Pacific Winds 20251105
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. begin key security talks on alliance issues
Yonhap 20251104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251103009451315
Lee tells Hegseth S. Korea’s plan of retaking wartime operational control from U.S. would upgrade alliance
Yonhap 20251104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251104011452315
Nuclear Subs and Bounded Autonomy: The Evolving Logic of the South-US Alliance
The Diplomat 20251104
https://thediplomat.com/2025/11/nuclear-subs-and-bounded-autonomy-the-evolving-logic-of-the-south-us-alliance/
South Korea’s shipbuilding and nuclear sub pacts with US face stormy waters
Nikkei 20251104
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/south-korea-s-shipbuilding-and-nuclear-sub-pacts-with-us-face-stormy-waters
US, S.Korea nuclear submarine cooperation could disrupt regional strategic balance, trigger tension: expert
GT 20251104
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347360.shtml
‘Good neighbours’: China and Russia talk up trade and security ties
ABC (AU) 20251104
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-04/china-talks-up-russia-pact/105968282
Xi meets Russian PM in Beijing
GT 20251104
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347308.shtml
As Beijing pushes for China-Japan-South Korea trade pact amid US tensions, hurdles remain
Korea Times 20251104
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20251104/as-beijing-pushes-for-china-japan-south-korea-trade-pact-amid-us-tensions-hurdles-remain
Trump tries old tactic with China on fentanyl – a new ‘working group’
Reuters 20251104
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-tries-old-tactic-with-china-fentanyl-new-working-group-2025-11-04/
China’s US envoy calls for action after Xi-Trump summit, warns against ‘new disruptions’
SCMP 20251104
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3331462/chinas-us-envoy-calls-action-after-xi-trump-summit-warns-against-new-disruptions
How Beijing Views Trump
FP 20251104
https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/04/how-beijing-views-trump/
Takaichi’s balancing act: Supporting Taiwan and stabilizing China ties
Japan Times 20251104
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/04/japan/politics/takaichi-taiwan-china-analysis/
Japan Can Keep the Indo-Pacific Open and Free
FA 20251104
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/japan/japan-can-keep-indo-pacific-open-and-free
With Sanae Takaichi, “Japan is back” is back
Lowy 20251104
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/sanae-takaichi-japan-back-back
Trump’s G-2 riff ripples through an uneasy Global South
Asia Times 20251104
https://asiatimes.com/2025/11/trumps-g-2-riff-ripples-through-an-uneasy-global-south/
NIS detects signs of N. Korea’s preparations for possible U.S. summit
Yonhap 20241104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251104012151320
Why a quadrilateral ‘Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council’ is a security illusion
GT 20251104
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347363.shtml
A battlefield report: Neither side is winning US-China trade war
Asia Times 20251104
https://asiatimes.com/2025/11/a-battlefield-report-neither-side-is-winning-us-china-trade-war/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
DOD: Strong industry response to new military housing initiative
GDP 20251104
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/dod-strong-industry-response-to-new-military-housing-initiative/article_609bae33-17ee-4486-b0ab-519c4278fef5.html
Whipps, Japanese ministers discuss fisheries, finance, and resilience cooperation in Tokyo
Island Times 20251104
https://islandtimes.org/whipps-japanese-ministers-discuss-fisheries-finance-and-resilience-cooperation-in-tokyo/
Thousands of CHamoru artifacts found at Camp Blaz would take years to process
PDN 20251104
https://www.guampdn.com/news/thousands-of-chamoru-artifacts-found-at-camp-blaz-would-take-years-to-process/article_858f8e21-b262-4526-b469-44b38c660850.html
Island Waves
China’s top legislator meets with participants of Seminar for Representatives from Pacific Island Countries
Xinhua 20251104
https://english.news.cn/20251104/cdd7a94aeb894e8abd0d7eb11ede0c01/c.html
Vanuatu participates in 8th China International Import Expo
Daily Post (VU) 20251104
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-participates-in-8th-china-international-import-expo/article_f8363db0-3019-5eb6-9bb9-777b02dd3615.html
Taiwan + SCS
How the Trump-Xi Meeting Was Read in Taiwan
The Diplomat 20251103
https://thediplomat.com/2025/11/how-the-trump-xi-meeting-was-read-in-taiwan/
Trump’s transactionalism turns Taiwan into a bargaining chip
EAF 20251104
https://eastasiaforum.org/2025/11/04/trumps-transactionalism-turns-taiwan-into-a-bargaining-chip/
The next war we already saw: Taiwan
Asia Times 20251104
https://asiatimes.com/2025/11/the-next-war-we-already-saw-taiwan/
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships, 2 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20251104
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6235050
Fuelling capability in the South China Sea
AU DoD 20251104
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-11-04/fuelling-capability-south-china-sea
Report on Marcos administration’s S.China Sea policy exposes its ‘extremist, adventurist’ tendencies
GT 20251104
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347361.shtml
Capabilities
Lee says progress in talks with U.S. on fuel supply for nuclear-powered submarines reinforces foundation for self-reliant defense
Yonhap 20251104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251104002600315
S. Korea could launch homegrown nuclear-powered submarine in mid-to-late 2030s: defense ministry
Yonhap 20251104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251104008251315
Hegseth vows interagency efforts to fulfill nuclear sub construction for S. Korea
Yonhap 20251104
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251104007552315
China’s military build-up demands response, Australia defence minister says
Reuters 20251103
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-military-build-up-demands-response-australia-defence-minister-says-2025-11-03/
Beyond AUKUS: The maritime strategy Australia needs
Lowy 20251104
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beyond-aukus-maritime-strategy-australia-needs
Australian defense minister hypes China’s ‘military build-up’ to create pretext for its own military expansion: expert
GT 20251104
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202511/1347339.shtml
Logistics is the Achilles’ heel of China deterrence
Breaking Defense 20251104
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/logistics-is-the-achilles-heel-of-china-deterrence/
China’s 6th Generation Stealth Fighters Both Appear At Secretive Test Base
TWZ 20251104
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-6th-generation-stealth-fighters-both-appear-at-secretive-test-base
US Space Force to use 3 weapons to jam Chinese satellites via remote control
SCMP 20251104
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3331538/us-space-force-use-3-weapons-jam-chinese-satellites-remote-control
Chinese team creates world’s first 2D industrial chip for military use
SCMP 20251104
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3331503/historic-leap-chinese-team-creates-worlds-first-2d-industrial-chip-military-use
The Coming Wave: Chinese Doctrine on the Tabletop?
WOTR 20251104
https://warontherocks.com/2025/11/the-coming-wave-chinese-doctrine-on-the-tabletop/