Pacific Winds 20251017
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China’s Rare Earth Restrictions Aim to Beat U.S. at Its Own Game
NYTimes 20251016
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/business/economy/china-rare-earths-supply-chain.html
US rallies allies to confront Beijing’s rare earth curbs: ‘this is China versus the world’
SCMP 20251016
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329166/us-rallies-allies-confront-china-over-rare-earth-curbs
Xi’s Rare Earth Shock Gives Trump a Chance to Win Over US Allies
Bloomberg 10151016
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-16/xi-s-rare-earth-shock-gives-trump-a-chance-to-win-over-us-allies
Rare-earth ‘de-risking’ from China will be dirty and costly, analysts warn
Nikkei 20251016
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/supply-chain/rare-earth-de-risking-from-china-will-be-dirty-and-costly-analysts-warn
Greer, Bessent blast China’s rare earths curbs, urge Beijing not to implement them
Reuters 20251015
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-officials-blast-chinas-actions-rare-earths-urge-beijing-back-down-2025-10-15/
China blames US for global panic over rare earths controls
Reuters 20251016
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/rare-earths-tensions-rise-us-china-trade-barbs-2025-10-16/
MOFCOM refutes US trade representative’s remarks on rare-earth export control
GT 20251016
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345813.shtml
China Fans Patriotic Sentiment as Trade War With U.S. Heats Up
NYTimes 20251016
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/world/asia/china-nationalism-trade-war.html
Trump wants our rare earths minerals, but we should keep selling to China too
Lowy 20251017
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-wants-our-rare-earths-minerals-we-should-keep-selling-china-too
Trump claims again S. Korea has inked deal for ‘upfront’ US$350 billion payment
Yonhap 20251016
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251016000400315
What to Expect from the Trump-Albanese White House Meeting
CSIS 20251015
https://www.csis.org/analysis/what-expect-trump-albanese-white-house-meeting
The Albanese-Trump summit: Where do Australians stand on their most important ally?
USSC 20251016
https://www.ussc.edu.au/the-albanese-trump-summit-where-do-australians-stand-on-their-most-important-ally
Filipinos see U.S. as Philippines’ Strongest Partner Against Chinese Coercion in the West Philippine Sea — Survey Finds
PIA 20241015
https://pia.gov.ph/press-release/filipinos-see-u-s-as-philippines-strongest-partner-against-chinese-coercion-in-the-west-philippine-sea-survey-finds/
Trump, China, and Declining US Influence in Asia
The Diplomat 20251014
https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/trump-china-and-declining-us-influence-in-asia/
Sharper: India and the Quad
CNAS 20251016
https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-india-and-the-quad
The United States as the Indo-Pacific’s Self-Appointed Maritime Police
Modern Diplomacy 20251016
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/10/16/the-united-states-as-the-indo-pacifics-self-appointed-maritime-police/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US Guam buildup to deter China, foreign minister says
Taipei Times 20251016
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/10/16/2003845584
US spending NT$245 billion on Guam defense to deter Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Taiwan News 20251016
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6221301
Monkeys overrun Angaur as US military land clearing drives population into town
ABC (AU) 20251016
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/nesia-daily/angaur-palau-long-tailed-macaque-monkeys-population-problems/105887770
Island Waves
RSIPF, RAPPP conducts awareness at Munda, Noro
Solomon Star 20251016
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/rsipf-rappp-conducts-awareness-at-munda-noro/
Back from Japan with a mission
Samoa Observer 20251016
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/116512
Aust-Mbokonavera III community partnership in addressing waste management
Solomon Star 20251016
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/aust-mbokonavera-iii-community-partnership-in-addressing-waste-management/
Indonesia–Timor-Leste talks put Australia’s Timor Sea stakes back in focus
EAF 20251016
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/16/indonesia-timor-leste-talks-put-australias-timor-sea-stakes-back-in-focus/
Taiwan + SCS
How Taiwanese firms became the US’s secret weapon against China’s rise
Think China 20251015
https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/how-taiwanese-firms-became-uss-secret-weapon-against-chinas-rise
Target Taiwan: Prospects for a Chinese invasion
Defense Priorities 20251016
https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/target-taiwan-prospects-for-a-chinese-invasion/
Cabinet approves NT$44.2 billion plan to boost Taiwan’s drone industry
CNA (TW) 20251016
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202510160018
PLA Navy’s Taiwan-focused landing barge spotted at sea, destination unknown
SCMP 20251016
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329230/pla-navys-taiwan-focused-landing-barge-spotted-sea-destination-unknown
Taiwan tracks 23 Chinese military aircraft, 10 ships
Taiwan News 20251016
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6221244
China says it expelled Philippine planes from disputed South China Sea reef
SCMP 20251016
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329289/china-says-it-expelled-philippine-planes-disputed-south-china-sea-reef
China Coast Guard warns off Philippine aircraft from Huangyan Dao airspace
Xinhua 20251016
https://english.news.cn/20251016/8471dda562c947e7a185d64e7f70d786/c.html
Chinese Surface Groups Sail Near Japan, Amphibious Groups Drill in South China Sea
USNI 20251016
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/16/chinese-surface-groups-sail-near-japan-amphibious-groups-drill-in-south-china-sea
Philippine, Allied Warships Hold Combat Drills in the South China Sea
USNI 20251016
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/16/philippine-allied-warships-hold-combat-drills-in-the-south-china-sea
Web of Deterrence: How the Philippines Is Reframing Security Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
The Diplomat 20251016
https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/web-of-deterrence-how-the-philippines-is-reframing-security-cooperation-in-the-indo-pacific/
PCG: Structures spotted at Scarborough Shoal trace back to 2010
Inquirer (PH) 20251016
https://www.inquirer.net/458005/pcg-structures-spotted-at-scarborough-shoal-trace-back-to-2010/
Capabilities
Lawmakers press Pentagon on cuts to oversight of key missile defense programs
Breaking Defense 20251016
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/lawmakers-press-pentagon-on-cuts-to-oversight-of-key-missile-defense-programs/
China’s new space-borne radar tech can track stealth-moving targets day and night: study
SCMP 20251016
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3329199/chinas-new-space-borne-radar-tech-can-track-stealth-moving-targets-day-and-night-study
New Surface-To-Air Missile Enters Army Mid-Tier Air Defense Competition
TWZ 20251016
https://www.twz.com/land/new-surface-to-air-missile-enters-army-mid-tier-air-defense-competition
Army “Absolutely Needs” Shahed-Like Drones: PACAF General
TWZ 20251016
https://www.twz.com/air/army-absolutely-needs-shahed-like-drones-pacaf-general
Japan is finally spending more on defense. Trump’s pressure helped.
WaPo 20251015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/15/japan-defense-military-trump-takaichi/
Space Development Agency Launches 21 Data Transport Satellites
Air & Space 20251015
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-development-agency-launches-21-data-transport-satellites/
China makes 600th launch of Long March rocket, sending internet satellites to orbit
GT 20251016
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345836.shtml
Exercises
JMSDF Conducts Unusual Mine-Laying Exercise — A Possible Strategic Message Behind the Operation
Naval Exercise 20251016
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/10/jmsdf-conducts-unusual-mine-laying-exercise-a-possible-strategic-message-behind-the-operation/