Pacific Winds 20260619
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
No call with Taiwan, no new arms sales: how Trump is preparing to welcome Xi
SCMP 20260618
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3357586/no-call-taiwan-no-new-arms-sales-how-trump-preparing-welcome-xi
What Will China Learn From the Iran War?
FP 20260618
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/16/china-iran-war-lessons-energy-oil-diplomacy/
South Korea’s middle power diplomacy at an inflection point
EAF 20260618
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/06/18/south-koreas-middle-power-diplomacy-at-an-inflection-point/
China Is Indispensable, But Not Dominant
The Diplomat 20260618
https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/china-is-indispensable-but-not-dominant/
Beijing’s sanctions only strengthened the Philippine defence chief
Think China 20260618
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/beijings-sanctions-only-strengthened-philippine-defence-chief
N. Korea, China adopt same term criticizing Japan’s “neo-militarism”
Kyodo 20260618
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/78173
Japanese PM Takaichi Focuses G7 Attention on China Over Rare Earths
Yomiuri 20260618
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/g7-summit/20260618-333412/
Takaichi contradicts self by calling for dialogue while stoking confrontation, Chinese FM says on Japan’s hype of China’s rare earth restrictions at G7
GT 20260618
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363873.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Final environmental impact statement for CNMI joint military training project
PIT 20260618
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/final-environmental-impact-statement-for-cnmi-joint-military-training-project
Island Waves
‘Pressure, not partnership’: Australia excludes Vanuatu from PEV ballot
RNZ 20260618
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/598666/pressure-not-partnership-australia-excludes-vanuatu-from-pev-ballot
Regional security pact proposal gets support
PINA 20260618
https://pina.com.fj/2026/06/18/regional-security-pact-proposal-gets-support/
PIFS leans on ASEAN model as it retools for a changing region
Islands Business 20260618
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/pifs-leans-on-asean-model-as-it-retools-for-a-changing-region/
SIMS STAFF END AVIATION FORECASTING TRAINING
Solomon Star 20260618
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/sims-staff-end-aviation-forecasting-training/
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS BRING SPORT & SMILES TO CHESHIRE INCLUSIVE SCHOOL
PNG Haus Bung 20260618
https://pnghausbung.com/australian-troops-bring-sport-smiles-to-cheshire-inclusive-school/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan’s President Says He Trusts Trump to Approve Arms Sales
NYTimes 20260618
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/world/asia/taiwan-trump-china-arms-weapons.html
Taiwan not ‘provoking’ China, hopes US arms sale package can be approved soon, president says
Reuters 20260618
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-not-provoking-china-hopes-new-us-arms-sale-package-can-be-approved-soon-2026-06-18/
Taiwan needs US weapons for self-defense as threat from China grows, diplomat tells AP
AP 20260618
https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-trump-arms-sales-china-eab716f67fe5aa36ec05ff8209d0f605
Taiwanese president calls for deeper cooperation with Japan
Japan Times 20260618
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/18/japan/taiwan-president-japan-ties/
More in Taiwan favour goodwill to Beijing over defence ties with US, poll shows
SCMP 20260618
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3357551/more-taiwan-favour-goodwill-beijing-over-defence-ties-us-poll-shows
Lai dismisses Japan-Philippines EEZ concerns, says China has no claim
CNA (TW) 20260618
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606180022
China is turning the waters east of Taiwan grey
Lowy 20260619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-is-turning-the-waters-east-of-taiwan-grey
China Prepares for Submarine War by Mapping Seabed Around Taiwan
The Times (UK) 20260617
https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/china-prepares-for-submarine-war-by-mapping-seabed-around-taiwan-d6ktpnkg7
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese naval ships around country
Taiwan News 20260618
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6385275
WPS: New Chinese research ship spotted near Panatag after platform removal
Inquirer (PH) 20260618
https://www.inquirer.net/478045/wps-new-chinese-research-vessel-spotted-near-panatag-after-platform-removal/
Capabilities
Mobilization as Deterrence: The Strategic Case for a Big Lift 2.0
MWI 20260617
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/mobilization-as-deterrence-the-strategic-case-for-a-big-lift-2-0/
AUKUS’s importance goes beyond deterring China
ASPI 20260618
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/aukuss-importance-goes-beyond-deterring-china/
Japan’s defense chief challenges China’s military spending data
Japan Times 20260618
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/18/japan/politics/japan-defense-minister-koizumi-china-military-spending/
The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Approach to Maintenance Management
RAND 20260618
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA3300/RRA3368-1/RAND_RRA3368-1.pdf
U.S. Army Uses Drone Boats to Escort Logistics Craft in Philippine Drill
USNI 20260618
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/18/u-s-army-uses-drone-boats-to-escort-logistics-craft-in-philippine-drill
The robot wingmen the US hopes can outlast China’s missiles
Asia Times 20260618
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/the-robot-wingmen-the-us-hopes-can-outlast-chinas-missiles/
Dwindling stockpiles of solid rocket motors highlight industrial base challenges
Breaking Defense 20260618
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/dwindling-stockpiles-of-solid-rocket-motors-highlight-industrial-base-challenges/
Why dropping ‘Indo-Pacific’ clarifies the Pentagon’s China strategy
Asia Times 20260618
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/why-dropping-indo-pacific-clarifies-the-pentagons-china-strategy/
Power
Nuclear disarmament is not easy, and we should not shy away from that fact
USSC 20260618
https://www.ussc.edu.au/nuclear-disarmament-is-not-easy-and-we-should-not-shy-away-from-that-fact
China and the sleeping giant theory of American power
Lowy 20260619
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-and-the-sleeping-giant-theory-of-american-power
Exercises
U.S. Marines Kick Off Kamandag 10 Exercise in the Philippines
USNI 0260618
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/18/u-s-marines-kick-off-kamandag-10-exercise-in-the-philippines