Pacific Winds 20250822
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Lee, Trump may discuss U.S. troop cut, OPCON transfer as part of 'alliance modernization' in summit: expert
Yonhap 22050821
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250821000200315
Expert notes possibility of Trump raising 'sensitive' China issue in summit with Lee
Yonhap 20250822
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250822000251315
South Korea's Lee intends to retain 'comfort women' pact with Japan, paper says
Reuters 20250821
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/south-koreas-lee-intends-retain-comfort-women-pact-with-japan-paper-says-2025-08-21/
Lee vows national interest-focused diplomacy ahead of summits with Trump, Ishiba
Yonhap 22050821
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250821008700315
China’s North Korea Problem
FA 20250821
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas-north-korea-problem
The Quad’s Role Amid China-US Tech Competition
The Diplomat 20250821
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/the-quads-role-amid-china-us-tech-competition/
Why the United Kingdom and the Indo-Pacific Four should form a new Quintet
Lowy 20250822
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-united-kingdom-indo-pacific-four-should-form-new-quintet
How a Multi-Domain Command in Japan Would Reshape US Alliances in the Indo-Pacific
The Diplomat 20250821
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/how-a-multi-domain-command-in-japan-would-reshape-us-alliances-in-the-indo-pacific/
How China’s Coercive Measures Against Australia Backfired
Heritage 20250821
https://www.heritage.org/china/report/how-chinas-coercive-measures-against-australia-backfired
EU reported to curb AI chip flows to China as part of US trade deal; China previously warned against hurting its interests in deals
GT 20250822
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341460.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
King-Hinds: Think tanks ‘running amok in terms of influencing policy in DC’
Marianas Press 20250821
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/king-hinds-think-tanks-running-amok-in-terms-of-influencing-policy-in-dc
Legislature says no rolling back BPT for 'big' military contractors
GDP 20250821
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/legislature-says-no-rolling-back-bpt-for-big-military-contractors/article_bb675d00-1ad8-4870-bbfd-bd895f88c5aa.html
ISAFE strengthens Indo-Pacific aviation safety, interoperability
IPDF 20250820
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/08/isafe-strengthens-indo-pacific-aviation-safety-interoperability/
Australia presses Nauru over proposed billion-dollar deal with mystery Chinese company
ABC (AU) 20250821
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/australia-presses-nauru/105661456
FSM Celebrates Historic Submarine Cable Landing in Kosrae
FSM 20250820
https://gov.fm/fsm-celebrates-historic-submarine-cable-landing-in-kosrae/
Island Waves
Why maritime surveillance in the Indo-Pacific starts with trust before data
Lowy 20250821
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-maritime-surveillance-indo-pacific-starts-trust-data
Does the U.S.–Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Announcement Signal a New Front in Great Power Competition?
CSIS 20250820
https://www.csis.org/analysis/does-us-cook-islands-seabed-minerals-announcement-signal-new-front-great-power-competition
China fires back at claims over PIF meeting
FBCN 2025081
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-fires-back-at-claims-over-pif-meeting/
Winston Peters says China “too clever by half” in PIF row
PMN 20250821
https://pmn.co.nz/read/politics-/winston-peters-says-china-too-clever-by-half-in-pacific-islands-forum-row
China route talks – Fiji pushes for Shanghai entry on its own terms
Fiji Times 20250821
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/china-route-talks-fiji-pushes-for-shanghai-entry-on-its-own-terms/
Japan targets money laundering
Islands Business 20250820
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/japan-targets-money-laundering/
Maternal health project in Solomon Islands reaches rural mothers, engages fathers, and saves lives through partnerships.
