Pacific Winds 20260310
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China says US talks vital as Trump targets Beijing’s key partners
Reuters 20260308
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-us-talks-vital-trump-targets-beijings-key-partners-2026-03-08/
Restraint or Recalibration? US Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
9Dash Line 20260309
https://www.9dashline.com/article/restraint-or-recalibration-us-strategy-in-the-indo-pacific
China condemns ‘evil designs’ of Taiwan premier’s Japan visit
Japan Times 20260309
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/09/asia-pacific/china-condemns-taiwan-premier-visit/
Mainland spokesperson slams Taiwan official’s Japan trip as ‘despicable’; FM warns Japan against emboldening provocation
GT 20260309
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356655.shtml
Top U.S. diplomat for East Asia to visit S. Korea this week
Yonhap 20260309
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260309009300315
Island Waves
A Charter of Pacific Values for a Prosperous Pacific Future
Heritage 20260305
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/report/charter-pacific-values-prosperous-pacific-future
France is repeating its New Caledonia mistakes
Lowy 20260309
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/france-repeating-its-new-caledonia-mistakes
The exception: why New Caledonians do not migrate to Metropolitan France
DevPolicy 20260309
https://devpolicy.org/the-exception-why-new-caledonians-do-not-migrate-to-metropolitan-france/
Tokyo seeks greater security ties with Pacific Island nations
ABC (AU) 20260309
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pac-japan/106431452
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan tensions No 1 in Beijing’s top 10 geopolitical risks of 2026: think tank
SCMP 20260309
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345940/taiwan-tensions-no-1-beijings-top-10-geopolitical-risks-2026-think-tank
Premier Cho’s trip to Japan sparks controversy
Taipei Times 20260310
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/03/10/2003853568
Chinese Warplanes Return to Taiwan’s ADIZ After Weeklong Absence
Defense Post 20260309
https://thedefensepost.com/2026/03/09/china-aircraft-resume-taiwan/amp/
Capabilities
Pre-dawn missile delivery met with protests at Kumamoto base
Asahi 20260309
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16408260
In first, Japan to deploy homegrown long-range missiles on March 31
Japan Times 20260309
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/09/japan/japan-deploy-missiles-kumamoto/
Japan Prepares to Deploy First Batch of Type 12 Long-Range Missiles in Kyushu
Defense Post 20260309
https://thedefensepost.com/2026/03/09/japan-deploy-type-12-missiles/
North Korea’s New Destroyer Sets Sail for the First Time, Tests Missile Systems
Naval News 20260309
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/north-koreas-new-destroyer-sets-sail-for-the-first-time-tests-missile-systems/
North Korea Is Getting Serious About Space Weapons
FP 20260309
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/09/north-korea-nuclear-space-weapon-missile-defense-golden-dome/
The United States Can’t Deter China Without Allied Shipyards
CIMSEC 20260309
https://cimsec.org/the-united-states-cant-deter-china-without-allied-shipyards/
Allies Working to Solidify ‘Wobbly’ Indo-Pacific Defense Industrial Base
National Defense 20260309
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/3/9/us-allies-working-to-solidify-wobbly-indo-pacific-defense-industrial-base
40% of Japan Coast Guard vessels operating past service life
Asahi 20260309
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16367603
China’s New Aircraft Carrier Fleet Has 1 Big Advantage over the Navy They Can’t Match Now
1945 20260309
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2026/03/chinas-new-aircraft-carrier-fleet-has-1-big-advantage-over-the-navy-they-cant-match-now/
Navy, Marine Corps amphibious readiness board launches as services put issue on ‘front burner’
Breaking Defense 20260309
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/navy-marine-corps-amphibious-readiness-board-launches-as-services-put-issue-on-front-burner/
Projecting Power in Contested Regions: Marine Corps’ EABO Moves from Paper to Reality
SeaPower 20260309
https://seapowermagazine.org/projecting-power-in-contested-regions-marine-corps-eabo-moves-from-paper-to-reality/
Global arms flows jump nearly 10 per cent as European demand soars
SIPRI 20260309
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/global-arms-flows-jump-nearly-10-cent-european-demand-soarsExercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 9, 2026
USNI 20260309
https://news.usni.org/2026/03/09/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-march-9-2026