Pacific Winds 20260706
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
The Taiwan trigger that could break Trump’s China truce
Think China 20260706
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/taiwan-trigger-could-break-trumps-china-truce
In Japan, Australia has a partner for the long haul
Lowy 20260706
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/in-japan-australia-has-a-partner-for-long-haul
Japan Eyes New Defense Ministry Bureau with Likely Focus on Boosting International Security Cooperation
Yomiuri 20260707
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260707-336716/
China has stalled Japan-bound exports of various critical minerals: data
Kyodo 202600706
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/79292
Island Waves
Australia to spend $1b on defence alliance with Fiji in blow to China
SMH 20260706
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-strikes-surprise-defence-alliance-with-fiji-in-blow-to-china-20260706-p60cuo.html
Fiji to receive over $1.5B in Australian grants and concessional Loans
Fiji Times 20260707
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-to-receive-over-1-5b-in-australian-grants-and-concessional-loans/
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signs Ocean of Peace Alliance with Fiji
ABC (AU) 20260706
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-06/albanese-signs-major-new-treaty-fiji/106882252
Australia, Fiji sign mutual defence pact to boost Pacific security
SCMP 20260706
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3359511/australia-fiji-sign-mutual-defence-pact-boost-pacific-security
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese poised to sign major new treaty with Fiji
ABC (AU) 20260706
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-06/albanese-to-sign-major-new-treaty-fiji/106882252
Australia and Fiji sign surprise defence alliance amid push to limit China’s influence in the Pacific
Guardian 20260706
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/06/australia-fiji-defence-alliance-china-pacific-influence
Ocean of Peace Alliance (Veitacini Treaty)
AU DFaT 20260706
https://www.dfat.gov.au/countries/fiji/ocean-peace-alliance-veitacini-treaty
China warns Australia over military alliance with Fiji which promises to ‘act to meet the common danger’
ABC (AU) 20260706
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-06/china-warns-australia-over-alliance-with-fiji/106886394
Australia instrumentalizes ‘sports diplomacy’ and defense pact to counter China; expert sees anxiety behind bid to shore up fading dominance
GT 20260706
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365255.shtml
Australia’s Pacific diplomacy is on a hot streak – will it last?
Lowy 20260706
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/australia-pacific-diplomacy-hot-streak-will-it-last
China to test nuclear missile in South Pacific after Anthony Albanese signs pact with Fiji
Australian 20260706
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/china-to-test-nuclear-missile-in-south-pacific-after-anthony-albanese-signs-pact-with-fiji/news-story/5c7504085d0c5221a9dd4bc8881d1dfc
China Test Fires Long-Range Ballistic Missile in the Pacific, Angering Neighbors
NYTimes 20260706
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/world/asia/china-pacific-nuclear-missile-launch.html
China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as ‘destabilising to region’
Guardian 20260706
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/06/china-missile-test-south-pacific
China missile test in South Pacific ‘extremely unwelcome behaviour’, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says
RNZ 20260707
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/682446/china-missile-test-in-south-pacific-extremely-unwelcome-behaviour-deputy-prime-minister-david-seymour-says
Pacific nations alarmed by Chinese missile test
S&S 20260706
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-07-06/china-submarine-ballistic-missile-test-japan-22187834.html
China to test ballistic missile in South Pacific
ABC (AU) 20260706
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-06/china-test-ballistic-missile-south-pacific/106885076
Bolstering Pacific resilience: A new paradigm for engagement by US allies and partners
USSC 20260706
https://www.ussc.edu.au/bolstering-pacific-resilience-a-new-paradigm-for-engagement-by-us-allies-and-partners
How Pacific islands beat the China-Australia power struggle
DW 20260706
https://amp.dw.com/en/how-pacific-islands-beat-the-china-australia-power-struggle-mapped-out/video-77850347
Pacific leaders back regional security leadership
FBCN 20260707
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/pacific-leaders-back-regional-security-leadership/
New US ambassador to New Zealand says Cook Islands is a top priority
RNZ 20260706
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/677613/new-us-ambassador-to-new-zealand-says-cook-islands-is-a-top-priority
Australia commits $145m to Fiji digital skills and education
FBCN 20260706
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-commits-145m-to-fiji-digital-skills-and-education/
Australia provides $19.2 million budget boost to help Samoa manage fuel pressures
Samoa Observer 20260706
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/120822
AFP to push Australia’s Pacific police training model to reduce UN costs
PINA 20260706
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/06/afp-to-push-australias-pacific-police-training-model-to-reduce-un-costs/
Vanuatu Targets Growing Chinese Tourism Market Through Pacific Day 2026 Promotion
Daily Post (VU) 20260706
https://www.dailypost.vu/vanuatu_sports/vanuatu-targets-growing-chinese-tourism-market-through-pacific-day-2026-promotion/article_df70191e-f76d-5a96-8428-a74aeec73fca.html
𝐏𝐌 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐚
Solomon Star 20260706
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%8f%f0%9d%90%8c-%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9b%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a8-%f0%9d%90%af%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%a2/
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan says it is tracking ‘upward trend’ in Chinese naval movements
Reuters 20260706
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-it-is-tracking-upward-trend-chinese-naval-movements-2026-07-06/
More salami-slicing: now China mounts coast guard patrols east of Taiwan
ASPI 20260706
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/more-salami-slicing-now-china-mounts-coast-guard-patrols-east-of-taiwan/
Delimitation, trilateralism and Taiwan’s defense
Taiwan News 20260706
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6395773
China’s sea patrols and lawfare tighten ‘all fronts’ squeeze on Taiwan
Nikkei 20260706
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/taiwan-tensions/china-s-sea-patrols-and-lawfare-tighten-all-fronts-squeeze-on-taiwan
Is Beijing preparing for submarine action with maritime survey east of Taiwan?
