Pacific Winds 20260226
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
USFK says it notified S. Korea of air drills over Yellow Sea
Yonhap 20260225
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260224011052315
USFK’s provocation of China demands more than perfunctory protest by Seoul
Hankyoreh 20260225
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/english_editorials/1246544.html
USFK denies apologizing to ROK authorities over Yellow Sea standoff, refutes Seoul’s claim; incident reflects fundamental differences between the two sides: Chinese expert
GT 20260225
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355720.shtml
America Needs an Alliance Audit
FA 20260225
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/america-needs-alliance-audit
US warns of deep distrust even as officials seek stable China ties for summit
SCMP 20260225
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344521/us-seeks-healthy-trade-relations-china-does-not-trust-it-lawmakers-clarify
Pacific defense pact ‘imperative’ to deter China: former Biden official
Nikkei 20260225
https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/interview/pacific-defense-pact-imperative-to-deter-china-former-biden-official
Japan at risk of political, economic deep freeze with China
Nikkei 20260225
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/comment/japan-at-risk-of-political-economic-deep-freeze-with-china
China sanctions hit back hard at Japan’s remilitarization drive
Asia Times 20260225
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/china-sanctions-hit-back-hard-at-japans-remilitarization-drive/
Unease among Japanese companies over China's export controls exposes fears that Takaichi admin's erosion of mutual trust harms business interests: expert
GT 20260225
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355713.shtml
Japanese entities are placed under export controls; they have no reason to complain
GT 20260226
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355758.shtml
Japan trading house industry calls China export curbs a ‘global challenge’
Nikkei 20260225
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/japan-china-tensions/japan-trading-house-industry-calls-china-export-curbs-a-global-challenge
Takeshima Day: Persistently Demanding Resolution from South Korea Necessary
Yomiuri 20260225
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/20260225-313408/
USTR says new U.S. global tariff will rise to 15 pct or higher for some countries
Yonhap 20260226
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260225010651315
Island Waves
Samoa, Australia sign policing and cybersecurity deals in Apia
RNZ 20260225
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/587913/samoa-australia-sign-policing-and-cybersecurity-deals-in-apia
U.S. reaffirms long-term commitment to Pacific partnerships
Daily Post 20260225
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/u-s-reaffirms-long-term-commitment-to-pacific-partnerships/article_52921875-311a-506f-b838-9f533c0e2f91.html
Japan calls for united Pacific security at Defence Ministers Summit in Tokyo
Matangi Tonga 20260225
https://matangitonga.to/2026/02/25/japan-calls-united-pacific-security-defence-ministers-summit-tokyo
U.S. boosts digital learning at Freshwota Primary School
Daily Post 20260225
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/u-s-boosts-digital-learning-at-freshwota-primary-school/article_e6ef0dd1-d550-5bd5-a97c-b222f41af9f2.html
Japan boosts disaster awareness in Fiji schools
FBCN 20260225
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/japan-boosts-disaster-awareness-in-fiji-schools/
French Senate votes on New Caledonia’s future status
RNZ 20260226
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/587937/french-senate-votes-on-new-caledonia-s-future-status
French Senate votes yes on New Caledonia law, but opposition grows
Islands Business 20260225
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/french-senate-votes-yes-on-new-caledonia-law-but-opposition-grows/
Japan to deploy missile systems on island near Taiwan by 2031, defence minister says
ABC (AU) 20260226
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-26/japan-to-deploy-missile-systems-on-island-near-taiwan-by-2031/106389506
Taiwan + SCS
The Danger in the Middle: Will Xi’s Purges Increase the Risk of War?
WOTR 20260224
https://warontherocks.com/2026/02/the-danger-in-the-middle-will-xis-purges-increase-the-risk-of-war/
Thanks to Trump, Xi Has Time on His Side With Taiwan
FP 20260225
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/25/trump-xi-china-taiwan-invasion-semiconductor-tariffs/
Taiwan’s Push for Societal Resilience
GMF 20260225
https://www.gmfus.org/news/taiwans-push-societal-resilience
Fujian Coast Guard conducts routine patrols in waters near Kinmen
Xinhua 20260225
https://english.news.cn/20260225/7e09a3adc01a471eb490304e14061d30/
Taiwan’s Layered Air Defence and the Calculus of Deterrence
CIMSEC 20260224
https://cimsec.org/the-shield-of-the-strait-taiwans-layered-air-defence-and-the-calculus-of-deterrence/
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20260225
https://english.news.cn/20260225/7e09a3adc01a471eb490304e14061d30/c.html
China Coast Guard drives away Philippine vessels illegally intruding into Huangyan Dao waters
Xinhua 20260225
https://english.news.cn/20260225/97873fa4d51542b1a97897b127687c98/c.html
Interference with comms, navigation among China’s ‘coercive, aggressive actions’ — Navy spox
ABS-CBN 20250225
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/25/interference-with-comms-navigation-among-china-s-coercive-aggressive-actions-navy-spox-1626
New Philippine OPV to Deploy Service’s First LRAD System
Naval News 20260225
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/02/new-philippine-opv-to-deploy-services-first-lrad-system/
Can China and Philippines replace ‘disputes with cooperation’ after years of tension?
SCMP 20260225
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344626/can-china-and-philippines-replace-disputes-cooperation-after-years-tension
Capabilities
Takaichi Draws a Red Line on Nuclear Sharing Amid Japan’s Security Review
The Diplomat 20260224
https://thediplomat.com/2026/02/takaichi-draws-a-red-line-on-nuclear-sharing-amid-japans-security-review/
Pentagon spends US$12 billion on surveillance to counter China’s military build-up in Asia
SCMP 20260225
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344653/pentagon-spends-us12-billion-surveillance-counter-chinas-military-build-asia
China’s fishing fleets are Beijing’s secret naval weapon
Asia Times 20260225
https://asiatimes.com/2026/02/chinas-fishing-fleets-are-beijings-secret-naval-weapon/
China’s First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Will Challenge US Sea Power
Newsweek 20260225
https://www.newsweek.com/chinas-first-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier-will-challenge-us-sea-power-11570665
13 Warships, Support Ships Slated for Inactivation This Year
USNI 20260225
https://news.usni.org/2026/02/25/13-warships-support-ships-slated-for-inactivation-this-year
China’s Biggest Red Sword Exercise and a Rapid Industrial Buildup
Air & Space 20260224
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/china-red-sword-exercise-satellite-images/
AMC Still Open to Wide Range of Options for New Tanker, Including Family of Systems
Air & Space 20260225
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/amc-ngas-tanker-options-family/
The space supply chain is getting stretched. Here’s how it could impact the Pentagon’s plans.
Breaking Defense 20260225
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/the-space-supply-chain-is-getting-stretched-heres-how-it-could-impact-the-pentagons-plans/
A banner year for military space funding— with an unclear path beyond
Space News 20260224
https://spacenews.com/a-banner-year-for-military-space-funding-with-an-unclear-path-beyond/
FM spokesperson slams US' hype of China conducting nuclear explosion test as based on speculation and vague insinuations
GT 20260225
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355715.shtml