Pacific Winds 20260326
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
The Quad’s coherence problem
Lowy 20260325
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/quad-s-coherence-problem
U.S.-China summit to take place in Beijing on May 14-15: White House
Yonhap 20260326
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260326000451315
A war, a postponed summit and a wider US-China rift
Think China 20260324
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/war-postponed-summit-and-wider-us-china-rift
Are US and China looking for ‘minimum stability’ after going through a ‘rough patch’?
SCMP 20260325
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347855/are-us-and-china-looking-minimum-stability-after-going-through-rough-patch
Trump Had His Eye on China, Then Plunged Into a New Mideast War
NYTimes 20260325
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/us/politics/trump-china-mideast.html
The Indo-Pacific strategy just sank in Iran
Asia Times 20260325
https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/the-indo-pacific-strategy-just-sank-in-iran/
Trump, Xi, and the Specter of 1914
FA 20260325
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/trump-xi-and-specter-1914
No, China Doesn’t Want Spheres of Influence
FP 20260325
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/25/china-us-russia-sphere-influence-geopolitics-competition/
Implementing the Biden Administration’s China Strategy
Carnegie 20260323
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/03/implementing-the-biden-administrations-china-strategy
Australia Must Rediscover the Courage to Balance
AIIA 20260325
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/australia-must-rediscover-the-courage-to-balance/
China’s Economic Bullying of Japan Will Backfire
The Diplomat 20260325
https://thediplomat.com/2026/03/chinas-economic-bullying-of-japan-will-backfire/
The ocean is not America’s private domain
GT 20260325
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357543.shtml
White House official says plan to increase global tariff to 15 pct ‘in process’
Yonhap 20260326
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260326000200315
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Think tank report says US military treats Guam as a ‘disposable asset’
PIT 20260325
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/think-tank-report-says-us-military-treats-guam-as-a-disposable-asset
Think tank Pacific Center for Island Security takes a close look at geopolitical forces impacting Micronesia
PDN 20260325
https://www.guampdn.com/news/think-tank-pacific-center-for-island-security-takes-a-close-look-at-geopolitical-forces-impacting/article_b0e98d7c-a924-4fe5-a4c5-c7d69b4b079e.html
Micronesia Security Outlook 2025
PCIS 20260325
https://www.pacificcenterforislandsecurity.com/s/PCIS-Annual-Review-2025.pdf
Lowy Institute Report Highlights Palau’s Continued Reliance on Aid
Island Times 20260325
https://islandtimes.org/lowy-institute-report-highlights-palaus-continued-reliance-on-aid/
Guam, Hawaii & Malacca — China’s Research Ships Silently Map Strategic Waters for Submarine Edge Over U.S.?
Eurasia Times 20260325
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/guam-hawaii-malacca-chinas-research-ships/?amp
Island Waves
Balancing act: the agency of Pacific Island states in a world of machtpolitik
DevPolicy 20260325
https://devpolicy.org/balancing-act-the-agency-of-pacific-islands-in-a-world-of-machtpolitik-20260325/
Pacific faces ‘Polycrisis’ as Security pressures intensify — Forum report
PINA 20260326
https://pina.com.fj/2026/03/25/pacific-faces-polycrisis-as-security-pressures-intensify-forum-report/
Fiji reaffirms strong ties with China
FBCN 20260325
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fiji-reaffirms-strong-ties-with-china/
China’s Hospital Ships Risk Pacific Health Sovereignty
AIIA 20260325
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/chinas-hospital-ships-risk-pacific-health-sovereignty/
AUSTRALIA INVESTS IN NEW TB DRUGS BENEFITING PNG
PNG Haus Bung 20260325
https://pnghausbung.com/australia-invests-in-new-tb-drugs-benefiting-png/
‘Kiwi Whare’ opens for police collaboration
Daily Post (VU) 20260325
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/kiwi-whare-opens-for-police-collaboration/article_b02bd558-a204-5a32-9f00-afbb796f3153.html
Parents Criticize US Visa Bond
National 20260325
https://www.thenational.com.pg/parents-criticise-us-visa-bond/
Taiwan + SCS
We will never promise to renounce use of force; will retain option to take all necessary actions: mainland spokesperson over US intelligence report involving Taiwan question
