Pacific Winds 20250911

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Sep 10, 2025

Alliances

China, US defence chiefs, top diplomats talk as possible Xi-Trump meeting looms
SCMP 20250910
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325077/chinese-and-us-defence-ministers-hold-talks-video

Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Call With People's Republic of China Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun
US DoW 20250910
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4299101/readout-of-secretary-of-war-pete-hegseths-call-with-peoples-republic-of-china-m/

Chinese defense minister holds video talk with U.S. counterpart
Xinhua 20250910
https://english.news.cn/20250910/95638f0626bc45b295d9c97f29eb7108/c.html

Canberra needs fewer partners, better focus – and a team-up with Seoul and Delhi offers just that
Lowy 20250910
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/canberra-needs-fewer-partners-better-focus-team-seoul-delhi-offers-just

Geelong Treaty hedges against US chaos and Australian complacency
ASPI 20250910
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/geelong-treaty-hedges-against-us-chaos-and-australian-complacency/

Advancing defence information and intelligence sharing between Australia, Japan and the United States
USSC 20250910
https://www.ussc.edu.au/ajusint-advancing-defence-information-and-intelligence-sharing-between-australia-japan-and-the-united-states

U.S., Singaporean Military Leaders Discuss Partnerships, Training, Shared Interests
US DoW 20250909
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4298840/us-singaporean-military-leaders-discuss-partnerships-training-shared-interests/
Readout: https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4299323/readout-of-secretary-of-war-pete-hegseths-meeting-with-singapore-minister-for-d/

Japan to start talks over frigate exports to the Philippines
Nikkei 20250910
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defense/japan-to-start-talks-over-frigate-exports-to-the-philippines

How uncertainty about US strategy complicates Europe’s approach to the Indo-Pacific
Lowy 20250911
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/how-uncertainty-about-us-strategy-complicates-europe-s-approach-indo-pacific

US lawmakers to visit China this month
Reuters 20250909
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-lawmakers-visit-china-this-month-2025-09-09/

America’s “Department of War” puts Asia’s peace at risk
Lowy 20250910
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/america-s-department-war-puts-asia-s-peace-risk

Rational Alignment in Multipolar Competition: India and Russia’s Strategic Pull Toward China
The Diplomat 20250909
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/rational-alignment-in-multipolar-competition-india-and-russias-strategic-pull-toward-china/

Washington’s mixed signals on export controls tip the scales towards China
EAF 20250910
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/09/10/washingtons-mixed-signals-on-export-controls-tip-the-scales-towards-china/

Cho calls on Rubio to enable Korean detainees to swiftly depart without handcuffs, avoid any future disadvantages
Yonhap 20250911
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250911000551315

S. Koreans held in U.S. unlikely to depart for home Wednesday due to U.S. circumstances: foreign ministry
Yonhap 20250910
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250910008552315

Anger Mounts in Korea as Release of Workers Detained in Georgia Is Delayed
NYTimes 20250910
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/world/asia/georgia-immigration-raid-hyundai-workers-south-korea.html

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Island 'will be a laboratory' for new missile defense equipment, says Guam think tank
GDP 20250910
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/island-will-be-a-laboratory-for-new-missile-defense-equipment-says-guam-think-tank/article_833da209-3a88-491b-b56d-95bf03f5e4d8.html

Guam governor ‘not satisfied’ with DOD decision on island missile defense system
S&S 20250910
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-09-10/guam-missile-defense-system-impacts-19040697.html

Missile defense awards top $1.88B, with latest contract at $181.8M
PDN 20250910
https://www.guampdn.com/news/missile-defense-awards-top-1-88b-with-latest-contract-at-181-8m/article_b49c576e-a8be-4688-8884-19b551d92cc2.html

We are already at war with China, warns Palau
AFR 20250910
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/we-are-already-at-war-with-china-warns-palau-20250910-p5mtzi

China is working to weaken Palau, the island nation’s president says
Defense One 20250909
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/09/china-working-weaken-palau-island-nations-president-says/408001/

