Pacific Winds 20260609
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Xi says China-DPRK relations face new opportunities, missions
Xinhua 20260608
https://english.news.cn/20260608/e1e95e2074024a939a61b9c33f356c58/c.html
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
Xinhua 20260608
https://english.news.cn/20260608/790790871d53442c83fbc57ae0cc03ec/c.html
N. Korea’s Kim calls enhancing ties with China top priority: report
Yonhap 20260608
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260608013052315
China’s Xi says he will work with North Korea to fight hegemony, North Korean media says
Reuters 20260607
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-says-he-will-work-with-north-korea-fight-hegemony-north-korean-media-2026-06-07/
China Reasserts Itself, to Contain North Korea’s Tilt Toward Russia
NYTimes 20260608
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/world/asia/xi-kim-china-north-korea-summit.html
State Dept. repeats Trump, Xi’s shared goal of denuclearizing N. Korea
Yonhap 20260609
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260609000251315
Xi’s Calculated Return to Pyongyang
Hudson 20260608
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/xis-calculated-return-pyongyang-patrick-cronin
Why the Philippines and Japan are preparing for a Taiwan contingency
Think China 20260608
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/why-philippines-and-japan-are-preparing-taiwan-contingency
Japan-Philippines maritime talks ‘big step,’ expert says
Japan Times 20260608
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/08/japan/japan-philippines-maritime-talks/
U.S. officials meet S. Korean pastor who led anti-impeachment rallies for Yoon
Yonhap 20260608
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260608004300315
China’s new red line: Sanctioning foreign lawmakers over Taiwan visits
Think China 20260608
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/chinas-new-red-line-sanctioning-foreign-lawmakers-over-taiwan-visits
DOW Releases List of Chinese Military Companies in Accordance With Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
US DoW 20260608
https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4511232/dow-releases-list-of-chinese-military-companies-in-accordance-with-section-1260/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Nuclear microreactors for Guam: Congress weighs mandating by 2030
PDN 20260608
https://www.guampdn.com/news/nuclear-microreactors-for-guam-congress-weighs-mandating-by-2030/article_964e31e4-9445-4fde-8538-1ec691b309e0.html
Ready for War: Why Guam Matters to the U.S. Military
ABC (AU) 20260606
https://share.google/sPTUsUSTO78jHtsd2
New Guard unit to shield THAAD
GDP 20260608
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/new-guard-unit-to-shield-thaad/article_77989701-f6fc-4c94-a9f5-668de7664db1.html
Palau president affirms Taiwan sovereignty during Hsiao’s visit
CNA (TW) 20260608
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606080006
Vice President Hsiao says Taiwan to help Palau fight fraud, cybercrime
CNA (TW) 20260608
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606080018
Island Waves
Australia, NZ pledge energy security and defence push for Pacific
PINA 20260608
https://pina.com.fj/2026/06/08/australia-nz-pledge-energy-security-and-defence-push-for-pacific/?doing_wp_cron=1780895264.9744210243225097656250
PM Wale meets NZ Foreign Minister ahead of Luxon Talks
Solomon Star 20260608
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/pm-wale-meets-nz-foreign-minister-ahead-of-luxon-talks/
Australia extends $24m Fiji funding support
FBCN 20260608
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-extends-24m-fiji-funding-support/
PNG & AUSTRALIA PARTNER TO IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
PNG Haus Bung 20260608
https://pnghausbung.com/png-australia-partner-to-improve-support-for-children-with-disabilities/
Australia Supports Climate Resilient Growth in PNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20260608
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-supports-climate-resilient-growth-in-png/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan says China Coast Guard patrols to its east are ‘provocative act’
Reuters 20260608
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-china-coast-guard-patrols-its-east-are-provocative-act-2026-06-08/
Taiwan denounces China’s ‘maritime traffic enforcement operation’
Taiwan News 20260608
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6378469
Taiwan hits back at Beijing’s ‘cognitive warfare’ after coastguard patrols
SCMP 20260608
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356389/taiwan-hits-back-beijings-cognitive-warfare-after-coastguard-patrols
Taiwan Needs U.S. Arms Now
WSJ 20260608
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/taiwan-needs-u-s-arms-now-f36bfca1
Public sees no easing in pressure from China: poll
Taipei Times 20260609
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/09/2003858774
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese ships, 2 military helicopters
Taiwan News 20260608
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6378407
Capabilities
China adds warheads as nuclear powers ‘walk away’ from disarmament: SIPRI
SCMP 20260608
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356269/china-adds-warheads-nuclear-powers-walk-away-disarmament-sipri
Increasing focus on nuclear weapons amid heightened escalation risks
SIPRI 2026007
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/increasing-focus-nuclear-weapons-amid-heightened-escalation-risks-new-sipri-yearbook-out-now
Wartime Footing: A Two-Front Strategy to Confront China and Russia
CSIS 20260608
https://www.csis.org/analysis/wartime-footing-two-front-strategy-confront-china-and-russia
S. Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine program poses no proliferation concerns: IAEA chief
Yonhap 20260608
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260608013751315
The Philippines meets its NMESIS in Balikatan exercise
Naval News 20260607
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/the-philippines-meets-its-nmesis-in-balikatan-exercise/
China’s HQ-16F primed for Taiwan war far beyond the Strait
Asia Times 20260608
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/chinas-hq-16f-primed-for-taiwan-war-far-beyond-the-strait/
U.S. Congress Wants to Review At-Sea VLS Reloading Plans
Naval News 20260608
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/u-s-congress-wants-to-review-at-sea-vls-reloading-plans/
Japan holds second expert meeting on security documents revision with media hyping ‘hegemonic tendencies of China’; Chinese expert warns Tokyo’s dangerous security policy shift
GT 20260608
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363059.shtml
China begins large-scale delivery of gallium chips for space-ground 6G network
SCMP 20260608
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3356321/china-begins-large-scale-delivery-gallium-chips-space-ground-6g-network
Exercises
USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 8, 2026
USNI 20260608
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/08/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-8-2026