Pacific Winds 20260623

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Japan-South Korea detente persists — but breakthrough remains elusive
Japan Times 20260622
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/22/japan/politics/japan-south-korea-thaw/

Lowy Institute poll shows Australians have record-low trust in the United States
ABC (AU) 20260623
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-22/lowy-institute-poll-shows-record-low-trust-in-united-states/106820772

Australians register historical levels of distrust and unease in 2026
Lowy 20260622
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/2026-lowy-institute-poll

China says Japan’s remilitarization is retrogression, path of no return
Xinhua 20260622
https://english.news.cn/20260622/4fec7038f8e34143b6650e25182b6b01/c.html

China targets US rare earth and other firms with export controls
Reuters 20260622
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-targets-us-rare-earth-other-firms-with-export-controls-2026-06-22/

China Tightens Rare Earth Grip on U.S. Firms, Threatening Trade Clash
NYTimes 20260622
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/22/business/china-rare-earths.html

China adds 10 US entities to export control list following US expansion of ‘China military-industrial entity’ list
GT 20260622
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364081.shtml

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Guam delegate requests briefing from PACOM on offensive missiles
PDN 20260622
https://www.guampdn.com/news/guam-delegate-requests-briefing-from-pacom-on-offensive-missiles/article_13ecd657-ca0e-46c7-9394-e40e47862283.html

FSM and US Hold Joint Committee Meeting in Guam
FSM 20260622
https://gov.fm/fsm-and-us-hold-joint-committee-meeting-in-guam/

Allies Come Together in the Indo-Pacific for Exercise Valiant Shield 26
US DoW 20260622
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4522795/allies-come-together-in-the-indo-pacific-for-exercise-valiant-shield-26/

George Washington Strike Group Participates in Valiant Shield 2026
US PacFlt 20260621
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9764442/george-washington-strike-group-participates-valiant-shield-2026

US, Japan navies make early start to exercise Valiant Shield
S&S 20260622
https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-06-22/george-washington-guam-valiant-shield-22041913.html

Naval Base Guam joins Pacific security drill
GDP 20260621
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/naval-base-guam-joins-pacific-security-drill/article_31ec80d2-23f4-4f09-ba6f-139be676566a.html

Community Gets Up-Close Look at Military Assets Before Valiant Shield Exercise
Marianas Press 20260622
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/community-gets-up-close-look-at-military-assets-before-valiant-shield-exercise

GPA: No official talks with Pentagon, but nuclear power evaluated for Guam
PDN 20260621
https://www.guampdn.com/news/gpa-no-official-talks-with-pentagon-but-nuclear-power-evaluated-for-guam/article_6f9ecd98-564f-4398-a39e-12b9bdd07c24.html

How will candidates negotiate with the military?
PDN 20260621
https://www.guampdn.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-lotz-how-will-candidates-negotiate-with-the-military/article_533335a8-d29f-417e-86c7-82deff9010d7.html

NDAA advances with $1.9B for Guam
GDP 20260620
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/ndaa-advances-with-1-9b-for-guam/article_c7034693-c616-4f00-9848-2e146118f669.html

Island Waves

China’s policing plans should be sidelined, says top Solomons minister
The Age 20260622
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/china-s-policing-plans-should-be-sidelined-says-top-solomons-minister-20260622-p608w0.html

PNG’s ruling party supports 15-year transition period for Bougainville
RNZ 20260622
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/615443/png-s-ruling-party-supports-15-year-transition-period-for-bougainville

Marape Backs Parliament Decision-Making
National (PNG) 20260622
https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-backs-parliament-decision-making/

Bougainville leaders condemn PNG Parliament for imposing greater threshold on approving independence
ABC (AU) 20260622
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/masatt-referendum/106826212

US Counters China’s Pacific Influence with High Yield Infrastructure ‘Long Game’
Post Courier (PNG) 20260622
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/u-s-counters-chinas-pacific-influence-with-high-yield-infrastructure-long-game/

US Backs PNG Digital Expansion with $30 Million Starlink Deployment Grant
Post Courier (PNG) 20260622
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/u-s-backs-png-digital-expansion-with-30-million-starlink-deployment-grant/

