Pacific Winds 20260606

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Xi to pay state visit to DPRK from June 8 to 9
Xinhua 20260605
https://english.news.cn/20260605/bc38fbc5b94b447a8ea4870554bb1cea/c.html

S. Korea expects China to play ‘constructive’ role over Xi’s visit to N. Korea
Yonhap 20260605
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260605007300315

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week in first visit since 2019
ABC (AU) 20260505
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-05/chinese-president-to-visit-north-korea-first-visit-since-2019/106766452

Xi’s planned N.K. trip partly driven by desire to weaken Russia-N.K. ties, U.S. calls for Chinese cooperation: expert
Yonhap 20260605
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260606000200315

Why Xi Jinping Is Going to North Korea to Court Kim Jong-un
NYTimes 20260605
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/world/asia/china-north-korea-xi-jinping-visit.html

Strategic Clarity: Reassessing the Value of China to Korea
CSIS 20260605
https://www.csis.org/analysis/strategic-clarity-reassessing-value-china-korea

US-China policy under Donald Trump is heading for ‘unpredictable drift’: expert
SCMP 20260605
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3355977/us-china-policy-under-donald-trump-heading-unpredictable-drift-expert

Trilateral Dynamics: China’s Strategy to Test US Restraint of Japan
The Diplomat 20260604
https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/trilateral-dynamics-chinas-strategy-to-test-us-restraint-of-japan/

Japan and Philippines harden stance against China amid US-China detente
Think China 20260605
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/japan-and-philippines-harden-stance-against-china-amid-us-china-detente

The Quad Returns: From Strategic Drift to Strategic Reset in the Indo-Pacific
AIIA 20260604
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-quad-returns-from-strategic-drift-to-strategic-reset-in-the-indo-pacific/

Washington Is Testing Singapore’s Patience
FP 20260605
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/05/singapore-trump-tariffs-trade-forced-labor-china-geopolitics/

Do not play with fire: a warning to certain Philippine politicians
GT 20260605
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1362876.shtml

Trump’s tariffs are back – and the timing couldn’t be worse for Asia
Asia Times 20260605
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/trumps-tariffs-back-and-the-timing-couldnt-be-worse-for-asia/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Guam's network under constant threat from hackers and 'adversaries'
ABC (AU) 20260605
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/hackers-steal-almost-2-million-from-guam-judiciary/106762578

Palau Protests Unauthorized Chinese Research Vessel Activity in Its EEZ
Island Times 20260605
https://islandtimes.org/palau-protests-unauthorized-chinese-research-vessel-activity-in-its-eez/

USINDOPACOM Commander Visits Palau, Reaffirms Enduring Partnership
US JTF-Micro 20260604
https://www.pacom.mil/JTF-Micronesia/JTF-Micronesia-News/JTF-Micronesia-News/Article/4509235/usindopacom-commander-visits-palau-reaffirms-enduring-partnership/

Governor meets with military leaders on CNMI issues
Marianas Variety 20260605
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/local-news-governor-meets-with-military-leaders-on-cnmi-issues/article_3a61608d-05e5-41ea-a726-5d2868d90738.html/

Taiwan, Pacific allies celebrate ties at cultural gala
CNA (TW) 20260605
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606050022

Guam Air National Guard’s newest Squadron hits major readiness milestone
USAF PacAF 20260604
https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4509141/guam-air-national-guards-newest-squadron-hits-major-readiness-milestone/

POWER-HDR JV, Hailey, Idaho awarded a $249.0 Million firm-fixed-price, IDIQ for electrical related projects, 70% allocated to Guam
US DoD 20260604
https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4509152/contracts-for-june-4-2026/

Japan–Nauru Bilateral Exercise
JMSDF 20260605
https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/en/release/202606/20260605en.pdf

Andersen AFB, Guam Department of Agriculture partnership earns Department of the Air Force Community Partnership Award
USAF AAFB 20260605
https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4509462/andersen-afb-guam-department-of-agriculture-partnership-earns-department-of-the/

Island Waves

Reengaging the Solomon Islands: A Strategic Opportunity for the United States
CSIS 20260605
https://www.csis.org/analysis/reengaging-solomon-islands-strategic-opportunity-united-states

Pacific leaders at Tokyo summit say ocean management is a matter of survival
RNZ 20260605
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/597309/pacific-leaders-at-tokyo-summit-say-ocean-management-is-a-matter-of-survival

Palau President demands action on Oceans as Island States face Climate frontline
PINA 202600605
https://pina.com.fj/2026/06/05/palau-president-demands-action-on-oceans-as-island-states-face-climate-frontline/

‘Another empty promise’: Quad’s proposed Fiji port project raises doubts
SCMP 20260605
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3356101/another-empty-promise-quads-proposed-fiji-port-project-raises-doubts

Raising capability across the Pacific
AU DoD 20260605
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-06-05/raising-capability-across-pacific

PNGDF and ADF Unite in Bomb Disposal Effort
Post Couriter (PNG) 20260605
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/pngdf-and-adf-unite-in-bomb-disposal-effort/

NZ backs Fiji’s development goals
FBCN 20260605
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/nz-backs-fijis-development-goals/

Taiwan + SCS

After the Invasion: China Considers the Problem of Ruling Taiwan
WOTR 20260605
https://warontherocks.com/after-the-invasion-china-considers-the-problem-of-ruling-taiwan/

China escalating use of lawfare against Taiwan: report
Taipei Times 20260606
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/06/2003858622

Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese ships, 7 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260605
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6377173

Taiwan, China coast guards in renewed standoff at top of South China Sea
Reuters 20260605
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-china-coast-guards-renewed-standoff-top-south-china-sea-2026-06-05/

Any activity China carries out on and around Huangyan Dao legitimate rights of sovereign state: FM
GT 20260605
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1362832.shtml

Vietnam always respects freedom of navigation, overflight in East Sea: Foreign Ministry
Vietnam Plus 20260604
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-always-respects-freedom-of-navigation-overflight-in-east-sea-foreign-ministry-post344025.vnp

Capabilities

How AI could make wars go nuclear
Vox 20260604
https://www.vox.com/technology/490800/nuclear-ai-escalation

S. Korea maintains goal of building nuclear-powered submarines at home: official
Yonhap 20260605
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260605011500315

U.S. approves potential sale of JDAM precision bombs to S. Korea
Yonhap 202600606
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260606000400315

Why is Australia buying used American nuclear submarines?
Asia Times 20260605
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/why-is-australia-buying-used-american-nuclear-submarines/

HASC adopts FY27 defense policy bill
Breaking Defense 20260605
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/hasc-adopts-fy27-defense-policy-bill-adds-right-to-repair-language/

Military pay raises, changes to housing allowance included in House-passed $1.15 trillion defense budget
Military Times 20260605
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/05/military-pay-raises-changes-to-housing-allowance-included-in-house-passed-115-trillion-defense-budget/

China launches new satellite group for commercial constellation
Xinhua 20260605
https://english.news.cn/20260605/74ce4df910f24a69aeeae1572cc16efb/c.html