Pacific Winds 20250830
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
US Military, Government Skip Asia Security Forum
Bloomberg 20250829
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-29/us-military-government-skip-asia-security-forum-for-first-time
Marles’ dash to Washington as Australia’s old anxieties resurface in the Trump era
Lowy 20250829
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/marles-dash-washington-australia-s-old-anxieties-resurface-trump-era
CNO Caudle Wants to ‘Make Good’ On AUKUS Sub Agreement
USNI 20250828
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/28/cno-caudle-wants-to-make-good-on-aukus-sub-agreement
Japan, U.K. Defense Ministers Issue Joint Statement on Cooperation; Nations Will Work Together to Counter China in Indo-Pacific
Yomiuri 20250829
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250829-277996/
Beijing sends warning on Taiwan, South China Sea across bow of UK-Japan defence ties
SCMP 20250829
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323692/beijing-sends-warning-taiwan-south-china-sea-across-bow-uk-japan-defence-ties
Hegseth seeks phone call with Chinese counterpart but differences remain
Nikkei 20250829
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/trump-administration/hegseth-seeks-phone-call-with-chinese-counterpart-but-differences-remain
The art of the alliance: 3 takeaways from the Trump-Lee summit
Brookings 20250828
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-art-of-the-alliance-3-takeaways-from-the-trump-lee-summit/
Pragmatism vs power: Why Lee Jae-myung can’t pivot toward Beijing
Think China 20250828
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/pragmatism-vs-power-why-lee-jae-myung-cant-pivot-toward-beijing
U.S. to require Samsung, SK hynix to acquire licenses for sending U.S. chipmaking tools to China
Yonhap 20250829
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250829010052315
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US Army awards RTX $1.7B for new missile defense radar production
Defense News 20250829
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/08/29/us-army-awards-rtx-17b-for-new-missile-defense-radar-production/
Whipps urges continued Dialogue with U.S. despite Palau Leadership rejecting Asylum Proposal
Island Times 20250829
https://islandtimes.org/whipps-urges-continued-dialogue-with-u-s-despite-palau-leadership-rejecting-asylum-proposal/
Island Waves
Australia Proud to Support Kimbe Port Redevelopment
PNG Haus Bung 20250829
https://pnghausbung.com/australia-proud-to-support-kimbe-port-redevelopment/
National Ports Rehab
Post Courier (PNG) 20250829
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/national-ports-rehab/
Four road project contracts signing in Auki
Solomon Star 20250829
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/four-road-project-contracts-signing-in-auki/
Remarkable journey of Hendry
Solomon Star 20250829
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/remarkable-journey-of-hendry/
14 new Peace Corps volunteers sworn in
Matangi Tonga 20250829
https://matangitonga.to/2025/08/29/14-new-peace-corps-volunteers-sworn
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan has right to be free and 'preserve self-determination', senior US senator says
Reuters 20250829
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-has-right-be-free-preserve-self-determination-senior-us-senator-says-2025-08-29/
Visiting U.S. senators caution against China-led 'axis of aggression'
CNA (TW) 20250829
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202508290019
China expresses strong dissatisfaction over US senator’s visit to Taiwan region: FM spokesperson
GT 202050829
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1342054.shtml
Beijing says US senators’ visit to Taiwan will embolden ‘separatist forces’
SCMP 20250829
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323710/beijing-says-us-senators-visit-taiwan-will-embolden-separatist-forces
78% of Trump voters think US should prevent China from seizing Taiwan
Taiwan News 20250829
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6189819
Taiwan identifies Chinese strategy to move from drills to attack
Taiwan News 20250829
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6190050
China urges Philippines to stop sending any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces
Xinhua 20250829
https://english.news.cn/20250829/947f75487acd4aaa87d16d0faffb614c/c.html
Philippines open to China talks on evacuation of workers if Taiwan is invaded
Taiwan News 20250829
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6189692
Taiwan tracks 19 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20250829
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6189549
China's military, coast guard patrol disputed South China Sea atoll
Reuters 20250829
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-military-coast-guard-patrol-disputed-south-china-sea-atoll-2025-08-29/
PLA, CCG conduct patrols in the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao
GT 20250829
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1342048.shtml
Philippine Military Opens New Luzon Strait Base Near Taiwan
USNI 20250829
https://news.usni.org/2025/08/29/philippine-military-opens-new-luzon-strait-base-near-taiwan
Capabilities
The INF treaty’s demise helps hasten the missile race in Southeast Asia
EAF 20250829
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/08/29/the-inf-treatys-demise-helps-hasten-the-missile-race-in-southeast-asia/
Japan set to deploy long-range missiles in Kumamoto in 2026
Kyodo 20250829
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/60061
With eye on China, Japan to deploy longer-range missiles for first time
Japan Times 20250829
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/29/japan/japan-missile-deployment-counterstrike/
US Prepares To Put Contentious Missile System on China's Doorstep
Newsweek 20250829
https://www.newsweek.com/us-mid-range-missile-system-deployment-japan-near-china-2121390
China firmly opposes US deployment of ‘Typhon’ intermediate-range missile system in Asian countries: FM on reported US-Japan drills
GT 20250829
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1342069.shtml
New radar shields China’s prized battle aircraft from US attack
Asia Times 20250829
https://asiatimes.com/2025/08/new-radar-shields-chinas-prized-battle-aircraft-from-us-attack/
Japan requests largest-ever defense budget for fiscal year 2026
Naval News 20250829
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/japan-requests-largest-ever-defense-budget-for-fiscal-year-2026/
S. Korea seeks 8.2 pct rise in defense budget for 2026
Yonhap 20250829
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250829002300315
U.S. can have USFK 'strategic flexibility' while ensuring extended deterrence for S. Korea: Sen. Kim
Yonhap 20250829
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250829000400315
North Korea’s Newest Warships Unlikely to Have Sailed
CSIS 20250828
https://www.38north.org/2025/08/quick-take-north-koreas-newest-warships-unlikely-to-have-sailed/
Austal and Australia sign strategic shipbuilding agreement
Naval News 20250828
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/austal-and-australia-sign-strategic-shipbuilding-agreement/
South Korea pumps new energy into US shipbuilding efforts
Defense News 20250828
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2025/08/28/south-korea-pumps-new-energy-into-us-shipbuilding-efforts/
MAASGA: Making American and Allied Shipbuilding Great Again
AIPS 20250829
https://asaninst.org/data/file/s1_1_eng/222742fa858281cd85cc5db0e71d3150_ZAWUS624_968467629adf934bea1a3a5f3d689fd4a36f1aa3.pdf
Swarming balloons: Army planning mass exercise in ’26 over Indo-Pacific waters
Breaking Defense 20250829
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/swarming-balloons-army-planning-mass-exercise-in-26-over-indo-pacific-waters/
Disconnected by Design: 5th- & 6th-Gen Aircraft in Disaggregated Collaborative Air Operations
Mitchell 20250829
https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/disconnected-by-design-5th-6th-gen-aircraft-in-disaggregated-collaborative-air-operations/
Exercises
Taiwan estimates China spent 40% more on Pacific drills last year to hit $21 bln
Reuters 20250829
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-estimates-china-spent-40-more-pacific-drills-last-year-hit-21-bln-2025-08-29/
Events
Japan Update 2025
ANU 3 September 2025 9AM-5PM AEST
https://japaninstitute.anu.edu.au/event/japan-update-2025-0