Pacific Winds 20260428

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

U.S. restricts intelligence-sharing with S. Korea on N. Korea’s nuclear facilities: sources
Yonhap 20260427
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260427008500315

Seoul’s top envoy to U.S., FM Cho discuss N.K. intel controversy, Coupang issue
Yonhap 20260427
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260427009900315

As military ties grow closer, Japan and Australia need to reprioritise energy and economic security
EAF 20260427
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/04/27/as-military-ties-grow-closer-japan-and-australia-need-to-reprioritise-energy-and-economic-security/

Japan’s Strategic Pivot: Arms Exports as a Tool of Diplomacy
The Diplomat 20260427
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/japans-strategic-pivot-arms-exports-as-a-tool-of-diplomacy/

Kim’s Dangerous Liaisons
FA 20260427
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/north-korea/kims-dangerous-liaisons-oriana-skylar-mastro

Beijing Is Using Influencers to Burnish Its Image
FP 20260427
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/27/china-influencers-dubai-propaganda-chinamaxxing/

How China has expanded its economic toolkit during its trade truce with the US
Reuters 20260426
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/how-china-has-expanded-its-economic-toolkit-during-its-trade-truce-with-us-2026-04-26/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Chinese medical team supports post-disaster efforts in Federated States of Micronesia
Xinhua 20260427
https://english.news.cn/20260427/434f68194f5a495dad883c07c78a15d1/c.html

Keeping up with the military’s environmental reviews
PDN 20260427
https://www.guampdn.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-lotz-keeping-up-with-the-militarys-environmental-reviews/article_f3cb40b5-9e9d-4e13-b1ec-bd7f3e88c647.html

Island Waves

Japan boosts Fiji disaster response capacity
FBCN 20260427
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/japan-boosts-fiji-disaster-response-capacity/

NZ Defence Force Flies in Medical Supplies to ENB’s Pomio
National 20260427
https://www.thenational.com.pg/nz-defence-force-flies-in-medical-supplies-to-enbs-pomio/

Out of Depth: Shortcomings in U.S. Police Assistance and Coordination Warrant a Shift in the Pacific Islands
SWJ 20260427
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/04/27/out-of-depth-shortcomings-in-u-s-police-assistance-and-coordination-warrant-a-shift-in-the-pacific-islands/

Clashes in Indonesia’s Papua as hundreds protest military presence
Reuters 20260427
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/clashes-indonesias-papua-hundreds-protest-military-presence-2026-04-27/

Taiwan + SCS

US presses Taiwan parliament to pass ‘comprehensive’ defence budget
Reuters 20260427
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-presses-taiwan-parliament-pass-comprehensive-defence-budget-2026-04-27/

KMT lawmakers clash over defense budget cap
Taipei Times 20260428
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/04/28/2003856368

US official presses Taiwan region to pass ‘comprehensive’ defense budget; Washington drops its fig leaf in exploiting Taiwan for self-interest: expert
GT 20260427
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359933.shtml

Taiwan’s opposition struggles to sell China ties
EAF 20260427
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/04/27/taiwans-opposition-struggles-to-sell-china-ties/

China rethinking invasion plans: expert
Taipei Times 20260428
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/04/28/2003856369

Last batch of 28 M1A2T Abrams tanks arrive in Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260427
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6348473

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese naval ships, 7 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260427
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6348439

China is remaking the South China Sea with a return to island-building
Lowy 20260427
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-remaking-south-china-sea-return-island-building

New Wescom chief vows stronger West PH Sea awareness
Inquirer (PH) 20260427
https://www.inquirer.net/473592/new-wescom-chief-vows-stronger-west-ph-sea-awareness/

Philippines and US stage counter-landing drills with allies near South China Sea
Reuters 20260427
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/philippines-us-stage-counter-landing-drills-with-allies-near-south-china-sea-2026-04-27/

Capabilities

PLA showcases YJ-20 hypersonic missiles as Balikatan drills heat up South China Sea
SCMP 20260427
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351593/pla-showcases-yj-20-hypersonic-missiles-balikatan-drills-heat-south-china-sea

HD HHI Becomes First Korean Company to Win U.S. Office of Naval Research Project
Naval News 20260426
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/04/hd-hhi-becomes-first-korean-company-to-win-u-s-office-of-naval-research-project/

US Air Force looks to launch cheap missiles from cargo aircraft
Defense News 20260427
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/04/27/us-air-force-looks-to-launch-cheap-missiles-from-cargo-aircraft/

Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray carrier drone completes first test flight
Breaking Defense 20260427
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/navys-mq-25-stingray-carrier-drone-completes-first-test-flight/

Global military spending rise continues as European and Asian expenditures surge
SIPRI 20260427
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/global-military-spending-rise-continues-european-and-asian-expenditures-surge

Trump factor drives up Asia-Pacific military spending at fastest pace since 2009
SCMP 20260427
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351456/trump-factor-drives-asia-pacific-military-spending-fastest-pace-2009

Massive frigate buy from Japan jolts Australian warship program
Defense News 20260427
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/04/27/massive-frigate-buy-from-japan-jolts-australian-warship-program/

Takaichi clamors for sustainable combat capacity for protracted warfare by hyping security environment in 1st expert panel meeting on security documents revision
GT 20260427
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1359941.shtml

CSO Saltzman: Focus space acquisition on ‘minimum viable capabilities’
Breaking Defense 20260427
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/cso-saltzman-focus-space-acquisition-on-minimum-viable-capabilities/

Securing the ultimate high ground: how the Space Force is revolutionizing airborne target tracking
US Space Force 20260427
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4471347/securing-the-ultimate-high-ground-how-the-space-force-is-revolutionizing-airbor/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: April, 27 2026
USNI 20260427
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/27/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-april-27-2026