SCMP 20260706
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3359539/beijing-preparing-submarine-action-maritime-survey-east-taiwan
Taiwan joins Japan, Australia, New Zealand in condemning China test
CNA (TW) 202600706
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607060023
China-friendly KMT stunts Taiwan’s attempt to grow into a fully formed hedgehog
ASPI 20260706
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/china-friendly-kmt-stunts-taiwans-attempt-to-grow-into-a-fully-formed-hedgehog/
Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese ships, 5 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260706
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6395424
GT reporters accompany CCG vessel to deconstruct Japanese ships' 'holiday-provocation' pattern
GT 20260706
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365262.shtml
The illegal and absurd nature of ‘South China Sea arbitration award’ is becoming increasingly exposed
GT 20260706
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365265.shtml
Capabilities
China’s Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test In The Pacific Is A Big Deal
TWZ 22060706
https://www.twz.com/sea/chinas-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile-test-in-the-pacific-is-a-big-deal
Chinese navy conducts test launch of strategic missile by submarine
Xinhua 20260706
https://english.news.cn/20260706/9c7b56ebd3eb4c7da4f0155657dc82f0/c.html
The stronger China’s strategic nuclear forces are, the more regional peace is guaranteed
GT 20260707
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365294.shtml
China test fires missile into Pacific, alarming regional powers
Reuters 20260706
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-test-fires-missile-into-pacific-alarming-regional-powers-2026-07-06/
Japan informed by China of ballistic missile test launch
Kyodo 20260706
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/79268
Nuclear-powered Chinese submarine fires test missile in the Pacific
SCMP 20260706
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3359541/nuclear-powered-pla-submarine-fires-test-missile-western-pacific
PLA Navy conducts test launch of strategic missile by submarine; China's nuclear triad deterrence significantly enhanced: experts
GT 20260706
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365253.shtml
China’s Pacific ballistic missile test – Views from ASPI analysts
ASPI 20260706
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-pacific-ballistic-missile-test-views-from-aspi-analysts/
Is the Industrial Base on a Wartime Footing? A Progress Report
CSIS 20260706
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-07/260702_McGinn_Wartime_Footing_0.pdf
Why Japan is fast-tracking its defence overhaul
Think China 20260706
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/why-japan-fast-tracking-its-defence-overhaul
Navy Plans to Homeport 9 LSMs at Pearl Harbor
USNI 20260706
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/06/navy-plans-to-homeport-9-lsms-at-pearl-harbor
Thinking twice about that US-China superwar
Responsible Statecraft 20260706
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-china-war-taiwan/
Australian Defence acquisition’s turn to stewardship of industry brings new risks
ASPI 20260706
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-defence-acquisitions-turn-to-stewardship-of-industry-brings-new-risks/
China Steps Up Unauthorized Marine Surveys in Japan’s EEZ
Yomiuri 20260706
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20260706-336728/
Exercises
Taiwan says China-Russia drills aim to counter US allies in First Island Chain
Taiwan News 20260706
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6395617
Japan claims 10 cases of Chinese naval activities within one week; PLA Navy's regular far-sea training deters Japan's neo-militarist undercurrents, safeguards regional peace: expert
GT 20260706
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365291.shtml
Kremlin says Russia-China naval drills are not a threat to other nations
Reuters 20260706
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/kremlin-says-russia-china-naval-drills-are-not-threat-other-nations-2026-07-06/
S. Korea’s role at RIMPAC marks ‘significant milestone’ in bilateral alliance: U.S. commander
Yonhap 20260706
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260706004900315