Pacific Winds 20260216
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Australian warship visits PH to boost burgeoning defense ties
Inquirer (PH) 20260215
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2182395/australian-warship-visits-ph-to-boost-burgeoning-defense-ties
Chinese FM warns against Japan’s challenge to post-war international order
Xinhua 20260215
https://english.news.cn/20260215/b74dd3252cbc4959b3ea0744dda91270/c.html
China’s top diplomat warns Japan of ‘ghosts of militarism’ in rebuke of Takaichi
Japan Times 20260215
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/15/japan/politics/china-japan-wang-yi-toshimitsu-motegi/
Japan FM stresses importance of continued US engagement in Indo-Pacific
NHK 20260215
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260215_08/
Putting the UK back into AUKUS?
Lowy 20260216
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/putting-uk-back-aukus
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US paid $32m to five countries to accept about 300 deportees, report shows
Guardian 20260213
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/13/us-paid-32m-to-five-countries-to-accept-about-300-deportees-report-shows
Island Waves
Transnational crime crackdown gets boost
FBCN 20260215
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/transnational-crime-crackdown-gets-boost/
Videos Plagiarized, Reposted with False Subtitles Claiming ‘Ryukyu Belongs to China’; Anti-China False Information Also Posted in Japan
Yomiuri 20260215
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260215-311186/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan president vows to strengthen island’s defences in Lunar New Year message
Reuters 20260215
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-president-vows-strengthen-islands-defences-lunar-new-year-message-2026-02-15/
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval ships
Taiwan News 20260215
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6303381
Capabilities
Australia pledges $2.7 billion to progress nuclear submarine shipyard build
Reuters 20260215
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-pledges-27-billion-progress-nuclear-submarine-shipyard-build-2026-02-15/
This Is A Nuclear Reactor Packed Into A C-17 Globemaster III
TWZ 20260215
https://www.twz.com/uncategorized/this-is-a-nuclear-reactor-packed-into-a-c-17-globemaster-iii
Deep in China’s Mountains, a Nuclear Revival Takes Shape
NYTimes 20260215
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/02/15/world/asia/china-nuclear.html