Tavuli 20250821
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/maternal-health-solomon-islands/
Fijian ICC prosecutor targeted in US sanctions list
FBCN 20250821
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-icc-prosecutor-targeted-in-us-sanctions-list/
Kirakira wharf construction more than half complete
Solomon Star 20250821
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/kirakira-wharf-construction-more-than-half-complete/
Islands on the Edge: The Pacific’s Struggle for Climate Justice
AIIA 20250821
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/islands-on-the-edge-the-pacifics-struggle-for-climate-justice/
Okinawan rights ignored as military crimes persist
EAF 20250820
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/20/okinawan-rights-ignored-as-military-crimes-persist/
Taiwan + SCS
If China’s tactic is blockading Taiwan, the US Navy needs lots of frigates. It’s not getting them
ASPI 20250821
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/if-chinas-tactic-is-blockading-taiwan-the-us-navy-needs-lots-of-frigates-its-not-getting-them/
Chinese hypersonic missiles could be used to strike Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250821
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6184180
Taiwan to massively hike 2026 defence budget as US presses spending increase
Reuters 20250821
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-massively-hike-2026-defence-budget-us-presses-spending-increase-2025-08-21/
Special defense budgets anticipate more U.S. arms sales: Experts
CNA (TW) 20250821
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202508210021
DPP boosting Taiwan’s military budget to over 3% will ‘intensify tensions’ across Straits
GT 20250821
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341451.shtml
Taiwan’s drone surge aims to offset China’s edge
Asia Times 20250821
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/taiwans-drone-surge-aims-to-offset-chinas-edge/
Taiwan tracks 22 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250821
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6183941
China Deploys Armed Small Boats to Second Thomas Shoal
USNI 20250821
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/21/china-deploys-armed-small-boats-to-secondthomas-shoal
Think tank reports expound on truths about South China Sea
Xinhua 20250821
https://english.news.cn/20250821/a93c665234cc4811aef991aef61511f7/c.html
Link to Xinhua Institute Report: http://www.xhinst.net/yjyqbsj/detail/20250820/19443804_%E5%85%A8%E6%96%87%EF%BD%9C%E7%A2%A7%E6%B3%A2%E6%B7%B1%E5%A4%84%E6%9C%89%E4%B8%AD%E5%8D%8E%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%9C%A8%E5%8D%97%E6%B5%B7%E9%A2%86%E5%9C%9F%E4%B8%BB%E6%9D%83%E6%B5%B7%E6%B4%8B%E6%9D%83%E7%9B%8A%E7%9A%84%E5%8E%86%E5%8F%B2%E5%92%8C%E6%B3%95%E7%90%86%E4%BE%9D%E6%8D%AE_1.html
Three Decades, One Commitment: China’s Steadfast Journey in Marine Summer Fishing Moratorium
SCS PI 20250820
https://www.scspi.org/en/dtfx/three-decades-one-commitment-china%E2%80%99s-steadfast-journey-marine-summer-fishing-moratorium
EU bluffing it will protect the Philippines from China
Asia Times 22050821
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/eu-bluffing-it-will-protect-the-philippines-from-china/
Capabilities
Should America’s military plan for a retreat from the Pacific?
Military Times 20250820
https://www.militarytimes.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/08/20/should-america-plan-for-a-retreat-from-the-pacific/
China's security success conditional on Southeast Asia
EAF 20250821
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/21/chinas-security-success-conditional-on-southeast-asia/
New Zealand faces most challenging security environment in recent time, report shows
Reuters 20250821
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/new-zealand-faces-most-challenging-security-environment-recent-time-report-shows-2025-08-21/
Chinese embassy in New Zealand voices opposition to newly released report claiming ‘threats from China’
GT 20250821
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341368.shtml
‘Textbook misinformation’: China rejects New Zealand security report accusations
SCMP 20250821
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322652/textbook-misinformation-china-rejects-new-zealand-security-report-accusations
New Zealand will buy US helicopters in a $1.6B military aircraft spending package
AP 22050821
https://apnews.com/article/defense-spending-new-zealand-military-helicopters-airbus-a57c45f6a3a501f0b8a3bb31ec1619cc
Is the PHL16 multiple rocket launcher China’s answer to the US Himars system?
SCMP 20250821
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322516/phl16-multiple-rocket-launcher-chinas-answer-us-himars-system
Japan to deploy upgraded missiles at GSDF camp in Kumamoto City
NHK 20250821
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250821_05/
US Navy drone fleet faces setbacks amid accidents, leadership shake-ups and growing doubts
GT 20250821
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341376.shtml
Exercises
New air defense system to be used in upcoming U.S.-Japan drill
Japan Times 20250821
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/21/japan/us-new-air-defense-system-japan-drill/