Pacific Winds 20260424
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
A Formal Defense Pact in the Indo-Pacific Is the Wrong Answer
WOTR 20260423
https://warontherocks.com/a-formal-defense-pact-in-the-indo-pacific-is-the-wrong-answer/
The Quad Is on the Brink of Extinction
FP 20260423
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/23/trump-quad-india-japan-australia-modi-china-summit-diplomacy-geopolitics/
Why Trump Should Make China-US Relations Great Again
The Diplomat 20260422
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/why-trump-should-make-china-us-relations-great-again/
US visa system ‘rolls out red carpet’ for Chinese spies, congressional hearing told
SCMP 20260423
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told
Timeline for OPCON transfer to be set in annual defense talks in Oct.: Seoul
Yonhap 20260423
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260423005100315
Bolstering U.S. presence in Japan “top priority”: senior Pentagon official
Kyodo 20260423
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/74753
Forget Trump. On AUKUS, it’s the next president we must worry about
SMH 20260422
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/forget-trump-on-aukus-it-s-the-next-president-we-must-worry-about-20260422-p5zpy8.html
The Australian Labor Party’s Foreign Policy No Longer Matches the World’s Realities
The Diplomat 20260423
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/the-australian-labor-partys-foreign-policy-no-longer-matches-the-worlds-realities/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
GOP Warns DHS of Birth Tourism, Drug Trafficking by China
NDT 20260323
https://www.ntd.com/gop-warns-dhs-of-birth-tourism-drug-trafficking-by-china_1140651.html
Marines shift mission to Sinlaku recovery on Tinian
Marianas Press 20260423
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/marines-shift-mission-to-sinlaku-recovery-on-tinian
Island Waves
NZ backs aviation reform with new report
Daily Post (VU) 20260423
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/nz-backs-aviation-reform-with-new-report/article_505e6dbe-3929-51f7-a825-c98f71813db8.html
Ditoka holds talks in Australia with Ministers
Fiji Times 20260423
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/ditoka-holds-talks-in-australia-with-ministers/
PRC boosts ECGC transport services and livelihoods
Solomon Star 20260423
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/prc-boosts-ecgc-transport-services-and-livelihoods/
HEALTH MINISTRY WELCOMES A NEW MOU WITH THE US
PNG Haus Bung 20260423
https://pnghausbung.com/health-ministry-welcomes-a-new-mou-with-the-us/
Taiwan + SCS
Pentagon explores ways to bolster Taiwan’s defense
Taiwan News 20260423
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6346288
U.S. official urges Taiwan parties to pass special defense budget
CNA (TW) 20260423
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202604230009
Iran War Complicates Contingency Plans to Defend Taiwan, Some U.S. Officials Say
WSJ 20260423
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/iran-war-complicates-contingency-plans-to-defend-taiwan-some-u-s-officials-say-4384f7c1
China urges U.S. to stop supporting Taiwan region in consolidating so-called “diplomatic allies”
Xinhua 20260423
https://english.news.cn/20260423/b3a02b6471f54384b96ab2907239d3f8/c.html
Taiwan tracks 15 Chinese military aircraft and 6 ships
Taiwan News 20260423
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6346299
Taiwan minister makes rare visit to South China Sea island for drills
Reuters 20260423
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-minister-makes-rare-visit-south-china-sea-island-drills-2026-04-23/
Capabilities
Why China now embraces a nuclear North Korea
Lowy 20260423
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-china-now-embraces-nuclear-north-korea
USFK eyes making S. Korea into ‘regional sustainment hub’ to expedite MRO of assets
Yonhap 20260423
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260423007400315
A landmark deal signals a new era for Japan
WaPo 20260423
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/23/japan-becomes-an-arms-exporter-china-looms/
US Marine Corps, Navy join forces to combat insufficient amphibious fleet size
Defense News 20260423
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/04/23/us-marine-corps-navy-join-forces-to-combat-insufficient-amphibious-fleet-size/
Chinese military experts take stock of US munitions weak spot exposed by Iran war
SCMP 20260423
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351140/chinese-military-experts-take-stock-us-munitions-weak-spot-exposed-iran-war
US stuck using $1 million missiles against Iran’s $20,000 drones
Asia Times 20260423
https://asiatimes.com/2026/04/us-stuck-using-1-million-missiles-against-irans-20000-drones/
Department of War Showcases Progress on Golden Dome for America, the Nation’s Next-Generation Homeland Defense
US DoW 20260423
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4468089/department-of-war-showcases-progress-on-golden-dome-for-america-the-nations-nex/
‘No longer theoretical’: Golden Dome czar touts first steps amid skepticism
Breaking Defense 20260423
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/golden-dome-guetlein-show-the-public-norfolk/
Space-based missile defense: Golden Dome or gold brick?
BAS 20260422
https://thebulletin.org/2026/04/space-based-missile-defense-golden-dome-or-gold-brick/
US Officials Voice Concerns Over China, Pacific ‘Denial Defense’
Military.com 20260423
https://www.military.com/daily-news/headlines/2026/04/22/us-builds-pacific-denial-defense-china-threat-grows.html
Adm. Paparo, Indo-Pacific commander, weighs in on Chinese military’s use of AI
WashTimes 20260423
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/apr/23/adm-samuel-j-paparo-indo-pacific-commander-weighs-chinese-militarys/
China marks navy’s 77th anniversary as its role in safeguarding peace grows
Xinhua 20260423
https://english.news.cn/20260423/c512fe67f70e4cafadf9c9e2e5f0f446/c.html
China’s Naval Diplomacy Turns Back Toward Home
The Diplomat 20260423
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/chinas-naval-diplomacy-turns-back-toward-home/
Power
Is China’s soft power rising, or is America’s just crumbling?
Asia Times 20260423
https://asiatimes.com/2026/04/is-chinas-soft-power-rising-or-is-americas-just-crumbling/