Pacific Winds 20260207
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China rallies neighbours against Japan in rare meeting. Will it work?
SCMP 20260206
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342540/china-rallies-neighbours-against-japan-rare-meeting-will-it-work
Four Fatal Problems in the New US Approach to China
Bloomberg 202600206
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-02-06/trump-xi-call-is-the-us-ready-to-take-on-china
US policy towards China, Indo Pacific remains biggest uncertainty under Trump, says veteran diplomat
CNA (SG) 20260206
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/united-states-trump-foreign-policy-china-taiwan-russia-global-order-5912136
South Korea security law under fire as Seoul seeks warmer Pyongyang ties
Nikkei 20260206
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/policy-asia/south-korea-security-law-under-fire-as-seoul-seeks-warmer-pyongyang-ties
Defense ministry says it’s in consultations with UNC over ‘effective’ management of DMZ
Yonhap 20260206
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260206008700315
U.S. call for S. Korea’s ‘primary’ defense role fuels expectations for OPCON transfer
Yonhap 20260206
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260207000500315
U.S. State Dept. reaffirms America’s nuclear umbrella for S. Korea, N.K. denuclearization goal
Yonhap 20260206
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260206001000315
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signs security treaty with Indonesia
ABC (AU) 20260206
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-06/pm-to-sign-security-treaty-with-indonesia/106311374
Australia, Indonesia sign deal to extend security cooperation in ‘watershed moment’
SCMP 20260206
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3342607/australia-indonesia-sign-deal-extend-security-cooperation-watershed-moment
The placebo risk to the Australia–Indonesia “common security” treaty
Lowy 20260206
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/placebo-risk-australia-indonesia-common-security-treaty
US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty expires as Trump rejects Moscow’s one-year extension
ABC (AU) 20260206
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-06/us-russia-nuclear-weapons-treaty-expires/106312346
Trump balks at nuclear limit extension, calls for new US-China-Russia deal
SCMP 20260206
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342576/trump-balks-nuclear-limit-extension-calls-new-us-china-russia-deal
China calls on US to resume strategic stability dialogue with Russia on arms reduction treaty: FM responding to Trump's proposal of new nuclear arms deal
GT 20260206
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1354923.shtml
China is on the war path, and only a strong US-Japan alliance can stop it
The Hill 20260206
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5723310-indo-pacific-security-strategy/
The $550 Billion US-Japan Strategic Industrial Fund: Recommendations from the Private Sector
Hudson 20260206
https://www.hudson.org/global-economy/550-billion-us-japan-strategic-industrial-fund-recommendations-private-sector-william-chou
U.S., Allies Aim to Break China’s Critical Minerals Dominance
CFR 20260206
https://www.cfr.org/articles/u-s-allies-aim-to-break-chinas-critical-minerals-dominance
Pentagon reportedly asked to probe SpaceX for potential Chinese ownership seen as a ‘national security threat’
ABC (AU) 20260206
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-06/pentagon-asked-to-probe-spacex-chinese-ownership/106311868
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Taiwan-Palau Friendship Association Delegation Concludes Three-Day Visit
Island Times 20260206
https://islandtimes.org/taiwan-palau-friendship-association-delegation-concludes-three-day-visit/
Palau, U.S. partner for Construction Industry Forum; share economic opportunities with Palau business community
US IndoPaCom 202600205
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/NEWS/News-Article-View/Article/4398978/palau-us-partner-for-construction-industry-forum-share-economic-opportunities-w/
CNMI businesses eye military contracting opportunities
PIT 20260206
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/cnmi-businesses-eye-military-contracting-opportunities
Island Waves
Pacific island states at the mercy of hard-power politics
AEF 20260206
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/06/pacific-island-states-at-the-mercy-of-hard-power-politics/
Australia doubles down on Pacific infrastructure
Lowy 20260206
