Pacific Winds 20260205
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Xi Jinping speaks with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on eve of Ukraine war anniversary
ABC (AU) 22060205
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-05/xi-speaks-to-putin-and-trump-on-eve-of-ukraine-war-anniversary/106306896
Trump says he had ‘positive’ call with Xi over Taiwan, Ukraine, Iran, other issues
Yonhap 20260205
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260205000500315
China’s Xi and Trump talk by phone, Chinese state media report
Reuters 20260204
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-xi-trump-hold-call-chinese-state-media-reports-2026-02-04/
Trump says trade, Taiwan, many other topics discussed with China’s Xi
Kyodo 20260205
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/69879
Xi tells Trump Taiwan is ‘most important’ issue in China-US ties in phone call
SCMP 20260204
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342409/hours-after-call-vladimir-putin-xi-jinping-talks-donald-trump
Xi warns Trump about arms sales to Taiwan in call ahead of April visit
Nikkei 20260205
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/us-china-tensions/xi-warns-trump-about-arms-sales-to-taiwan-in-call-ahead-of-april-visit
Xi says ready to work with Trump to steer giant ship of China-U.S. ties steadily forward
Xinhua 20260204
https://english.news.cn/20260205/08d54e12dab24793880e7fccd6fa584c/c.html
Xi calls on China, Russia to grow ties, work for global strategic stability
Xinhua 20260204
https://english.news.cn/20260204/ac95c216d7d349a3961b589c13d6e8d6/c.html
The White House Is Abandoning Its Indo-Pacific Partners
CFR 20260204
https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-white-house-is-abandoning-its-indo-pacific-partners
Readout of Under Secretary for War for Policy Elbridge Colby Visit to the Republic of Korea and Japan
US DoW 20260204
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4397166/readout-of-under-secretary-for-war-for-policy-elbridge-colby-visit-to-the-repub/
Just in case: Australia needs to prepare for world without US leadership
ASPI 20260204
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/just-in-case-australia-needs-to-prepare-for-world-without-us-leadership/
S. Korea, U.S. mulling outlining timeline for wartime command handover in annual defense talks: source
Yonhap 20260204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260204005400315
FM, Rubio reaffirm cooperation on civil nuclear power, nuclear-powered subs, shipbuilding
Yonhap 20260204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260204000253315
With purge, Xi’s military control rises—and so do the region’s risks
ASPI 20260204
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/with-purge-xis-military-control-rises-and-so-do-the-regions-risks/
How Trump’s Year of Disruption Has Only Helped China
Bloomberg 20260204
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-04/podcast-how-trump-s-year-of-disruption-has-only-helped-china
Ben Morgan’s Pacific Update: Pacific Summary 2026
Daily Blog 20260205
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/ben-morgans-pacific-update-pacific-summary-2026/
U.S. gov’t weighing whether to formalize threatened S. Korea tariff hike in Federal Register: Seoul official
Yonhap 20260204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260204003700315
US proposes critical minerals trade bloc aimed at countering China
Reuters 20260204
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-hosts-countries-talks-weaken-chinas-grip-critical-minerals-2026-02-04/
Vance calls on allies to join ‘critical minerals trading bloc’ amid efforts to counter China’s supply chain clout
Yonhap 20260205
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260205000300315
U.S. proposes critical minerals “preferential trade zone” with allies
Kyodo 20260205
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/69869
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Australia deepens cooperation with the Republic of the Marshall Islands
AU MoFA 20260203
https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/australia-deepens-cooperation-republic-marshall-islands
Island Waves
American Samoa Is America’s Strategic Hub in the South Pacific
Heritage 20260204
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/american-samoa-americas-strategic-hub-the-south-pacific
$16m Korean grant approved to strengthen health system
FBCN 20260204
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/16m-korean-grant-approved-to-strengthen-health-system/
Japan’s assistance to PNG signals long-term commitment to Pacific resilience
IPDF 20260204
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/02/japans-assistance-to-png-signals-long-term-commitment-to-pacific-resilience/
Australia targets 70% of aid for disability inclusion
FBCN 20260204
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-targets-70-of-aid-for-disability-inclusion/
Taiwan + xCS
China aggression renews question of whether Trump would defend Taiwan with US military
SWJ 20260203
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/02/03/china-aggression/
Xi’s military purge is not really about corruption
Asia Times 20260204
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/xis-military-purge-is-not-really-about-corruption/
Xi’s military purges will make him wary of invading Taiwan
Lowy 20260205
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/xi-s-military-purges-will-make-him-wary-invading-taiwan
What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?
