Pacific Winds 20250930
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
AUKUS survives Pentagon review, with US submarine sales to proceed
Nikkei 20250930
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/trump-administration/aukus-survives-pentagon-review-with-us-submarine-sales-to-proceed
Top diplomats of N. Korea, China reach ‘complete’ consensus on int’l, regional issues during talks: KCNA
Yonhap 20250929
https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250929000300315
North Korea, China’s foreign ministers meet in Beijing
Reuters 20250928
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/north-koreas-foreign-minister-had-talks-with-china-kcna-says-2025-09-28/
FM Cho says Pyongyang may respond to Seoul administration’s peace overtures
Yonhap 20250929
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250929010800315
Senior N.K. diplomat reaffirms Pyongyang will never forgo nuclear arms ‘under any circumstances’
Yonhap 20250930
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250930000200315
Reality check: North Korea won’t give up its nukes
Responsible Statecraft 20250929
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/north-korea-trump/
Lee, Japan’s Ishiba set to hold summit talks in Busan
Yonhap 20250929
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250929006700315
Chinese group tourists’ temporary visa-free entry to S. Korea
Yonhap 20250929
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20250929034600315
Philippines: Marcos in the middle
Lowy 20250930
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/philippines-marcos-middle
China Goes on Offense
FA 20250929
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/china-goes-offense
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Pentagon awards $44M more to Lockheed Martin for Guam’s Aegis missile defense
PDN 20250929
https://www.guampdn.com/news/pentagon-awards-44m-more-to-lockheed-martin-for-guams-aegis-missile-defense/article_1f72772d-c2c4-4fdb-9534-663e414ff8dc.html
Island Waves
PNG and Australia Formalize ‘Pukpuk Treaty’ Defence Pact
Post Courier (PNG) 20250929
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-and-australia-formalize-pukpuk-treaty-defence-pact/
PNG and Japan Sign Official Security Assistance
Post Courier (PNG) 20250929
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-and-japan-sign-official-security-assistance/
Defence Treaty does not cede sovereignty: Secretary
National (PNG) 20250929
https://www.thenational.com.pg/defence-treaty-does-not-cede-sovereignty-secretary/
Toroama vows to deliver Bougainville independence after landslide election win
ABC (AU) 22050929
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/toroama-vows-to-deliver-bougainville-independence/105806644
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan strengthens patrols against China’s undersea cable sabotage
IPDF 20250928
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2025/09/taiwan-strengthens-patrols-against-chinas-undersea-cable-sabotage/
US commerce head says chip deal with Taiwan pending
Taiwan News 20250929
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6209716
‘Silicon shield’ may shift to shared U.S.-Taiwan resilience: Expert
CNA 20240929
https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202509290016
Taiwan to act prudently to US demands: Taipei
Taipei Times 20250930
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/09/30/2003844658
China urges US to respect one-China principle, rejects attempts to distort UN Resolution 2758: FM
GT 20250929
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344779.shtml
Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese ships, 8 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20250929
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6209560
The rules of engagement in East Asian waters have changed
Nikkei 20250929
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-rules-of-engagement-in-east-asian-waters-have-changed
Capabilities
The Missiles Threatening Taiwan
NYTimes 22050929
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/09/29/world/asia/china-missiles.html
Pentagon Pushes to Double Missile Production for Potential China Conflict
WSJ 20250929
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-pushes-to-double-missile-production-for-potential-china-conflict-ee153ad3?st=h9qp8q
South Korea’s new US ‘Iron Dome’ air defence system seen as reply to China, North Korea
SCMP 20250929
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327190/south-koreas-new-us-iron-dome-air-defence-system-seen-reply-china-north-korea
South Korea Should Build Out a Reconnaissance Satellite Ecosystem
WOTR 20250929
https://warontherocks.com/2025/09/south-korea-should-build-out-a-reconnaissance-satellite-ecosystem/
‘Last line of defence’: military journal sheds light on China’s new LY-1 shipborne laser weapon
SCMP 20250929
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327271/last-line-defence-military-journal-sheds-light-chinas-new-ly-1-shipborne-laser-weapon
US drone swarm plan spiraling into obilivion
Asia Times 20250929
https://asiatimes.com/2025/09/us-drone-swarm-plan-spiraling-into-obilivion/
Industry Reps: US Can’t Go for One-for-One Kills in Drone Warfare with China
Air & Space 20250929
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-china-drone-warfare-one-for-one-kills/
Recommendations for Strengthening Defense: Time to Put New Options on The Table
Yomiuri 20250929
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20250929-283676/
China successfully launches two new test satellites
Xinhua 20250929
https://english.news.cn/20250929/f55a049004f74b4db1702dea3007e899/c.html
DOD has money for boondoggles but not clean water for bases?
Responsible Statecraft 20250929
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pentagon-pfas/
Exercises
U.S. Guided-missile Sub Makes Rare Appearance in the Philippines
USNI 20250929
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/29/u-s-guided-missile-sub-makes-rare-appearance-in-the-philippines
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 29, 2025
USNI 29250929
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/29/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-sept-29-2025