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-doubles-down-pacific-infrastructure
Australia pushes for deeper economic integration with Fiji
Islands Business 20260206
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/australia-pushes-for-deeper-economic-integration-with-fiji/
Santa Cruz airfield upgrade completed with terminal construction underway
SIBC 202600206
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/santa-cruz-airfield-upgrade-completed-with-terminal-construction-underway/
Medical Specialists from China Guangdong Nanfang Hospital In Honiara
Solomon Star 20260206
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/medical-specialists-from-china-guangdong-nanfang-hospital-in-honiara/
Japan funds Bobolo community Water Supply Project in Malaita
SIBC 20260206
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/japan-funds-bobolo-community-water-supply-project-in-malaita/
Japan upgrades classrooms and hall for FWC school
Matangi Tonga 20260206
https://matangitonga.to/2026/02/06/japan-upgrades-classrooms-and-hall-fwc-school
India’s Pitch to the Pacific Islands
Herirage 20260205
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/commentary/indias-pitch-the-pacific-islands
Taiwan + SCS
No need to ‘pick a side’ between U.S. and China: KMT chair
CNA (TW) 20260206
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202601290004
Taiwan teams with US firm Kratos to build attack drones to counter China
Reuters 20260206
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-teams-with-us-firm-kratos-build-attack-drones-counter-china-2026-02-06/
Taiwan’s new long-range Chien Feng IV attack drone passes integration tests in US
Taiwan News 20260206
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6297808
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships
Taiwan News 20260206
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6297654
Capabilities
Tracking China’s Increased Military Activities in the Indo-Pacific in 2025
China Power 20260205
https://chinapower.csis.org/china-increased-military-activities-indo-pacific-2025/
How Japan can function as Taiwan deterrence logistics hub
Asia Times 20260206
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/how-japan-can-function-as-taiwan-deterrence-logistics-hub/
Chinese scientists build world-first 20GW microwave weapon that can fire 60-second bursts
SCMP 202600205
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342443/chinese-scientists-build-world-first-20gw-microwave-weapon-can-fire-60-second-bursts
China’s ‘Starlink killer’ new cutting edge of microwave weapons
Asia Times 20260206
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/chinas-starlink-killer-new-cutting-edge-of-microwave-weapons/
China is developing mini hypersonic glide missiles that can be fired from 80mm naval gun
SCMP 202600206
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3342577/china-developing-mini-hypersonic-glide-missiles-can-be-fired-80mm-naval-gun
USS John F Kennedy exposes America’s carrier crunch vs China
Asia Times 20260206
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/uss-john-f-kennedy-exposes-americas-carrier-crunch-vs-china/
US accuses China of secret nuclear testing
Reuters 290260206
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-has-been-clear-wanting-new-nuclear-arms-control-treaty-says-us-official-2026-02-06/
US accuses China of secret nuclear testing as Washington calls for Beijing to be part of new arms deal
ABC (AU) 20260207
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-07/us-accuses-china-of-secret-nuclear-testing/106316826
China Secretly Testing Nuclear Weapons And Covering Its Tracks, U.S. Alleges
TWZ 20260206
https://www.twz.com/nuclear/china-secretly-testing-nuclear-weapons-and-covering-its-tracks-u-s-alleges
What The Sunset Of Key U.S.-Russia Nuclear Deal Could Mean For America’s Stockpile
TWZ 20260205
https://www.twz.com/nuclear/what-the-sunset-of-key-u-s-russia-nuclear-deal-could-mean-for-americas-stockpile
Army and Marine Corps successfully shared fire mission data at recent exercise
Breaking Defense 20260206
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/army-and-marine-corps-successfully-shared-fire-mission-data-at-recent-exercise/
Navy eyes extended subsea network to link up its arsenal of manned and unmanned assets for DMO
Defense Scoop 20260205
https://defensescoop.com/2026/02/05/navy-dmo-subsurface-warfare-undersea-systems-network-nereus/
Why Xi Jinping has been purging China’s military leadership, and what may come next
Breaking Defense 20260206
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/china-military-purge-why-xi-jingping-zhang-pla/