Pacific Winds 20250909
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
America Alone Can’t Match China. But With Our Allies, It’s No Contest.
NYTimes 20250907
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/opinion/us-trump-china-allies.html
Rethinking the Rebalance
RSIS 20250905
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip25086-rethinking-the-rebalance/
Staying the Course Means a War With China
Heritage 20250908
https://www.heritage.org/china/commentary/staying-the-course-means-war-china
Lessons from a Naval Arms Race: How the U.S.-China could Avoid the Anglo-German Trap
Modern Diplomacy 20250908
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/09/08/lessons-from-a-naval-arms-race-how-the-u-s-china-could-avoid-the-anglo-german-trap/
Xi running ‘The Art of War’ circles around Trump
Asia Times 20250908
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/xi-running-the-art-of-war-circles-around-trump/
‘Skull Chart’ math behind Trump’s climbdown on all things China
Asia Times 20250908
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/skull-chart-math-behind-trumps-climbdown-on-all-things-china/
The China-Russia- North Korea alliance that needs no name
Lowy 20250908
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-russia-north-korea-alliance-needs-no-name
China and Russia lead by example in building new-type international relations
GT 20250908
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342964.shtml
Are China, Russia and North Korea ‘conspiring’ against the US?
Think China 20250905
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/are-china-russia-and-north-korea-conspiring-against-us
Japan, S. Korea defense chiefs agree on mutual visits in talks in Seoul
Kyodo 20250908
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/60667
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Japan agree to explore cooperation on advanced technologies
Yonhap 20250908
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250908001452315
The messy truth: Australia’s reputation in Southeast Asia
Lowy 20250909
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/messy-truth-australia-s-reputation-southeast-asia
How to manage a US alliance: what Canberra and Seoul can learn from each other
ASPI 20250908
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-to-manage-a-us-alliance-what-canberra-and-seoul-can-learn-from-each-other/
Joint Statement on the Twelfth Japan–Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations
AU MoD 20250906
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/statements/2025-09-06/joint-statement-twelfth-japan-australia-22-foreign-defence-ministerial-consultations
Trump says U.S. has 'great' relationship with S. Korea despite Koreans detained in immigration raid
Yonhap 20250908
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250908003000315
Outrage, confusion in South Korea after Georgia immigration raid
WaPo 20250908
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/08/south-korea-us-immigration-raid-tensions/
U.S. raid at Hyundai-LG site triggers turmoil among Korean firms, shakes confidence in American projects
Yonhap 20250908
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250908006100320
Koreans detained in U.S. immigration crackdown may board chartered plane around Wednesday: Seoul official
Yonhap 20250908
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250908000251315
Civic groups denounce U.S. for detaining S. Koreans in immigration raid
Yonhap 20250908
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250908010200315
Trump warns foreign companies after South Koreans detained in huge US raid
SCMP 20250908
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3324691/trump-warns-foreign-companies-after-south-koreans-detained-huge-us-raid
In a First, Korean Women Target U.S. Military in Suit Over Prostitution
NYTimes 20250908
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/world/asia/korea-comfort-women-us-military.html
Xi calls on BRICS countries to jointly defend multilateralism, multilateral trading system
Xinhua 20250908
https://english.news.cn/20250908/4e9553ccd6604fc4aed37c528cf9f75d/c.html
Chain reaction to US tariffs shows need to safeguard global trade order
GT 20250908
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342977.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
360-degree missile defense plans for Guam finalized, governor says impacts not dealt with
PDN 20250908
https://www.guampdn.com/news/360-degree-missile-defense-plans-for-guam-finalized-governor-says-impacts-not-dealt-with/article_4157c1cd-6337-4563-9d44-a441367d9dbd.html
Record of Decision for the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System on Guam Environmental Impact Statement
US MDA 20250908
https://www.mda.mil/news/25news0009.html
Leaders push for action as buildup outpaces support for Guam's people
KUAM 20250908
https://www.kuam.com/story/53064532/leaders-push-for-action-as-buildup-outpaces-support-for-guams-people
US Military tells Singapore to take its F-15s anywhere but Guam
Responsible Statecraft 20250908
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-military-singapore/
From Guam to Honiara: Aviles strengthens Pacific fight for sustainable fisheries
USCG FM/SC 20250908
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/547466/guam-honiara-aviles-strengthens-pacific-fight-sustainable-fisheries
Island Waves
Pacific Islands Forum sees Australia-China trade gifts as push for regional influence gets 'comical'
ABC (AU) 20250908
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/pacific-islands-forum-china-australia-albanese-visit/105745850
With global powers barred, can Pacific nations find unity at their annual summit?
The Conversation 20250907
https://theconversation.com/with-global-powers-barred-can-pacific-nations-find-unity-at-their-annual-summit-264331
Not wanted: US, China barred from major Pacific Island summit
Responsible Statecraft 20250908
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pacific-island-forum/
‘Bent the knee to Beijing’: Solomon Islands MP reveals China's control over Pacific nation's cabinet
News AU 20250909
https://www.news.com.au/world/pacific/bent-the-knee-to-beijing-solomon-islands-mp-reveals-chinas-control-over-pacific-nations-cabinet/news-story/85f4596f159643534963a86a5236acfd
Pacific Islands leaders meet to discuss security, climate change
Reuters 20250908
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/pacific-islands-leaders-meet-discuss-security-climate-change-2025-09-08/
Pacific Islands Forum: climate crisis tops agenda as China exclusion casts shadow over leaders meeting
Guardian 20250908
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/08/pacific-islands-forum-2025-pif-leaders-meeting
Japan-Tonga Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250908
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202509/20250908en.pdf
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan 'welcomes' transit of Australia, Canadian warships in Taiwan Strait
CNA (TW) 20250908
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202509080028
Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships
Taiwan News 20250908
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6195607
Capabilities
US rushing drones to carriers to blunt China’s missile edge
Asia Times 20250908
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/us-rushing-drones-to-carriers-to-blunt-chinas-missile-edge/
Work begins in Western Australia to host nuclear submarines under AUKUS pact
S&S 20250908
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-09-08/aukus-submarine-base-australia-19016016.html
Congress Has Unfinished Business Regarding Naval Shipbuilding
Heritage 20250908
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/congress-has-unfinished-business-regarding-naval-shipbuilding
China’s carrier-borne J-35 stealth jets can carry up to 6 missiles, designers say on CCTV
SCMP 20250908
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3324793/chinas-carrier-borne-j-35-stealth-jets-can-pack-6-missiles-designers-say-cctv
Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear steps down
Breaking Defense 20250908
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/exclusive-space-development-agency-director-derek-tournear-steps-down/
Commercial firms team up to demonstrate hypersonic vehicle tracking capabilities
Space News 20250908
https://spacenews.com/commercial-firms-team-up-to-demonstrate-hypersonic-vehicle-tracking-capabilities/
Lockheed Martin Advances Global Missile Warning & Defense
Defense News 20250908
https://www.defensenews.com/native/lockheed-martin/2025/09/08/lockheed-martin-advances-global-missile-warning-defense/
Power
The World Is More Uncertain than You Think: Assessing and Combating Overconfidence Among 2,000 National Security Officials
TNSR 2025 Fall
https://tnsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TNSR-Journal-Vol-8-Issue-4-FRIEDMAN.pdf
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 8, 2025
USNI 20250908
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/08/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-sept-8-2025