Pacific Winds 20260512
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
U.S. President Donald Trump to pay state visit to China from May 13 to 15
Xinhua 20260511
https://english.news.cn/20260511/1576f960aabc428d9e1f0415b2641ed5/c.html
Trump’s China return: what’s changed since his ‘friendly’ 2017 visit
SCMP 20260511
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353055/trumps-china-return-whats-changed-his-friendly-2017-visit
A Confident Beijing Welcomes President Trump
CSIS 20260511
https://www.csis.org/analysis/confident-beijing-welcomes-president-trump
Trump-Xi meet more about US uncertainty than China ambition
Asia Times 20260511
https://asiatimes.com/2026/05/trump-xi-meet-more-about-us-uncertainty-than-china-ambition/
As Trump Heads to Beijing, China Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ for a Fight
NYTimes 20260511
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/business/trump-xi-economic-warfare.html
Confident in China’s power, Xi is ready to host an unpredictable Trump
WaPo 20260511
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/05/11/trump-xi-china-beijing-visit/
At the Trump-Xi Summit, China Will Have the Upper Hand
CFR 20260510
https://www.cfr.org/articles/at-the-trump-xi-summit-china-will-have-the-upper-hand
The Stakes of Trump vs. Xi
FA 20260511
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/stakes-trump-vs-xi-kurt-campbell
The Trump–Xi Summit: Defining Favorable and Unfavorable Outcomes
Heritage 20260511
https://www.heritage.org/global-politics/report/the-trump-xi-summit-defining-favorable-and-unfavorable-outcomes-0
Keeping giant ship of China-US relations on a steady course
GT 20260511
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1360769.shtml
Trump to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for 2-day summit with Xi
Kyodo 20260511
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/75674
When Two Superpowers Meet
FA 20260511
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/when-two-superpowers-meet
China Is Becoming Dangerously Overconfident
NYTimes 20260510
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/opinion/china-trump-us-power.html
What Middle Powers Fear About the Trump-Xi Summit
NYTimes 20260511
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/world/asia/trump-xi-china-summit-iran.html
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks amid OPCON transfer push
Yonhap 20260511
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260511006651315
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Hosted Bilateral Meeting With the Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back at the Pentagon
US DoW 20260511
https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4483283/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-hosted-bilateral-meeting-with-the-republic-of-kor/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam cannot afford to keep getting hacked
PDN 20260512
https://www.guampdn.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-guam-cannot-afford-to-keep-getting-hacked/article_3e3b6f44-59e7-46ef-a56e-31b03b284d59.html
Guam think tank opens regional security talks as tensions over China, missiles and island sovereignty mount
GDP 20260511
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-think-tank-opens-regional-security-talks-as-tensions-over-china-missiles-and-island-sovereignty/article_92fe2782-12d1-4457-aca2-82e5a0385dfd.html
Island Waves
U.S, PNG deepen security and economic ties in strategic dialogue
PINA 20260511
https://pina.com.fj/2026/05/11/u-s-png-deepen-security-and-economic-ties-in-strategic-dialogue/
Australia to embed cyber security adviser in Samoa
Samoa Observer 202600511
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/119874
PNG & CHINA SET FOR HISTORIC SIGNING NEXT WEEK
PNG Haus Bung 20260511
https://pnghausbung.com/png-china-set-for-historic-signing-next-week/
Australia Delivers Medical Supplies to PNGs Remote Clinics
Post Courier (PNG) 20260511
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-delivers-medical-supplies-to-pngs-remote-clinics/
Biosecurity SI Strengthens Timber Exports, Safeguarding Jobs and Rural Livelihoods
Solomon Star 20260511
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/biosecurity-si-strengthens-timber-exports-safeguarding-jobs-and-rural-livelihoods/
Taiwan + SCS
After annexation: How China plans to run Taiwan
Lowy 20260510
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/after-annexation-how-china-plans-run-taiwan
Why Some in Taiwan Are Training for War
NYTimes 20260511
https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000010895531/taiwan-china-civilian-defense-airsoft.html
Taiwan ‘confident’ in US ties ahead of Trump visit to China
Reuters 20260511
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-confident-us-ties-ahead-trump-visit-china-2026-05-11/
Gov’t confident in Taiwan-U.S. ties, cautiously watching Trump-Xi meet: FM
CNA (TW) 20260511
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202605110008
Trump-Xi meeting keeps Taiwan on edge, eyeing subtle US shifts
Nikkei 20260511
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/trump-xi-meeting-keeps-taiwan-on-edge-eyeing-subtle-us-shifts
Taiwan’s Cheng Li-wun on cross-strait peace, meeting Xi Jinping and managing ties with US
SCMP 20260511
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3353052/taiwans-cheng-li-wun-cross-strait-peace-meeting-xi-jinping-and-managing-ties-us
Prosperous Taiwan means moving beyond ‘first island chain’: KMT chair
CNA (TW) 20260511
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202605110025
Trump says he will discuss arms sales to Taiwan with China’s Xi
Reuters 20260511
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-says-he-will-discuss-arms-sales-taiwan-with-chinas-xi-2026-05-11/
US disappointed in Taiwan’s smaller defense budget, official says
Reuters 20260510
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/us-disappointed-taiwans-smaller-defense-budget-official-says-2026-05-10/
Taiwan’s parliament passes pared-back supplementary defense budget
Breaking Defense 20260511
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/taiwans-parliament-passes-pared-back-supplementary-defense-budget/
Did US pressure before Xi-Trump summit force KMT hand on Taiwan’s defence budget?
SCMP 20260511
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3353177/did-us-pressure-xi-trump-summit-force-kmt-hand-taiwans-defence-budget
DPP authorities cannot buy security, let alone a future, with arms purchases
GT 20260511
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1360768.shtml
Analysts say China sees pressure as alternative to Taiwan attack
Taiwan News 20260511
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6359241
Coast Guard tracks Chinese ship suspected of surveying waters near Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260511
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6359409
Taiwan says it drove away Chinese research ship
Reuters 20260511
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-it-drove-away-chinese-research-ship-2026-05-11/
Capabilities
What a former CIA analyst reveals about a potential China fight
WaPo 20260511
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/11/us-china-militaries-assessed-by-cia-veteran-china-expert/
North Korea’s battlefield dividend
Lowy 20260511
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/north-korea-s-battlefield-dividend
Department of the Navy Releases Fiscal Year 2027 Shipbuilding Plan
USN 20260511
https://media.defense.gov/2026/May/11/2003928909/-1/-1/1/NAVY%20SHIPBUILDING%20PLAN%20MAY%202026.PDF
Space Force to Overhaul Key Early Warning, Surveillance Radars Around the World
Air & Space 20260511
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-digital-overhaul-early-warning-surveillance-radars/
C-5 Galaxies Now Slated To Keep Flying Until 2050 As Readiness Plummets To 37 Percent
TWZ 20260511
https://www.twz.com/air/c-5-galaxies-now-slated-to-keep-flying-until-2050-as-readiness-plummets-to-37-percent
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 11, 2026
USNI 20260511
https://news.usni.org/2026/05/11/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-may-11-2026