Pacific Winds 20251019

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Bessent, Chinese vice premier to meet to try to defuse US tariff hike
Reuters 20251017
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-says-100-tariffs-china-not-sustainable-2025-10-17/

Chinese vice premier holds video call with US treasury secretary, trade representative on economic issues
GT 20251018
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1345963.shtml

The US Has No China Policy, No Strategy and No Clue
Bloomberg 20251018
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-10-18/the-us-has-no-china-policy-no-strategy-and-no-clue

Is North Korea pushing China to more openly accept its status as a nuclear power?
SCMP 20251018
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329525/north-korea-pushing-china-more-openly-accept-its-status-nuclear-power

Island Waves

China’s economic slowdown has become its diplomatic weapon in the Pacific
ABC (AU) 20251019
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-19/china-economy-pacific-australia-united-states/105884758

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft and 8 naval vessels
Taiwan News 20251018
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6222876