Pacific Winds 20260429

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Why experts say trade wins aren’t enough for Xi-Trump summit in May
SCMP 20260428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351609/why-experts-say-trade-wins-arent-enough-xi-trump-summit-may

Penny Wong will have to navigate China, Japan and South Korea tensions
ABC (AU) 20260428
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-28/china-penny-wong-visit-south-korea-japan-trading-partner/106557492

Australian FM set to kick off China visit; strategic dialogue to advance momentum of stable bilateral cooperation: Chinese expert
GT 20260428
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1360022.shtml

South Korean ambassador calls on Seoul and Tokyo to enhance their security ties
Japan Times 20260428
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/28/japan/politics/south-korea-ambassador-ties/

US allies in Asia forge a new web of defense partnerships
Nikkei 20260428
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/us-allies-in-asia-forge-a-new-web-of-defense-partnerships

What Does Australia’s National Defense Strategy Mean for the Quad?
The Diplomat 20260428
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/what-does-australias-national-defense-strategy-mean-for-the-quad/

Japan and China Are Edging Dangerously Close to Conflict
FP 2025=60428
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/28/japan-china-taiwan-okinawa-history/

Foreign ministry reviewing response to U.S. lawmakers’ letter on Coupang case
Yonhap 20260428
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260428008700315

China condemns Japan’s negative moves concerning Yasukuni Shrine
Xinhua 20260428
https://english.news.cn/20260428/a230eb8979944c42a5b080a6a1beee2e/c.html

NZ axes plan for WW2 sex slaves statue after Japan protest
BBC 20260428
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62r8g6m541o

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Chinese medical team assists Chuuk after Typhoon Sinlaku in Micronesia
El Balad 20260428
https://www.el-balad.com/16926339

Island Waves

Marape Begins Three Day Visit to China, PNG Targets Investment Opportunities
National 20260428
https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-begins-three-day-visit-to-china-png-targets-investment-opportunities/

Papua New Guinea PM Marape arrives in China to strengthen economic links
RNZ 20260429
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/593662/papua-new-guinea-pm-marape-arrives-in-china-to-strengthen-economic-links

SI Officials Attend Workshop on New Quality Productive Forces in China
Solomon Star 20260428
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/si-officials-attend-workshop-on-new-quality-productive-forces-in-china/

Solomon Islands’ political crisis will ‘not fundamentally change’ ties with Beijing
RFA 20260428
https://www.rfa.org/english/pacific/2026/04/28/solomon-islands-china-political-crisis-manele/

A Union Restored: New Zealand and the Cook Islands Repair Ties
CSIS 20260428
https://www.csis.org/analysis/union-restored-new-zealand-and-cook-islands-repair-ties

PNG, Australia and International Partners Coordinate Urgent Relief Following Cyclone Maila
Post Courier (PNG) 20260428
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-australia-and-international-partners-coordinate-urgent-relief-following-cyclone-maila/

Australia Supports the Polio Vaccination Campaign
Post Courier (PNG) 20260428
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-supports-the-polio-vaccination-campaign/

Taiwan + SCS

Beijing intensifies diplomatic isolation of Taiwan’s president
Lowy 20260428
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/beijing-intensifies-diplomatic-isolation-taiwan-s-president

Taiwan defense budget talks hit a wall
Taiwan News 20260428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6348950

KMT might approve NT$800bn for arms with LOAs: Cheng
Taipei Times 20260429
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/04/29/2003856433

Chinese destroyers and frigates detected southwest of Penghu
Taiwan News 20260428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6349308

Taiwan on alert after spotting two Chinese warships near its Penghu islands
Reuters 20260427
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-alert-after-spotting-two-chinese-warships-near-its-penghu-islands-2026-04-27/

Watching Iran, China Hopes to Learn New Tricks for the Taiwan Strait
The Diplomat 20260428
https://thediplomat.com/2026/04/watching-iran-china-hopes-to-learn-new-tricks-for-the-taiwan-strait/

Taiwan tracks 22 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships
Taiwan News 20260428
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6349301

Chinese PLA Navy conducts routine patrols in South China Sea
China Military 20260428
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/H_251454/L_251456/16458018.html

China upgrades maritime rescue range and depth as ambitions on high seas expand
SCMP 20260428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351689/china-upgrades-maritime-rescue-range-and-depth-ambitions-high-seas-expand

China expels Japanese boat intruding into Diaoyu Dao territorial waters
China Military 20260428
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/2025xb/H_251454/L_251456/16457998.html

Capabilities

Expanding frontiers: China’s military push beyond the first island chain
ASPI 20260428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/expanding-frontiers-chinas-military-push-beyond-the-first-island-chain/

Is China’s military as strong as it looks?
Brookings 20260428
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-chinas-military-as-strong-as-it-looks/

Japan Govt Panel Meets to Discuss Boosting ‘Natl Power’ Ahead of Revising 3 Security-Related Documents
Yomiuri 20260428
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260428-324814/

3 Security Documents: Essential for Japan to Respond to Changing Methods of Warfare
Yomiuri 20260428
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260428-324807/

Japan’s revised security policy to get ‘more aggressive’: Chinese expert
SCMP 20260428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351751/japans-revised-security-policy-get-more-aggressive-chinese-expert

Pentagon mulls plan to outsource warship design and building to South Korea, Japan
SCMP 20260428
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3351627/pentagon-mulls-plan-outsource-warship-design-and-building-south-korea-japan

Amphibs Bougainville, Fallujah Deliveries Are Pushed Another Year
USNI 20260427
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/27/amphibs-bougainville-fallujah-deliveries-are-pushed-another-year

Philippines not concerned Iran war will distract US from region, top defence official says
Reuters 20260428
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-not-concerned-iran-war-will-distract-us-from-region-top-defence-official-says

Australian defence depends on stronger northern systems
ASPI 20260428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-defence-depends-on-stronger-northern-systems/

A concern for Australia: Britain looks unserious about naval defence
ASPI 20260428
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-concern-for-australia-britain-looks-unserious-about-naval-defence/

UK lawmaker report warns AUKUS under threat from ‘shortcomings and failings’
Breaking Defense 20260428
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/uk-lawmaker-report-warns-aukus-under-threat-from-shortcomings-and-failings/

Pentagon budget affirms Space Force role tracking moving targets from orbit
Space News 20260428
https://spacenews.com/pentagon-budget-affirms-space-force-role-tracking-moving-targets-from-orbit/

Marines will update land warfare doctrine as they prep for near-peer, drone-driven fight
Defense One 20260428
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/04/marines-will-update-land-warfare-doctrine-they-prep-near-peer-drone-driven-fight/413169/

What we know about the US military’s new joint laser weapon system
Defense News 20260428
https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/daily-news-roundup/2026/04/28/what-we-know-about-the-us-militarys-new-joint-laser-weapon-system/

UN sanctions monitoring patrols observe vessels of interest, possible ship-to-ship transfer
NZ DF 20260428
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/un-sanctions-monitoring-patrols-observe-vessels-of-interest-possible-ship-to-ship-transfer/

Exercises

U.S. Missiles Deploy Near Taiwan During Balikatan Exercise, Chinese Action Group Operates Nearby
USNI 20260428
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/28/u-s-missiles-deploy-near-taiwan-during-balikatan-exercise-chinese-action-group-operates-nearby

Russian, Chinese Warships Sail Through Japan’s Southwest Region to East China Sea
USNI 20260428
https://news.usni.org/2026/04/28/russian-chinese-naval-warships-sail-through-japans-southwest-region-to-east-china-sea