Pacific Winds 20251018
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump confirms Xi meeting, retreats on 100% tariffs: ‘not sustainable’
SCMP 20251018
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3329466/trump-confirms-xi-jinping-meeting-calls-100-china-tariffs-not-sustainable
Trump reaffirms he will meet Xi in S. Korea in ‘couple of weeks’ amid trade tensions
Yonhap 20251018
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251017012051315
Minister says it’s ‘uncertain’ whether Trump will accept Korea’s position against ‘upfront’ US$350 bln payment
Yonhap 20251017
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251017002200315
U.S. calls China’s Hanwha sanctions attempt to undermine Korea-U.S. cooperation, vows to stand ‘firmly’ with Korea
Yonhap 20251017
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251017000752315
Expert slams US ‘coercion’ claim on China’s Hanwha sanctions as baseless, says it reflects Washington’s hegemonic, bloc-confrontation mindset
GT 20251017
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345907.shtml
Prime Minister Albanese’s meeting with President Trump: views from ASPI analysts
ASPI 20251017
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/prime-minister-albaneses-meeting-with-president-trump-views-from-aspi-analysts/
Welcome to the Era of Mutually Assured Disruption
FP 20251017
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/17/us-china-trump-xi-trade-summit-conflict/
US lawmakers urge Trump to attend key Indo-Pacific summits and send clear message to China
SCMP 20251018
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329481/us-lawmakers-urge-trump-attend-key-indo-pacific-summits-and-send-clear-message-china
Asia’s Trump Problem
FA 10151017
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/asia/asias-trump-problem
Southeast Asia’s undersea cables under great power pressure
EAF 20251017
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/10/17/southeast-asias-undersea-cables-under-great-power-pressure/
Japan can learn from South Korea’s defiance of Trump’s $350bn shakedown
Nikkei 20251017
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/japan-can-learn-from-south-korea-s-defiance-of-trump-s-350bn-shakedown
From chips to cooking oil: Who plays the final card in US–China rivalry?
Think China 20251016
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chips-cooking-oil-who-plays-final-card-us-china-rivalry
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Peleliu’s Camp Beck Sold to Palau Government for U.S. Military Use
Island Times 20251017
https://islandtimes.org/pelelius-camp-beck-sold-to-palau-government-for-u-s-military-use/
Whipps Says ‘Misinformation’ Fueling Debate Over U.S. Offer for Palau to Host 75 Deportees
Island Times 20251017
https://islandtimes.org/whipps-says-misinformation-fueling-debate-over-u-s-offer-for-palau-to-host-75-deportees/
Angaur Traditional Leaders Back U.S. Partnership, Seek to Host Asylum Seekers in Palau
Island Times 20251017
https://islandtimes.org/angaur-traditional-leaders-back-u-s-partnership-seek-to-host-asylum-seekers-in-palau/
Palau-based Figure Exposed by OCCRP is Among Scores Sanctioned Over Online Scams
OCCRP 20251015
https://www.occrp.org/en/news/palau-based-figure-exposed-by-occrp-is-among-scores-sanctioned-over-online-scams
Xi sends congratulations to Adeang on re-election as president of Nauru
Xinhua 20251017
https://english.news.cn/20251017/8571a2cae01a4d26b603460035adc2c8/c.html
Island Waves
Clash between Indonesian army and insurgents leaves 14 dead in Papua region
Nikkei 20251017
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/clash-between-indonesian-army-and-insurgents-leaves-14-dead-in-papua-region
French Senate endorses postponement of New Caledonia’s provincial elections
RNZ 20251017
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/576184/french-senate-endorses-postponement-of-new-caledonia-s-provincial-elections
Kanak leader cleared to return to New Caledonia, court confirms
RNZ 20251017
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/576256/kanak-leader-cleared-to-return-to-new-caledonia-court-confirms
NZ to equip VMF with VT300M Leadership Centre
Daily Post (VU) 20251017
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/nz-to-equip-vmf-with-vt300m-leadership-centre/article_9ebf2cd9-6e9c-59ed-8fc5-a0795599971f.html
Gov’t Explores Establishment of Solomon Islands Defence Force
SBM Online 20251015
https://sbm.sb/govt-explores-establishment-of-solomon-islands-defence-force/
Russo Backs ‘One China’ Policy, Expand Cooperation in Various Fields
National (PNG) 20251017
https://www.thenational.com.pg/rosso-backs-one-china-policy-expand-cooperation-in-various-fields/
Troops Arrive in Lae as Exercise Wantok Kicks Off
National (PNG) 20251017
https://www.thenational.com.pg/troops-arrive-in-lae-as-exercise-wantok-warrior-kicks-off/
Taiwan + SCS
Chinese defense ministry warns U.S. against perilous attempts to arm Taiwan region
Xinhua 20251017
https://english.news.cn/20251017/26de42e2b5c3413ebdcd4285a37e98d3/c.html
Trump risks roiling ties if he tweaks wording on Taiwan to please China
Nikkei 20251018
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/comment/trump-risks-roiling-ties-if-he-tweaks-wording-on-taiwan-to-please-china
Taiwan tracks 18 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships
Taiwan 20251017
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6222185
China begins drills near Scarborough Shoal on final day of US-Philippine naval exercises
SCMP 20251017
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329400/china-begins-drills-near-scarborough-shoal-final-day-us-philippine-naval-exercises
China Deploys Buoys, Security Officers to Scarborough Shoal Amid Philippine Drills
USNI 20251017
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/17/china-deploys-buoys-security-officers-to-scarborough-shoal-amid-philippine-drills
Carrier USS Nimitz Transits Singapore Strait, Operates in South China Sea
USNI 20251017
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/17/carrier-uss-nimitz-transits-singapore-strait-operates-in-south-china-sea
Capabilities
S. Korea to begin deploying ‘monster’ Hyunmoo-5 missile at year-end: defense chief
Yonhap 20251017
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251016007900315
Washington’s neglect of South Korea’s security concerns is a proliferation problem
BAS 20251017
https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/washingtons-neglect-of-south-koreas-security-concerns-is-a-proliferation-problem/
China ‘showed integrated combat capabilities in locking on US fifth-generation jets’
SCMP 20251017
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329375/china-showed-integrated-combat-capabilities-locking-us-fifth-generation-jets
Conservative Priorities for the 2027 Defense Budget
Heritage 20251016
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/conservative-priorities-the-2027-defense-budget
Could Modified Pave Hawks Help the Air Force Support Agile Combat Employment?
Air & Space 20251016
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/could-modified-pave-hawks-help-the-air-force-support-agile-combat-employment/
Air Force squadrons are closing — reversing it demands investment
Defense News 20251017
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/09/29/senator-alarmed-about-barracks-privatization-seeks-answers-from-dod/
The Things that Bedevil U.S. Cyber Power
WOTR 20251016
https://warontherocks.com/2025/10/the-things-that-bedevil-u-s-cyber-power/
Public-private partnerships can be engine of defence mobilisation
ASPI 20251017
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/public-private-partnerships-can-be-engine-of-defence-mobilisation/
China successfully launches new satellite group
Xinhua 20251017
https://english.news.cn/20251017/8d4fd214030a41e9b8e1ee9562b33190/c.html
Power
Trump’s Manifest Destiny
Project Syndicate 20251015
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/trump-reviving-us-imperialism-and-martial-ethos-will-end-badly-by-joe-jackson-2025-10