Pacific Winds 20260611
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Summit shows China more focused on countering U.S. influence than curbing N.K. nukes: experts
Yonhap 20260610
https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610000352315
Xi in Pyongyang: Opening Asia’s frozen northeast frontier
Think China 20260610
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/xi-pyongyang-opening-asias-frozen-northeast-frontier
North Korea, China claim wins from Xi visit, but limits remain
Reuters 20260610
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/north-korea-china-claim-wins-xi-visit-limits-remain-2026-06-10/
Trump’s Sharp Turn on China: Embracing It as a Peer Power
NYTimes 20260610
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/us/politics/trump-china-taiwan.html
Trump’s China thaw faces resistance from Congress and his own administration
SCMP 20260610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3356554/trumps-china-thaw-faces-resistance-congress-and-his-own-administration
How will the Pentagon’s expanded blacklist of Chinese firms affect Xi’s US visit?
SCMP 20260610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356664/how-will-pentagons-expanded-blacklist-chinese-firms-affect-xis-us-visit
US midterms could bring ‘renewed volatility’ to China ties, veteran diplomat warns
SCMP 20260610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356583/us-midterms-could-bring-renewed-volatility-china-ties-veteran-diplomat-warns
Joint Statement on the June 2026 U.S.-Japan Extended Deterrence Dialogue
US DoS 20260609
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/06/joint-statement-on-the-june-2026-u-s-japan-extended-deterrence-dialogue/
Setting sea border with Japan vital: Philippine foreign secretary
Nikkei 20260610
https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/interview/setting-sea-border-with-japan-vital-philippine-foreign-secretary
Beyond submarines: AUKMIN is about collective defence of shared values
ASPI 20260610
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beyond-submarines-aukmin-is-about-collective-defence-of-shared-values/
Seoul denies report of Japan’s request for talks on Fukushima seafood import ban
Yonhap 20260610
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610010500315
South Korea should develop relations with China and the US in parallel, based on its own fundamental and long-term interests: Chinese ambassador
GT 20260610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363210.shtml
US firms see China as essential despite rising economic and political risks
Nikkei 20260611
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/business-trends/us-firms-see-china-as-essential-despite-rising-economic-and-political-risks
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Global Hawk move raises questions about Guam’s role in shifting US Pacific defense
GDP 20260610
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/global-hawk-move-raises-questions-about-guams-role-in-shifting-us-pacific-defense/article_731f8c2b-e19a-47d1-b890-1daed35864e0.html
As China weaponizes tourists, Hsiao urges Taiwanese to visit Palau
CNA (TW) 20260610
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606100006
LeoLab’s new, mobile space-watch radar to participate in Valiant Shield exercise
Breaking Defense 20260610
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/leolabs-new-mobile-space-watch-radar-to-participate-in-valiant-shield-exercise/
Island Waves
Are New Zealand and the Pacific being pushed towards a more militarised future?
PMN 20260610
https://pmn.co.nz/read/political/are-new-zealand-and-the-pacific-being-pushed-towards-a-more-militarised-future
Is Quad’s Port Development in Fiji Really Development Assistance?
IDN 20260609
https://indepthnews.net/is-quads-port-development-in-fiji-really-development-assistance/
PNG sets high threshold for ratifying Bougainville independence vote
RNZ 20260610
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/597798/png-sets-high-threshold-for-ratifying-bougainville-independence-vote
Latest Paris court ruling triggers polarised reactions in New Caledonia
RNZ 20260610
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/597733/latest-paris-court-ruling-triggers-polarised-reactions-in-new-caledonia
Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock returns to Honolulu after first Operation Blue Pacific Patrol
US IndoPaCom 20260609
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Articles/Article/4512948/coast-guard-cutter-hollyhock-returns-to-honolulu-after-first-operation-blue-pac/
Taiwan + xCS
China, Taiwan spar over legality of coast guard patrols east of island
Reuters 20260610
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-taiwan-spar-over-legality-coast-guard-patrols-east-island-2026-06-10/
Maritime traffic enforcement east of Taiwan Island sends a pointed warning to Japan, the Philippines
GT 20260611
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363278.shtml
China concludes maritime traffic enforcement operation in waters east of its Taiwan Island
Xinhua 20260610
https://english.news.cn/20260610/83c3169421b14afebfc01007852e6ed6/c.html
‘Gray zone’ tactics used as substitute to war: think tank
Taipei Times 20260611
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/11/2003858906
Beijing detects suspected Japanese spy jets near Taiwan
SCMP 20260610
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3356628/beijing-detects-suspected-japanese-spy-jets-near-taiwan
DPP authorities slammed by mainland spokesperson as ‘traitors to the nation’ for catering to external forces over Japan-Philippines ‘maritime delimitation talks’
GT 20260610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363206.shtml
Should DPP authorities dare to provoke, they must bear all consequences, says mainland spokesperson on DPP’s claim of coast guard vessel standoff
GT 20260610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363208.shtml
HIMARS fired off west coast in live-fire drill
Taipei Times 20260611
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/11/2003858905
Taiwan fires battle-tested rockets in ‘shoot-and-scoot’ anti-invasion drill
Reuters 20260610
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-fires-battle-tested-rockets-shoot-and-scoot-anti-invasion-drill-2026-06-10/
Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese ships around nation
Taiwan News 20260610
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6380114
China Coast Guard patrols around Diaoyu Dao
Xinhua 20260610
https://english.news.cn/20260610/898234c72e294ff98e84ca9751267f06/c.html
West PH Sea: Chinese platform in Panatag linked to illegal marine research
Inquirer (PH) 20260610
https://www.inquirer.net/477394/west-ph-sea-chinese-platform-in-panatag-linked-to-illegal-marine-research/
Philippines urges China to remove new structure on disputed shoal in South China Sea
Reuters 20260610
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/philippines-urges-china-remove-new-structure-disputed-shoal-south-china-sea-2026-06-10/
Capabilities
Japan’s new defense document to name China the biggest concern
Nikkei 20260610
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defense/japan-s-new-defense-document-to-name-china-the-biggest-concern
China criticizes Japan’s draft proposal on revising security documents
Xinhua 20260610
https://english.news.cn/20260610/616bbf7f29be4501a901b759f6ea268f/c.html
Japan's draft plan to revise security documents smears China's normal military activities, misleads Japanese public, intl community to create excuses for accelerating ‘remilitarization’: FM
GT 20260610
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363228.shtml
Lee says Iran war makes N. Korea less likely to give up nukes
Yonhap 20260610
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610006551315
Upcoming U.S. Depot in the Philippines to Support Fueling of Navy Destroyers, Combat Logistics Force Ships
USNI 20260609
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/09/upcoming-u-s-depot-in-the-philippines-to-support-fueling-of-navy-destroyers-combat-logistics-force-ships
Aerial Refueling Tankers:Air Force Needs More Focused Metrics and a Risk-Based Mitigation Plan to Improve Sustainment
GAO 20260610
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-109154
US Navy stands up naval support activity in Western Australia
Defense News 20260610
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-navy/2026/06/10/us-navy-stands-up-naval-support-activity-in-western-australia/
LeoLab’s new, mobile space-watch radar to participate in Valiant Shield exercise
Breaking Defense 20260610
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/leolabs-new-mobile-space-watch-radar-to-participate-in-valiant-shield-exercise/
China’s space rise is real — yet key gaps still keep the US ahead
Think China 20260610
https://www.thinkchina.sg/technology/chinas-space-rise-real-yet-key-gaps-still-keep-us-ahead