarborough Shoal
SCMP 20250813
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321669/chinese-military-warns-us-destroyer-south-china-seas-scarborough-shoal

Chinese naval troops expel US warship intruding into territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao: spokesperson
GT 20250813
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340742.shtml

Navy Denies China Chased off U.S. Warship from Scarborough Shoal
USNI 20250813
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/13/navy-denies-china-chased-off-u-s-warship-from-scarborough-shoal

Video clips expose Philippine ship's dangerous maneuvers during August 11 Huangyan Dao intrusion
GT 20250813
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340782.shtml

China stands firm against maritime intrusions by US, Philippine vessels
China Daily 20250814
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/V_251452/16402431.html

The Philippines has completely misjudged itself and the surrounding situation
GT 20250813
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340803.shtml

The Philippines' repeated mistakes in the South China Sea will inevitably result in a 'painful price'
GT 20250813
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1340781.shtml

Capabilities

Chinese military researchers seek to draw electronic warfare lessons from Ukraine jamming
SCMP 20250813
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3321548/chinese-military-researchers-seek-draw-electronic-warfare-lessons-ukraine-jamming

An Indo-Pacific role for Britain’s aircraft carriers: high-value escort
ASPI 20250813
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/an-indo-pacific-role-for-britains-aircraft-carriers-high-value-escort/

FM Cho vows close cooperation with U.S. for 'mutually beneficial outcome' in shipbuilding ties
Yonhap 20250813
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250813006400315

AUKUS Pillar Two can deliver fast—after we fix it
ASPI 20250813
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukus-pillar-two-can-deliver-fast-after-we-fix-it/

CRS Report to Congress on Hypersonic Weapons
USNI 20250813
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/13/report-to-congress-on-hypersonic-weapons-20

South Korea Has An Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Program
TWZ 20250813
https://www.twz.com/air/south-korea-has-an-air-launched-ballistic-missile-program

USV maker Seasats says drone came within meters of Chinese warship during Pacific transit
Breaking Defense 20250813
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/usv-maker-seasats-says-drone-came-within-meters-of-chinese-warship-during-pacific-transit/

U. S. Space Force Space Systems Command, United Launch Alliance successfully launch USSF-106 mission aboard Vulcan rocket
US Space Force 20250813
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4273842/u-s-space-force-space-systems-command-united-launch-alliance-successfully-launc/

China launches new group of internet satellites
Xinhua 20250813
https://english.news.cn/20250813/5df710587e8f44e38ae2c3a3c2a57b33/c.html

SIPRI Military Expenditure Database
SIPRI August 2025
https://www.sipri.org/databases/milex

Power

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Exercises

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Events

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