Pacific Winds 20251216
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
America Cannot Win Alone
NYTimes 20251213
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/13/opinion/editorials/trump-us-military-alliances-spending.html
Japan and Australia can build economic strength amid weakening globalisation
ASPI 20251215
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/japan-and-australia-can-build-economic-strength-amid-weakening-globalisation/
AUKUS After AUSMIN: Why Canberra Must Read Washington Clearly
The Diplomat 20251212
https://thediplomat.com/2025/12/aukus-after-ausmin-why-canberra-must-read-washington-clearly/
Trump NSS puts S. Korea at center of US primacy aims in region
Responsible Statecraft 20251215
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-nss-china/
NDAA2026 makes available $1.5 billion for the Philippines
PIT 20251215
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/ndaa2026-makes-available-1-5-billion-for-the-philippines
What Trump’s National Security Strategy Gets Right
FA 20251215
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/what-trumps-national-security-strategy-gets-right
Trump’s weakness on China causes rising Pacific fear
WashExam 20251215
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/courage-strength-optimism/3917386/trumps-weakness-on-china-causes-rising-pacific-fear/
Japanese academic: Takaichi’s China policy misread
Think China 20251212
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/japanese-academic-takaichis-china-policy-misread
S. Korea urges Japan to fulfill its pledge on UNESCO-listed forced labor site
Yonhap 20251215
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251215009700315
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Moylan ‘pleased’ with House NDAA, bill awaits Senate OK
GDP 20251215
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/moylan-pleased-with-house-ndaa-bill-awaits-senate-ok/article_ae8234fd-ff4e-4dd1-8738-4669e1ef1d06.html
China Just Moved a Naval Task Force into the Second Island Chain
National INterest 20251215
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/china-just-moved-naval-task-force-into-second-island-chain-bw-121525
Island Waves
New tower launched in East Choiseul’s Chivoko site
Solomon Star 20251215
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/new-tower-launched-in-east-choiseuls-chivoko-site/
Google to build undersea cables
Natiuonal (PNG) 20251215
https://www.thenational.com.pg/google-to-build-undersea-cables/
What could follow Bougainville’s exit - and why Papua New Guinea struggles to let go
RNZ 20251216
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/581919/what-could-follow-bougainville-s-exit-and-why-papua-new-guinea-struggles-to-let-go
Taiwan + SCS
U.S. Senate passes bill to speed up defense transfers to Taiwan
CNA (TW) 20251215
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202512150010
China’s plan to quarantine Taiwan while avoiding war
Asia Times 20251215
https://asiatimes.com/2025/12/chinas-plan-to-quarantine-taiwan-while-avoiding-war/
China sanctions ex-Japan SDF chief Iwasaki who serves as Taiwan adviser
Kyodo 20251215
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/66843
DPP authorities hype PLA activities around Taiwan island, exaggerating situation to stoke confrontation narrative
GT 20251215
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1350665.shtml
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese naval ships, 3 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20251215
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6264842
PH issues demarche to China over water cannon attack to fishermen
Manila Bulletin 20251215
https://mb.com.ph/2025/12/15/ph-issues-demarche-to-china-over-water-cannon-attack-to-fishermen
China accuses Philippines of ‘premeditated’ provocations near Sabina Shoal
SCMP 20251215
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3336509/china-accuses-philippines-premeditated-provocations-near-sabina-shoal
US urged to stop interfering in South China Sea issues as Philippine personnel threaten CCG officers with knives at Xianbin Jiao: FM
GT 20251215
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1350640.shtml
Capabilities
New Dark Eagle Hypersonic Weapon Details Emerge
TWZ 20251214
https://www.twz.com/land/new-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon-details-emerge
New Patriot Interceptors To Allow For “Over-The-Shoulder” Shots At Passing Targets
TWZ 20251215
https://www.twz.com/land/new-patriot-interceptors-to-allow-for-over-the-shoulder-shots-at-passing-targets
China’s Jiutian drone carrier targets US Pacific soft underbelly
Asia Times 20251215
https://asiatimes.com/2025/12/chinas-jiutian-drone-carrier-targets-us-pacific-soft-underbelly/
Why (and how) the US military wants to resupply troops from space
Task & Purpose 20251215
https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/us-military-rocket-cargo-space/
Chasing True AI Autonomy: From Legacy Mindsets to Battlefield Dominance
WOTR 20251215
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/chasing-true-ai-autonomy-from-legacy-mindsets-to-battlefield-dominance/
US must lead in building a Pacific drone industrial base to balance China’s economic might and hegemony
Breaking Defense 20251215
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/us-must-lead-in-building-a-pacific-drone-industrial-base-to-balance-chinas-economic-might-and-hegemony/
China’s Stealthy CH-7 Flying Wing Drone Has Flown
TWZ 20251215
https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-stealthy-ch-7-long-endurance-drone-is-now-flying
America’s Drone Delusion
FA 20251215
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/americas-drone-delusion
The United States Needs Its Marine Corps Now More Than Ever
CSIS 20251215
https://www.csis.org/analysis/united-states-needs-its-marine-corps-now-more-ever
Philippines, U.S. eye Luzon Strait base for joint defense operations
Naval News 20251215
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/12/philippines-u-s-eye-luzon-strait-base-for-joint-defense-operations/
Why North Korea is modernising its conventional arsenal
Lowy 20251215
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-north-korea-modernising-its-conventional-arsenal
Future USS Idaho Delivered to U.S. Navy
USN 20251215
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4360305/future-uss-idaho-delivered-to-us-navy/
NZ Army soldiers hone their ability to fuel the fight
NZ MoD 20251215
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/nz-army-soldiers-hone-their-ability-to-fuel-the-fight/
Space Force will not partner with NRO for next-generation surveillance satellites
Breaking Defense 20251215
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/space-force-will-not-partner-with-nro-for-next-generation-surveillance-satellites/
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Dec. 15, 2025
USNI 20251215
https://news.usni.org/2025/12/15/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-dec-15-2025
Events
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