Pacific Winds 20250915

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

U.S., S. Korea stress importance of regional security cooperation in Seoul talks
Yonhap 20250914
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250914003300315

U.S. Deputy State Secretary Landau expresses regrets over detention of S. Koreans
Yonhap 20250914
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250914003100315

FM Cho to visit Beijing for talks with Wang Yi: sources
Yonhap 20250914
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250914002800315

Rubio quietly signals U.S. won’t sink submarine deal with Australia
WaPo 20250912
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/12/rubio-australia-aukus-submarine-review/

Asia’s power transition is a process, not an event
EAF 20250914
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/09/14/asias-power-transition-is-a-process-not-an-event/

Tariff Woes Raise Political and Security Concerns in Japan
CFR 20250910
https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/tariff-woes-raise-political-and-security-concerns-japan

Trump Tariffs on Australia and New Zealand Risk U.S. Pacific Strategy
CFR 20250910
https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/trump-tariffs-australia-and-new-zealand-risk-us-pacific-strategy

China Starts Probes Targeting US Semiconductor Sector
Bloomberg 20250913
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-13/china-launches-anti-dumpinng-probe-against-some-us-chips

China launches discrimination and dumping probes into US chips ahead of trade talks
Reuters 20250913
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-launches-discrimination-dumping-probes-into-us-chips-ahead-trade-talks-2025-09-13/

U.S. and China Resume Talks on Tariffs and TikTok
NYTimes 20250914
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/business/us-china-trade-tiktok-negotiations.html

China, U.S. start economic, trade talks in Madrid
Xinhua 20250914
https://english.news.cn/20250914/6376d9bb65ca46f19a3e563ff6272117/c.html

China says TikTok’s continued US operation a must for trade talks progress
SCMP 20250914
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325466/china-says-tiktoks-continued-us-operation-must-trade-talks-progress

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Underwood to military: Rethink scale of mission on Guam over housing shortage
PDN 20250914
https://www.guampdn.com/news/underwood-to-military-rethink-scale-of-mission-on-guam-over-housing-shortage/article_57c76bf7-9a03-4828-8e69-69ac919f7078.html

New Navy housing initiative launches
GDP 20250914
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/new-navy-housing-initiative-launches/article_5c871b16-679a-4e2c-a4a5-3fd0cc4b1260.html

Air Force and DOD answer suit from activists, ask for dismissal
GDP 20250914
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/air-force-and-dod-answer-suit-from-activists-ask-for-dismissal/article_cf3f59ce-7051-48ca-bf67-67af085c06cf.html

Island Waves

Armies to Sign Deal
Post Courier (PNG) 20250915
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/armies-to-sign-deal/

Defence Minister Richard Marles hasn’t ruled out stationing troops in PNG as China’s influence grows
The Nightly 20250914
https://thenightly.com.au/politics/australia/defence-minister-richard-marles-hasnt-ruled-out-stationing-troops-in-png-as-chinas-influence-grows--c-20015688

Japan to aid Papua's disaster preparedness, countering China influence
Nikkei 20250914
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/japan-to-aid-papua-s-disaster-preparedness-countering-china-influence

Western reactions to Solomon Islands' pilot of China's 'Fengqiao Experience' reveal geopolitical anxiety
GT 20250914
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343454.shtml

China-PNG Friendship Association Transfers CCTV Program to NCDC
Post Courier (PNG) 20250914
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-png-friendship-association-transfers-cctv-program-to-ncdc0/

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan sends agricultural buying mission to U.S.
CNA (TW) 20250914
https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202509140010

Taiwan Coast Guard condemns China's cognitive warfare tactics
Taiwan News 20250914
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6200241

Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft and 20 ships
Taiwan News 20250914
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6200031

China’s military warns Philippines against provocations in South China Sea
Reuters 20250914
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-military-warns-philippines-against-provocations-south-china-sea-2025-09-14/

China holds ‘routine patrol’ in South China Sea as it warns the Philippines on tensions
SCMP 20250914
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325481/china-holds-routine-patrol-south-china-sea-it-warns-philippines-tensions

PLA conducts routine patrols in South China Sea; another response to Philippines’ so-called ‘joint patrols’ reflecting China’s stance to maintain peace via actions: experts
GT 20250914
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343482.shtml

Capabilities

Defence Minister Richard Marles highlights Perth, WA’s ‘geostrategic importance’ amid Indo-Pacific tensions with China
Sky (AU) 20250914
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/defence-minister-richard-marles-highlights-perth-was-geostrategic-importance-amid-indopacific-tensions-with-china/news-story/3cc2ee01c13729c457d8847ab90baf2b

Albanese government pours $12 billion into expanding AUKUS defence facility near Perth
ABC 20250913
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-13/albanese-announces-aukus-12-billion-dollar-defence-spend-perth/105770188

US will have access to Western Australia nuclear submarine shipyard, minister says
Reuters 20250914
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-will-have-access-western-australia-nuclear-submarine-shipyard-minister-says-2025-09-14/

Australia says US to have access to new AUKUS nuclear submarine shipyard; expert cautions move to break regional equilibrium, jeopardizes country’s long-term interest
GT 20250914
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343456.shtml

Chinese cyber skirmishes in the Indo-Pacific show emerging patterns of conflict
ASPI 20250915
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinese-cyber-skirmishes-in-the-indo-pacific-show-emerging-patterns-of-conflict/

U.S. Navy gives first look at P-8A carrying LRASM in-flight
Naval News 20250914
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/09/u-s-navy-gives-first-look-at-p-8a-carrying-lrasm-in-flight/

MSDF Aegis destroyer Chokai to test-fire Tomahawk missiles
Japan Times 20250914
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/14/japan/msdf-chokai-test-fire-tomahawk/

AI could cut a submarine’s survival chance to 5%: Chinese defence scientists
SCMP 20250914
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325161/ai-could-cut-submarines-survival-chance-5-chinese-defence-scientists

Exercises

N. Korean leader's sister blasts planned S. Korea-U.S. military exercise
Yonhap 20250914
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250914000200315

North Korean leader's sister warns against US joint drills
Reuters 20250914
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/north-korean-leaders-sister-warns-against-us-joint-drills-2025-09-13/