Pacific Winds 20251102

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Lee, Xi discuss peace efforts, practical cooperation in 1st summit
Yonhap 20251101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251101007000315

China’s Xi and South Korea’s Lee discuss practical cooperation, denuclearisation progress
SCMP 20251101
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331173/chinas-xi-and-south-koreas-lee-discuss-practical-cooperation-denuclearisation-progress

Lee expects Xi to bolster strategic communication with China to resume talks with N. Korea
Yonhap 20251101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251101004951315

Xi calls on China, S. Korea to strengthen strategic communication, consolidate foundation of mutual trust
Xinhua 20251101
https://english.news.cn/20251101/ea0d5685c08d43e48c1449cbe94928e3/c.html

Issues at stake in summit between China’s Xi and South Korea’s Lee
Reuters 20251031
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/issues-stake-summit-between-chinas-xi-south-koreas-lee-2025-10-31/

Can South Korea Manage the Competing Needs of the U.S. and China?
NYTimes 20251101
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/world/asia/south-korea-china-us.html

Trump and Xi Revive the Ghost of the G2
The Diplomat 20251031
https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/trump-and-xi-revive-the-ghost-of-the-g2/

Trump and Xi prove they aren’t just great rivals but politicians fighting for survival back home
ABC (AU) 20251102
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-02/donald-trump-xi-jinping-meeting-busan-trade-taiwan/105957454

Trump’s China trade war backfires over strategic missteps
Nikkei 20251102
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/comment/trump-s-china-trade-war-backfires-over-strategic-missteps

President Trump approves Korean version of AUKUS
USSC 20251101
https://www.ussc.edu.au/ussc-insights-president-trump-approves-korean-version-of-aukus

Why Standing by South Korea’s Hanwha Is a US Imperative
The Diplomat 20251031
https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/why-standing-by-south-koreas-hanwha-is-a-us-imperative/

South Korea’s Lee says ‘worries vanished’ after meeting Takaichi
Japan Times 20251101
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/01/japan/politics/south-korea-lee-japan-takaichi-worries-vanished/

Takaichi Tells Xi of Concerns Over Senkaku Intrusions, Detentions of Japanese, Human Rights Issues
Yomiuri 20251101
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251101-290248/

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Japan reaffirm trilateral security cooperation with U.S.
Yonhap 20251101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251101006200315

ASEAN defense forum discusses peace cooperation amid hardening Sino-U.S. rivalry
Yonhap 20251101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251101002751315

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Tarague detonation lawsuit to proceed after judge vacates stay
PDN 20251101
https://www.guampdn.com/news/tarague-detonation-lawsuit-to-proceed-after-judge-vacates-stay/article_18d7f384-de15-4db0-8e7a-2ccc0ee2bd6d.html

Island Waves

Joint fisheries exercise goes high tech
Islands Business 20251101
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/pacific-nations-step-up-patrols-to-curb-illegal-fishing/

Police detains locally registered foreign vessel for breaching license conditions
SIBC 20251031
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/police-detains-locally-registered-foreign-vessel-for-breaching-license-conditions/

Australia signs deal with Satona for solar street lighting project
Solomon Star 20251101
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/australia-signs-deal-with-satona-for-solar-street-lighting-project/

China’s Okinawa remarks challenge militarisation, not sovereignty: analysts
SCMP 20251101
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331110/chinas-okinawa-remarks-challenge-militarisation-not-sovereignty-analysts

Taiwan + SCS

KMT’s new chair vows to pursue cross-strait peace
CNA (TW) 20251101
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202511010007

Cheng Li-wun formally assumes new KMT chairperson, vows to usher island of Taiwan in a century of cross-Straits peace
GT 20251101
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347105.shtml

China lodges serious protests to Japan over Japanese leader’s meeting with personnel from Taiwan authorities during APEC meetings: FM
GT 20251101
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347121.shtml

Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese military aircraft and 8 naval vessels
Taiwan News 20251101
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6233493

Hegseth unleashes diatribe over China’s activities in South China Sea, calls for concerted efforts
Yonhap 20251101
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251101006400315

Australia, New Zealand, Philippines and U.S. Conduct Maritime Cooperative Activity
US IndoPaCom 20251031
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4327573/australia-new-zealand-philippines-and-us-conduct-maritime-cooperative-activity/

PLA monitors Philippines’s ‘joint patrol’ with extraterritorial nations in S.China Sea; all disruptive activities under PLA’s full control: spokesperson
GT 20251101
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347101.shtml

PLA says Philippines’ South China Sea “joint patrol” undermines regional peace, stability
Xinhua 20251101
https://english.news.cn/20251101/462aaeaad8e843c28c28f4e79850230f/c.html

Capabilities

Narrow channel in Luzon Strait key to US plan to choke China’s navy
Manila Times 20251102
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/11/02/news/national/narrow-channel-in-luzon-strait-key-to-us-plan-to-choke-chinas-navy/2213645

China’s J-36 evolving fast to outfly slower-advancing US rivals
Asia Times 20251101
https://asiatimes.com/2025/11/chinas-j-36-evolving-fast-to-outfly-slower-advancing-us-rivals/

Will Trump’s call to resume nuclear testing fuel a US-China arms race?
SCMP 20251102
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331115/will-trumps-call-resume-nuclear-testing-fuel-us-china-arms-race