Pacific Winds 20250920
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump says he and Xi will meet in South Korea in coming weeks and he’ll later go to China
AP 20250919
https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-tiktok-china-united-states-e6b6334aef2946b5b8c809be4240cad1
Trump says he, Xi agree to meet at APEC summit in S. Korea
Yonhap 20250920
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250920000352315
Xi, Trump frame phone call in positive terms, but offer few details
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326198/xi-trump-call-paves-way-apec-summit-tariffs-tensions-and-taiwan-loom
Trump and Xi Spoke on the Phone, But Differ on What Was Said
The Diplomat 20250920
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/trump-and-xi-spoke-on-the-phone-but-differ-on-what-was-said/
Xi says China, U.S. can achieve mutual success, shared prosperity
Xinhua 20250920
https://english.news.cn/20250920/7161d29f7f5845cb924a0f81d54ad487/c.html
Xi and Trump hold pragmatic, positive, constructive phone talks
GT 20250920
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344023.shtml
US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping begin talks to finalise a TikTok deal
ABC (AU) 20250920
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-20/donald-trump-xi-jinping-discuss-tiktok-deal/105796662
Will a TikTok truce save US-China relations?
Responsible Statecraft 20250919
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-china-tiktok/
The Trump–Albanese meeting: Good news – he’s just not that into us
Lowy 20250919
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-albanese-meeting-good-news-he-s-just-not-us
Japan Under Trump: Alliance Strains, the Push for Autonomy and Essential Partnerships
CSDS 20250919
https://csds.vub.be/publication/japan-under-trump-alliance-strains-the-push-for-autonomy-and-essential-partnerships/
State Department Sees Japanese Role in US-Australia Defense Pact
Bloomberg 20250917
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-17/state-department-sees-japanese-role-in-us-australia-defense-pact
10 years on, security laws continue to boost Japan-U.S. defense ties
Japan Times 20250919
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/19/japan/politics/10-years-security-laws/
How Southeast Asia showed its support for China and sent a message to the US
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325969/how-southeast-asia-showed-its-support-china-and-sent-message-us
PM orders 'strong measures' against anti-China rallies
Yonhap 20250919
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250919004651315
South Korean PM instructs police to ‘take strong measures’ against anti-China rallies: media report
GT 20250919
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343947.shtml
U.S. visa issues 'not precondition' for S. Korean investments, but Seoul wants to resolve it first: FM Cho
Yonhap 20250919
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250919010600315
South Korea aims to resolve US visa issues before executing $350 bln investment
Reuters 20250919
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/south-korea-aims-resolve-us-visa-issues-before-executing-350-bln-investment-2025-09-19/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Palau, U.S. Explore Cooperation as Washington Pushes Asylum Hosting Proposal
Island Times 20250919
https://islandtimes.org/palau-u-s-explore-cooperation-as-washington-pushes-asylum-hosting-proposal/
'This is our homeland': Prutehi Guahan speaks out at Guam Defense Forum
KUAM 20250919
https://www.kuam.com/story/53097146/this-is-our-homeland-prutehi-guahan-speaks-out-at-guam-defense-forum
Military buildup faces community pushback at defense forum
GDP 20250919
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/military-buildup-faces-community-pushback-at-defense-forum/article_2398d7a7-dfb8-4560-814e-ababbea788b9.html
Is the clock ticking on ‘2027’? Guam in the center of deterrence as propaganda war heats up
PIT 20250919
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/is-the-clock-ticking-on-2027-guam-in-the-center-of-deterrence-as-propaganda-war-heats-up
USINDOPACOM Commander, Deputy Secretary of State Visit Marshall Islands to Strengthen Partnership
US IndoPaCom 20250918
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4308340/usindopacom-commander-deputy-secretary-of-state-visit-marshall-islands-to-stren/
Guam drone operator sentenced for flying over Marine Corps base
S&S 20250918
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-09-18/guam-drone-operator-camp-blaz-19133828.html
Island Waves
Pacific nations care about survival and prosperity, not contests for influence
ASPI 20250919
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pacific-nations-care-about-survival-and-prosperity-not-contests-for-influence/
PM Marape: China will not influence signing of Australia-PNG defence deal
RNZ 20250919
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/573517/pm-marape-china-will-not-influence-signing-of-australia-png-defence-deal
Marape: PNG will Explain Choices to Partners
Post Courier (PNG) 20250919
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/marape-png-will-explain-choices-to-partners/
China Responds to PNG-Australia Defense Treaty
Post Courier (PNG) 20250919
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/china-responds-to-papua-new-guinea-australia-defense-treaty1/
China issues warning to Papua New Guinea over defence deal with Australia
Guardian 20250919
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/19/china-issues-warning-papua-new-guinea-over-defence-deal-with-australia
China urges Papua New Guinea not to exclude other countries after it signed 'Pukpuk' communique with Australia
ABC (AU) 20250919
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-19/china-warns-papua-new-guinea-against-bilateral-deal-australia/105794018
Australia–PNG treaty: thinking beyond China and investing in a growing nation
ASPI 20250919
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-png-treaty-thinking-beyond-china-and-investing-in-a-growing-nation/
