Pacific Winds 20260307
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Three Indo-Pacific allies, one week, and three different calculations on display
Lowy 20260306
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/three-indo-pacific-allies-one-week-three-different-calculations-display
‘Strategic Cousins’ Australia and Canada Chart a Closer Course
The Diplomat 20260305
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/strategic-cousins-australia-and-canada-chart-a-closer-course/
Japan, Canada to Launch Strategic Roadmap on Defense, Economic Security at Tokyo Summit
Yomiuri 20260306
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20260306-314935/
Japan-Canada Defense Ministerial Meeting
JP MoD 20260306
https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2026/03/cda0affeca4c95cee67bda6b054a296ad7aafd44.html
US strategy pushes South Korea beyond the peninsula
EAF 20260306
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/03/06/us-strategy-pushes-south-korea-beyond-the-peninsula/
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are here to stay
Lowy 20260306
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/north-korea-s-nuclear-ambitions-are-here-stay
Unification ministry to pursue ‘peace declaration’ for turning armistice into peace regime
Yonhap 20260306
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260306004000315
Will China Overplay Its Hand?
FA 20260306
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/will-china-overplay-its-hand
As US wades into Iran, its pivot to Asia lies in tatters
CNA (SG) 20260306
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/iran-us-china-competition-deter-asia-indo-pacific-5973696
Japan can play a larger role in the region if it is able to resolve historical issues
Straits Times 20260307
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/japan-can-play-a-larger-role-in-the-region-if-it-is-able-to-resolve-historical-issues-sim-ann
Navigating uncertainty in US-ROK economic ties
Brookings 20260306
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/navigating-uncertainty-in-us-rok-economic-ties/
Japanese Economy Minister Akazawa Departs for U.S. to Discuss $550 Billion Investment Package
Yomiuri 20260306
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20260306-314910/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
GAO still flags troubling gaps in plan to protect Guam from missiles
PDN 20260306
https://www.guampdn.com/news/gao-still-flags-troubling-gaps-in-plan-to-protect-guam-from-missiles/article_d93dce36-6c41-46bb-9f16-2f51daba7c29.html
Ngaraard lawsuit over TACMOR project continues as court weighs state authority, environmental oversight
Island Times 20260306
https://islandtimes.org/ngaraard-lawsuit-over-tacmor-project-continues-as-court-weighs-state-authority-environmental-oversight/
Palau Senate Pushes Back Against U.S. Accusations of Corruption Against Baules
Island Times 20260306
https://islandtimes.org/palau-senate-pushes-back-against-u-s-accusations-of-corruption-against-baules/
Air Force test launches Minuteman III with multiple reentry vehicles
Defense News 20260306
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2026/03/06/air-force-test-launches-minuteman-iii-with-multiple-reentry-vehicles/
Japan provides continued support to strengthen
Island Times 20260306
https://islandtimes.org/japan-provides-continued-support-to-strengthen/
Island Waves
Chinese medical team offers free consultation on Pele
Daily Post (VU) 20260306
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/chinese-medical-team-offers-free-consultation-on-pele/article_4c6ea264-2798-5fcd-81ff-d11d442e7a83.html
Fiji strengthen cooperation with Australia on cybersecurity
FBCN 20260306
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-strengthen-cooperation-with-australia-on-cybersecurity/
New Zealand reaffirms strong partnership with Fiji
Islands Business 20260306
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/new-zealand-reaffirms-strong-partnership-woth-fiji/
Japan weighs military upgrade on Iwo Jima amid growing Chinese presence in Pacific
SCMP 20260306
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3345637/japan-weighs-military-upgrade-iwo-jima-amid-growing-chinese-presence-pacific
Taiwan + xCS
Competing bills to fund U.S. weapons purchase advance to committee
CNA (TW) 20260306
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202603060011
Special defense budget under review at Legislative Yuan
Taiwan News 20260306
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6315480
Koo says KMT defense budget bill could derail U.S. arms procurement
CNA (TW) 20260306
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202603060019
Taiwan defence minister rejects opposition’s cut‑price budget and U.S. arms deadline
Reuters 20260306
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-defence-minister-rejects-oppositions-cutprice-budget-us-arms-deadline-2026-03-06/
China halts military flights around Taiwan for 6 days
Taiwan News 20260306
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6315328
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese ships around country
Taiwan News 20260306
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6315266
ADF says helicopter forced to take evasive action during ‘unsafe interaction’ with Chinese military
ABC (AU) 20260306
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-06/adf-helicopter-evasive-action-chinese-military/106426388
Statement on unsafe and unprofessional interaction with People’s Liberation Army–Navy
AU MoD 20260306
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/releases/2026-03-06/statement-unsafe-unprofessional-interaction-peoples-liberation-army-navy
China denounces Australia’s provocative operations in Yellow Sea
Xinhua 20260306
https://english.news.cn/20260307/d08ab466ae5e43c5ab5ef822ca913fb4/c.html
Why China wants stronger policing of disputed waters under new 5-year plan
SCMP 20260306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345729/why-china-wants-stronger-policing-disputed-waters-under-new-5-year-plan
Capabilities
‘Race of attrition’: US military’s finite interceptor stockpile is being tested
Military Times 20260305
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/06/race-of-attrition-us-militarys-finite-interceptor-stockpile-is-being-tested/
Opportunity for China: US depletes interceptor stocks in Middle East
ASPI 20260306
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/opportunity-for-china-emerges-as-us-depletes-interceptor-stocks-in-middle-east/
The Drone Attrition Trap
FP 20260305
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/05/iran-drone-missiles-middle-east-united-states-israel-war/
Could Iran war confirm China’s prediction on US military’s hypersonic nightmare?
SCMP 20260306
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345667/could-iran-war-confirm-chinas-prediction-us-militarys-hypersonic-nightmare
China’s National People’s Congress Opens: Military Expansion Continues Despite Lowered Growth Rate
Yomiuri 20260306
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260306-314944/
Pentagon No. 3 says Japan knows about need to hike defense budgets ‘better than anybody’
Japan Times 20260305
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/05/japan/politics/colby-japan-defense-spending/
Risk Beneath the Waves: Safeguarding Subsea Cables for a Secure Global Network
CSIS 20260305
https://features.csis.org/safeguarding-subsea-cables/
Exercises
Overlapping military drills show ‘greater sense of urgency’ over Pacific threats, expert says
S&S 20260306
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-03-05/japan-south-korea-training-china-korea-20966537.html