Pacific Winds 20260223

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

S. Korea, U.S. postpone announcement of date for annual military drills: sources
Yonhap 20260222
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260222001100315

U.S. Defense Shift Tests ROK-U.S. Alliance
Chosun Daily 20260222
https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/02/22/OCQRA5ZH7JCQ7ALLPE446HDKOQ/

U.S. and Japan discuss China’s ‘destabilizing’ nuclear buildup and testing
Japan Times 20260222
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/22/japan/politics/japan-us-nuclear-weapons-china/

Trump Looks Ahead to Summit With China’s Xi, but Tariffs and Taiwan Loom
NYTimes 20260222
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/world/asia/trump-xi-jinping-meeting-china.html

Xi Gains Upper Hand Before Trump Summit After US Tariff Reversal
Bloomberg 20260222
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-22/xi-gains-upper-hand-before-trump-summit-after-us-tariff-reversal

Australia Says Weighing All Options After ‘Unjustified’ Tariffs
Bloomberg 20260222
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-22/australia-says-weighing-all-options-after-unjustified-tariffs

They Did Deals With Trump to Get Lower Tariffs. Now They Are Stuck.
NYTimes 20260222
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/business/trump-tariffs-japan-indonesia.html

Global trade trapped between US tantrums and China’s bravado
Asia Times 20260222
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/global-trade-trapped-between-us-tantrums-and-chinas-bravado/

Critical minerals and the reimagination of globalisation
EAF 20260222
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/22/critical-minerals-and-the-reimagination-of-globalisation/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Military future taking shape as Guam’s voice waits to be heard
GDP 20260222
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/military-future-taking-shape-as-guams-voice-waits-to-be-heard/article_7ce1d022-b076-48cf-a887-96a6856398b2.html

‘Very high’ dieldrin concentrations, military investigation plan by Friday
PDN 20260222
https://www.guampdn.com/news/very-high-dieldrin-concentrations-military-investigation-plan-by-friday-guam-epa-hosting-yigo-town-hall/article_f020b3c8-6a46-4711-bcdc-1b4a8350e8e8.html

Palau president to attend Pacific investment summit in Honolulu
Isla Media 20260222
https://www.islapublic.org/news/2026-02-22/palau-president-to-attend-pacific-investment-summit-in-honolulu

Governor meets with US Navy undersecretary in Washington
GDP 20260222
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/governor-meets-with-us-navy-undersecretary-in-washington/article_ec7d8145-f39f-4668-a930-19438f2f21df.html

Governor bats for ship repair, hospital, environment care amid buildup in DC talks
PDN 20260222
https://www.guampdn.com/news/governor-bats-for-ship-repair-hospital-environment-care-amid-buildup-in-dc-talks/article_22373553-742b-48e2-8d3d-135d167e4800.html

Island Waves

Fiji Defense Minister: Strategic Competition Puts Pressure on Pacific States to Take Sides
Yomiuri 20260222
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260222-312953/

Japan, Pacific Island Nations to Work on Deepening Cooperation
Yomiuri 20260222
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260222-312978/

Fiji Defense Minister Hopes Japan Will Support Stabilization of Pacific Region
Yomiuri 20260222
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260222-312891/

Leaders observe Home Reef during test flight of US Govt Pacific regional jet
Matangi Tinga 20260222
https://matangitonga.to/2026/02/22/leaders-observe-home-reef-during-test-flight-us-govt-pacific-regional-jet

Australia and Timor-Leste: A New Partnership for a New Era
The Diplomat 20260220
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/australia-and-timor-leste-a-new-partnership-for-a-new-era/

Taiwan + xCS

Taiwan plans to add 9 National Advanced-Surface-to-Air Systems
Taiwan News 20260222
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6306451

How Trump’s Beijing bargaining could derail Taiwan’s multibillion-dollar defence budget
SCMP 20260222
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3344220/how-trumps-beijing-bargaining-could-derail-taiwans-multibillion-dollar-defence-budget

Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese naval vessels, 2 military drones
Taiwan News 20260222
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6306436

S. Korea calls in Japanese diplomat over annual event asserting Tokyo’s claims to Dokdo
Yonhap 20260222
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260222002700315

South Korea protests Japanese event over disputed islands
Japan Times 20260222
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/22/japan/politics/takeshima-south-korea-protest/

Capabilities

With fresh mandate, Japan’s Takaichi sets sights on divisive security goals
Japan Times 20260222
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/22/japan/politics/japan-takaichi-defense-security-goals/

China’s Type 095 nuclear submarine spotted for first time in new satellite images
SCMP 22060222
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344256/chinas-type-095-nuclear-submarine-spotted-first-time-new-satellite-images