Pacific Winds 20260523

May 22, 2026

Alliances

Chinese Experts Read the Trump-Xi Summit as a Power-Shift Moment
The Diplomat 20260521
https://thediplomat.com/2026/05/chinese-experts-read-the-trump-xi-summit-as-a-power-shift-moment/

‘We really do not trust each other’: former US envoy foresees wary new phase in China ties
SCMP 20260522
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354418/we-really-do-not-trust-each-other-former-us-envoy-foresees-wary-new-phase-china-ties

What Beijing got from the Trump-Xi summit
Brookings 20260522
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-beijing-got-from-the-trump-xi-summit/

How China and the US can coexist peacefully while locked in strategic stalemate
SCMP 20260522
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354576/how-china-and-us-can-coexist-peacefully-while-locked-strategic-stalemate

Marcos to visit Japan with security ties reportedly topping agenda; Tokyo trip reveals Manila's intent to exploit seabed resources around Taiwan island, interfere in China's maritime security: Chinese expert
GT 20260522
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361669.shtml

APEC trade ministers gather to advance regional integration, multilateralism, with China injecting certainty
GT 20260522
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361683.shtml

France expands New Caledonia voting rolls for June elections
Islands Business 20260522
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/france-expands-new-caledonia-voting-rolls-for-june-elections/

PNG, CHINA SIGN ENHANCED ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK
PNG HAus Bung 20260522
https://pnghausbung.com/png-china-sign-enhanced-economic-partnership-framework/

Vanuatu and U.S. sign investment agreement
Daily Post (VU) 20260522
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-and-u-s-sign-investment-agreement/article_f56a193f-5442-5657-9c63-48d6eb99335c.html

Japan military to rehearse casualty evacuation from Miyako Island east of Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260522
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6368097

US Navy signals pause in Taiwan arms sale, drawing swift reaction from Beijing
SCMP 20260522
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354539/us-navy-signals-pause-taiwan-arms-sale-drawing-swift-reaction-beijing

Taiwan says it has not been told by US of changes to military sales
Reuters 20260522
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-it-has-not-been-told-by-us-changes-military-sales-2026-05-22/

Navy: Iran war stockpile woes behind ‘pause’ on aid to Taiwan
Responsible Statecraft 20260521
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/taiwan-munitions-iran/

US Navy signals pause in Taiwan arms sale, drawing swift reaction from Beijing
SCMP 20260522
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3354539/us-navy-signals-pause-taiwan-arms-sale-drawing-swift-reaction-beijing

Lai’s anniversary speech slammed for covering up failure, advocating secessionism
Xinhua 20260522
https://english.news.cn/20260522/c126e7437c5e44a6972dbf63164ecf06/c.html

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese ships, 6 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260522
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6367977

The Indispensable Interceptor: Air Defense and the Problem of Cost-Exchange Logic
MWI 20260522
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/the-indispensable-interceptor-air-defense-and-the-problem-of-cost-exchange-logic/

Shoot-and-scoot: Mobile missile launchers play key role in US Pacific deterrence strategy
WaPo 20260522
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/05/22/us-marines-japan-pacific-himars-missiles/d11b593c-55c6-11f1-9c40-7a0a12d9e745_story.html

S. Korea plans to acquire U.S. SM-6 missile interceptors by 2034
Yonhap 20260522
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260522006400315

S. Korea to acquire U.S. SM-6 missile interceptors for deployment by 2034
Yonhap 20260522
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260522006451315

Report to Congress on U.S. Extended Deterrence and Regional Nuclear Capabilities
USNI 2026052w
https://news.usni.org/2026/05/22/report-to-congress-on-u-s-extended-deterrence-and-regional-nuclear-capabilities

Japan peeling away 'peaceful nation' disguise, pushing toward neo-militarism: Chinese FM on LDP's request on rising defense spending
GT 20260522
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361660.shtml

China says firmly opposed to U.S. deployment of midrange missile systems in Asia
Xinhua 20250522
https://english.news.cn/20260522/88eba72f254b4006a106d540ecaeade6/c.html

US-Australia relations and the future of missilery: Long-range strike, missile defence and export controls
USSC 20260522
https://www.ussc.edu.au/us-australia-relations-and-the-future-of-missilery-long-range-strike-missile-defence-and-export-controls

Every country should understand space as a wafighting domain
ASPI 20260522
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/every-country-should-understand-space-as-a-wafighting-domain/