Pacific Winds 20260410
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump may accelerate strategic flexibility push for USFK over ally dissatisfaction: Seoul analyst
Korea Times 20260409
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/foreignaffairs/20260409/trump-may-accelerate-strategic-flexibility-push-for-usfk-over-ally-dissatisfaction-seoul-analyst
Japan and Australia need a broad defence treaty
ASPI 20260409
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/japan-and-australia-need-a-broad-defence-treaty/
Amidst Regional Uncertainty, Japan-Indonesia Defence Partnership is Taking Shape
AIIA 20260409
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/amidst-regional-uncertainty-japan-indonesia-defence-partnership-is-taking-shape/
N. Korean, Chinese FMs hold talks in Pyongyang on strengthening ties: report
Yonhap 20260409
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260409011051320
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Holds Strategic Talks With North Korea
Chosun 20260409
https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/04/10/JPKESYJV5JFRRDITKK27YU5PGE/
South Korea turns to EU to revive talks with the North
DW 20260407
https://www.dw.com/en/south-korea-turns-to-eu-to-revive-talks-with-the-north/a-76690973
South Koreans and Their Neighbors 2026
AIPS 20260409
https://asaninst.org/bbs/board.php?bo_table=s1_6_1_eng&wr_id=25
Defense alliance seeks Philippines-based manufacturing hub to boost regional deterrence
IPDF 20260408
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/04/defense-alliance-seeks-philippines-based-manufacturing-hub-to-boost-regional-deterrence/
China’s Economic Sanctions Against Japan: An Assessment
The Diplomat 20260409
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/chinas-economic-sanctions-against-japan-an-assessment/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Moylan: Defense sales crucial to Guam’s security
PDN 20260409
https://www.guampdn.com/news/moylan-defense-sales-crucial-to-guams-security/article_9c32a0e8-2a67-424e-a743-bd011db1e5fe.html
Demapan visits Saipan amid biosecurity, national security, 902 talks
Marianas Press 20260410
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/demapan-visits-saipan-amid-biosecurity-national-security-902-talks
CNMI requests under review as Section 902 talks continue
Marianas Variety 20260409
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/local-news-cnmi-requests-under-review-as-section-902-talks-continue/article_8d5b93b7-7c92-42a3-98c4-f96c100fca33.html/
Taiwan pledges more loans for small businesses in Marshall Islands
Taipei Times 20260409
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/04/09/2003855317
Congress and DOJ can strip Guam’s citizenship, federal government asserts
GDP 20260409
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/congress-and-doj-can-strip-guams-citizenship-federal-government-asserts/article_72b9601f-b3f2-42ab-ad40-514d1260ae79.html
South Korean Submarine Completes First Leg of Indo-Pacific Voyage to Canada
USNI 20260408
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/08/south-korean-submarine-completes-first-leg-of-indo-pacific-voyage-to-canada
Island Waves
What women leaders in the Pacific can teach us about how change happens
DevPolicy 20260409
https://devpolicy.org/what-women-leaders-in-the-pacific-can-teach-us-about-how-change-happens-20260409/
Legal, political tensions shape Kanaky’s path toward self-determination
PIT 20260409
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/legal-political-tensions-shape-kanaky-s-path-toward-self-determination
$300M Vanua Levu road upgrade set to boost access
FBCN 20260409
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/300m-vanua-levu-road-upgrade-set-to-boost-access/
PLAN hospital ship Silk Road Ark arrives in Papua New Guinea
China Military 20260409
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/H_251454/L_251456/16454139.html
Kapavore Hails Visiting Chinese Medical Ship
National 20260409
https://www.thenational.com.pg/kapavore-hails-visiting-chinese-medical-ship/
Taiwan + SCS
KMT chair calls for peace as ‘greatest gift’ during Shanghai visit
CNA (TW) 20260409
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202604090015
MAC criticizes KMT’s Cheng for echoing CCP narrative during China trip
CNA (TW) 20260409
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202604090017
Beijing Prefers Peace to Force on Taiwan
FP 20260408
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/08/xi-jinping-cheng-li-wun-china-taiwan-meeting-invasion/
US senator urges Taiwan parliament to pass stalled defence spending plan
Reuters 20260409
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-senator-urges-taiwan-parliament-pass-stalled-defence-spending-plan-2026-04-09/
KMT lawmakers boycott defense budget negotiations
Taipei Times 20260410
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/04/10/2003855352
Taiwan develops 1,000 km-range cruise missile
Taiwan News 20260409
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6337379
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese ships, 6 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260409
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6337124
Philippines unveils new coast guard command in disputed South China Sea
Jakarta Post (AFP) 20260409
https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/04/09/philippines-unveils-new-coast-guard-command-in-disputed-south-china-sea.html.