GT 20260325
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357507.shtml
Taiwan says US has ‘high’ urgency in speeding up weapons deliveries
Reuters 20260325
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-says-us-has-high-urgency-speeding-up-weapons-deliveries-2026-03-25/
The US has built a Taiwan security toolkit. Now it needs to use it
Nikkei 20260325
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-us-has-built-a-taiwan-security-toolkit.-now-it-needs-to-use-it
Lai commits to strengthening defense, expanding Taiwan-Japan partnership
Taiwan News 20260325
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6327504
Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese military aircraft, 12 ships
Taiwan News 20260325
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6327445
PH says talks with China for joint oil, gas exploration ‘may be forthcoming’
GMA 20260325
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/981314/philippines-joint-oil-exploration-china-energy/story/
Marcos’ remarks on oil, gas talks with China viewed by Philippine media as hinting at a reset in ties; co-op door remains open for right moves on major issues: Chinese expert
GT 20260326
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357574.shtml
Capabilities
China’s Own Seawolf-class Submarine: The Type 095
Naval News 20260325
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/chinas-own-seawolf-class-submarine-the-type-095/
China’s nuclear submarines and bombers could shift Asia’s balance
Think China 20250324
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chinas-nuclear-submarines-and-bombers-could-shift-asias-balance
Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?
SCMP 20260325
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347889/should-china-be-worried-about-japans-maritime-force-overhaul
Iran’s US radar strike exposes China’s South China Sea gap
Asia Times 20260325
https://asiatimes.com/2026/03/irans-us-radar-strike-exposes-chinas-south-china-sea-gap/
Running on Empty: America’s Depleted Weapons Stocks in the Iran War are a Strategic Red Flag
AEI 20260325
https://www.aei.org/articles/running-on-empty-americas-depleted-weapons-stocks-in-the-iran-war-are-a-strategic-red-flag/
What Can Trump’s Budget Buy the Navy? Exploring Options and Trade-Offs
AEI 20260325
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/what-can-trumps-budget-buy-the-navy-exploring-options-and-trade-offs/
To Build the Golden Fleet
Heritage 20260325
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/build-the-golden-fleet
Achieving Combat Sortie Generation Proficiency in the Air Force
RAND 20260325
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3737-1.html
Indo-Pacific allies join to counter hypersonic threats
IPDF 20260325
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/03/indo-pacific-allies-join-to-counter-hypersonic-threats/
Pentagon inks deal with BAE, Lockheed to quadruple THAAD seeker production
Military Times 20260325
https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/03/25/pentagon-inks-deal-with-bae-lockheed-to-quadruple-thaad-seeker-production/
US DoW Release: https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4441614/department-of-war-secures-agreement-on-thaad-seeker-production-quadrupling-outp/
As China Encroaches, Even New Zealand Is Getting Serious About Its Military
WSJ 20260324
https://www.wsj.com/world/oceania/new-zealand-military-china-2a776b24
China unveils full-process demonstration of Atlas drone swarm operations system, expert highlights algorithm-enabled combat upgrades
GT 20260325
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357519.shtml
Two new types of Chinese anti-drone laser weapons revealed in official media report; expert sees China's laser-based counter-drone technologies at global forefront
GT 20260325
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357573.shtml
US unlikely to convince China to join new nuclear arms control agreement, experts say
SCMP 20260325
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3347775/us-unlikely-get-china-join-new-nuclear-arms-control-agreement-say-experts
New joint intel report warns of cyber threats to growing LEO satellite constellations
Breaking Defense 20260325
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/new-joint-intel-report-warns-of-cyber-threats-to-growing-leo-satellite-constellations/
Exercises
Japan to deploy troops for ‘biggest’ Balikatan drills to date
Naval News 20260324
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/03/japan-to-deploy-troops-for-biggest-balikatan-drills-to-date/