Pacific Winds 20251022
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump, Australia’s Albanese sign critical minerals agreement, discuss submarine deal
Reuters 20251020
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-albanese-discuss-rare-earths-security-first-trump-summit-2025-10-20/
Trump praises Australia and takes swipe at Rudd during White House meeting with Albanese
ABC (AU) 20251021
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-21/donald-trump-and-anthony-albanese-meet-in-washington/105914030
Unpacking the U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework Agreement
CSIS 20251020
https://www.csis.org/analysis/unpacking-us-australia-critical-minerals-framework-agreement
Trump Backs Selling Submarines to Australia Under AUKUS Agreement
USNI 20251020
https://news.usni.org/2025/10/20/trump-backs-selling-submarines-to-australia-under-aukus-agreement
AUKUS makes sense – except for the submarine deal
Asia Times 20251021
https://asiatimes.com/2025/10/aukus-makes-sense-except-for-the-submarine-deal/
Offering loyalty to US short-sighted diplomacy for Australia
GT 20251021
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1346179.shtml
What Trump told Albanese about Taiwan matters more than AUKUS
Lowy 20251021
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/what-trump-told-albanese-about-taiwan-matters-more-aukus
Trump downplays Beijing threat to Taiwan as Australia touts rare earths deal
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3329717/trump-downplays-beijing-threat-taiwan-australia-touts-rare-earths-deal
Chinese FM responds to US President’s latest remarks on Taiwan question, planned China visit
GT 20251021
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1346161.shtml
What’s at stake during Trump’s visit to Asia?
Brookings 20251021
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/whats-at-stake-during-trumps-visit-to-asia/
US’ assignment of ‘tasks’ to Japan reveals its ‘forward containment’ strategy
GT 20251021
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202510/1346208.shtml
“A Really Powerful Tool”
China Wire 20251019
https://www.thewirechina.com/2025/10/19/a-really-powerful-tool-entity-list/
Trump’s North Korea Team Stays in Seoul Amid Silence
Chosun 20251021
https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/10/21/LZNHU3MHPNDELNQNEC2VCDOIPY/
A Pacific Eyes intelligence-sharing agreement
Lowy 20251021
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/pacific-eyes-intelligence-sharing-agreement
A ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body would offset China’s growing presence in region: report
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329818/pacific-eyes-intelligence-body-would-offset-chinas-growing-presence-region-report
China eyes 3-way currency swap with Japan and South Korea amid Trump’s tariff war: source
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3329849/china-eyes-3-way-currency-swap-japan-and-south-korea-amid-trumps-tariff-war-source
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US votes against Guam resolution at UN, commission director seeks unified action
GDP 20251021
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/us-votes-against-guam-resolution-at-un-commission-director-seeks-unified-action/article_7a598a74-6c97-4624-bf51-c21691ccf7d5.html
Navy Under Secretary Cao: DoW ‘constantly reevaluating’ Marine relocation from Okinawa, Guam will be protected
PDN 20251021
https://www.guampdn.com/news/navy-under-secretary-cao-dow-constantly-reevaluating-marine-relocation-from-okinawa-guam-will-be-protected/article_a6500324-44c9-4a1e-9231-b2d774c3ecbe.html
Island Waves
NZ aims to strengthen Pacific defence ties at key ministers’ meeting
RNZ 20251021
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/576500/nz-aims-to-strengthen-pacific-defence-ties-at-key-ministers-meeting
PNG Plans to Have 10,000 Soldiers
Post Courier (PNG) 20251021
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-plans-to-have-10000-soldiers/
Indonesia offers peacekeeping training opportunities
Daily Post (VU) 20251021
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/indonesia-offers-peacekeeping-training-opportunities/article_d6aeafda-56dd-5c8d-8090-ae09a32e9bd0.html
Australia weighs sixth PNG loan despite IMF ‘debt distress’ warning
AFR 20251020
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/australia-weighs-sixth-png-loan-despite-imf-debt-distress-warning-20251020-p5n3rc
New telecommunications tower in South New Georgia Rendova launched
Solomon Star 20251021
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/new-telecommunications-tower-in-south-new-georgia-rendova-launched/
Taiwan + SCS
On-time delivery of US F-16V fighter jets looks ‘challenging’, Taiwan defence chief warns
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329841/time-delivery-us-f-16v-fighter-jets-looks-challenging-taiwan-defence-chief-warns\
Taiwan must harden defenses; China invasion in 2027 unlikely: U.S. expert
CNA (TW) 20251021
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202510210029
China more interested in expansion than solving economic problems, Taiwan official says
Reuters 20251021
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-more-interested-expansion-than-solving-economic-problems-taiwan-official-2025-10-21/
US think tank warns China’s release of Taiwan military data marks new phase of cognitive warfare
Taiwan News 20251021
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6224428
Donald Trump isn’t serious about deterring Beijing from attacking Taiwan: poll
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3329823/donald-trump-isnt-serious-about-deterring-beijing-attacking-taiwan-poll
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships, 2 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20251021
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6224367
Chinese coastguard patrols disputed reefs controlled by Vietnam in South China Sea
SCMP 20251021
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329731/chinese-coastguard-patrols-disputed-reefs-controlled-vietnam-south-china-sea
Capabilities
Navies can’t afford expensive solutions to cheap problems
ASPI 20251021
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/navies-cant-afford-expensive-solutions-to-cheap-problems/
Certain level of defense capabilities needed for Japan to stay safe: expert
Kyodo 20251021
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/63051
Army, Marine Corps vehicles not ready for combat, watchdog finds
Military Times 20251021
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/10/21/army-marine-corps-vehicles-not-ready-for-combat-watchdog-finds/
America’s Maritime Wake-up Call: Competing with China at Sea
Hudson 20251021
https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/americas-maritime-wake-call-competing-china-sea-michael-roberts
US Army turns to private equity for infrastructure funding
Semafor 20251021
https://www.semafor.com/article/10/21/2025/us-army-turns-to-private-equity-for-infrastructure-funding
Power
A Proud Superpower Answers to No One
AEI 20251021
https://www.aei.org/articles/a-proud-superpower-answers-to-no-one/