Pacific Winds 20250826

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Aug 25, 2025

Alliances

Trump Hails South Korea Ties as Lee Looks to Ease Trade Tensions
Bloomberg 20250825
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-25/trump-blasts-south-korean-instability-ahead-of-president-s-visit

Trump voices hope to meet N.K. leader Kim this year, eyes ownership of U.S. base land in S. Korea
Yonhap 20250826
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250826001751315

Trump eyes 'ownership' of land S. Korea has leased for U.S. military bases
Yonhap 20250826
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250826001700315

Lee says Washington's demand on strategic flexibility of USFK difficult to agree
Yonhap 20250825
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250825001100315

When It Comes to the Defensive Alliance, Washington and Seoul Need to Understand Two Things About One Another
Heritage 20250825
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/when-it-comes-the-defensive-alliance-washington-and-seoul-need-understand-two-things

The Reconfiguration of the ROK-U.S. Alliance and Korean-Adapted Nuclear Sharing
AIPS 20250825
https://asaninst.org/data/file/s1_1_eng/222742fa858281cd85cc5db0e71d3150_rB8PvAzF_94e8eb306e0137378f847c627cbd8a3fa68f47d8.pdf

Lee's envoys vow to develop ties with China based on alliance with U.S.
Yonhap 20250825
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250825002400315

South Korea tells China it wants to normalise ties, upgrade economic relations
Reuters 20250824
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/south-korea-tells-china-it-wants-normalise-ties-upgrade-economic-relations-2025-08-24/

China policy emerges as test for Lee Jae-myung’s pragmatic diplomacy
GT 20250825
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341682.shtml

Managing a mature Australia–China relationship
EAF 20250825
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/25/managing-a-mature-australia-china-relationship/

Abandoning AUKUS Pillar One would gravely damage the US alliance
ASPI 20250825
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/abandoning-aukus-pillar-one-would-gravely-damage-the-us-alliance/

Biden adviser warns Trump against scrapping Aukus pact with Australia
SCMP 20250825
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3323111/biden-adviser-warns-trump-against-scrapping-aukus-pact-australia

The gap between Quad rhetoric and reality
Lowy 20250825
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/gap-between-quad-rhetoric-reality

Should Asia Make It Official?
FA 20250825
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/responses/should-asia-make-it-official-jimbo-ratner

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Australia pushes to ratify Nauru security treaty ahead of China investment
Reuters 20250825
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/australia-pushes-ratify-nauru-security-treaty-ahead-china-investment-2025-08-25/

Air Force seeks pause in Tarague bomb detonation range lawsuit as it weighs US Supreme Court appeal
PDN 20250825
https://www.guampdn.com/news/air-force-seeks-pause-in-tarague-bomb-detonation-range-lawsuit-as-it-weighs-us-supreme/article_a859e023-34e7-49f8-9304-e615de74aedc.html

2 US senators meet NMI officials, inspect Tinian airfield projects
Marianas Variety 20250826
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/2-us-senators-meet-nmi-officials-inspect-tinian-airfield-projects/article_084a5524-d202-4f07-b82f-ae03e3499baf.html

China develops new version of “Guam Killer” missile
Defence Blog 20250824
https://defence-blog.com/china-develops-new-version-of-guam-killer-missile/

Kosrae-Nauru-Kiribati subsea cable set to start operating by November
PIT 20250825
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/fsm-nauru-kiribati-subsea-cable-set-to-start-operating-by-november

Island Waves

Taiwan + SCS

4 Chinese coast guard ships enter Taiwan's restricted waters around Kinmen
Taiwan News 20250825
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6186036

Taiwan's Coast Guard shadows trespassing Chinese ships off Kinmen
CNA (TW) 20250825
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202508250020

Resilience Is Deterrence: Why Taiwan’s Cyber Weakness Is a Strategic Risk
Hudson 20250825
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/resilience-deterrence-why-taiwans-cyber-weakness-strategic-risk-jason-hsu-joseph-saunders

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250825
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6185994

China challenges US freedom of navigation operations as having ‘no legal basis’
SCMP 20250825
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323104/china-challenges-us-freedom-navigation-operations-having-no-legal-basis

China releases report on US ‘freedom of navigation,’ exposing its lack of legal basis, military pressure tactic
GT 20250825
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341650.shtml

"Legal Assessment Report on US-Style 'Freedom of Navigation'"
PRC MoNR 20250825
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/X1I81vPiOOK4y5Q-zB0X9A

US stirring up more trouble in China-Philippines naval clash
Responsible Statecraft 20250825
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-philippines-south-china-sea/

After Chinese ships ram each other, concern over dangerous encounters in South China Sea
Breaking Defense 20250825
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/after-chinese-ships-ram-each-other-concern-over-dangerous-encounters-in-south-china-sea/

China Condemns Vietnam Over Island-Building in South China Sea
Bloomberg 20250825
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-25/china-condemns-vietnam-over-island-building-in-south-china-sea

Capabilities

Beyond the 'bling', China aims for deterrence in military show
Reuters 20250825
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/beyond-bling-china-aims-deterrence-military-show-2025-08-25/

Red Arsenal: a new databank on China’s latest military hardware
SCMP 20250825
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3322981/china-unveils-its-newest-military-hardware-closer-look-plas-build

China debuts HQ-29 “Satellite Hunter” system
Defence Blog 20250824
https://defence-blog.com/china-debuts-hq-29-satellite-hunter-system/

What We Know About China’s and Russia’s New Strategic Bombers
National Interest 20240823
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/what-we-know-about-chinas-and-russias-new-bombers-mc-082325

The AUKUS Inflection: Seizing the Opportunity to Deliver Deterrence
CSIS 20250825
https://www.csis.org/analysis/aukus-inflection-seizing-opportunity-deliver-deterrence

New CNO vows new ‘engine of naval dominance’
Defense One 20250825
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/08/new-cno-vows-new-engine-naval-dominance/407667/

Trump says U.S. to buy ships from S. Korea, revive domestic shipbuilding industry
Yonhap 20250826
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250826002100315

Force multiplier: the case for multi-use infrastructure in northern Australia
ASPI 20250825
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/force-multiplier-the-case-for-multi-use-infrastructure-in-northern-australia/

Hanwha Ocean to inject additional $70 mln into U.S. shipyard
Yonhap 20250825
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250825001900320

SECNAV orders new Naval Rapid Capabilities Office, shuts down offices
Breaking Defense 20250825
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/secnav-orders-new-naval-rapid-capabilities-office-shuts-down-offices/

York delivers 21 satellites for Space Development Agency launch
Defense News 20250825
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2025/08/25/york-delivers-21-satellites-for-space-development-agency-launch/

Exercises

Philippines, Australia train retaking island in joint drills
Naval News 20250824
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/philippines-australia-train-retaking-island-in-joint-drills/

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: August 25, 2025
USNI 20250825
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/25/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-august-25-2025

Russia, China Wrap Fifth Annual Joint Patrol
USNI 20250825
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/25/russia-china-wrap-fifth-annual-joint-patrol

Events

China’s influence in the Pacific Islands: Overstatement or underestimation?
Brookings 16 September 9-10AM EDT
https://www.brookings.edu/events/chinas-influence-in-the-pacific-islands-overstatement-or-underestimation/

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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