Pacific Winds 20250819

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Actually, China can’t put Australia over an economic barrel
ASPI 20250818
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/actually-china-cant-put-australia-over-an-economic-barrel/

Australians More Anxious on Trump Tariffs Than China, Poll Shows
Bloomberg 20280818
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-18/australians-more-anxious-on-trump-tariffs-than-china-poll-shows

German foreign minister criticises 'aggressive' China ahead of trip to Japan
Reuters 20250817
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/german-foreign-minister-criticises-aggressive-china-ahead-trip-japan-2025-08-17/

Trump Is Pushing India Back Toward China
NYTimes 20250818
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/world/asia/india-china-trump.html

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

S. Korean Navy to take part in U.S.-led maritime exercise in waters off Guam
Yonhap 20250818
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250818007600315

King-Hinds says use of 50-caliber rounds in CJMT a concern
Marianas Press 20250818
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/king-hinds-says-use-of-50-caliber-rounds-in-cjmt-a-concern

USS George Washington Strike Group arrives in Guam and Saipan
KUAM 20250818
https://www.kuam.com/story/53010427/uss-george-washington-strike-group-arrives-in-guam-and-saipan

Leon Guerrero in Okinawa for update on Marine Corps relocation
GDP 20250818
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/leon-guerrero-in-okinawa-for-update-on-marine-corps-relocation/article_270cfccd-1465-4675-a913-697107acb469.html

Guam governor in Okinawa to meet on Marine relocation
Isla Public Media 20250818
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2025-08-18/guam-governor-in-okinawa-to-meet-on-marine-relocation

Acting Gov. Tenorio to senators: Keep business tax rates for military contractors
PDN 20250818
https://www.guampdn.com/news/acting-gov-tenorio-to-senators-keep-business-tax-rates-for-military-contractors/article_9ccb6ced-ce74-4ad1-859a-8f3ae6bba674.html

Island Waves

Friends to all: What a friend wants, what a Pacific island country needs
ASPI 20250818
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/friends-to-all-what-a-friend-wants-what-a-pacific-island-country-needs/

New Australia-Vanuatu deal won't replicate Falepili-style agreement - Pacific expert
RNZ 20250818
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/570277/new-australia-vanuatu-deal-won-t-replicate-falepili-style-agreement-pacific-expert

Valls heads to New Caledonia in wake of collapse of independence deal
RFI 20250818
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250818-valls-heads-to-new-caledonia-in-wake-of-collapse-of-independence-deal

NZ raises alarm as Tuvalu considers PIF boycott over Solomons’ exclusion of partners
PMN 20250818
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/nz-raises-alarm-as-tuvalu-considers-boycott-over-solomons-exclusion-of-forum-partners

Tuvalu reportedly considering pulling out of Pacific leaders’ summit; ‘hyping Taiwan question does not align with perception of most PICs’
GT 20250818
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341143.shtml

Aust, NZ support timber sector
Solomon Star 20250818
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-nz-support-timber-sector/

Environmental assessment on GRML operations conducted
Solomon Star 20250818
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/environmental-assessment-on-grml-operations-conducted/

Datacenter diplomacy: Australia commits to help Vanuatu build bit barns
The Register 20250814
https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/14/nakamal_agreement_australia_vanuatu_datacenters/

Three towers in West/South Guadalcanal now active
Solomon Star 20250818
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/three-towers-in-west-south-guadalcanal-now-active/

Japanese energy experts share skills with EPC
Samoa Observer 20250818
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/115657

Agreement Signed fr US-Funded UXO Removal in PNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20250818
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/agreement-signed-for-u-s-funded-unexploded-ordnance-removal-in-png/

Young artist earns scholarship to China.
Samoa Observer 20250818
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/115652

Taiwan + xCS

Taiwan’s Growing Distrust of the United States
GMF 20250818
https://www.gmfus.org/news/taiwans-growing-distrust-united-states#

