Pacific Winds 20260220
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Tokyo’s strategic US investment surge puts China on edge
Asia Times 20260219
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/tokyos-strategic-us-investment-surge-puts-china-on-edge/
South Korea weighs strategy as U.S.-China rivalry deepens
UPI 20260218
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/02/18/security-alliance-strategic-pressure-us-china-indo-pacific/3081771452314/
N.K. leader’s sister hails Seoul’s pledge to prevent drone incursions, vows stronger border vigilance: KCNA
Yonhap 20260219
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260219000652315
N. Korea hails S. Korea’s vow to prevent drone incursions
Kyodo 20260219
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/70847
Don’t overlook Sinocentrism: China’s historical memory and Japan
Asia Times 20260220
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/dont-overlook-sinocentrism-chinas-historical-memory-and-japan/
Polycrisis in the Indo-Pacific Demands a Stronger ANZAC Alliance
AIIA 20260219
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/polycrisis-in-the-indo-pacific-demands-a-stronger-anzac-alliance/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
CNMI seeks urgent federal support in ongoing 902 consultations
Isla Public Media 20260219
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-02-19/cnmi-seeks-urgent-federal-support-in-ongoing-902-consultations
Japanese F-15 and F-2 fighters escorted U.S. Air Force B-52H bombers in the Pacific for the first time in 2026
Zona Miller 20260219
https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2026/02/19/japanese-f-15-and-f-2-fighters-escorted-u-s-air-force-b-52h-bombers-in-the-pacific-for-the-first-time-in-2026/
Activists want judgment that Air Force violated environmental law
GDP 20260218
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/activists-want-judgment-that-air-force-violated-environmental-law/article_d059a55d-6565-4964-88d2-c8e1147878ba.html
JIATF-401 Expands Counter-Drone Training, Bolsters Homeland Defense
US DoW 20260217
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4408111/jiatf-401-expands-counter-drone-training-bolsters-homeland-defense/
Island Waves
Vanuatu pushing on with climate UN resolution despite US resistance
RNZ 20260219
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/587308/vanuatu-pushing-on-with-climate-un-resolution-despite-us-resistance
China Medical Team marks Chinese New Year with successful Ifira outreach
Daily Post (VU) 20260219
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/china-medical-team-marks-chinese-new-year-with-successful-ifira-outreach/article_cc0958e5-7af8-53d6-8320-570203125f78.html
Pacific nations too dependent on seasonal worker schemes, labour expet warns
RNZ 20260220
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/587380/pacific-nations-too-dependent-on-seasonal-worker-schemes-labour-expet-warns
Living space on Oahu at a premium as Army surges troops to Hawaii
S&S 20260218
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2026-02-17/army-housing-oahu-shafter-wheeler-20783659.html
Trump tells Starmer ‘do not give away Diego Garcia’ in fresh attack on Chagos Islands deal
SCMP 20260219
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343944/trump-flip-flops-again-saying-uks-chagos-deal-would-be-big-mistake
Who’s afraid of Diego Garcia?
Lowy 20260219
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/who-s-afraid-diego-garcia
As Iran strikes loom, US and UK fight over Indian Ocean base
Responsible Statecraft 20260219
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/chagos-islands-trump/
U.S. won’t return Futenma site unless Japan agrees to long runway at Henoko
Japan Times 20260219
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/19/japan/futenma-runway-okinawa/
Taiwan + SCS
U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan in Limbo Amid Pressure Campaign From China
WSJ 20260218
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/u-s-arms-sale-to-taiwan-in-limbo-amid-pressure-campaign-from-china-d228f912
Tokyo defence involvement in Taiwan would amount to aggression against Beijing: UN envoy
SCMP 20260219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343985/tokyo-defence-involvement-taiwan-would-amount-aggression-against-beijing-un-envoy
No matter what pretext Japan uses to exercise 'collective self-defense' to intervene in Taiwan question, China will resolutely respond: Chinese envoy to UN
GT 20260219
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355490.shtml
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval vessels around country
Taiwan News 20260219
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6305084
‘Philippines will accept only UNCLOS-based COC’
PhilStar 20260219
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/02/19/2508971/philippines-will-accept-only-unclos-based-coc
Capabilities
How China overtook the US in hypersonic arms and may leave air defences ‘powerless’
SCMP 20260219
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343917/how-china-overtook-us-hypersonic-arms-and-may-leave-air-defences-powerless
Kim Jong Un Shows Off Missile Launchers as Party Congress Nears
Bloomberg 20260219
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-19/kim-jong-un-shows-off-missile-launchers-as-party-congress-nears
Formations of thousands of Chinese fishing boats stir worries in Japan
Nikkei 20260219
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/japan-china-tensions/formations-of-thousands-of-chinese-fishing-boats-stir-worries-in-japan
The Chinese warships Australians never got to debate
Lowy 20260219
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/chinese-warships-australians-never-got-debate
From 4 Flotillas to 3: Inside the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Historic Overhaul
The Diplomat 20260219
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/from-4-flotillas-to-3-inside-the-japan-maritime-self-defense-forces-historic-overhaul/
Bollinger, Fincantieri Marinette Marine to Build Landing Ship Medium, Navy Says
USNI 20260218
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/18/bollinger-fincantieri-marinette-marine-to-build-landing-ship-medium-navy-says
China’s nuclear submarine production rate surpasses that of US: Report
Breaking Defense 20260219
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/china-building-more-nuclear-subs-than-america-iiss-report/
China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship
TWZ 22060219
https://www.twz.com/sea/chinas-largest-modern-naval-gun-to-date-just-appeared-on-a-test-ship
Starlink, China and the governance of low Earth orbit
EAF 20260219
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/19/starlink-china-and-the-governance-of-low-earth-orbit/
Exercises
Japan-U.S. Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20260219
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202602/20260219en.pdf
Training brings navies together
AU DoD 20260219
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-02-19/training-brings-navies-together