Pacific Winds 20260423
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China and Philippines taking ‘baby steps’ towards better relations: Manila’s ambassador
SCMP 20260422
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350870/china-and-philippines-taking-baby-steps-towards-better-relations-manilas-ambassador
Chinese embassy slams Philippine defense secretary’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks, warns that those who rely on external forces to stoke major-power rivalry are likely to bring trouble upon themselves
GT 20260422
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359521.shtml
Japan considers inviting Philippines President Marcos for state visit next month
Reuters 20260421
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japan-considers-inviting-philippines-president-marcos-state-visit-next-month-2026-04-21/
What the War Against Iran Means for the U.S.-South Korean Alliance
WOTR 20260421
https://warontherocks.com/what-the-war-against-iran-means-for-the-u-s-south-korean-alliance/
S. Korea, U.S. aim to meet OPCON transfer conditions no later than 1Q of 2029: USFK commander
Yonhap 20260423
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260423000351315
N. Korean, Russian public security chiefs discuss closer cooperation
Yonhap 20260422
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260422001851315
War has significantly altered major Trump meeting with Xi
Responsible Statecraft 20260422
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-xi-summit/
Australian media’s ‘China threat’ narrative is a never-ending story
EAF 20260422
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/04/22/australian-medias-china-threat-narrative-is-a-never-ending-story/
Cross-party group of 120 Japan lawmakers visits war-linked Yasukuni shrine
Kyodo 20260422
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/74677
China, South Korea Object to Japanese PM Takaichi’s Ritual Offering to Yasukuni Shrine
Yomiuri 20260422
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260422-323711/
Japan's moves on Yasukuni Shrine blatantly provoke international justice, trample on human conscience: FM spokesperson on Japanese PM, officials' offerings at notorious shrine
GT 20260422
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359533.shtml
China Doesn’t Always Win When the U.S. Loses
FP 20260422
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/21/iran-war-china-us-competition-geopolitics/
What if China Succeeds?
FP 20260422
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/22/china-beijing-america-united-states-competition/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam in the crosshairs for major cyber attacks; US adversaries prove they can disrupt services
PDN 20260423
https://www.guampdn.com/news/panelists-guam-in-the-crosshairs-for-major-cyber-attacks-us-adversaries-prove-they-can-disrupt/article_2afabfd5-0d85-46ad-a0fe-dfe2ff9f5bbb.html
Reagan Test Site name change reflects space, missile defense testing history
DVIDS 20260419
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/563104/reagan-test-site-name-change-reflects-space-missile-defense-testing-history
Island Waves
PM’s Office clarifies China agreement as development cooperation, not security deal
Daily Post (VU) 20260422
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/pm-s-office-clarifies-china-agreement-as-development-cooperation-not-security-deal/article_30253204-1684-5563-9de6-37421c85b600.html
Fresh stoush brewing between Australia and Vanuatu over potential China deal
ABC (AU) 20260422
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/van-china/106591126
PM STRENGTHENS PNG–US COOPERATION ON FUEL & DISASTER SUPPORT
PNG Haus Bung 20260422
https://pnghausbung.com/pm-strengthens-png-us-cooperation-on-fuel-disaster-support/
Aust Prioritises Road Access
National (PNG) 20260422
https://www.thenational.com.pg/aust-prioritises-road-access/
China provides SBD 500,000 in Humanitarian Assistance to Solomon Islands following Cyclone Maila
SIBC 20260420
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/china-provides-sbd-500000-in-humanitarian-assistance-to-solomon-islands-following-cyclone-maila/
Taiwan + SCS
Trump effect? Taiwan poll reveals deep doubts about US military protection
SCMP 20260422
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3350926/trump-effect-taiwan-poll-reveals-deep-doubts-about-us-military-protection
Taiwan defense budget crucial: U.S. Indo-Pacific commander
CNA (TW) 20260422
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202604220008
Taiwan signs 6 arms deals with U.S. worth around US$6.6 billion
CNA (TW) 20260422
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202604220020
Taiwan-US agreements cover joint production of large-caliber ammunition
Taiwan News 20260422
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6345958
Taiwan’s KMT offers US an off-ramp from war with China
Asia Times 20260422
https://asiatimes.com/2026/04/taiwans-kmt-offers-us-an-off-ramp-from-war-with-china/
Taiwan’s Political Polarization Is Playing Into China’s Hands
CFR 20260422
https://www.cfr.org/articles/taiwans-political-polarization-is-playing-into-chinas-hands
Pacific commander says victory over Iran needed to deter Chinese attack on Taiwan
WashTimes 20260421
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/21/pacific-commander-says-victory-iran-needed-deter-chinese-attack/
Mainland spokesperson responds to Taiwan security organs’ claim that new cross-Straits measures ‘interfere in’ island’s regional elections
