Pacific Winds 20260710
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Can Indo-Pacific Powers Deter China Without the US?
The Diplomat 20260710
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/can-indo-pacific-powers-deter-china-without-the-us/
N. Korea slams S. Korea-Japan military cooperation as ‘self-destruction’
Yonhap 20260709
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260709001000315
North Korea’s premier heads to China for defence treaty anniversary as allies extend thaw
SCMP 20260709
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3359990/north-koreas-premier-heads-china-defence-treaty-anniversary-allies-extend-thaw
US says China gave only hours’ warning before Pacific submarine missile launch
SCMP 20260709
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359907/us-says-china-gave-only-hours-warning-pacific-submarine-missile-launch
US’ criticism on China’s missile test typical example of double standards and hegemonism, says FM spokesperson
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365544.shtml
Australia’s theatrics over China’s missile test unjustified
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365569.shtml
Meeting between Defense Minister Koizumi and Australian Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs Conroy
JP MoD 20260708
https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2026/07/d01bbac6e32e6bdb7f327870d7569ae6010523c3.html
Japan’s Defense Ministry Officials Start Using Social Media to Counter Unilateral Claims Made by China
Yomiuri 20260709
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260709-337330/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Analyst: Missile shield goes beyond defense
GDP 20260709
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/analyst-missile-shield-goes-beyond-defense/article_a101510c-b517-4736-bed6-d40450104310.html
Valiant Shield 26 Leverages US PACOM PMTEC Capabilities in Guam, Officially Opens New Facility
US PaCom 20260708
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Articles/Article/4538826/valiant-shield-26-leverages-us-pacom-pmtec-capabilities-in-guam-officially-open/
Island Waves
Cease ballistic missile testing in the Pacific: Vanuatu Gov’t
Daily Post 20260709
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/cease-ballistic-missile-testing-in-the-pacific-vanuatu-gov-t/article_cbc639dc-c4c5-5e0b-a47a-383b0194b3da.html
Pacific opposition grows: Tuvalu, Palau and Vanuatu condemn China missile test
PINA 20260709
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/09/pacific-opposition-grows-tuvalu-palau-and-vanuatu-condemn-china-missile-test/
Pacific cannot be treated as a theatre for force – Marshall Islands
PINA 20260709
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/09/pacific-cannot-be-treated-as-a-theatre-for-force-marshall-islands/
Palau’s President warns of rising nuclear anxiety in the Pacific, after China missile test
RNZ 20260709
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/692245/palau-s-president-warns-of-rising-nuclear-anxiety-in-the-pacific-after-china-missile-test
Samoa raises concern over China missile launch
Samoa Observer 20260709
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/120887
Australia-Fiji pact a hard Pacific pushback against China
Asia Times 20260709
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/australia-fiji-pact-a-hard-pacific-pushback-against-china/
NZ to explore joining Fiji-Australia defence alliance
Beehive 20260709
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-explore-joining-fiji-australia-defence-alliance
Pacific Version of NATO Launched to Counter China
Newsweek 20260709
https://www.newsweek.com/pacific-version-of-nato-launched-to-counter-china-12175871
Will Australia’s diplomatic streak last?