SCMP 20260204
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342224/what-does-fall-pla-top-brass-zhang-youxia-say-about-beijings-taiwan-plans
CRS Report to Congress on Taiwan Defense and Military Issues
CRS 20260203
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26808061-crs-on-taiwan-defense-and-military-issues/
Lai warns blocked defense budget could hurt Taiwan’s credibility
Taiwan News 20260204
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6296081
AIT urges defense resolve after Huang’s comments
Taipei Times 20260205
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/02/05/2003851806
In Beijing, Taiwan’s KMT echoes Xi Jinping’s ‘national rejuvenation’ call
Nikkei 20260204
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/in-beijing-taiwan-s-kmt-echoes-xi-jinping-s-national-rejuvenation-call
Chinese mainland to resume travel for Shanghai residents to Kinmen and Matsu: Ministry of Culture and Tourism
GT 20260204
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1354775.shtml
Taiwan public opinion says CPC-KMT think tank forum benefits cross-Strait peace
Xinhua 20260204
https://english.news.cn/20260204/7970785424974a898dc9e2a0035690c0/c.html
The Free World Needs Taiwan
FA 20260204
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/free-world-needs-taiwan
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20260204
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6295717
China’s top envoy says issue of disputed steel structures in Yellow Sea making positive progress
Yonhap 20260204
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260204013100315
The Philippines Brokers South China Sea Talks
FP 20260204
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/04/philippines-south-china-sea-code-conduct/
The Rationality of China’s Coast Guard Operations in the South China Sea in 2025
SCSPI 20260204
https://www.scspi.org/en/dtfx/rationality-china%E2%80%99s-coast-guard-operations-south-china-sea-2025-upholding-sovereignty-and
Is the South China Sea a military springboard for Beijing?
UPI 20260204
https://www.upi.com/Voices/2026/02/04/South-China-Sea-Beijing-military-control/8471770214856/
Senate must bankroll AFP, Coast Guard amid WPS tensions –Pangilinan
PNA 20260204
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1268336
Capabilities
Record F-35 deliveries muscle up American allies in the Asia-Pacific region
SCMP 20260204
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342328/record-f-35-deliveries-muscle-american-allies-asia-pacific-region
Has China’s GJ-21 stealth attack drone joined sea trials for Type 076 Sichuan?
SCMP 20260204
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342208/has-chinas-gj-21-stealth-attack-drone-joined-sea-trials-type-076-sichuan
The Trump Battleship Controversy: Big Ships and Battle Systems
RSIS 20260203
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip26020-the-trump-battleship-controversy-big-ships-and-battle-systems/
Raytheon secures deal to build thousands of missiles for the US, including Tomahawks
Reuters 20260204
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/raytheon-secures-deal-build-thousands-missiles-us-including-tomahawks-2026-02-04/
With New START Set to Expire, Experts Foresee a ‘New Era’ of Nuclear Policy
Air & Space 20260204
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/with-new-start-set-to-expire-experts-foresee-a-new-era-of-nuclear-policy/
Air Force Grapples with Challenges to Aircraft Readiness: Parts and Maintainers
Air & Space 20260203
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-grapples-challenges-aircraft-readiness/
Weakening nuclear arms control increases risks of crisis escalation
ASPI 20260204
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/weakening-nuclear-arms-control-increases-risks-of-crisis-escalation/
New START’s Expiration Is a Win for China
Lowy 20260204
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/new-starts-expiration-is-a-win-for-china/
Army official to industry: Don’t ‘bring negativity’ about NGC2 to Congress
Breaking Defense 20260204
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/army-official-to-industry-dont-bring-negativity-about-ngc2-to-congress/
US Navy seeks commercial satellites for nighttime Earth observation
Defense News 20260203
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2026/02/03/us-navy-seeks-commercial-satellites-for-nighttime-earth-observation/
As satellites become targets, Space Force plans a broader role
Space News 20260204
https://spacenews.com/as-satellites-become-targets-space-force-plans-a-broader-role/