Pacific Winds 20260513
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump in China and the 13-out-of-10 problem
Lowy 20260512
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/trump-china-13-out-10-problem
Distracted and Bogged Down, Trump and Xi Enter a Summit of Reduced Ambitions
NYTimes 20260512
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/trump-xi-summit.html
New Trump sanctions on Chinese firms: leverage on Xi or overkill?
Asia Times 20260512
https://asiatimes.com/2026/05/maybe-overkill-new-sanctions-show-trump-hope-for-xi-help-on-iran/
Trump’s China visit watched in US for signs of stability – and tangible wins
SCMP 20260512
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3353195/trumps-china-visit-watched-us-signs-stability-and-tangible-wins
Trump-Xi summit to show that everything now is leverage
Asia Times 20260512
https://asiatimes.com/2026/05/trump-xi-summit-to-show-that-everything-now-is-leverage/
America’s Trump Card in China
The Spectator 20260512
https://spectator.com/article/america-trump-card-china-ceos/
Choosing S. Korea as venue for U.S.-China talks reflects Beijing’s trust in Seoul: Chinese envoy
Yonhap 20260512
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260512005500315
The Island-Chain Allies
China Wire 20260510
https://www.thewirechina.com/2026/05/10/the-island-chain-allies/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Lawmakers want answers about micro-nuclear reactors on Guam
GDP 20260512
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/lawmakers-want-answers-about-micro-nuclear-reactors-on-guam/article_88cb2824-85aa-4c5c-8dd7-e6ac6cdd2b76.html
SIGNING CEREMONY BETWEEN MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, CULTURE, TOURISM, AND DEVELOPMENT AND JICA PALAU OFFICE
Island Times 20260512
https://islandtimes.org/signing-ceremony-between-ministry-of-human-resources-culture-tourism-and-development-and-jica-palau-office/
UBEDEI ACCEPTED TO JICA KCCP TRAINING
Island Times 20260512
https://islandtimes.org/ubedei-accepted-to-jica-kccp-training/
Palau and Australia mark 30 years of maritime security cooperation
Island Times 20260512
https://islandtimes.org/palau-and-australia-mark-30-years-of-maritime-security-cooperation/
Guam’s best-kept secret could soon be most important factory for the US Navy
GDP 20260512
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guams-best-kept-secret-could-soon-be-most-important-factory-for-the-us-navy/article_ab8b125c-8b5d-4efc-a97b-2130a4e87ccc.html
Island Waves
Vanuatu’s cabinet approves new version of Nakamal Agreement with Australia
ABC (AU) 20260512
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-12/vanuatu-cabinet-agrees-to-new-nakamal-agreement-with-australia/106666966
Vanuatu cabinet approves updated Nakamal Agreement with Australia
ABC (AU) 20260512
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/nakamal/106668806
Australia Partners with PNGRGC to Strengthen Governance in Resources Sector
Post Courier (PNG) 20260512
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-partners-with-pngrgc-to-strengthen-governance-in-resources-sector/
PRC Medical Team In Western Province to Support Healthcare
Solomon Star 20260512
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/prc-medical-team-in-western-province-to-support-healthcare/
Senior Chinese legislator meets Tonga delegation
Xinhua 20260512
https://english.news.cn/20260512/812524017fe34757811483212475ca9a/c.html
Taiwan + SCS
Why is Beijing on a stronger footing to discuss Taiwan with Trump this time?
