Pacific Winds 20251001
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. urges allies to strengthen deterrence against China
Dong-A Ilbo 20250930
https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20250930/5878240/1
Ishiba’s visit restores Japan-South Korea ‘shuttle diplomacy’
Nikkei 20250930
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan-south-korea-ties/ishiba-s-visit-restores-japan-south-korea-shuttle-diplomacy
South Korean President Hosts Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister
The Diplomat 20250930
https://thediplomat.com/2025/09/south-korean-president-hosts-outgoing-japanese-prime-minister/
The Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance: Adapting to a Changing World
CSIS 20250930
https://www.csis.org/analysis/future-rok-us-alliance-adapting-changing-world
Chips and Soybeans
China File 20250930
https://www.chinafile.com/conversation/chips-and-soybeans
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
USCGC Oliver Henry conducts Operation Rematau patrol, deterring threats in Micronesia
USCG FM/GS 20250930
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/549640/uscgc-oliver-henry-conducts-operation-rematau-patrol-deterring-threats-micronesia
China’s growing influence in the Pacific
Janes 20250930
https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/intelligence-podcasts/chinas-growing-influence-in-the-pacific
“The Carriers Closing In on Guam” China’s Bold Pacific Move Tests U.S. Naval Power and Pushes Regional Stability to the Edge
Visagrad Post 2250930
https://visegradpost.com/en/2025/09/30/the-carriers-closing-in-on-guam-chinas-bold-pacific-move-tests-u-s-naval-power-and-pushes-regional-stability-to-the-edge/
Pacific Unlimited Inc., awarded a maximum $980,000,000 firm-fixed-price, IDIQ contract for full-line food distribution
US DoW 20250929
https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4317777//
Island Waves
China’s hospital ship brings free health care
FBCN 20250930
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/chinas-hospital-ship-brings-free-health-care/
Chinese naval hospital ship on humanitarian mission in Pacific
Matangi Tonga 20250930
https://matangitonga.to/2025/09/30/chinese-naval-hospital-ship-humanitarian-mission-pacific
CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM DONATES LIFE-SAVING EQUIPTMENT
PNG Haus Bung 20250930
https://pnghausbung.com/chinese-medical-team-donates-life-saving-equiptment/
China’s Pacific push isn’t a clean sweep
Think China 20250930
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chinas-pacific-push-isnt-clean-sweep
U.S. Embassy supports SI Emergency Response Team Induction
Solomon Star 20250930
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/u-s-embassy-supports-si-emergency-response-team-induction/
Taiwan + SCS
Has Lutnick signalled the end of Taiwan’s ‘silicon shield’ against Beijing?
SCMP 20250930
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3327340/has-lutnick-signalled-end-taiwans-silicon-shield-against-beijing
Will the US Trade Taiwan for TikTok and Tariffs?
Bloomberg 20250929
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-09-29/will-the-us-trade-taiwan-for-tiktok-and-tariffs
Ukraine’s lesson for Taiwan: build big, cheap and numerous cruise missiles
ASPI 20250930
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/ukraines-lesson-for-taiwan-build-big-cheap-and-numerous-cruise-missiles/
China practised ‘constructive kills’ on British warship
Telegraph (UK) 20250930
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/30/china-constructive-kill-drill-royal-navy-taiwan-straight/
DPP authorities’ words and deeds cannot change the historical and legal fact that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory: FM spokesperson
GT 20250930
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344829.shtml
Taiwan tracks 33 Chinese military aircraft, 11 ships
Taiwan News 20250930
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6210341
PH, Australia boost maritime security partnership via 5-day course
PNA 20250930
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1259925
Capabilities
China fields Golden Dome prototype before the US can come up with a plan
SCMP 20250930
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3327224/china-fields-golden-dome-prototype
Air Force revives WWII-era squadron in South Korea as modern drone force
Air & Space 20250929
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-reaper-drones-korea/
House defense policy bill calls for maintaining 28,500 USFK troops
Yonhap 20250930
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250930001200315
Unification minister says N. Korea capable of hitting U.S. mainland
Yonhap 20250930
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250930001700315
Japan’s Joint Operations Command, Joint Staff Not Seeing Eye to Eye on Information Sharing, 6 Months After Launch of JOC
Yomiuri 20250930
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20250930-283844/
Multinational combined joint force offers credible collective deterrence
ASPI 20250930
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/multinational-combined-joint-force-offers-credible-collective-deterrence/
Pentagon Awards Contract to Upgrade Philippine Naval Base Near South China Sea
USNI 20250930
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/30/pentagon-awards-contract-to-upgrade-philippine-naval-base-near-south-china-sea
From framework to force multiplier: Rethinking the NTIB for a new strategic era
USSC 20250930
https://www.ussc.edu.au/from-framework-to-force-multiplier-rethinking-the-ntib-for-a-new-strategic-era
Consultancy bill to review ‘struggling’ submarine agency blows out to $12.1 million
ABC (AU) 20250930
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-30/submarine-agency-consultant-review-blows-out-aukus/105831752
CRS Report to Congress on Navy’s Columbia-class Submarine Program
USNI 20250930
https://news.usni.org/2025/09/30/report-to-congress-on-navys-columbia-class-submarine-program
Long-Delayed Space C2 System Ready for Operations
Air & Space 20250930
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/long-delayed-space-c2-system-ready-for-operations/
Pentagon’s push to ramp up missile production mirrors US anxiety
GT 20250930
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1344836.shtml
Australia – M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems
US DSCA 20250930
https://www.dsca.mil/Press-Media/Major-Arms-Sales/Article-Display/Article/4318640/australia-m142-high-mobility-artillery-rocket-systems
Trump Tells Military Brass US Faces ‘Invasion From Within’
Bloomberg 20250930
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-30/hegseth-uses-key-speech-to-focus-on-culture-war-wokeness
Trump highlights homeland security as ‘first, most important’ priority for U.S. military
Yonhap 20251001
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251001000200315
Hegseth Announces Series of War Department Reforms in Sweeping Speech to Top Military Brass
US DoW 20250930
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4318394/hegseth-announces-series-of-war-department-reforms-in-sweeping-speech-to-top-mi/
Transcript: https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4318689/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-addresses-general-and-flag-officers-at-quantico-v/
What a Government Shutdown Would Mean for Defense Funding in FY 2026
CSIS 20250930
https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-government-shutdown-would-mean-defense-funding-fy-2026
China sends experimental Shiyan-30 satellites into orbit as launch cadence intensifies
Space News 20250930
https://spacenews.com/china-sends-experimental-shiyan-30-satellites-into-orbit-as-launch-cadence-intensifies/
Power
Military leaders voice concern over Hegseth’s new Pentagon strategy
WaPo 20250929
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/29/hegseth-national-defense-strategy-trump-dissent/