US Hits Milestone in World War II Airfield Restoration
Newsweek 20250909
https://www.newsweek.com/us-hits-milestone-world-war-ii-airfield-restoration-2126762

Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250910
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202509/20250910en.pdf

Island Waves

Taiwan + xCS

Mainland spokesperson warns DPP against seeking "Taiwan independence" through external support
Xinhua 20250910
https://english.news.cn/20250910/3aeea79d70b34f29ac339d415b6275de/c.html

Lai acting as a ‘cash machine’ for external forces will not buy peace, but only sacrifice Taiwan society’s well-being: spokesperson
GT 20250910
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343120.shtml

DPP’s attempts to silence Taiwan entertainers expose the hypocrisy of ‘freedom’ and fear of growing cross-Straits connections: spokesperson for State Council Taiwan Affairs Office
GT 20250910
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343130.shtml

Taiwan plans coast guard fleet expansion due to Chinese threat
Taiwan News 20250910
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6197930

Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 7 ships
Taiwan News 20250910
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6197345

The South China Sea’s next legal frontier: Ships without sailors
Lowy 20250910
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/south-china-sea-s-next-legal-frontier-ships-without-sailors

China to Set Up Nature Reserve at Disputed South China Sea Shoal
Bloomberg 20250910
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-10/china-to-set-up-nature-reserve-at-disputed-south-china-sea-shoal

China approves nature reserve at contested Scarborough Shoal
SCMP 20250910
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325047/china-plans-nature-reserve-contested-scarborough-shoal

China approves establishment of Huangyan Dao national nature reserve
GT 20250910
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343192.shtml

The State Council's reply on the establishment of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve
CH 20250910
https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/202509/content_7039976.htm

China Coast Guard Ships Sail Around Japan’s Senkaku Islands for Record 295 Consecutive Days, Have Not Left in 2025
Yomiuri 20250910
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250910-280190/

Capabilities

The dangerous new Washington consensus for more nuclear weapons
BAS 20250909
https://thebulletin.org/2025/09/the-dangerous-new-washington-consensus-for-more-nuclear-weapons/

N. Korea's Kim rules out denuclearization on founding anniversary
Kyodo 20250910
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/60761

China’s nuclear capabilities contribute to regional peace: arms control association’s head on nuclear missiles reviewed at V-Day parade
GT 20250910
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343129.shtml

Japan’s planned deployment of ‘Chinese mainland coast, Taiwan island-covering’ missiles exposes military expansion ambition, to become own burden: expert
GT 20250910
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1342170.shtml

High-tech U.S. missile systems come to Japan amid policy shifts and China concerns
Japan Times 20250910
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/10/japan/us-deploying-missiles-system-in-okinawa/

Countering the Swarm
CNAS 20250910
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/Report_CUAS_Defense_Sep-2025_final.pdf

Australia signs contract with Anduril for Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicle
Breaking Defense 20250910
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/australia-signs-contract-with-anduril-for-ghost-shark-autonomous-underwater-vehicle/

Space Development Agency launches first ‘operational’ satellites for data relay
Breaking Defense 20250910
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/space-development-agency-launches-first-operational-satellites-for-data-relay/

Singapore to acquire 4 new maritime patrol aircraft
Straits Times 20250910
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-to-acquire-4-new-maritime-patrol-aircraft

China’s gallium grip squeezing and eroding US military’s edge
Asia Times 20250910
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/chinas-gallium-grip-squeezing-and-eroding-us-militarys-edge/

Key defense appropriator warns longterm stopgap funding is ‘damaging’ to DoD operations
Breaking Defense 20250910
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/key-defense-appropriator-warns-longterm-stopgap-funding-is-damaging-to-dod-operations/

Power

Xi’s long game vs Trump’s deals: A clash of global futures
Think China 20250909
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/xis-long-game-vs-trumps-deals-clash-global-futures

PCIS - Pacific Winds

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