Pacific Winds 20260120
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
How America Can Stop Getting Played by China
FA 20260119
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/how-america-can-stop-getting-played-china
China, S.Korea reportedly hold 13th round of FTA follow-up talks; move expected to promote deeper biz cooperation: expert
GT 20260119
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1353600.shtml
The Philippines Are in for a Turbulent 2026
FP 20260119
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/19/philippines-asean-southeast-asia-china-us-trump-tariffs-security-south-china-sea-myanmar/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Activist group opposes Air Force’s Supreme Court petition for review
GDP 20260119
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/activist-group-opposes-air-forces-supreme-court-petition-for-review/article_55094346-e2a6-4594-a8e6-b81ed10cc5f3.html
Eun: 90% of military buildup jobs could ‘vanish’ in 9 years
PDN 20260119
https://www.guampdn.com/news/eun-90-of-military-buildup-jobs-could-vanish-in-9-years/article_399e6b4b-9a1b-4936-87a4-ae5b2deb81d9.html
US warns China targeting Pacific democracies as COFA ties deepen
RNZ 20260120
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/584500/us-warns-china-targeting-pacific-democracies-as-cofa-ties-deepen
New Zealand and Kiribati relationship warms with partnership agreement
Reuters 20260119
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/new-zealand-kiribati-relationship-warms-with-partnership-agreement-2026-01-19/
Can a U.S.-Greenland Partnership Work? Just Look at These Pacific Islands
WSJ 20260119
https://www.wsj.com/world/can-a-u-s-greenland-partnership-work-just-look-at-these-pacific-islands-9ffcc1d0
Island Waves
Pro-France MPs confront Macron at New Caledonia talks
RNZ 20260119
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/584392/pro-france-mps-confront-macron-at-new-caledonia-talks
Taiwan + SCS
Trump can’t be trusted to defend Taiwan
Nikkei 20260119
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/trump-can-t-be-trusted-to-defend-taiwan
A Failed Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Would Be Disastrous for Xi Jinping
FP 20260119
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/19/china-taiwan-invasion-failed-xi-disaster/
US, Taiwan to shift focus to security, former official says
Taipei Times 20260119
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/01/19/2003850842
Type 075 amphibious assault ship, the PLA ‘light aircraft carrier’ key to Taiwan strategy
SCMP 20260119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340410/type-075-amphibious-assault-ship-plas-light-aircraft-carrier-key-taiwan
Capabilities
PLA urged to find a way to operate effectively under the gaze of US and Japan
SCMP 20260119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340431/pla-urged-find-way-operate-effectively-under-gaze-us-and-japan
The Growth of China’s Navy: Past, Present, and Future
The Diplomat 20260119
https://thediplomat.com/2026/01/the-growth-of-chinas-navy-past-present-and-future/
Why China may need to take the nuclear option for its next aircraft carrier
SCMP 20260119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3340320/why-china-may-need-take-nuclear-option-its-next-aircraft-carrier
Navy’s Top Admiral Wants To Tailor Warship Deployments To Specific Missions
TWZ 20250119
https://www.twz.com/sea/navys-top-admiral-wants-to-tailor-warship-deployments-to-specific-missions
Countering North Korea’s Growing Drone Threat
RSIS 20260119
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/countering-north-koreas-growing-drone-threat/
Ballistic Missile With Absolutely Massive Bunker-Buster Warhead Fielded By South Korea: Report
TWZ 20260119
https://www.twz.com/land/ballistic-missile-with-absolutely-massive-bunker-buster-warhead-fielded-by-south-korea-report
Japan’s New Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Barrel Rolls To Evade Defenses
TWZ 20260119
https://www.twz.com/sea/new-japanese-anti-ship-cruise-missile-barrel-rolls-to-evade-defenses
Army Adds LRHW Hypersonic Missile Battery to Pacific
Warrior Maven 20260119
https://warriormaven.com/news/land/army-adds-lrhw-hypersonic-missile-battery-to-pacific
China launches new internet satellite group
Xinhua 20260119
https://english.news.cn/20260119/e56ce6bb0eec47dbafa21f4bd444a62d/c.html
China suffers unprecedented double rocket launch failures in a single day
SCMP 20260119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340463/china-suffers-unprecedented-double-rocket-launch-failures-single-day
Space Force ends ‘Resilient GPS’ satellite program
Space News 20260119
https://spacenews.com/space-force-ends-resilient-gps-satellite-program/
Power
How narrowing China-US gap could reshape global power play by 2035
SCMP 20260119
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3340468/how-narrowing-china-us-gap-could-reshape-global-power-play-2035