Pacific Winds 20260316
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. says it is consulting with allies over N.K. launches, reaffirms defense commitment to allies
Yonhap 20260315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260315000200315
Australia, Japan and New Zealand should double down on collaboration
Lowy 2060316
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-japan-new-zealand-should-double-down-collaboration
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Reports say US moving South Korea defenses to Middle East; Guam officials say no word locally
PDN 20260315
https://www.guampdn.com/news/reports-say-us-moving-south-korea-defenses-to-middle-east-guam-officials-say-no-word/article_fa3bdce7-f337-4508-bc69-b69f01e7cd0a.html
Cracks appear in Runit Dome amid sea level rise in Marshall Islands
ABC (AU) 20260315
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-15/cracks-appear-in-runit-dome-amid-sea-level-rise/106423684
Taiwan + SCS
Mainland slams Lai Ching-te's secessionist remarks
GT 20260315
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1356966.shtml
Taiwan says large-scale Chinese military flights return after unusual absence
Reuters 20260315
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-says-large-scale-chinese-military-flights-return-after-unusual-absence-2026-03-15/
Taiwan tracks Chinese 26 military aircraft and 7 naval ships
Taiwan News 20260315
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6320947
Capabilities
N. Korea says conducted firepower strike drill with 600 mm ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers
Yonhap 20260315
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260315000400315
The Iran-Israel-US War Is Reconfiguring US Force Posture in the Indo-Pacific
The Diplomat 20260314
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/the-iran-israel-us-war-is-reconfiguring-us-force-posture-in-the-indo-pacific/
Why Japan’s Type-12 missile deployment may complicate China’s regional strategy
SCMP 20260315
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346610/why-japans-type-12-missile-deployment-may-complicate-chinas-regional-strategy
Chinese Satellites Pass Over Japan Every 10 Minutes, Monitoring U.S. Military Bases
Yomiuri 20260315
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260315-316694/
Could the PLA’s new shipborne drone redefine naval operations in the South China Sea?
SCMP 20260315
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3346655/could-plas-new-shipborne-drone-redefine-naval-operations-south-china-sea