Pacific Winds 20250923
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Kim says N. Korea open to talks with U.S. if denuclearization demand dropped
Yonhap 20250921
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250922000651315
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un open to US talks, has ‘fond memories’ of Trump
SCMP 20250922
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326325/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-open-us-talks-has-fond-memories-trump
US Policy Toward North Korea: Quo Vadis?
TNSR Fall 2025
https://tnsr.org/2025/09/us-policy-toward-north-korea-quo-vadis/
Presidential office backs N. Korea-U.S. talks but holds firm on denuclearization goal
Yonhap 20250922
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250922005251315
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold 3-way talks in New York this week: Seoul
Yonhap 20250922
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250922003200315
Chinese defense minister meets with U.S. House of Representatives delegation
Xinhua 22050922
https://english.news.cn/20250922/87f674c7290342e288c716b13cecb7bd/c.html
US Congress members’ ‘rare China visit’ conveys three signals
GT 20250922
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344215.shtml
Complacent nation: Australia and the Asian Century
Lowy 20250922
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/complacent-nation-australia-asian-century
Lee says S. Korea would face financial crisis if it accepts U.S. investment demands without safeguards
Yonhap 20250922
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250922001600315
AUKUS faces an ‘America first’ review. Will Trump’s agenda scupper the deal?
September 20250921
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3326159/aukus-faces-america-first-review-will-trumps-agenda-scupper-deal
Why China Might Give Up TikTok
NYTimes 20250921
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/briefing/china-tiktok-palestinian-statehood-tariffs.html
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
'Everybody's going to need a job': Panel talks economic outlook amid billions in military buildup spending
PDN 20250922
https://www.guampdn.com/news/everybodys-going-to-need-a-job-panel-talks-economic-outlook-amid-billions-in-military-buildup/article_1963434e-8254-4e4b-a6c2-ea407f260746.html
US pledges $13M for reconstruction of Marshall Islands' burned parliament
PIT 20250922
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-taiwan-pledge-13m-to-rebuild-nitijela
USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) arrives in Koror, Palau, Sept. 22, during Pacific Partnership 2025
USN 20250922
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4311134/uss-john-l-canley-esb-6-arrives-in-koror-palau-sept-22-during-pacific-partnersh/
'Congress is not listening to us': Guam nonprofit demands justice for radiation poisoning
PDN 20250922
https://www.guampdn.com/news/congress-is-not-listening-to-us-guam-nonprofit-demands-justice-for-radiation-poisoning/article_1f6eae55-611c-42a9-a45a-ea1b484b99ef.html
Mount Carmel prepares program teaching skills such as welding, programming, manufacturing
PDN 20250922
https://www.guampdn.com/news/mount-carmel-prepares-program-teaching-skills-such-as-welding-programming-manufacturing/article_2838b7b1-8ce3-4145-bd8f-4e3a34f09141.html
Marianas communities speak out on militarization on final day of Making Waves Summit
Marianas Press 20250922
https://sites.google.com/marianaspress.com/marianaspress/news/marianas-communities-speak-out-on-militarization-on-final-day-of-making-wav
Island Waves
Defence Treaty Must Be Built on Respect and Shared Pacific Leadership
PNG Haus Bung 20250922
https://pnghausbung.com/defence-treaty-must-be-built-on-respect-and-shared-pacific-leadership/
Treaty Must be Grounded in Mutual Respect - Tsiamalili
Post Courier (PNG) 20250922
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/treaty-must-be-grounded-in-mutual-respect-tsiamalili/
Australia-PNG TReaty: Thinking Beyond China and Investing in a Growing Nation
Post Courier (PNG) 20250922
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-png-treaty-thinking-beyond-china-and-investing-in-a-growing-nation/
Kalinoe: PukPuk Treaty Needs Clear Alignment with Foreign Policy
Post Courier (PNG) 20250922
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/kalinoe-pukpuk-defence-treaty-needs-clear-alignment-with-foreign-policy/
”Friends for All” Policy Remains: Marape
National (PNG) 20250922
https://www.thenational.com.pg/friends-to-all-policy-remains-marape/
Australia’s risk in PNG: why the Pukpuk Treaty could backfire
DevPolicy 20250919
https://devpolicy.org/australias-risk-in-png-why-the-pukpuk-treaty-could-backfire/
