Pacific Winds 20260311
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Australia and the upending of US intelligence: further down the rabbit hole
ASPI 20260310
https://www.aspi.org.au/report/australia-and-the-upending-of-us-intelligence-further-down-the-rabbit-hole/
AUKUS moving beyond promise to practice as U.K. sub arrives in Australia
IPDF 20260309
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/03/aukus-moving-beyond-promise-to-practice-as-u-k-sub-arrives-in-australia/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US Supreme Court will hear arguments in Tarague bomb detonation range lawsuit
PDN 20260310
https://www.guampdn.com/news/us-supreme-court-will-hear-arguments-in-tarague-bomb-detonation-range-lawsuit/article_3121cd7f-6757-478c-8156-ff8e2cfc2f8f.html
US Supreme Court to hear dispute over Air Force’s open detonations at Guam beach
PIT 20260310
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/us-supreme-court-to-hear-dispute-over-air-force-s-disposal-of-munitions-at-guam-beach
Court Denies Request to Halt U.S. Military Construction in Ngaraard
Island Times 20260310
https://islandtimes.org/court-denies-request-to-halt-u-s-military-construction-in-ngaraard/
Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, U.S. kick off anti-submarine warfare exercise Sea Dragon 2026
USN 7th Flt 20260309
https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/4429446/australia-india-japan-new-zealand-us-kick-off-anti-submarine-warfare-exercise-s/
The changing world in which we live
GDP 20260310
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/the-changing-world-in-which-we-live/article_8830c37c-938a-4295-9bbc-cf07ce698504.html
Japanese Training Ship Dazzles in Palau with Crystal Waters, Cultural Festivities
Island Times 20260310
https://islandtimes.org/japanese-training-ship-dazzles-in-palau-with-crystal-waters-cultural-festivities/
Visiting Guam governor forges sister-city pact with Kaohsiung
CNA (TW) 20260310
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202603100009
Island Waves
The economic fallout of the Iran war for Indo-Pacific developing countries
Lowy 20260310
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/economic-fallout-iran-war-indo-pacific-developing-countries
Minerals and military: Incoming US ambassador spells out vision for NZ and Pacific
RNZ 20260310
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/589143/minerals-and-military-incoming-us-ambassador-spells-out-vision-for-nz-and-pacific
US Pacific ambassador nominee urges caution on China loans
Samoa Observer 20260310
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/118851
PNG-Australia Alliance Formalized as Military Expansion Looms
Post Courier (PNG) 20260310
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-australia-alliance-formalised-as-military-expansion-looms/
Australia-backed $150m plan aims to support Pacific rugby development
RNZ 20260310
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/589129/australia-backed-150m-plan-aims-to-support-pacific-rugby-development
Taiwan + SCS
China’s Military Threats Against Taiwan Scare the World – But Not Taiwanese People
The Diplomat 20260309
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/chinas-military-threats-against-taiwan-scare-the-world-but-not-taiwanese-people/
Why Beijing can’t repeat America’s Maduro raid in Taiwan
Think China 20260310
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/why-beijing-cant-repeat-americas-maduro-raid-taiwan
The myth of Taiwan’s ‘pro-China’ defense budget blockade
Nikkei 20260310
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-myth-of-taiwan-s-pro-china-defense-budget-blockade
Taiwan could receive final batch of Abrams tanks in March
Taiwan News 20260310
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6317582
Taiwan receives U.S. acceptance letter for HIMARS: Koo
CNA (TW) 22060310
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202603100012
China’s air force has gone quiet around Taiwan. No one has a good explanation
ASPI 20260310
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-air-force-has-gone-quiet-around-taiwan-no-one-has-a-good-explanation/
WPS operational data, modernization plans leaked by spies —PH Navy
GMA 20260310
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/979444/wps-operational-data-modernization-plans-leaked-by-spies-ph-navy/story/
AFP says operations in West Philippine Sea to continue amid rising oil prices
ABS-CBN 20260310
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/10/afp-says-operations-in-west-philippine-sea-to-continue-amid-rising-oil-prices-1358
Capabilities
Beijing’s new missile threat to Australia
ASPI 20260310
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beijings-new-missile-threat-to-australia/
China may be preparing for nuclear war. Trump can’t ignore it.
WaPo 20260309
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/03/09/china-nuclear-testing-trump/
Should South Korea build the nuclear bomb?
Think China 20260310
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/should-south-korea-build-nuclear-bomb
Lee says possible shift of USFK’s military assets won’t affect deterrence against N. Korea
Yonhap 20260310
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260310003651315
Pentagon says USFK remains focused on ‘combat-credible’ force posture in Korea amid THAAD redeployment report
Yonhap 20260311
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260310010951315
USFK’s relocation of military assets to Middle East raises concerns about Seoul’s capability to deter N.K. threats
Yonhap 20260310
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260310009800315
U.S. moving parts of THAAD anti-missile system from S. Korea to Middle East: report
Yonhap 20260310
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260310006300315
Spate of missile deployments points to ‘division of labor’ with Taiwan
Japan Times 20260310
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03/10/asia-pacific/taiwan-japan-philippines-us-missiles/
Philippine Marine BrahMos Force Stands Up Northern Luzon Unit
Naval News 20260310
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/philippine-marine-brahmos-force-stands-up-northern-luzon-unit/
Marines, Soldiers Practice Anti-ship Missile Deployments in Hawaii
USNI 20260310
https://news.usni.org/2026/03/10/marines-soliders-practice-anti-ship-missile-deployments-in-hawaii
U.S. Striking Iranian Navy Ships With Ballistic Missiles
TWZ 20260310
https://www.twz.com/land/u-s-striking-iranian-navy-ships-with-ballistic-missiles
Japan Commissions Fifth Taigei-class Submarine
Naval News 20260310
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/japan-commissions-fifth-taigei-class-submarine/
Japan's neo-militarism: a source of regional instability
GT 20260310
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356708.shtml
China amps up its 2026 defense budget by 7% amid purge of generals
Defense News 20260710
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/03/10/china-amps-up-its-2026-defense-budget-by-7-amid-purge-of-generals/
China lifts military budget to modernize weapons, defence technology
Reuters 20260310
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-lifts-military-budget-modernize-weapons-defence-technology-2026-03-10/
China's 2026 defense budget set at 1.94 trillion yuan: spokesperson
GT 20260310
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356751.shtml
America’s Military Is Focused on Iran. Its Biggest Challenge Is China.
WSJ 20260309
https://www.wsj.com/world/us-military-iran-china-threat-661ef48e
Deterrence at Scale: Cross-Theater Defense Cooperation in an Age of Precise Mass
CSIS 20260306
https://www.csis.org/analysis/deterrence-scale-cross-theater-defense-cooperation-age-precise-mass
US bunker-buster hits on Iran drive China deeper underground
Asia Times 20260310
https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/us-bunker-buster-hits-on-iran-drive-china-deeper-underground/
How cheaply can China fend off a drone swarm with its latest microwave weapon?
SCMP 22060310
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346106/how-cheaply-can-china-fend-drone-swarm-its-latest-microwave-weapon