“Australia told me to sign”: PM on rugby money
Samoa Observer 20260622
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/120534

HMAF joins Indo-Pacific security talks in Hawaii
Matangi Tonga 20260622
https://matangitonga.to/2026/06/22/hmaf-joins-indo-pacific-security-talks-hawaii

Minamitori Island’s ecosystem at risk from nuclear waste site survey: lab
Kyodo 20260622
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/78378

U.S. deploys mid-range missile system to Japan for 2nd time
Asahi 20260622
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16663114

Taiwan + SCS

China Could Win Taiwan Without Fighting
FP 20260622
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/china-could-win-taiwan-without-fighting

Foreign policy scholars warn US uncertainty could help China pressure Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260622
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6387047

Taiwan steps up as Chinese repression rises
Taipei Times 20260623
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/23/2003859578

Taiwan military launches 5-day combat readiness drill
Taiwan 20260622
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6386976

Amid PLA pressure, Taiwan starts drill to simulate rapid deployment in a crisis
SCMP 20260622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3357942/amid-pla-pressure-taiwan-starts-drill-simulate-rapid-deployment-crisis

Chinese mainland research vessel countering interference from Japanese aircraft, Taiwan authority's vessels
GT 20260622
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364169.shtml

Taiwan tracks 23 Chinese military aircraft, 12 ships
Taiwan 20260622
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6386928

U.S. Marines launch spy drone from warship deep in the South China Sea
Defence Blog 20260622
https://defence-blog.com/u-s-marines-launch-spy-drone-from-warship-deep-in-the-south-china-sea/

PCG challenges Chinese vessel loitering near Luzon coast
ABS-CBN 20260622
https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/22/pcg-challenges-chinese-vessel-loitering-near-luzon-coast-1507

Capabilities

Army forms new command to create a ‘covering force’ in the Pacific
Task & Purpose 20260621
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-7th-infantry-multi-domain-pacific/

U.S. Army Stands Up New Command to Counter China’s Area Denial Strategy with Lethal Drones, Long-Range Missiles
USNI 20260622
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/22/u-s-army-stands-up-new-command-to-counter-chinas-area-denial-strategy-with-lethal-drones-long-range-missiles

US couldn’t repair battle-damaged ships in war with China, study finds
Defense News 20260622
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/22/us-couldnt-repair-battle-damaged-ships-in-war-with-china-study-finds/

To beat cheap drones, Australia must make cheap interceptors – quickly
ASPI 20260622
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/to-beat-cheap-drones-australia-must-make-cheap-interceptors-quickly/

Lost in translation: Australia’s Mandarin intelligence gap
Lowy 20260622
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/lost-in-translation-australia-s-mandarin-intelligence-gap

Chinese official media showcases DF-17 hypersonic missile launch for first time
GT 20260621
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364038.shtml

China in hot pursuit of a wave-skimming hypersonic edge
Asia Times 20260622
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/china-in-hot-pursuit-of-a-wave-skimming-hypersonic-edge/

China’s Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Concludes 40-day Deployment to South China, Philippine Seas
USNI 20260622
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/22/chinas-liaoning-carrier-strike-group-concludes-40-day-deployment-to-south-china-philippine-seas

China says Liaoning aircraft carrier completes over 40 days of drills
Reuters 20260622
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-liaoning-aircraft-carrier-completes-over-40-days-drills-2026-06-22/

China says it warned off multiple Japanese ‘provocations’ during aircraft carrier drills
SCMP 20260622
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3357944/china-says-it-warned-multiple-japanese-provocations-during-aircraft-carrier-drills

Can China’s latest air-to-air missile take on its US equivalent? Definitely maybe, experts say.
Defense News 20260622
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/06/22/can-chinas-latest-air-to-air-missile-take-on-its-us-equivalent-definitely-maybe-experts-say/

Chinese spaceplane releases object into orbit, according to commercial space surveillance
Space News 20260622
https://spacenews.com/chinese-spaceplane-releases-object-into-orbit-according-to-commercial-space-surveillance/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 22, 2026
USNI 20260622
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/22/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-june-22-2026

US Army tests autonomous boats during Philippine exercise
Defense News 20260622
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/06/22/us-army-tests-autonomous-boats-during-philippine-exercise/