Pacific Winds 20251011
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump Threatens to Cancel Meeting With China’s Xi and Impose New Tariffs
NYTimes 20251010
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/us/politics/trump-xi-china-tariffs-rare-earth.html
Donald Trump threatens ‘massive’ tariffs on China after Beijing restricts rare earths
ABC (AU) 20251011
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-11/trump-new-china-massive-tariffs-threat/105880136
Trump seems to cancel Xi meeting amid rare-earth clash, threatens huge tariffs
SCMP 20251011
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328601/trump-threatens-cancel-meeting-xi-amid-rare-earth-trade-clash
Trump says there seems to be ‘no reason’ to meet Xi at APEC, decries China’s export control move
Yonhap 20251011
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251011000251315
Trump threatens to halt Chinese imports – while counting on Xi Jinping to buy US soybeans
SCMP 20251010
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3328439/trump-threatens-halt-chinese-imports-while-counting-xi-jinping-buy-us-soybeans
China to charge special port fees on U.S. ships
Xinhua 20251010
https://english.news.cn/20251010/e23cbb4a147144d385a2f0ff04f170e6/c.html
China hits back at Trump’s port fees with reciprocal charges for US ships
SCMP 20251010
https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328537/china-hits-back-trumps-port-fees-reciprocal-charges-us-ships
Lawmakers have an antidote for Washington’s China panic
Responsible Statecraft 20251010
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/adam-smith-china/
What are the latest sticking points in US-China tensions?
Reuters 20251010
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/what-are-latest-sticking-points-us-china-tensions-2025-10-10/
Vice FMs of S. Korea, U.S. to discuss alliance modernization ahead of APEC summit
Yonhap 20251010
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251010001700315
Where Next on the Peninsula?
CSIS 20251009
https://www.38north.org/2025/10/where-next-on-the-peninsula/
Pragmatic trio: China, Russia, North Korea’s triangle of convenience
Asia Times 20251010
https://asiatimes.com/2025/10/pragmatic-trio-china-russia-north-koreas-triangle-of-convenience/
Pyongyang first, Trump next: China’s North Korea card in the trade war shuffle
Think China 20251009
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/pyongyang-first-trump-next-chinas-north-korea-card-trade-war-shuffle
Singapore, New Zealand Establish Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The Diplomat 20251010
https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/singapore-new-zealand-establish-comprehensive-strategic-partnership/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
The US sees Pacific Islands as ‘tip of the spear’, but locals fear becoming China’s ‘bullseye’
ABC (AU) 20251010
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-10/united-states-military-presence-pacific-guam-palau/105861216
US Proposes $6 Million Deal for Palau to Accept 75 “Refugees”
Island Times 20251010
https://islandtimes.org/proposes-6-million-deal-for-palau-to-accept-75-refugees/
Palauans Divided As Japan Lobbies For More Fishing Ground
Island Times 20251010
https://islandtimes.org/palauans-divided-as-japan-lobbies-for-more-fishing-ground/
Japan Association of Marine Safety and Embassy Collaborate to Boost Palau’s Maritime Security
Island Times 20251010
https://islandtimes.org/japan-association-of-marine-safety-and-embassy-collaborate-to-boost-palaus-maritime-security/
Militarization Took The Home I Knew — Here’s Why I’m Fighting Back with Words
Global Citizen 20251011
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/militarization-micronesia-siobhon-rumarang-uafan/
Island Waves
Indonesia urges respect for its sovereignty after Australia-PNG defence treaty
ABC (AU) 20251010
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-10/indonesia-responded-pukpuk-defence-agreement-australia-png/105869738
PUKPUK TREATY TO GO TO PARLIAMENT
PNG Haus Bung 20251010
https://pnghausbung.com/pukpuk-treaty-to-go-to-parliament/
Taiwan + SCS
Lai pledges to build ‘T-Dome’ air defense system in national address
CNA (TW) 2021010
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202510100006
Taiwan president unveils ‘T-Dome’ air defence system to counter China threat
Reuters 20251010
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-build-multi-layered-t-dome-defence-system-counter-china-threat-2025-10-10/
Beijing takes aim at William Lai’s T-Dome shield and defence plans for Taiwan
SCMP 20251010
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3328520/beijing-takes-aim-william-lais-t-dome-shield-and-defence-plans-taiwan
Lai’s push for ‘T-Dome’ air defense system will only drag Taiwan island into peril of war: FM spokesperson
GT 20251010
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345327.shtml
Fighting China, Fast and Slow
FA 20251010
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/fighting-china-fast-and-slow
Who is the real culprit behind Taiwan’s ‘invisible barrier lake’?
GT 20251010
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345362.shtml
Chinese coast guard ship enters Taiwan’s Dongsha waters
Taiwan News 20251010
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6217743
Taiwan’s stealth submarine push rocked by technical turbulence
Asia Times 20251010
https://asiatimes.com/2025/10/taiwans-stealth-submarine-push-rocked-by-technical-turbulence/
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese naval ships, 8 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20251010
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6217559
Capabilities
Japan Will Arm Its Submarines With Long-Range Cruise Missiles
TWZ 20251009
https://www.twz.com/sea/japan-will-arm-its-submarines-with-long-range-cruise-missiles
Army Hypersonic Weapon Still Hasn’t Proven Itself, Test Office Says
Bloomberg 20251010
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-09/army-hypersonic-weapon-still-hasn-t-proven-itself-test-office-says
Former U.S. defense officials urge Pentagon to scale up hypersonic weapons to match China, Russia
Space News 20251009
https://spacenews.com/former-u-s-defense-officials-urge-pentagon-to-scale-up-hypersonic-weapons-to-match-china-russia/
China’s Stealth Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles Deployed To Operational Airbase
TWZ 20251010
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-stealth-sharp-sword-unmanned-combat-air-vehicles-deployed-to-operational-airbase
Supply Chains Are Critical Infrastructure. It’s Time U.S. Policy Caught Up.
WOTR 20251010
https://warontherocks.com/2025/10/supply-chains-are-critical-infrastructure-its-time-u-s-policy-caught-up/
Senate passes $914B defense policy bill after resolving gridlock on amendments
Breaking Defense 20251010
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/senate-passes-914b-defense-policy-bill-after-resolving-gridlock-on-amendments/
Exercises
Chinese fighters intercepted Japanese surveillance planes during carrier exercise: Official
Breaking Defense 20251010
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/chinese-fighters-intercepted-japanese-surveillance-planes-during-carrier-exercise-official/