Pacific Winds 20260625
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
S. Korea hosts conference in Washington on expanding defense cooperation with U.S.
Yonhap 20260624
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260624002900315
S. Korea, Philippines hold joint committee on logistics, defense cooperation
Korea Times 20260623
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/defense/20260623/s-korea-philippines-hold-joint-committee-on-logistics-defense-cooperation
Is There a Way to Break the Deadlock in Japan-China Relations?
The Diplomat 20260624
https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/is-there-a-way-to-break-the-deadlock-in-japan-china-relations/
How the Quad Can Deliver in a New Strategic Era
The Diplomat 20260624
https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/how-the-quad-can-deliver-in-a-new-strategic-era/
Northeast Asia’s New Strategic Equation: US Policy Toward China, North Korea, and the US-ROK Alliance
Hudson 20260624
https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/northeast-asias-new-strategic-equation-us-policy-toward-china-north-korea-us-rok-patrick-m-cronin
Middle powers such as Australia can learn from Iran’s strategies
Asia Times 20260625
https://asiatimes.com/2026/06/middle-powers-such-as-australia-can-learn-from-irans-strategies/
New poll shows eroding global trust in Trump and America
SCMP 20260624
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358142/new-poll-shows-eroding-global-trust-trump-and-america
Trump Gets Negative Reviews Internationally as Fewer Say U.S. Is a Reliable Partner
Pew 20260623
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/06/23/trump-gets-negative-reviews-internationally-as-fewer-say-u-s-is-a-reliable-partner/
‘China Initiative 2.0’: US crackdown on Chinese scholars intensifies
SCMP 20260624
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3358117/china-initiative-20-us-crackdown-chinese-scholars-intensifies
China Flexes Its Rare-Earth Muscle—Again
FP 20260624
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/22/china-us-rare-earth-export-control-trade/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Guam leaders seek voice as missile plans emerge
GDP 20260624
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-leaders-seek-voice-as-missile-plans-emerge/article_2df68e6c-ecf1-4e10-93df-8956231b23e8.html
MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone Debuts In Large-Force Combat Exercise In The Pacific
TWZ 20260624
https://www.twz.com/air/mq-28-ghost-bat-drone-debuts-in-large-force-combat-exercise-in-the-pacific
Guam No Longer Safe: China’s DF-26 Missile Threat Forces U.S. Marines to Move War Stockpiles Deep Into Australia
DSA 20260624
https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/guam-no-longer-safe-china-df26-missile-threat-us-marines-australia-war-stockpile/
Guam community gets its say on military buildup Friday
GDP 20260624
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-community-gets-its-say-on-military-buildup-friday/article_b7d8658e-ba28-419e-812d-9c2edc931897.html
Island Waves
Constitutional Process to Determine Boungville’s Future
National (PNG) 20260624
https://www.thenational.com.pg/constitutional-process-to-determine-bougainvilles-future/
Takaichi visit underscores Okinawa-Tokyo tensions
Asahi 20260624
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16670141
Taiwan + SCS
Mainland spokesperson batters Lai and DPP of betraying national interests amid Japan-Philippines EEZ delimitation talks
GT 20260624
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364318.shtml
US, UK, France, Germany raise alarm about Chinese patrols off eastern Taiwan
Defense News 20260624
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/06/24/us-uk-france-germany-raise-alarm-about-chinese-patrols-off-eastern-taiwan/
China’s Assertions of Authority Over Foreign Ships Near Taiwan Draw U.S. Rebuke
WSJ 20260624
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/chinas-assertions-of-authority-over-foreign-ships-near-taiwan-draw-u-s-rebuke-d0546eb0
Taiwan says warning time for any China attack is shortening
Reuters 20260624
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-warning-time-any-china-attack-is-shortening-2026-06-24/
PLA’s advanced aircraft carrier Fujian transits Taiwan Strait amid military drills
SCMP 20260624
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3358227/plas-advanced-aircraft-carrier-fujian-transits-taiwan-strait-amid-military-drills
Ongoing so-called drills expose DPP authorities’ sinister attempt to seek independence through military buildup: mainland spokesperson
GT 20260624
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364316.shtml
Only by stopping 'Taiwan independence' can cross-Straits relations return to peaceful track, mainland spokesperson slams Lai’s call on renunciation of force
GT 20260624
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364315.shtml
China says it has a right to target people overseas with new ethnic unity law
Reuters 20260624
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-it-has-right-target-people-overseas-with-new-ethnic-unity-law-2026-06-24/
ASEAN can manage a typhoon – a Taiwan contingency is another matter
Lowy 20260624
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/asean-can-manage-a-typhoon-a-taiwan-contingency-is-another-matter
Taiwan could draw lessons from U.S.-led Pacific exercises: Minister
CNA (TW) 20260624
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606240012
Taiwan ‘not alone’ in military operations: official
Taipei Times 20260625
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/06/25/2003859704
Taiwan Budget Calls for $6.6B for Attack Drones, Unmanned Surface Vessels
USNI 20260624
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/24/taiwan-budget-calls-for-6-6b-for-attack-drones-unmanned-surface-vessels
Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese ships, 11 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260624
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6388441
Philippine side hypes up South China Sea arbitration again; so-called award nothing but waste paper: Chinese expert
GT 20260624
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364331.shtml
Capabilities
North Korea’s ‘exponential’ nuclear program: why Kim Jong-un is racing to expand his arsenal
Guardian 20260624
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/24/north-korea-nuclear-program-kim-jong-un
N. Korea commissions 5,000-ton destroyer; Kim expects dramatic boost in naval power
Yonhap 20260624
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260624001851315
N. Korea commissions new destroyer, plans to build 2 warships every year
Kyodo 20260624
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/78525
China Now Leads World Submarine Construction
Naval News 20260624
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/china-now-leads-world-submarine-construction/
China Makes New US Warship Target for Missile Tests, Images Show
Bloomberg 20260624
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-24/china-makes-new-us-warship-target-for-missile-tests-images-show
China studied US stealth aircraft — and learned the wrong lessons
Defense News 20260624
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/06/24/china-studied-us-stealth-aircraft-and-learned-the-wrong-lessons/
Boeing wins $2B Space Force contract for 2 new MUOS satellites
Breaking Defense 20260624
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/boeing-wins-2b-space-force-contract-for-2-new-muos-satellites/
Space Force Gives Boeing $2 Billion for Pair of Narrowband Communication Satellites
Air & Space 20260624
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-boeing-2-billion-narrowband-communication-satellites/
Undersea cables: The new US-China frontline
Think China 20260624
https://www.thinkchina.sg/technology/undersea-cables-new-us-china-frontline
A better way to spend $350 billion at the Pentagon
Brookings 20260624
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-better-way-to-spend-350-billion-at-the-pentagon/