New Caledonia under tight security ahead of 'Citizenship Day'
RNZ 20250922
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/573729/new-caledonia-under-tight-security-ahead-of-citizenship-day
State Department publications riddled with omissions and inaccurate info on Pacific island entries
PIT 20250922
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/state-department-publications-riddled-with-omissions-and-errors-on-pacific-island-entries
Japan-Tuvalu Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20250922
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202509/2025092201en.pdf
Taiwan + SCS
Barracuda-500: US-Taiwan co-produced missile built to bite China
Asia Times 20250922
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/barracuda-500-us-taiwan-co-produced-missile-built-to-bite-china/
The PLA turned a Soviet-era fighter jet into a drone that could be used to swarm Taiwan
SCMP 20250922
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326390/pla-turned-soviet-era-fighter-jet-drone-could-be-used-swarm-taiwan
Taiwanese leader William Lai’s approval rating plunges over cross-strait tensions: poll
SCMP 20250922
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3326418/taiwan-leaders-approval-rating-plunges-over-cross-strait-tensions-poll
Nobody Lost Taiwan
FA 20250922
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/nobody-lost-taiwan
Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese naval ships, 3 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250922
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6204811
Beijing could build research lab at Scarborough Shoal, top South China Sea expert says
SCMP 20250922
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3326313/beijing-could-build-research-lab-scarborough-shoal-top-south-china-sea-expert-says
Fort Drum Shows How States Can Push Back on China’s Maritime Aggression
WOTR 20250922
https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/fort-drum-shows-how-states-can-push-back-on-chinas-maritime-aggression/
S.China Sea issue demands more creative diplomacy from all parties
GT 20250922
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344188.shtml
Beijing’s Double Standards in the South China Sea
FP 20250922
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/22/south-china-sea-vietnam-philippines-artificial-islands-military-gray-zone-warfare/
Capabilities
Marines showcase ship-killing NMESIS missile system in Japan
Task & PUrpose 20250921
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marines-japan-nmesis-missiles-china/
New U.S. Army Watercraft Transports Marine NMESIS in Test
Naval News 20250922
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/09/new-u-s-army-watercraft-transports-marine-nmesis-in-test/
China’s Aircraft Carrier Capability Just Made A Stunning Leap Forward
TWZ 20250922
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-aircraft-carrier-capability-just-made-a-stunning-leap-forward
Three types of aircraft complete electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoffs, landings on China's carrier Fujian
Xinhua 20250922
https://english.news.cn/20250922/701bb850040c48a5957475f1c2fae374/c.html
How China’s GJ-11 ‘Sharp Sword’ UAV is poised for crucial roles in intelligent warfare
SCMP 20250922
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3325565/chinas-gj-11-sharp-sword-uav-poised-crucial-roles-intelligent-warfare
USAF must focus maintainers on key planes as readiness suffers: Meink
Military Times 20250922
https://www.militarytimes.com/air/2025/09/22/usaf-must-focus-maintainers-on-key-planes-as-readiness-suffers-meink/
Nuclear certification for Darwin port can reinforce AUKUS, northern posture
ASPI 20250922
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-certification-for-darwin-port-can-reinforce-aukus-northern-posture/
Space Force to get NOAA antennas to supplement Satellite Control Network
Breaking Defense 20250922
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/09/space-force-to-get-noaa-antennas-to-supplement-overtasked-satellite-control-network/
First F-47 now being built, will fly in 2028: US Air Force chief
Defense News 20250922
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/09/22/first-f-47-now-being-built-will-fly-in-2028-us-air-force-chief/
Power
Chan Chun Sing: Why small states must choose principles, not sides
Think China 20250919
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chan-chun-sing-why-small-states-must-choose-principles-not-sides
Exercises
USN Feet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 22, 2025
USNI 20250922
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/22/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-sept-22-2025