Pacific Winds 20251016
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
What awaits the next Trump-Xi meeting?
Brookings 20251015
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-awaits-the-next-trump-xi-meeting/
China is ‘pacing threat,’ Army Secretary says—while backing Trump’s homeland defense push
Defense One 20251014
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/10/china-pacing-threat-army-secretary-sayswhile-backing-trumps-homeland-defense-push/408806/
US-China trade war hotspots could put fire in Beijing’s belly: scholars
SCMP 20251015
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3328967/us-china-trade-war-hotspots-could-put-fire-beijings-belly-scholars
‘Potentially catastrophic’: US urged to rethink allies, arm sales amid contest with China
SCMP 20251015
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329142/potentially-catastrophic-us-urged-rethink-allies-arm-sales-amid-contest-china
US rallies allies to confront China over rare earth curbs
SCMP 20251016
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329166/us-rallies-allies-confront-china-over-rare-earth-curbs
U.S. to Take Control of More Companies to Counter China
NYTimes 20251015
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/us/politics/us-government-companies-china.html
China, US clash in global shipping after chip and tariff wars
Asia Times 20251015
https://asiatimes.com/2025/10/china-us-clash-in-global-shipping-after-chip-and-tariff-wars/
China’s sanctions against US-linked Hanwha units seen as warning gesture, analysts say
Reuters 20251015
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-sanctions-against-us-linked-hanwha-units-seen-warning-gesture-analysts-2025-10-15/
Trump threatens China with cooking oil embargo as soybean spat escalates
SCMP 20251015
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329036/trump-threatens-china-cooking-oil-embargo-soybean-spat-escalates
US threatens to end cooking oil business with China over soybean purchases; expert says unreasonable threats will only harm US farmers
GT 20251015
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345695.shtml
Trump should expand tariffs on China
WashTimes 20251014
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/oct/14/trump-expand-tariffs-china/
China warns US against ‘talks and threatening’ approach
GT 20251015
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345760.shtml
China Got Trump’s Attention but Renewed a Risky Game of Chicken
NYTimes 20251015
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/asia/china-trump-tariffs.html
U.S. about to ‘finish up’ trade negotiations with S. Korea: Bessent
Yonhap 20251015
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251015011500315
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Fortifying America’s Pacific Front Line Is Getting Expensive and Difficult
WSJ 20251015
https://www.wsj.com/world/fortifying-americas-pacific-front-line-is-getting-expensive-and-difficult-8ea597b1
Island Waves
How the Historic Australia-PNG Pukpuk Treaty Could Reshape Pacific Security
CSIS 20251014
https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-historic-australia-png-pukpuk-treaty-could-reshape-pacific-security
Nauru President re-elected amid China controversy and plans for deep sea mining
PMN 20251015
https://pmn.co.nz/read/pacific-region/nauru-president-unopposed-in-re-election-amid-china-ties-and-deep-sea-mining-plans
New Zealand official says Pacific nations threatened by great power contest over deep sea minerals
AP 20251015
https://apnews.com/article/judith-collins-new-zealand-pacific-china-defense-minister-interview-9c9812d7d192618099f935cd73c3c0ae
China starts controversial surveillance plan in Solomon Islands
HI Public Radio 20251015
https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/pacific-news-minute/2025-10-15/pacific-news-minute-china-starts-controversial-surveillance-plan-in-solomon-islands
China and Fiji unite to drive clean transportation across the Pacific
FBCN 20251015
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/business/china-and-fiji-unite-to-drive-clean-transportation-across-the-pacific/
Taiwan + SCS
U.S. arms sales likely after Taiwan passes special defense budget: Expert
CNA (TW) 20251015
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202510150009
Washington ready to back arms deals after Taiwan approves defense budget
Taiwan News 20251015
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6220532
DPP authorities are willingly acting as a ‘cash machine’ for US arms dealers: mainland spokesperson on Lai’s pledge to build so-called ‘Taiwan Shield’ air defense system
GT 20251015
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345685.shtml
Mainland slams US companies for engaging in so-called military technology cooperation with the Taiwan region
GT 20251015
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345687.shtml
Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese military aircraft, 15 ships
Taiwan News 20251015
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6220239
US’ disregard for facts and malicious smears prove it is ‘the biggest source of risk undermining stability’ in South China Sea: Chinese FM spokesperson
GT 20251015
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345712.shtml
China Coast Guard fleet patrols around Diaoyu Dao
China Military 20251015
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/H_251454/L_251456/16415582.html
Capabilities
China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent
Defense One 20251015
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2025/10/chinas-burgeoning-undersea-sensor-net-aims-turn-ocean-transparent/408815/
U.S. Army Plans to Power Bases With Tiny Nuclear Reactors
WSJ 20251015
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-army-plans-to-power-bases-with-tiny-nuclear-reactors-c41c1383
Nuclear power might be coming to an Army base near you, and sooner than you think
Breaking Defense 20251015
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/nuclear-power-army-base-janus-waksman-driscoll/
“House of Dynamite” Shows That Missile Defense Is a Dangerous Fantasy
Forbes 20251015
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhartung/2025/10/15/house-of-dynamite-shows-that-missile-defense-is-a-dangerous-fantasy/
The US Is Behind on Deploying Hypersonic Weapons. Why It Matters
Bloomberg 20251014
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-13/hypersonic-weapons-why-it-matters-that-china-russia-lead-us-on-deployment
US Army’s first hypersonic battery to be fully equipped by December
Defense News 20251015
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/10/15/us-armys-first-hypersonic-battery-to-be-fully-equipped-by-december/
Raytheon expands Massachusetts plant for LTAMDS radar production
Defense News 20251015
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/10/15/raytheon-expands-massachusetts-plant-for-ltamds-radar-production/
Two Dangerous Assumptions in U.S. Defense Planning and How to Fix Them
WOTR 20251015
https://warontherocks.com/2025/10/two-dangerous-assumptions-in-u-s-defense-planning-and-how-to-fix-them/
Could unconventional deterrence meet Australia’s defence challenges?
ASPI 20251015
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/could-unconventional-deterrence-meet-australias-defence-challenges/
Hanwha open to acquiring other US shipyards, expanding Philly
Breaking Defense 20251015
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/hanwha-open-to-acquiring-other-us-shipyards-expanding-philly/
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Oct. 14, 2025
USNI 20251014
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/14/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-oct-14-2025
Japan Reports Decrease in Airspace Violations from Chinese, Russian Aircraft
USNI 20251015
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/15/japan-reports-decrease-in-airspace-violations-from-chinese-russian-aircraft