Pacific Winds 20260701

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

China–Japan relations sail into troubled waters
EAF 20260630
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/06/30/china-japan-relations-sail-into-troubled-waters/

China Tightens the Screws on Japan
NYTimes 20260630
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/world/asia/china-japan-rare-earths-patrols.html

More than a boundary: Why Japan-Philippines maritime talks matter for China
Japan Times 20260630
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06/30/japan/japan-philippines-china-maritime-boundary/

Strategic Convergence: How Australia Can Position Itself Within an Emerging Network of Partnerships with Japan and the Philippines
AIIA 20260630
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/strategic-convergence-how-australia-can-position-itself-within-an-emerging-network-of-partnerships-with-japan-and-the-philippines/

The ROK–Australia Relationship at 65: Assessing Five Years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Road to CSP 2.0
AIIA 20260630
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-rok-australia-relationship-at-65-assessing-five-years-of-the-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-and-the-road-to-csp-2-0/

Lost in Translation: How A Premier Chinese Think Tank Views U.S.-Chinese Competition
WOTR 20260630
https://warontherocks.com/lost-in-translation-how-a-premier-chinese-think-tank-views-u-s-chinese-competition/

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Skunk Works C2 Ties Together Patriot, MRIC, and MADIS for Guam Defense Shield
Naval News 20260630
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/skunk-works-c2-ties-together-patriot-mric-and-madis-for-guam-defense-shield/

Advocates urge leaders against mass militarization
KUAM 20260630
https://www.kuam.com/story/316130422/advocates-urge-leaders-against-mass-militarization

Taiwan Medical Team Completes Five-Day Outreach Across Palau
Island Times 20260630
https://islandtimes.org/taiwan-medical-team-completes-five-day-outreach-across-palau/

Taiwan welcomes visit by Marshall Islands foreign minister
Taiwan News 20260630
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6392259

HDR AECOM Infrastructure JV awarded a $100M firm-fixed-price, IDIQ contract for architect-engineer services in Guam (60%), Micronesia (15%)
US DoW20260629
https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4529481/contracts-for-june-29-2026/

Island Waves

Vanuatu to be reinstated in Australia’s 2026–27 PEV ballot with 150 places
Daily Post 20260630
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vanuatu-to-be-reinstated-in-australia-s-2026-27-pev-ballot-with-150-places/article_c04f5a92-dfac-5375-b5c9-c4d2af89b395.html

Opposition, chiefs question Nakamal Agreement; Gov’t responds
Daily Post 20260630
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/opposition-chiefs-question-nakamal-agreement-gov-t-responds/article_3b9ad556-d46d-59e9-828b-7412a8c160bd.html

To Compete in the Pacific, the US Needs to Move Past Zero-Sum Alignment
The Diplomat 20260629
https://thediplomat.com/2026/06/to-compete-in-the-pacific-the-us-needs-to-move-past-zero-sum-alignment/

PNG-SI Sign Agreement
National (PNG) 20260630
https://www.thenational.com.pg/png-si-sign-agreement/

PM Wale reaffirms balanced Foreign Policy, strengthens ties with Japan
SIBC 20260630
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/pm-wale-reaffirms-balanced-foreign-policy-strengthens-ties-with-japan/

PNG Vital t Strengthening Regional Security: PM
National (PNG) 20260630
https://www.thenational.com.pg/png-vital-to-strengthening-regional-security-pm/

Patrol craft to boost maritime security
Fiji Times 20260630
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/patrol-craft-to-boost-maritime-security/

AFP helps Fiji Police trace washed-up drugs
FBCN 20260630
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/crime/afp-helps-fiji-police-trace-washed-up-drugs/

Official results confirmed for New Caledonia’s provincial elections
RNZ 20260630
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/642173/official-results-confirmed-for-new-caledonia-s-provincial-elections

New Caledonia: Plus ça change
Lowy 20260630
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/new-caledonia-plus-ca-change

