Pacific Winds 20260118

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

U.S. to urge allies to boost defense spending, allow greater access to its defense industry: State Dept.
Yonhap 20260117
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260117000200315

Making America great again? Evaluating Trump’s China strategy at the one-year mark
Brookings 20260116
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/making-america-great-again-evaluating-trumps-china-strategy-at-the-one-year-mark/

N. Korea would want nuclear arms acknowledgment, sanctions removal if it accedes to dialogue with U.S.: ex-U.S. envoy
Yonhap 20260117
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260117000300315

China bids to host secretariat of new high seas treaty
Japan Times 20260117
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/17/asia-pacific/politics/china-secretariat-high-seas-treaty/

Island Waves

Pacific Islands Postpone Security Plan that Could Invite Chinese Influence
Maritime Fairtrade 20260117
https://maritimefairtrade.org/pacific-islands-postpone-security-plan-that-could-invite-chinese-influence/

Bonds, blockings and bans: a massive new-year shakeup to Pacific-US travel
RNZ 20260117
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/584306/bonds-blockings-and-bans-a-massive-new-year-shakeup-to-pacific-us-travel

Taiwan + SCS

How War With China Begins
NYTimes 20260117
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/opinion/taiwan-china-war.html

Taiwan faces possible Beijing squeeze after US quits WHO and other agencies
SCMP 20260117
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3340149/taiwan-faces-possible-beijing-squeeze-after-us-quits-who-and-other-agencies

Between Expansion, Pushback, Bipolar, Multipolar Worlds, Taiwan Strait is Today’s Dystopia
Sunday Guardian 20260118
https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/between-expansion-pushback-bipolar-multipolar-worlds-taiwan-strait-is-todays-dystopia-164987/

PLA drone enters airspace over Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Island
CNA (TW) 20260117
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202601170009

Drone flight training in the airspace near China’s Dongsha Island entirely legitimate and lawful: PLA Southern Theater Command spokesperson
GT 20260117
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1353491.shtml

Chinese military effectively responds to U.S. vessels’ transit through Taiwan Strait
Xinhua 20260117
https://english.news.cn/20260117/6ad539e68f87423ab1a5973dbdd7f8d5/c.html

Taiwan tracks 26 Chinese military aircraft and 9 ships
Taiwan News 20260117
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6284620

Capabilities

Army Hypersonic Missile Fielding Falters on Missed Deadline
Bloomberg 20260117
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-17/army-hypersonic-missile-fielding-falters-on-missed-deadline

Japan’s FY 2023 Defense Item Procurement from U.S. Triples
Yomiuri 20260117
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/jiji-press/20260117-304793/

Japan waiting 5 years for $7.2bn in US military equipment purchases
Nikkei 20260117
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defense/japan-waiting-5-years-for-7.2bn-in-us-military-equipment-purchases

Reviewing The Chinese Navy In 2025
Naval News 20260117
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/01/chinese-navy-annual-review-2025-part-ii-subs-logistics-rd/