Pacific Winds 20260314
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Indo-Pacific perspectives on the prospect of a US-China G2
Brookings 20260313
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/indo-pacific-perspectives-on-the-prospect-of-a-us-china-g2/
PM calls on Vance to work together to quickly implement deals on nuclear subs, energy, shipbuilding
Yonhap 20260313
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260313000453315
U.S. welcomes S. Korea’s passage of investment bill as ‘positive’ step: U.S. official
Yonhap 20260313
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260313010100315
Trump’s China Trip: 3 Possible Deliverables
The Diplomat 20260314
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/trumps-china-trip-3-possible-deliverables/
How the War in Iran Could Help China and Change Asia
NYTimes 20260313
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/world/asia/iran-war-china-asia.html
US Allies Near China on Edge as Weapons Shift From Asia to Iran
Bloomberg 20260313
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/us-allies-near-china-on-edge-as-weapons-shift-from-asia-to-iran
The Iran War Is Now Impacting AUKUS
The Diplomat 20260312
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/the-iran-war-is-now-impacting-aukus/
China positions itself as force for global stability
Inquirer (PH) 20260313
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/313835/china-positions-itself-as-force-for-global-stability
An Emerging Pacific Shield to Counter China’s Expansionist Appetite
Japan Forward 20260313
https://japan-forward.com/an-emerging-pacific-shield-to-counter-chinas-expansionist-appetite/
The American Narrative About a Revisionist China Is Upside-Down
The Diplomat 20260312
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/the-american-narrative-about-a-revisionist-china-is-upside-down/
S. Korea warns of stern response to Japan PM’s renewed Dokdo claim
Yonhap 20260313
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260313010000320
China slams US trade probe ahead of Paris talks
Reuters 20260313
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-slams-us-trade-probe-ahead-paris-talks-2026-03-13/
US' so-called 'forced labor’ claims entirely fabricated, China opposes using it as pretext for political manipulation: FM on Section 301 probe
GT 20260313
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356924.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam registers 6,000th H-2B worker, record-breaking number in 30 years
PIT 20260313
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/guam-registers-6-000th-h-2b-worker-record-breaking-number-in-30-years
Indo-Pacific commander backs CNMI request for federal dialogue
Marianas Variety 20260313
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/local-news-indo-pacific-commander-backs-cnmi-request-for-federal-dialogue/article_b1ceeaec-28c0-4832-b705-bd8cc7ffe004.html/
FSM advances disaster readiness with its first sovereign humanitarian warehouse in Palikir
Islands Business 20260313
https://islandsbusiness.com/partner-news/fsm-advances-disaster-readiness-with-its-first-sovereign-humanitarian-warehouse-in-palikir/
School Buses from Japan Embassy Transform Remote Students’ Lives, Cut Absenteeism
Island Times 20260313
https://islandtimes.org/school-buses-from-japan-embassy-transform-remote-students-lives-cut-absenteeism/
Island Waves
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Japan Advance Dialogue through Kizuna Talanoa
PIF 20260313
https://forumsec.org/publications/release-pacific-islands-forum-secretariat-and-japan-advance-dialogue-through-kizuna
The PNG Chiefs will be a test of sovereignty
Lowy 20260313
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/png-chiefs-will-be-test-sovereignty
Chinese Ambassador and Luganville Mayor meets to strengthen ties
Daily Post (VU) 20260313
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/chinese-ambassador-and-luganville-mayor-meets-to-strengthen-ties/article_61953237-e981-5eae-950f-a5825318aa38.html
Taiwan + SCS
New US weapons for Taiwan could be approved after Trump’s China trip, sources say
Reuters 20260313
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/new-us-weapons-taiwan-could-be-approved-after-trumps-china-trip-sources-say-2026-03-13/
China's opposition to US arms sales to Taiwan region is consistent, FM says after report claims new package could be approved following Trump's China visit
GT 20260313
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356922.shtml
Taiwan Explained: Why China Claims It, and Why the U.S. Is Involved
CFR 20260312
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/china-taiwan-relations-tension-us-policy-trump
How China Views the Cognitive Element of a War for Taiwan
WOTR 20260311
https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/how-china-views-the-cognitive-element-of-a-war-for-taiwan/
Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships, 3 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260312
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6320008
What’s important about Antelope Reef in the South China Sea’s Paracel Islands?
SCMP 22060313
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346476/whats-important-about-antelope-reef-south-china-seas-paracel-islands
Will Paracels dispute overshadow China and Vietnam’s drive for stronger strategic ties?
SCMP 20260314
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3346539/will-paracels-dispute-overshadow-china-and-vietnams-drive-stronger-strategic-ties
Capabilities
China’s nuclear warhead storage a ‘highly concentrated risk’, US report says
SCMP 20260313
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346374/chinas-nuclear-warhead-storage-highly-concentrated-risk-us-report-says
Thousands of Chinese boats mass at sea, raising questions
AFP 22060313
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260313-thousands-of-chinese-boats-mass-at-sea-raising-questions
AFP: US assets in PH intact despite missile redeployments
Inquirer (PH) 20260314
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/313849/afp-us-assets-in-ph-intact-despite-missile-redeployments
After Epic Fury, a munitions supplemental becomes imperative
Breaking Defense 20260313
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/after-epic-fury-a-munitions-supplemental-becomes-imperative/
Japan launches third and fourth Sakura-class OPVs for JMSDF
Naval News 20260313
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/japan-launches-third-and-fourth-sakura-class-opvs-for-jmsdf/
PLA Navy’s new Type 052D destroyer conducts maiden training with newly debuted Type 055 destroyer, official media reports show
GT 220603123
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356900.shtml
Railgun Being Fired By U.S. Navy Again After Abandoning It For Years
TWZ 20260312
https://www.twz.com/sea/navy-is-firing-its-railgun-again-after-abandoning-it-for-years
Magazine Breadth — Not Just Depth — Is Key to Munitions Industrial Base Resilience
WOTR 20260312
https://warontherocks.com/2026/03/magazine-breadth-not-just-depth-is-key-to-munitions-industrial-base-resilience/
China announces AI boost to radar as drone swarms confound detectors in Iran war
SCMP 20260313
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346493/china-announces-ai-boost-radar-drone-swarms-confound-detectors-iran-war
Darwin Port: stop picking over the past and move forward
ASPI 20260314
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/darwin-port-stop-picking-over-the-past-and-move-forward/
China ends month-long launch hiatus with separate Guowang and Shiyan-30 satellite missions
Space News 20260313
https://spacenews.com/china-ends-month-long-launch-hiatus-with-separate-guowang-and-shiyan-30-satellite-missions/