Pacific Winds 20260304

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Mar 03, 2026

Alliances

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Military training around the Marianas, thousands of bombing runs in the north
PDN 20260303
https://www.guampdn.com/news/comment-period-opens-military-training-around-the-marianas-thousands-of-bombing-runs-in-the-north/article_8e2715ba-3da3-432b-9484-2964b8fba603.html

MITT Supplemental EIS/OEIS
USN 20260302
https://www.nepa.navy.mil/mitteis/

Retired adjutant general Cruz: Threats to Guam outpacing readiness, civilian shelters needed
PDN 20260303
https://www.guampdn.com/news/retired-adjutant-general-cruz-threats-to-guam-outpacing-readiness-civilian-shelters-needed/article_dd2d69e7-fccd-4012-9b14-d09e95c8840a.html

President Simina meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary Landau at the Pacific Agenda Summit
FSM 20260302
https://gov.fm/president-simina-meets-with-u-s-deputy-secretary-landau-at-the-pacific-agenda-summit/

U.S. Embassy Conducts Crisis Management Exercise with Local Partners
Island Times 2060303
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-embassy-conducts-crisis-management-exercise-with-local-partners/

Island Waves

Deep-sea mining: Australia’s dilemma in the Pacific
Lowy 20260304
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/deep-sea-mining-australia-s-dilemma-pacific

Australia and PNG Invest in New Baily Bridge to Improve East Cape Road Access
Post Courier (PNG) 202603032
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-and-png-invest-in-new-bailey-bridge-to-improve-east-cape-road-access/

Fiji and NZ strengthen fight against drugs
FBCN 20260303
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-and-nz-strengthen-fight-against-drugs/

New Chinese scholarships for Samoans ‘a significant milestone’, education minister says
RNZ 20260304
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/588573/new-chinese-scholarships-for-samoans-a-significant-milestone-education-minister-says

Taiwan targets tomato training
Islands Business 2060303
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/taiwan-targets-tomato-training/

Japan, U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Training to Defend, Recapture Remote Island; ‘Iron Fist’ Kicks off on Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture
Yomiuri 20260303
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260303-314310/

Stormy weather reshapes US-Japan island defense training in the Pacific
S&S 20260303
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-03-02/iron-fist-island-defense-japan-china-20934218.html

Gov’t taps Minamitori Isl. for nuclear waste disposal candidate site survey
Kyodo 20260303
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/71513

Easternmost island eyed as site for disposing nuclear waste
Asahi 20260303
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16393125

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan Doesn’t Have to Choose
FA 20260303
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/taiwan-doesnt-have-choose

‘America First’ weapons-sales policy favors arming Taiwan quickly — in theory
Defense News 20260303
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/03/03/america-first-weapons-sales-policy-favors-arming-taiwan-quickly-in-theory/

US patrol flights over South China Sea drop 30% as focus shifts to Middle East
SCMP 20260303
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345278/us-patrol-flights-over-south-china-sea-drop-30-focus-shifts-middle-east

Capabilities

US advisory panel warns China is gaining in undersea warfare
SCMP 20260303
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3345194/us-advisory-panel-warns-china-gaining-undersea-warfare

China’s undersea Great Wall targets US sub supremacy
Asia Times 20260303
https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/chinas-undersea-great-wall-targets-us-sub-supremacy/

Testimony on U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea
USNI 20260303
https://news.usni.org/2026/03/03/testimony-on-u-s-china-competition-under-the-sea

Grey-zone games: Lessons from the 2025 Australia-Japan-United States simulation
USSC 20260303
https://www.ussc.edu.au/grey-zone-games-lessons-from-the-2025-australia-japan-united-states-simulation

Iran mission takes toll on US munition stockpile, lawmakers weigh supplemental defense funding
Breaking Defense 20260303
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/iran-mission-takes-toll-on-us-munition-stockpile-lawmakers-weigh-supplemental-defense-funding/

Foundry, Fleet, and Fight: Hedging the U.S. Navy
WOTR 20260303
https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/foundry-fleet-and-fight-hedging-the-u-s-navy/

How tanking, airlift could be strained by Iran ops
Breaking Defense 20260303
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/how-tanking-airlift-could-be-strained-by-iran-ops/

‘Strong and clear, but quiet’: Pentagon policy head faces Senate questions over NDS
Breaking Defense 20260303
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/strong-and-clear-but-quiet-pentagon-policy-head-faces-senate-questions-over-ndss-direction/

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