Trump would not use Taiwan as pawn: Gray
Taipei Times 20250819
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/08/19/2003842291

To deter China over Taiwan, US must recognize allies' challenges
Nikkei 20250818
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/to-deter-china-over-taiwan-us-must-recognize-allies-challenges

Taiwan 'issue' is an internal matter, China says in response to Trump
Reuters 20250818
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-issue-is-an-internal-matter-china-says-response-trump-2025-08-18/

After Trump quotes Xi on Taiwan, China calls for 'peaceful reunification'
Nikkei 20250818
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/after-trump-quotes-xi-on-taiwan-china-calls-for-peaceful-reunification

Taiwan's restoration to China is outcome of WWII victory, part of postwar int'l order: Chinese FM
Xinhua 20250819
https://english.news.cn/20250819/bbe458f9678c42c0883996134dfcb5a5/c.html

Eyes on spies: countering Chinese espionage in Taiwan
Asia Times 20250818
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/eyes-on-spies-countering-chinese-espionage-in-taiwan/

Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese military aircraft and 5 naval vessels
Taiwan News 22050818
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6181334

Philippine Watercraft Operations in the South China Sea
Naval News 20250818
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/philippine-watercraft-operations-in-the-south-china-sea/

A quiet path to peace in the South China Sea
Asia Times 20250818
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/a-quiet-path-to-peace-in-the-south-china-sea/

Japan deploys large drone over Senkakus Islands amid China ship intrusions
Kyodo 20250818
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/59420

Capabilities

Russia’s missile salvoes stretch US defenses from Kyiv to Taipei
Asia TImes 20250818
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/russias-missile-salvoes-stretch-us-defenses-from-kyiv-to-taipei/

The Case for Redeploying Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons to South Korea
Heritage 20250818
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/the-case-redeploying-non-strategic-nuclear-weapons-south-korea

Why Xi Still Doesn’t Have the Military He Wants
FA 20250818
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/why-xi-still-doesnt-have-military-he-wants

US seeks shipbuilding expertise from South Korea and Japan to counter China
Kyodo 20250818
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/59390

US attempt to bolster shipbuilding may not be in SK, Japan’s interests
GT 20250818
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341156.shtml

Navy amphib readiness dips as sailors, Marines deploy for Caribbean
Defense News 20250818
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2025/08/18/navy-amphib-readiness-dips-as-sailors-marines-deploy-for-caribbean/

Army Successfully Demonstrates LTAMDS 360° Engagement Capability at White Sands Missile Range
US Army 20250814
https://www.army.mil/article/287888/army_successfully_demonstrates_ltamds_360_engagement_capability_at_white_sands_missile_range

China To Reveal New Weapons To Sink US Ships
Newsweek 20250818
https://www.newsweek.com/china-reveals-new-weapons-sink-us-ships-2114865

New Startup Unveils Autonomous Cargo Drones for Distributed Ops in the Pacific
Air & Space 20250818
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-startup-autonomous-cargo-drones-ace-pacific/

Govt Eyes Drones for Coastal Defense by Fiscal 2027; New Initiative Dubbed ‘SHIELD’ Will Operate on Air, Sea and Underwater
Yomiuri 20250818
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250819-275894/

The US Is on High Alert After “Steel Jaws Slice Through Lifelines” as China’s Colossal Cable Cutter Endangers 95% of World Connections
Sustainability Times 20250818
https://www.sustainability-times.com/research/the-us-is-on-high-alert-after-steel-jaws-slice-through-lifelines-as-chinas-colossal-cable-cutter-endangers-95-of-world-connections/

‘Economic Defense Unit’: How the U.S. Military Wins in the ‘Gray Zone’
AEI 20250818
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/economic-defense-unit-how-the-u-s-military-wins-in-the-gray-zone/

The Army must accelerate counterspace investments
Breaking Defense 20250818
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/the-army-must-accelerate-counterspace-investments/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: August 18, 2025
USNI 20250818
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/18/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-august-18-2025