Pacific Winds 20250925
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China’s Wang Yi hails ‘ice-breaking’ US House delegation visit to Beijing
SCMP 20250924
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3326656/chinas-wang-yi-hails-ice-breaking-us-house-delegation-visit-beijing
S. Korea, U.S. concur ‘significant’ progress made in meeting conditions for wartime OPCON transfer
Yonhap 20250924
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250924010800315
South Korea’s diplomacy more myopic than pragmatic
EAF 20250924
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/09/24/south-koreas-diplomacy-more-myopic-than-pragmatic/
Washington’s Ironclad Commitments Are Rusting in the Indo-Pacific
WOTR 20250924
https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/washingtons-ironclad-commitments-are-rusting-in-the-indo-pacific/
China is now Southeast Asia’s leading partner as US influence wanes, report says
SCMP 20250924
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3326622/china-now-southeast-asias-leading-partner-us-influence-wanes-report-says
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
They help preserve America’s dominance in the Pacific. They’re paying a painful price
Reuters 20250924
https://www.reuters.com/investigations/they-help-preserve-americas-dominance-pacific-theyre-paying-painful-price-2025-09-24/
US and Chinese Navies Flex Power in Pacific Islands
Newsweek 20250924
https://www.newsweek.com/us-and-chinese-navies-flex-power-pacific-islands-10479932
Taiwan-Palau coast guard patrols mooted
Taipei Times 20250925
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/09/25/2003844401
$4.8 million federal grant to the Port Authority of Guam
US DoW 20250924
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4313895/department-of-war-approves-90-million-in-grants-under-the-defense-community-inf/
Navy awards nearly $290M contract to build communications center at Camp Blaz
PDN 20250924
https://www.guampdn.com/news/navy-awards-nearly-290m-contract-to-build-communications-center-at-camp-blaz/article_e2689303-6afc-41b0-b21d-3e1c67f482aa.html
Island Waves
Japan supports Port Vila schools with over VT68.6M in reconstruction projects
Daily Post (VU) 20250924
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/japan-supports-port-vila-schools-with-over-vt68-6m-in-reconstruction-projects/article_0db3ccf6-039c-5caf-877d-ac07eef6eab3.html
Australia delivers landing vessel to Tonga to strengthen maritime security, disaster response
IDPF 20250923
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/09/australia-delivers-landing-vessel-to-tonga-to-strengthen-maritime-security-disaster-response/
Coming Home? Integration of PNG Defence Force into the Australian Defence Force
AIIA 20250924
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/coming-home-integration-of-png-defence-force-into-the-australian-defence-force/
Taiwan + SCS
In an ‘America First’ Era, Taiwan Gains Ground in Congress
The Diplomat 20250923
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/in-an-america-first-era-taiwan-gains-ground-in-congress/
How America Can Win in Space to Protect Taiwan and Beyond
CFR 20250924
https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-america-can-win-space-protect-taiwan-and-beyond
So-called ‘Republic of China (Taiwan)’ does not exist at all, both sides of Taiwan Straits belong to one China: Taiwan Affairs Office
GT 20250924
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344336.shtml
DPP pandering to US at expense of public well-being will leave Taiwan exploited: Taiwan Affairs Office
GT 20250924
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344331.shtml
Taiwan tracks 1 Chinese naval ship around nation
Taiwan 20250924
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6206556
Capabilities
Armies key to Indo-Pacific deterrence, says former US general
ASPI 20250924
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/stop-the-world-armies-key-to-indo-pacific-deterrence-says-former-us-general/
Plan for the Worst: Why the Marine Corps Stand-in Forces Concept Demands a Premortem
MWI 20250924
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/plan-for-the-worst-why-the-marine-corps-stand-in-forces-concept-demands-a-premortem/
China Moves Two Super-Sized ‘XXL’ Uncrewed Submarines To South China Sea
Naval News 20250924
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/09/china-moves-two-super-sized-xxl-uncrewed-submarines-to-south-china-sea/
Philippine Navy Welcomes Newest Frigate BRP Diego Silang
USNI 20250924
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/24/philippine-navy-welcomes-newest-frigate-brp-diego-silang
China launches satellites from sea
Xinhua 20250924
https://english.news.cn/20250924/49255522f4c4477a97f485bdb653f332/c.html
Chinese spacecraft image Maxar remote sensing and U.S. early warning satellites
Space News 20250923
https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-image-maxar-remote-sensing-and-u-s-early-warning-satellites/
Aggressor Satellites That Replicate Enemy Ones On Space Force’s Buy List
TWZ 20250924
https://www.twz.com/space/aggressor-satellites-that-replicate-enemy-ones-on-space-forces-buy-list
Foreign ties are crucial to US space dominance, officials say
Defense One 20250924
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/09/foreign-ties-are-crucial-us-space-dominance-officials-say/408333/
The Strategic Future of Subsea Cables: Singapore Case Study
CSIS 20250924
https://www.csis.org/analysis/strategic-future-subsea-cables-singapore-case-study
Nine for the Navy: Proposals to Accelerate a Delayed Naval Buildup
Heritage 20250924
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/nine-the-navy-proposals-accelerate-delayed-naval-buildup
China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?
Defense One 20250924
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/09/chinas-new-missiles-parade-showpieces-or-showstoppers/408304/
C-17 and C-5 Cargo Planes Will Be Replaced With One Aircraft: USAF
TWZ 20250923
https://www.twz.com/air/c-17-and-c-5-cargo-planes-will-be-replaced-with-one-aircraft-usaf
CRS Report to Congress on Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile
USNI 20250924
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/24/report-to-congress-on-nuclear-sea-launched-cruise-missile-2
Power
2025 Xiangshan Forum: China Enters a New Era of Assertive Global Governance
The Diplomat 20250925
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/2025-xiangshan-forum-china-enters-a-new-era-of-assertive-global-governance/
Exercises
Russian Nuclear Ballistic Missile Sub Spotted Near Japan for the First Time
USNI 20250924
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/24/russian-nuclear-ballistic-missile-sub-spotted-near-japan-for-the-first-time
U.S. Navy, Timor-Leste Defense Forces Commence 14th CARAT
US IndoPaCom 20250922
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4312139/us-navy-timor-leste-defense-forces-commence-14th-carat/