Pacific Winds 20260213
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Finding Trump-Beijing balance may prove Takaichi’s big challenge
Asia Times 20260212
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/finding-trump-beijing-balance-may-prove-takaichis-big-challenge/
Analysis: Japan PM’s historic landslide reverberates in China
Nikkei 20260212
https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/china-up-close/analysis-japan-pm-s-historic-landslide-reverberates-in-china
China is the bright spot in Trump’s foreign policy
Asia Times 20260212
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/china-is-the-bright-spot-in-trumps-foreign-policy/
America and China at the Edge of Ruin
FA 20260212
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/america-and-china-edge-ruin-lampton-jisi
China, US should work together to implement consensus reached by leaders: FM spokesperson
Xinhua 20260212
https://english.news.cn/20260212/7ec9c3d44cd140848d358329917307ba/c.html
Taiwan tensions poised to be primary flashpoint of Donald Trump’s Beijing agenda
SCMP 20260212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343363/taiwan-tensions-poised-be-primary-flashpoint-donald-trumps-beijing-agenda
An AUKUS visa could ease submarine skills shortages
ASPI 20260212
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/ease-submarine-skills-shortages-with-an-aukus-visa/
US cites China ‘aggression,’ vows deeper PH-Japan deterrence
Inquirer (PH) 20260212
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/308719/us-cites-china-aggression-vows-deeper-ph-japan-deterrence
The Philippines rebukes China over travel ban on Kalayaan officials
SCMP 20260212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343335/philippines-rebukes-china-over-travel-ban-kalayaan-officials
US-China trade detente fuels mothballing of key China tech curbs
Reuters 20260212
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-china-trade-detente-fuels-mothballing-key-china-tech-curbs-2026-02-12/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
New FSM Funded Woleiai Airport Officially Opened and Dedicated to Late President Urusemal
FSM 20260211
https://gov.fm/new-fsm-funded-woleiai-airport-officially-opened-and-dedicated-to-late-president-urusemal/
Palau’s senate leader denies Chinese Bribery accusation
ABC (AU) 20260212
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/palausenatordenial/106334352
Rare photos of 2 Navy submarines operating together off Guam draw attention
S&S 20260212
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-02-12/rare-photos-navy-submarines-guam-20711627.html
Cybersecurity exercise Black Hydra brings together local, federal partners
PDN 20260212
https://www.guampdn.com/news/cybersecurity-exercise-black-hydra-brings-together-local-federal-partners/article_01f1c57a-b2c4-41de-a81b-e4509901d6f1.html
Island Waves
Transparency concerns as Bougainville’s Panguna mine that sparked civil war on path to reopen
ABC (AU) 20260212
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-12/bougainville-signs-secretive-deal-to-reopen-panguna-mine/106331778
NZ commits VT109M to repair 18 classrooms
Daily Post (VU) 20260212
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/local_news/
Australia Supports Land Commission to Strengthen Transparency and Client Services
Post Courier (PNG) 20260212
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-supports-land-commission-to-strengthen-transparency-and-client-services/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan leader warns countries in region ‘next’ in case of China attack: AFP interview
AFP 20260212
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260212-taiwan-leader-warns-countries-in-region-next-in-case-of-china-attack-afp-interview
Lai's related claims once again expose his nature as a stubborn 'Taiwan independence' separatist, says FM on Lai's recent fallacies
GT 20260212
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355258.shtml
Taiwan’s year on the fault lines
EAF 20260212
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/12/taiwans-year-on-the-fault-lines/
The Role of Foreign Fighters in a Taiwan Resistance Scenario
SWJ 20260211
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/02/11/the-role-of-foreign-fighters/
New U.S. arms sales strategy favors Taiwan, but ambiguity remains: Experts
CNA (TW) 20260212
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202602120004
Taiwan builds up Patriot missile arsenal
Taiwan News 20260212
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6300998
US researcher urges Taiwan to prepare against Chinese decapitation strike
Taiwan News 20260212
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6301428
Taiwan tracks 17 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20260212
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6301457
Bully vs sovereignty: how Manila and Beijing are sharpening their South China Sea messaging
SCMP 20260212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343130/bully-vs-sovereignty-how-manila-and-beijing-are-sharpening-their-south-china-sea-messaging
Capabilities
What We Know About China’s Secretive Nuclear Submarine Fleet
The Diplomat 20260212
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/what-we-know-about-chinas-secretive-nuclear-submarine-fleet/
First Chinese Type 09V Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine Appears At Bohai
Naval News 20260212
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/02/chinese-type-09v-next-generation-ssn-appears-at-bohai/
China’s new maritime combat drone poised for global success: analysts
Defense News 20260212
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/02/12/chinas-new-maritime-combat-drone-poised-for-global-success-analysts/
Insiders fear Japan’s military buildup goal is unrealistic
Asahi 20260212
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16348659
Marines Can Protect Pacific Facilities Amid China’s Militia-contested Waters and Coercive Efforts, General Says
USNI 20260211
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/11/marines-can-protect-pacific-facilities-amid-chinese-militia-contested-waters-and-coercive-efforts-general-says
The US Army’s new presence in the Philippines and the push to contain China
SCMP 20260212
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343214/us-armys-new-presence-philippines-and-push-contain-china?module=top_story&pgtype=section
I was wrong about fighting China in 2025. But the US still isn’t ready for that fight.
Atlantic Council 20260211
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/i-was-wrong-about-fighting-china-in-2025-but-the-us-still-isnt-ready-for-that-fight/
Making hay while Trump shines: China’s tactical step back
ASPI 20260212
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/making-hay-while-trump-shines-chinas-tactical-step-back/
USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed
TWZ 20260212
https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-ready-to-make-all-b-52s-nuclear-capable-load-icbms-with-multiple-warheads-if-directed
Columbia-class submarines see construction ‘ramp up’, Navy official says
Breaking Defense 20260212
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/columbia-class-submarines-see-construction-ramp-up-navy-official-says/
Crowded field of robot-boat makers vies for Navy’s attention
Defense One 20260212
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2026/02/crowded-field-robot-boat-makers-vying-navys-attention/411390/
US wields nuclear test claim to press China on arms control
Asia Times 20260212
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/us-wields-nuclear-test-claim-to-press-china-on-arms-control/
Japan eyes lethal weapons exports
EAF 20260212
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/12/japan-eyes-lethal-weapons-exports/
Space companies bet on Golden Dome as questions persist over scope and funding
Space News 20260211
https://spacenews.com/space-companies-bet-on-golden-dome-as-questions-persist-over-scope-and-funding/
U. S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and United Launch Alliance successfully launch USSF-87 mission aboard a Vulcan Rocket
US Space Force 20260212
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4405392/u-s-space-forces-space-systems-command-and-united-launch-alliance-successfully
ULA Successfully Launches Space Force Mission, Despite Booster Anomaly
Air & Space 20260212
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/ula-successfully-launches-space-force-mission-despite-booster-anomaly/
China’s commercial rocket SD-3 launches 7 satellites from sea
Xinhua 20260212
https://english.news.cn/20260212/87e657a685314911bc15a8347853e430/c.html
Could the US win a war with a near-peer adversary today?
Responsible Staecraft 20260212
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-military-ready-for-war/