Pacific Winds 20250829

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Pentagon says Richard Marles and US Defense Secretary meeting 'happenstance encounter'
ABC (AU) 20250828
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-28/pentagon-says-marles-hegseth-meeting-happenstance-encounter/105706694

Pentagon walks back claim Richard Marles didn’t meet with Pete Hegseth
Guardian 20250828
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/28/trump-administration-pentagon-walks-back-claim-richard-marles-didnt-meet-pete-hegseth

Alliance that goes far beyond AUKUS
ASPI 20250828
https://t.co/biZBZHhCw3

Hugh White ‘We’ve made an appalling mistake in committing ourselves to AUKUS’
AIIA 20250828
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/indo-pacific-briefing-series-hugh-white-weve-made-an-appalling-mistake-in-committing-ourselves-to-aukus/

Don’t Delay Recommitting to AUKUS
RCD 20250828
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/08/28/dont_delay_recommitting_to_aukus_1131425.html

Pragmatism reigns as Japan and South Korea look toward the future
Lowy 20250828
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/pragmatism-reigns-japan-south-korea-look-toward-future

China warns against external interference in ties with South Korea
SCMP 20250828
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323395/china-warns-against-external-interference-ties-south-korea

Japan must prepare for a post-American Indo-Pacific
Japan Times 20250828
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/28/japan/a-post-american-indo-pacific/

PH fight for sovereignty irks China, draws it closer to US
Inquirer (PH) 22050828
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2101604/ph-fight-for-sovereignty-irks-china-draws-it-closer-to-us

Japan hails 'unprecedented' security ties as British aircraft carrier visits Tokyo
Reuters 20250828
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/japan-hails-unprecedented-security-ties-british-aircraft-carrier-visits-tokyo-2025-08-28/

The Blind Spots of Trump 2.0’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
The Diplomat 20250828
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/the-blind-spots-of-trump-2-0s-indo-pacific-strategy/

80 years on from WWII, has China become a main guarantor of the post-war order?
SCMP 20250828
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323368/80-years-wwii-has-china-become-main-guarantor-post-war-order

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Guam's average price of sold single-family house hits $507K, future of housing affordability uncertain
PDN 20250828
https://www.guampdn.com/news/guams-average-price-of-sold-single-family-house-hits-507k-future-of-housing-affordability-uncertain/article_0c829fb0-6de3-4b95-a5af-e5459692a8fe.html

Tinian North Field Airfield Rehabilitation Groundbreaking ceremony
USAF AAFB 20250828
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4288425/tinian-north-field-airfield-rehabilitation-groundbreaking-ceremony/

Why are Chinese nationals getting visa waivers to U.S. territory?
WashTimes 20250827
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/aug/27/chinese-nationals-getting-visa-waivers-us-territory/

What’s Behind the Cancellation of Singapore’s Fighter Jet Basing in Guam?
The Diplomat 20250828
https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/whats-behind-the-cancellation-of-singapores-fighter-jet-basing-in-guam/

How China’s DF-26D Missile Tilts the Balance of Power in the Indo-Pacific
National Interest 20250828
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-chinas-df-26d-missile-tilts-balance-power-indo-pacific-bw-082825

Guam defense forum to bring together military leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders
KUAM 20250828
https://www.kuam.com/story/53037631/guam-defense-forum-to-bring-together-military-leaders-policymakers-and-community-stakeholders

Talks on regional security, island role at Guam Defense Forum on Sept. 17–18
PDN 20250828
https://www.guampdn.com/news/talks-on-regional-security-island-role-at-guam-defense-forum-on-sept-17-18/article_f599fc71-1b32-4254-b135-fe36cda33a02.html

CNMI firms urged to tap Air Force’s Mentor-Protégé Program
Marianas Press 20250828
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/cnmi-firms-urged-to-tap-air-forces-mentor-prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9-program

Government moves to bolster powers to deport non-citizens to Nauru
ABC (AU) 20250827
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-27/government-bolsters-non-citizen-deportation-powers-third-country/105699476

DoD awards 5 contracts for $88M amid tax cut debate; among them $34M for 2nd Andersen dorm that 'appalled' Navy secretary
PDN 20250828
https://www.guampdn.com/news/dod-awards-5-contracts-for-88m-amid-tax-cut-debate-among-them-34m-for-2nd/article_48c9f86d-ccd0-46dc-af51-fcdc6c201d52.html

Island Waves

Timor-Leste and China: Navigating the fine line of power and progress
Think China 20250827
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/timor-leste-and-china-navigating-fine-line-power-and-progress

Strengthen Dialogue to Counter Challenges
Post Courier (PNG) 20250828
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/strengthen-dialogue-to-counter-challenges/

China Brings Gifts for Veterans
National (PNG) 20250828
https://www.thenational.com.pg/china-brings-gifts-for-veterans/

Australia offers accounting scholarships to boost capacity
Solomon Star 20250828
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/australia-offers-accounting-scholarships-to-boost-capacity/

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan carries out live-fire artillery drill in Pingtung
Taiwan News 20250828
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6188720

US treasury secretary wants to 'de-risk' reliance on Taiwan's chips
Taiwan News 20250828
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6189011

Lai Ching-te authorities want to dig a big pit for Washington
GT 20250828
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341971.shtml

The New Right Is Wrong About Taiwan
Hudson 20250827
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/new-right-wrong-about-taiwan-michael-sobolik

Taiwan tracks 41 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250828
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6188643

China-Philippine tensions mount at disputed Second Thomas Shoal as resupply deadline looms
SCMP 20250828
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323361/china-philippine-tensions-mount-disputed-second-thomas-shoal-resupply-deadline-looms

Beijing says Philippines ‘courts outside powers’ and ‘causes trouble’ in South China Sea
SCMP 20250828
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323535/beijing-says-philippines-courts-outside-powers-and-causes-trouble-south-china-sea

The Philippines should stop making provocations and infringements: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20250828
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/V_251452/16405510.html

Capabilities

Joint Sino-Russian patrols push Japan to rethink defense posture
Japan Times 20250827
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/27/japan/taking-sino-russian-patrols-seriously/

Modi Says India Will Work More Closely with Japan on Defense, in Interview with Yomiuri Shimbun
Yomiuri 20250829
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20250829-277815/
Complete responses: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20250829-277865/

MDAA Alert: Space Based Interceptors
MDAA 20250828
https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Virtual-CRT-Space-Based-Interceptors-1.pdf

US report on Chinese ‘spy threat’ to universities ‘may have chilling effect’ on ties
SCMP 20250828
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323452/us-report-chinese-spy-threat-universities-may-have-chilling-effect-ties

Salt Typhoon hackers targeted over 80 countries, FBI says
Defense One 20250828
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/08/salt-typhoon-hackers-targeted-over-80-countries-fbi-says/407732/

Exercises

Russian, Chinese Submarines Sail Together in Sea of Japan
USNI 20250828
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/28/russian-chinese-submarines-sail-together-in-sea-of-japan

Aussie and Filipino troops hit the beach at San Vicente
AU DoD 20250828
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-08-28/aussie-filipino-troops-hit-beach-san-vicente

Events

Manila Strategy Forum
CSIS 2025 9-10 September 2025
https://www.csis.org/events/inaugural-manila-strategy-forum