Pacific Winds 20260203
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Shoigu backs China’s position on Taiwan, says Russia watching Japan’s ‘militarization’
Japan Times 20260202
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/02/asia-pacific/politics/shoigu-russia-china-taiwan-japan/
Japan’s muted response to the shock of Trump’s Donroe doctrine
EAF 20260202
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/02/japans-muted-response-to-the-shock-of-trumps-donroe-doctrine/
Resilience, cooperation, self-reliance: what the US’s strategies mean for the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20260202
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/resilience-cooperation-self-reliance-what-the-uss-strategies-mean-for-the-indo-pacific/
Critics of US need to explain Australia’s place in a China-dominated region
ASPI 20260202
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/critics-of-us-need-to-explain-australias-place-in-china-dominated-region/
Who is constantly fueling Australia’s strategic anxiety?
GT 20260203
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1354691.shtml
China pushes ahead in 2026 as Trump plays catch-up
EAF 20260202
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/02/china-pushes-ahead-in-2026-as-trump-plays-catch-up/
The unseen front in the Philippines’ China challenge
Lowy 20260202
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/unseen-front-philippines-china-challenge
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. to hold talks amid Trump’s tariff threat
Yonhap 20260202
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202009100315
Just what we need: US calls key countries together on critical minerals
ASPI 20260202
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/just-what-we-need-us-calls-key-countries-together-on-critical-minerals/
In an Age of Superpowers, Geography Is Still Destiny
Bloomberg 20260201
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/features/2026-02-01/superpowers-america-china-and-russia-can-t-change-geography
From charity to connectivity: China remaking global public health
Asia Times 20260202
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/from-charity-to-connectivity-china-remaking-global-public-health/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
CNMI utility seeks up to US$700m in federal funding for power upgrades
RNZ 20260203
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/585752/cnmi-utility-seeks-up-to-us-700m-in-federal-funding-for-power-upgrades
New JICA volunteers hit town
MIJ 20260131
https://marshallislandsjournal.com/new-jica-volunteers-hit-town/
High-level US-RMI talks
MIJ 20260122
https://marshallislandsjournal.com/high-level-us-rmi-talks/
Island Waves
Tonga’s PM wants to reset relations with US
ABC (AU) 20260202
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/tonga-pm/106294226
Taiwan + SCS
Chinese incursions around Taiwan rise nearly 15-fold over 5 years
Taiwan News 20260202
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6294045
‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ resistance attempts meaningless, mainland experts say on Taiwan regional authorities’ hype of PLA aircraft sorties around island
GT 20260202
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1354667.shtml
Taiwan-US ‘firepower’ center to hone asymmetric warfare tactics
Defense News 20260202
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/02/02/taiwan-us-firepower-center-to-hone-asymmetric-warfare-tactics/
All Taiwan parties must face China reality, says minister banned by Beijing
Nikkei 20260202
https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/interview/all-taiwan-parties-must-face-china-reality-says-minister-banned-by-beijing
KMT delegation departs for CCP-linked conference in Beijing
Taiwan News 20260202
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6294209
KMT delegation lands in Beijing for think tank exchange, reiterating the two sides of the Straits 'are naturally family'
GT 20260202
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1354659.shtml
Taiwan Coast Guard plans major upgrade to radar and patrol capability
Taiwan News 20260202
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6293959
Capabilities
Hardened Structures, Nets For Drone Defense Front And Center In New Pentagon Guidance
TWZ 20260202
https://www.twz.com/news-features/hardened-structures-nets-for-drone-defense-front-and-center-in-new-pentagon-guidance
Assessing North Korea’s Five-Year Effort to Develop 13 New Nuclear and Missile Systems
CSIS 20260130
https://www.38north.org/2026/01/assessing-north-koreas-five-year-effort-to-develop-13-new-nuclear-and-missile-systems/
Strategy??
SWJ 20260202
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/02/02/strategy/
U.S. Army Quietly Stands Up Rotational Force in the Philippines
USNI 20260202
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/02/u-s-army-quietly-stands-up-rotational-force-in-the-philippines
Power
Is Trump reshaping the world order?
Brookings 20260202
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-trump-reshaping-the-world-order/
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 2, 2026
USNI 20260202
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/02/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-feb-2-2026