Pacific Winds 20250904

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

'Can't fight China alone in Asia-Pacific': Former United States Official stresses India's importance for US
ANI 20250903
https://aninews.in/news/world/us/cant-fight-china-alone-in-asia-pacific-former-united-states-official-stresses-indias-importance-for-us20250903050859/

Nat'l Assembly speaker attends military parade in Beijing
Yonhap 20250903
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250903008200315

Assembly Speaker Woo shook hands with N. Korea's Kim in Beijing: Woo's office
Yonhap 20250903
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250903008251315

S.Korean National Assembly speaker shakes hands with DPRK’s top leader on occasion of China’s V-day celebrations: South Korean media
GT 20250903
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342557.shtml

Be wary of Chinese ambassador’s promises of friendship
USSC 20250902
https://www.ussc.edu.au/be-wary-of-chinese-ambassador-s-promises-of-friendship

Survey of Chinese Public Opinion on International Affairs
CCGA 20250902
https://globalaffairs.org/research

US revokes TSMC’s ‘fast track’ China export status as controls tighten
SCMP 20250903
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3324101/us-revokes-tsmcs-fast-track-china-export-status-controls-tighten

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

China shows off new 'Guam killer' missile in massive military parade
GDP 20250903
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/china-shows-off-new-guam-killer-missile-in-massive-military-parade/article_27265672-d63a-45a4-bc0a-592afe460431.html

YJ-21, DF-17, DF-26D hypersonic missiles reviewed at China’s V-Day parade; capable of breaking ‘island chains,’ striking aircraft carriers: expert
GT 20250903
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342504.shtml

Australia agrees to pay Pacific nation of Nauru $1.62 billion to house deportees
Reuters 20250903
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-agrees-pay-pacific-nation-nauru-162-billion-house-deportees-2025-09-03/

What PACAF Boss Schneider Took Away from the Massive REFORPAC Exercise
Air & Space 20250902
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pacaf-boss-schneider-reforpac-exercise-lessons/

New $95M undersea cable project will link the Micronesian islands
HI Public Radio 20250903
https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/pacific-news-minute/2025-09-03/new-95m-undersea-cable-project-will-link-the-micronesian-islands

Chaplains united for Mobility Guardian
AU DoD 20250903
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-09-03/chaplains-united-mobility-guardian

Island Waves

A test of unity: Can the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting keep the family together
Lowy 20250904
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/test-unity-can-pacific-islands-forum-leaders-meeting-keep-family-together

Bougainville Peace Process Recognized by US Secretary General
Post Courier (PNG) 20250903
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/bougainville-peace-process-recognised-by-un-secretary-general/

Cabinet endorses Fiji-Solomon Islands security agreement
FBCN 20250903
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/cabinet-endorses-fiji-solomon-islands-security-agreement/

Hostility rises as New Caledonia peace deal collapses
RNZ 20250903
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/thedetail/571853/hostility-rises-as-new-caledonia-peace-deal-collapses

ADF joins Pacific Islands in fishing fight
AU DoD 20250903
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-09-03/adf-joins-pacific-islands-fishing-fight

U.S. deploys cutting-edge missile system in Okinawa
Japan Times 20250903
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/03/japan/us-missile-system-deployed-in-okinawa/

Taiwan + xCS

China's new missiles may deter aid to Taiwan: Experts
CNA (TW) 20250903
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202509030015

Beijing’s Victory Day parade streamed live in Taiwan, stirring mixed reactions
SCMP 20250903
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324181/beijings-victory-day-parade-streamed-live-taiwan-stirring-mixed-reactions

Taiwan needs to upgrade anti-air defense: expert
Taipei Times 20250904
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/09/04/2003843215

China should stop illegal drilling near Pratas Island: Presidential Office
CNA (TW) 20250903
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202509030022

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 6 ships
Taiwan News 20250903
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6192431

China’s Pushback Against the Philippines’ Maritime Strategy: The Limits of Transparency
The Diplomat 20250902
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/chinas-pushback-against-the-philippines-maritime-strategy-the-limits-of-transparency/

ASEAN at a Crossroads: Unity or Fragmentation in the South China Sea Dispute
AIIA 20250903
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/asean-at-a-crossroads-unity-or-fragmentation-in-the-south-china-sea-dispute/