How AUKUS shapes Australia’s Pacific Islands relationship
Saturday Paper 20250920
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2025/09/20/how-aukus-shapes-australias-pacific-islands-relationship
Navigating Partnerships: The Trump Administration Meets The Blue Pacific
9 Dash Line 20250919
https://www.9dashline.com/article/navigating-partnerships-the-trump-administration-meets-the-blue-pacific
Taiwan + SCS
Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, pushing future arms sales
WaPo 20250918
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/18/trump-taiwan-arms-sales-military-aid/
Taiwan declines to comment on reports Trump kiboshed arms package
CNA (TW) 22050919
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202509190016
At Taiwan arms show, vendors bank on cheap weapons for big damage
Defense News 20250919
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/09/19/at-taiwan-arms-show-vendors-bank-on-cheap-weapons-for-big-damage/
American Institute says Taiwan's status still undetermined
Taiwan News 20250919
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6203956
US wades into Taiwan status question and draws KMT backlash
Nikkei 20250919
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/us-wades-into-taiwan-status-question-and-draws-kmt-backlash
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20250919
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6203653
South China Sea disputes ‘no business’ of India, former navy commander says
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326121/south-china-sea-disputes-no-business-india-former-navy-commander-says
Capabilities
How deadly is CJ-1000, world’s first hypersonic plane killer? PLA war game gives hint
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326010/how-deadly-cj-1000-worlds-first-hypersonic-plane-killer-pla-war-game-gives-hint
China bristles at US Army’s Typhon missile launcher in Japan
Defense News 20250919
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2025/09/19/china-bristles-at-us-armys-typhon-missile-launcher-in-japan/
China reveals more of its drone power at air show, 2 weeks after victory parade
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326177/china-reveals-more-its-drone-power-air-show-2-weeks-after-victory-parade
China’s 300th J-20 Aircraft Rolls Out; Will PLAAF Surpass USAF To Operate World’s Largest Fleet Of Stealth Jets
EurAsian Times 20250919
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinas-300th-j-20-aircraft-rolls-out-will-plaaf-surpass-usaf-to-operate-worlds-largest-fleet-of-stealth-jets/
Airpower for the Post-Dominance World: Restoring US Air Superiority Through a New Combined Arms Approach
Hudson 20250918
https://www.hudson.org/missile-defense/airpower-post-dominance-world-restoring-us-air-superiority-through-new-combined-bryan-clark-dan-patt
China plans to build a naval ‘Great Wall’ to fend off thousand-drone swarm attack
SCMP 20250919
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325299/china-plans-build-naval-great-wall-fend-thousand-drone-swarm-attack
HMAS Brisbane calls at Yokosuka to receive maintenance by Japan for the first time
Naval News 20250919
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/09/hmas-brisbane-calls-at-yokosuka-to-receive-maintenance-by-japan-for-the-first-time/
Map Shows US Nuclear Submarine Presence in Pacific Island Chains
Newsweek 20250919
https://www.newsweek.com/map-us-nuclear-submarine-presence-pacific-island-chains-2132233
Experts support new SDF subs powered by nuclear reactor
Asahi 20250919
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16039175
Russia aiding and abetting North Korea’s nuke sub dream
Asia Times 20250919
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/russia-aiding-and-abetting-north-koreas-nuke-sub-dream/
When China plays orbital hide-and-seek, Maui’s telescopes give the US an edge
Defense One 20250919
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/09/when-china-plays-orbital-hide-and-seek-mauis-telescopes-give-us-edge/408236/
Army cutting 6,500 aviation jobs as it moves toward drones
Task & Purpose 20250919
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-cuts-thousands-pilots/
Navy, industry has ‘got to adjust’ to realities of shipyard worker pay: Service official
Breaking Defense 20250919
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/navy-industry-has-got-to-adjust-to-realities-of-shipyard-worker-pay-service-official/
What is the US Military Preparing For? Force Design and the Pathology of Lessons Learned
MWI 20250919
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/what-is-the-us-military-preparing-for-force-design-and-the-pathology-of-lessons-learned/
Golden Dome is a Trillion Dollar Gambit
WOTR 20250919
https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/golden-dome-is-a-trillion-dollar-gambit/
How Radia hopes to move DoD cargo with the world’s largest airplane
Breaking Defense 20250919
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/how-radia-hopes-to-move-dod-cargo-with-the-worlds-largest-airplane/
House passes short-term continuing resolution
Breaking Defense 20250919
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/house-passes-short-term-continuing-resolution/
Senate rejects competing funding bills, increasing shutdown risk
Defense News 20250919
https://www.navytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/09/19/senate-rejects-competing-funding-bills-increasing-shutdown-risk/
Power
What China Doesn’t Want
FA 20250919
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/what-china-doesnt-want
From Nine-Dash Line To Debt Traps: How China’s Indo-Pacific Power Play Threatens India, Japan & ASEAN
EurAsian Times 20250919
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/china-indo-pacific-india-japan-asean-oped/
Events
The future of the Quad: Priorities and pathways to strengthen Indo-Pacific security
ASPI 30 September 2025 5:30-6:30 AEDT
https://www.aspi.org.au/event/the-future-of-the-quad-priorities-and-pathways-to-strengthen-indo-pacific-security/