Counting on external forces to stir up troubles at sea by the Philippines will prove self-defeating: Defense Spokesperson
China Military 20260409
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/H_251454/L_251456/16454146.html
Capabilities
Rebuilding American Airpower: Balancing the Air Force’s Combat Forces for Peer Conflict
Mitchell 20260409
https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/app/uploads/2026/04/Rebuilding-Americas-Air-Force-FINAL.pdf
New Wargame Assessed USAF Force Mixes for a China Fight
Air & Space 20260409
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-wargame-force-mix-usaf-china-fight/
China drills for US nuclear attack in a Taiwan war
Asia Times 20260409
https://asiatimes.com/2026/04/china-drills-for-us-nuclear-attack-in-a-taiwan-war/
China’s dual-use ambitions could severely threaten America’s force posture
Breaking Defense 20260409
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/chinas-dual-use-ambitions-could-severely-threaten-americas-force-posture/
Covert Nuclear Testing and the Enormous Increase in Chinese Nuclear Weapons Capability
NIPP 20260408
https://nipp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IS-656.pdf
North Korea Tests New Weapons, Drawing Lessons from Iran War
NYTimes 20260409
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/world/asia/north-korea-weapons-iran.html
North Korea Holds 3 Days of Major Weapon Tests, Missile Launches
USNI 20260409
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/09/north-korea-holds-3-days-of-major-weapon-tests-missile-launches
Over 2 Consecutive Days, North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Toward East Sea
The Diplomat 20260408
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/over-2-consecutive-days-north-korea-fires-ballistic-missiles-toward-east-sea/
There’s a bear in there: Russia in the Indo-Pacific
Lowy 20260410
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/there-s-bear-there-russia-indo-pacific
Iran’s Asymmetric Counterair Campaign: Attacking the U.S. Air Force’s Nests and Eggs
WOTR 20260409
https://warontherocks.com/2026/04/irans-asymmetric-counterair-campaign-attacking-the-u-s-air-forces-nests-and-eggs/
CRS Report to Congress on U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle Hypersonic Weapon
USNI 20260409
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/09/report-to-congress-on-u-s-armys-dark-eagle-hypersonic-weapon
China deploys new battlefield AI in command tent. It outsmarts everyone
SCMP 202600409
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3349429/china-deploys-new-battlefield-ai-command-tent-it-outsmarts-everyone
China launches new internet satellite group
Xinhua 20260409
https://english.news.cn/20260409/41b4493914d04d6fae0fa22e61f1cd48/c.html
Space Force slates $1.8B for commercial sats to replace GSSAP neighborhood watch birds
Breaking Defense 20260409
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/space-force-slates-1-8b-for-commercial-sats-to-replace-gssap-neighborhood-watch-birds/
A new kind of arsenal: commercial satellites
Space News 20260409
https://spacenews.com/a-new-kind-of-arsenal-commercial-satellites/
Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It
TWZ 20260408
https://www.twz.com/air/here-is-what-trumps-gargantuan-1-5t-defense-budget-has-in-it