China's near-constant Senkaku incursions creating unease in Japan
Kyodo 20250903
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/60107

Capabilities

Xi’s Parade Will Send the Message: China Will Not Be Bullied Again
NYTimes 20250902
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/world/asia/xi-putin-kim-parade.html

China's Xi projects power at military parade with Putin and Kim
Reuters 20250903
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-projects-power-military-parade-with-putin-kim-2025-09-03/

China's parade of new weaponry sends message of deterrence
Reuters 20250903
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/chinas-parade-new-weaponry-sends-message-deterrence-2025-09-03/

China to parade new missiles in Beijing, including ‘Guam Killer’
Defense News 20250903
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/09/03/china-to-parade-new-missiles-in-beijing-including-guam-killer/

YJ-15 missile, YJ-19, YJ-17, YJ-20 hypersonic missiles make debut, demonstrating rich technological paths of China's hypersonic missiles: experts
GT 20250903
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342509.shtml

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover
TWZ 20250902
https://www.twz.com/nuclear/chinas-new-df-61-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-breaks-cover

China unveils nuclear triad for first time in parade
Xinhua 20250903
https://english.news.cn/20250903/dc91815c72b84eceb0fbab8a6d755fa8/c.html

China showcases nuclear triad, new missiles and lasers at military parade
Breaking Defense 20250903
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/china-parade-nuclear-weapons-xi-putin-kim-military/

China’s Latest Missiles, Drones and Submarines, Up Close
NYTimes 20250903
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/03/world/asia/china-military-parade-weapons.html

What Were the Weapons on Display in China’s Military Parade?
The Diplomat 20250903
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/what-were-the-weapons-on-display-in-chinas-military-parade/

China’s war technology on parade
Reuters 20250903
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/WW2-ANNIVERSARY/CHINA-PARADE/zdvxkgybypx/

China’s Imposing LY-1 High-Power Laser Weapon Unveiled At Huge Military Parade
TWZ 20250903
https://www.twz.com/news-features/chinas-imposing-ly-1-high-power-laser-weapon-unveiled-at-huge-military-parade

These are the powerful weapon systems you won’t see in China’s military parade
SCMP 20250903
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324009/these-are-powerful-weapon-systems-you-wont-see-chinas-military-parade

China’s Military Is Now Leading
FP 20250903
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/03/chinas-military-is-now-leading/

China parades new weapons in show of ‘strategic ace’ deterrence – as it happened
SCMP 20250903
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324119/victory-day-military-parade-china-puts-weapons-progress-and-troops-show

China’s allies give top marks for Xi’s military parade, but West is not won over
SCMP 20250903
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3324194/reviews-are-chinas-allies-give-top-marks-parade-west-not-won-over

China’s New H-20 Stealth Bomber Is Being Built for Just 1 Purpose
National Security Journal 20250901
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/chinas-new-h-20-stealth-bomber-is-being-built-for-just-1-purpose/

Beyond submarines: Why AUKUS Pillar II matters now
Lowy 20250903
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beyond-submarines-why-aukus-pillar-ii-matters-now

PACAF commander: Air Force needs to ‘improve,’ staff up C2 capabilities
Breaking Defense 20250903
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/pacaf-commander-air-force-needs-to-improve-staff-up-c2-capabilities/

S. Korea aims to bolster three-axis deterrence system with defense budget hike
Yonhap 20250903
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250902007200315

Japan’s Record $60 Billion Defense Budget Seeks Unmanned Systems, Long-range Munitions
USNI 20250902
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/02/japans-record-60-billion-defense-budget-seeks-unmanned-systems-long-range-munitions

F-35 Block 4 upgrade delayed until at least 2031: GAO
Breaking Defense 20250903
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/f-35-block-4-upgrade-delayed-until-at-least-2031-gao/

Events

Taiwan’s Strategy for Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership with the United States
Heritage 12 September 2025 10:30-11:30 AM EDT
https://www9.heritage.org/HYBRID2025-09-12TaiwansStrategyforPeaceProsperityandPartnershipwiththeU.S._LP1-RegisterVirtually.html