PEOPLE STAND TO BENEFIT FROM NEW ROAD PROJECT IN WEST SEPIK
PNG Haus Bung 20260630
https://pnghausbung.com/people-stand-to-benefit-from-new-road-project-in-west-sepik/

Auki road project reaches jetty area
Solomon Star 20260630
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/auki-road-project-reaches-jetty-area/

Community engagement key to building trust in PNG
AU DoD 20260630
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-06-30/community-engagement-key-building-trust-png

Taiwan + SCS

China coast guard ships enter Kinmen restricted waters
Taiwan News 20260630
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6392183

Coast guard warns of Beijing’s new plan to normalize territory incursions
CNA (TW) 20260701
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/01/2003860041

Two-thirds of Americans say Taiwan’s security matters to U.S.: survey
CNA (TW) 20260630
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202606300005

Lai backs deeper Taiwan-Japan cooperation
Taiwan News 20260630
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6392353

Taiwan tracks 13 Chinese ships, 2 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260530
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6391976

West PH Sea: AFP logs 44 Chinese vessels, up from 17
Inquirer (PH) 20260630
https://www.inquirer.net/478977/west-ph-sea-afp-logs-44-chinese-vessels-up-from-17/

PLA conducts combat readiness patrols around Huangyan Dao
Xinhua 20260630
https://english.news.cn/20260630/17f770532db343aca3c20f72aec5d90a/c.html

PLA conducts combat readiness patrols, CCG carries out law-enforcement patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of Huangyan Dao
GT 20260630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364766.shtml

China conducts patrols around Scarborough Shoal in disputed South China Sea
Reuters 20260630
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-conducts-patrols-around-scarborough-shoal-disputed-south-china-sea-2026-06-30/

China releases assessment report on UNCLOS
Xinhua 20260630
https://english.news.cn/20260630/4bb34f4fe4d34473a0d4cb98416a7092/c.html

China releases assessment report on UNCLOS, exposing Philippines' core tactics of abusing the Convention
GT 20260630
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364775.shtml

Capabilities

Air Force Discloses B-2 Can Launch Stealth Anti-Ship Missiles In Surprise Announcement
TWZ 20260629
https://www.twz.com/air/air-force-discloses-b-2-can-launch-stealth-anti-ship-missiles-in-surprise-announcement

Indo-Pacific Command chief sounds alarm on China war threat in private report to Congress
WashTimes 20260629
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jun/29/indopac-2026-top-us-commander-seeks-122b-deter-china/

U.S. Marines Use Commercial Ferries to Haul Anti-ship Missiles Across the Philippines
USNI 20260630
https://news.usni.org/2026/06/30/u-s-marines-use-commercial-ferries-to-haul-anti-ship-missiles-across-the-philippines

Army using AI, robot boats for Pacific logistics
Defense One 20260630
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2026/06/army-using-ai-robot-boats-pacific-logistics/414525/

Japan’s military recruitment crisis in an age of rearmament
Asia Times 20260701
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/japans-military-recruitment-crisis-in-an-age-of-rearmament/

AI, Autonomous Weapons, and Escalation Risks in AUKUS Pillar II: Policy Priorities for Australia
AIIA 20260630
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/ai-autonomous-weapons-and-escalation-risks-in-aukus-pillar-ii-policy-priorities-for-australia/

Anti-Drone Warfare: The Missing Tier in Maritime Defence Architecture
Naval News 20260630
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/06/anti-drone-warfare-the-missing-tier-in-maritime-defence-architecture/

Space Force fields mobile satellite-jamming system
Space News 20260630
https://spacenews.com/space-force-fields-mobile-satellite-jamming-system/

Power

The Broken Nuclear Umbrella
FA 20260630
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/broken-nuclear-umbrella-lind-press

The Art of Statecraft in an Age of Strategic Failure
WOTR 20260630
https://warontherocks.com/the-art-of-statecraft-in-an-age-of-strategic-failure/