Pacific Winds 20260201
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan, South Korea eye defense cooperation to complement US deterrence
Nikkei 20260131
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/japan-south-korea-eye-defense-cooperation-to-complement-us-deterrence
Japan, South Korea Defense Chiefs Agree on Mutual Visits
Yomiuri 20260131
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/jiji-press/20260131-308150/
U.S. Allies Are Drawing Closer to China, but on Beijing’s Terms
NYTimes 20260131
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/world/asia/trump-xi-starmer-carney.html
Taiwan + SCS
US defence strategy omission raises alarm in Taiwan over Trump’s intentions
SCMP 20260131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341816/us-defence-strategy-omission-raises-alarm-taiwan-over-trumps-intentions
Taiwan ‘very important’ to Japan for 3 strategic reasons: Japanese scholar
CNA (TW) 20260131
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202601310008
China counting how many missiles it needs to win a Taiwan war
Asia Times 20260131
https://asiatimes.com/2026/01/china-counting-how-many-missiles-it-needs-to-win-a-taiwan-war/
Taiwan tracks 3 PLA aircraft and 8 naval vessels
Taiwan News 20260131
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6293573
Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols around Huangyan Dao
CH MoND 20260131
http://eng.mod.gov.cn/2025xb/N/T/16440351.html
Capabilities
U.S. Army awards Raytheon $1.03B LTAMDS radar contract
Defence Blog 20260130
https://defence-blog.com/u-s-army-awards-raytheon-1-03b-ltamds-radar-contract/
As Canada and UK hit refresh on China ties, is this the end of Five Eyes?
SCMP 20260131
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3341885/canada-and-uk-hit-refresh-china-ties-end-five-eyes
US Increases Submarine Force Readiness Amid China Rivalry
Newsweek 20260129
https://www.newsweek.com/us-increases-submarine-force-readiness-amid-china-rivalry-11434307