GT 20260422
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359503.shtml
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson slams Japanese vessel via Taiwan Straits, calls it ‘deliberate provocation’
GT 20260422
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359504.shtml
Taiwan tracks 6 Chinese military aircraft and 6 ships
Taiwan News 20260422
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6345321
How China Is Building Its Next Outpost at Sea
NYTimes 20260422
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/22/world/asia/south-china-sea-island.html
Capabilities
US commander says Australia is ready for AUKUS subs, warns of ‘increasingly aggressive’ China
ABC (AU) 20260422
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-22/us-commander-warns-congress-of-increasingly-aggressive-china/106591886
OMB director rebukes shipbuilders over production delays
Breaking Defense 20260422
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/omb-director-rebukes-shipbuilders-over-production-delays/
Navy ‘going to study’ possibility of building ships outside US, Phelan says
Defense News 20260421
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-navy/2026/04/22/navy-going-to-study-possibility-of-building-ships-outside-us-phelan-says/
Ford Class Review Puts Navy’s Future Carrier Plans Into Question
Breaking Defense 20260422
https://www.twz.com/sea/ford-class-review-puts-navys-future-carrier-plans-into-question
Time to Bring Back the U.S. Maritime Service to Support America’s Maritime Revival and a Wartime Economy
Heritage 20260420
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/time-bring-back-the-us-maritime-service-support-americas-maritime-revival-and
NDS 2026 – How Australia’s defence strategy converges with US’s balance of power
ASPI 20260422
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nds-2026-how-australias-defence-strategy-converges-with-uss-balance-of-power/
Maritime gaps remain in Australia’s defence
Lowy 20260422
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/maritime-gaps-remain-australia-s-defence
Japan is becoming the hinge of Indo-Pacific deterrence
Asia Times 20260422
https://asiatimes.com/2026/04/japan-is-becoming-the-hinge-of-indo-pacific-deterrence/
Partners line up for arms deals as Japan opens defense industry door
Japan Times 20260422
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/22/japan/japan-arms-deals-partners/
Uncovering the systemic conspiracy of Japan’s ‘neo-militarism’
GT 20260423
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359582.shtml
China Plans for ‘Total War’: Developing the Capacity to Defeat the ‘Strong Enemy’ of the United States
Journal of Contemporary China 20260421
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10670564.2026.2662561
Air Base Defense Would Get $1.4 Billion in ’27 USAF Budget
Air & Space 20260421
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-requests-1-4-billion-in-air-base-defense-tech-in-27-budget/
Why KN-25 guided rockets are North Korea’s most unique nuclear weapon
NK News 20260422
https://www.nknews.org/pro/why-kn-25-guided-rockets-are-north-koreas-most-unique-nuclear-weapon/
The F-35 Is a Masterpiece Built for the Wrong War
WOTR 20260421
https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/the-f-35-is-a-masterpiece-built-for-the-wrong-war/
MDA Releases FY27 Budget Request Documents
US MDA 2025060421
https://www.mda.mil/news/budget_information.html
Space Force shifts from SDA transport layer to new Space Data Network ‘backbone’
Breaking Defense 20260422
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/space-force-shifts-from-sda-transport-layer-to-new-space-data-network-backbone-for-orbital-relay/
Hybridizing nuclear command, control and communications systems puts space infrastructure at risk
Space News 20260422
https://spacenews.com/hybridizing-nuclear-command-control-and-communications-systems-puts-space-infrastructure-at-risk/
FY27 budget request negates need for INDOPACOM spending wishlist: Commander
Breaking Defense 20260422
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/fy27-budget-request-negates-need-for-indopacom-spending-wishlist-commander/
Why Trump’s Historic Defense-Budget Request Matters
AEI 20260422
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/why-trumps-historic-defense-budget-request-matters/
Exercises
China’s Liaoning Carrier Heads South: More Than a Routine Drill
The Diplomat 20260422
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/chinas-liaoning-carrier-heads-south-more-than-a-routine-drill/
Chinese navy brushes past Okinawa islands as tensions with Japan flare
Reuters 20260422
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-navy-passes-by-japanese-islands-again-after-pacific-training-2026-04-22/
Warning over Taiwan? PLA warships make rare transits off southwest Japan
SCMP 20260422
https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351040/warning-over-taiwan-pla-warships-make-rare-transits-southwest-japan
U.S. Army Stages Equipment at American-owned Subic Bay Facility for Balikatan, Alliance Contingencies
USNI 20260422
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/22/u-s-army-stages-equipment-at-american-owned-subic-bay-facility-for-balikatan-alliance-contingencies
Balikatan 2026: 317th AW conducts MEO, arrives in Philippines
USAF PacAF 20260422
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4466278/balikatan-2026-317th-aw-conducts-meo-arrives-in-philippines/