SCMP 20260512
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3353209/why-beijing-stronger-footing-discuss-taiwan-trump-time
Taiwan is looming over this week’s Trump and Xi summit
Responsible Statecraft 20260511
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-and-xi-meeting/
Trump says he will discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with China’s Xi
Kyodo 20260512
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/75741
Xi Is Poised to Press Trump on Arms Sales to Taiwan
NYTimes 20260512
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/world/asia/xi-trump-china-taiwan-arms-sales.html
China reiterates opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan
Xinhua 20260512
https://english.news.cn/20260512/5eb72809b0dd4d489a814e3fe17047b2/c.html
Trump-Xi meeting expected to include Taiwan arms sales
Taiwan News 20260512
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6360303
Why Trump’s visit to Beijing has Taiwan on edge about US arms sales
SCMP 20260512
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3353317/why-trumps-visit-beijing-has-taiwan-edge-about-us-arms-sales
Taiwan’s legislature slashes equipment budget, weakening porcupine strategy
ASPI 20260512
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/taiwans-legislature-slashes-equipment-budget-weakening-porcupine-strategy/
US senators urge Trump to advance US$14 billion Taiwan arms sale
Taiwan News 20260512
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6360372
How China could lull Trump into softening U.S. language on Taiwan
Japan Times 20260512
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/12/asia-pacific/politics/xi-trump-taiwan-summit-focus/
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20260512
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6360029
Capabilities
What the Iran War Taught China About Fighting the United States
CFR 20260512
https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-the-iran-war-taught-china-about-fighting-the-united-states
Japan’s new spy agency receives FBI backing with eyes on China and Russia
SCMP 20260512
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3353154/japans-new-spy-agency-receives-fbi-backing-eyes-china-and-russia
Trump-class Battleship will be Nuclear-powered, Carrier Design is Under Review
USNI 29260511
https://news.usni.org/2026/05/11/new-navy-shipbuilding-plan-trump-class-battleship-will-be-nuclear-powered-carrier-design-is-under-review
Don’t give the enemy big, close targets. Move supplies to shore autonomously
ASPI 20260512
https://t.co/VprUz6J4EN
China’s ‘dark factory’ more than doubles production efficiency for J-20 jets
SCMP 20260512
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3353253/chinas-dark-factory-more-doubles-production-efficiency-j-20-jets
New Version Of Bomber-Launched ARRW Hypersonic Missile Is A Ship Killer
TWZ 20260512
https://www.twz.com/air/new-version-of-bomber-launched-arrw-hypersonic-missile-is-a-ship-killer
Something else for Australia to consider: Russian nuclear subs in the Pacific
ASPI 202605123
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/something-else-for-australia-to-consider-russian-nuclear-subs-in-the-pacific/
Navy pushes Congress to back constructing auxiliary ships overseas
Breaking Defense 20260512
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/navy-pushes-congress-to-back-constructing-auxiliary-ships-overseas/
Australia unveils $45.2 billion defense budget with ramp up in AUKUS spending
Breaking Defense 20260512
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/australia-unveils-45-2-billion-defense-budget-with-ramp-up-in-aukus-spending/
Allies surpassed the US in military budget purchasing power last year, new report shows
Defense News 20260512
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/12/allies-surpassed-the-us-in-military-budget-purchasing-power-last-year-new-report-shows/
China says Asia-Pacific countries should reject reckless moves of Japanese neo-militarism
Xinhua 20260512
https://english.news.cn/20260512/234efccc82df4c72832dfe7bef6a12d9/c.html
China launches new satellite group for commercial constellation
Xinhua 20260512
https://english.news.cn/20260512/7b21811451ce40738f2b1cc56524d085/c.html
Golden Dome-style missile shield could cost up to $1.2T over 20 years, CBO estimates
Breaking Defense 20260512
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/05/golden-dome-could-cost-up-to-1-2-trillion-over-20-years-cbo-estimates/
Potential Costs of a National Missile Defense System
US CBO 20260512
https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2026-05/62379-golden-dome.pdf
Power
China Is Squandering a Golden Opportunity
FA 20260512
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/china-squandering-golden-opportunity-david-shambaugh
Exercises
Sinking Ships in the South China Sea
USNI 20260512
https://news.usni.org/2026/05/12/sinking-ships-in-the-south-china-sea
Five ways of looking at the Japanese sinking of a decommissioned Philippine ship
Defense One 20260511
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/05/japanese-sinking-philippines-ship-missile/413470/