Islands Business 20260709
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/will-australias-diplomatic-streak-last/
PNG and Australia Enforce Pukpuk Treaty
National 20260709
https://www.thenational.com.pg/png-and-australia-enforce-pukpuk-treaty/
‘We are family now’: Sāmoa, Tonga leaders strengthen Pacific bonds with Australia
PINA 20260709
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/09/we-are-family-now-samoa-tonga-leaders-strengthen-pacific-bonds-with-australia/
Rights group raises human rights concerns over Australia-Fiji defence pact
Fiji Times 20260710
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rights-group-raises-human-rights-concerns-over-australia-fiji-defence-pact/
Tonga signs AU$250 million Pacific rugby league pact
Matangi 20260709
https://matangitonga.to/2026/07/09/tonga-signs-au250-million-pacific-rugby-league-pact
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚
Solomon Star 20260709
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%8d%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%b0-%f0%9d%90%99%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a5%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%af%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ac%f0%9d%90%ad/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan pushes back at China patrols with Coast Guard trip for foreign lawmakers
Reuters 20260709
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-pushes-back-china-patrols-with-coast-guard-trip-foreign-lawmakers-2026-07-09/
Chinese coast guard ships enter Kinmen restricted waters
Taiwan News 20260709
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6398154
Beijing is testing who will stand by Taiwan
ASPI 20260709
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/beijing-is-testing-who-will-stand-by-taiwan/
U.S., Japan, South Korea reaffirm commitment to Taiwan Strait peace
CNA 20260709
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607090008
Joseph Wu warns of Chinese expansion at Taiwan International Ocean Forum
Taiwan News 20260709
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6397999
Taiwan’s Skyguard Anti-Aircraft Guns Now Equipped With Anti-Drone Nets
TWZ 20260708
https://www.twz.com/land/taiwans-skyguard-anti-aircraft-guns-now-equipped-with-anti-drone-nets
Taiwan tracks 28 Chinese military aircraft, 13 ships
Taiwan News 20260709
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6397938
Chinese academics claim Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan
Inquirer (PH) 20260709
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/330272/chinese-academics-claim-batanes-belongs-to-china-through-taiwan
Action required to safeguard China’s sovereignty of Batanes Islands: Chinese scholars
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365585.shtml
Teodoro on Chinese scholars’ Batanes claim: It’s a joke
Inquirer (PH) 20260709
https://www.inquirer.net/480074/teodoro-on-chinese-scholars-batanes-claim-its-a-joke/
South China Sea: If you can’t beat them, build islands
Lowy 20260709
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/south-china-sea-if-you-can-t-beat-them-build-islands
Who was the real mastermind behind the S.China Sea arbitral tribunal, and how was the arbitration procedure subverted?
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365595.shtml
Capabilities
Analysis: China’s Pacific SLBM Test Signals Shift Toward Continuous At-Sea Deterrence
Naval News 20260709
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/china-pacific-slbm-test-casd-nuclear-deterrence/
What China’s submarine missile test reveals about its nuclear strategy
Think China 20260709
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/what-chinas-submarine-missile-test-reveals-about-its-nuclear-strategy
China’s ballistic missile launch was a message for the US
AP 20260709
https://apnews.com/article/china-missile-test-submarine-nuclear-us-pacific-434cc050331f9278f1c4eb6011bd6111
Why China’s Nuclear Ambitions are Worrying the World
China Wire 20260708
https://www.thewirechina.com/2026/03/08/why-chinas-nuclear-ambitions-are-worrying-the-world/
Chinese nuclear weapons, 2026
BAS 20260708
https://thebulletin.org/premium/2026-07/chinese-nuclear-weapons-2026/
How Beijing ‘tripled the size of its nuclear arsenal’ in six years
ABC (AU) 20260709
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-10/beijing-accelerated-military-movements/106892012
China sends nuclear missile message as US looks elsewhere
RFI 20260708
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20260708-china-sends-nuclear-missile-message-as-us-looks-elsewhere
Ex-Trump official says S. Korea’s nuclear armament would lead to heightened tension
Yonhap 20260709
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260709003751315
JIP’s submarine proposal tests Japan’s nuclear red lines
Japan Times 20260709
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/09/japan/politics/maehara-interview/
Asian allies build up missile production as US stockpile dwindles
Nikkei 20260710
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/policy-asia/asian-allies-build-up-missile-production-as-us-stockpile-dwindles
China unveils high-power microwave weapon arsenal with up to 100 gigawatts of power
SCMP 20260709
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3360000/100-gigawatts-china-unveils-its-high-power-microwave-weapon-arsenal
Chinese J-15 Fighter Seen Launching From A Carrier With Four Anti-Ship Missiles For First Time
TWZ 22060709
https://www.twz.com/sea/chinese-j-15-fighter-seen-launching-from-a-carrier-with-four-anti-ship-missiles-for-first-time
Air Force and DIU Want Cheap Drones to Take on MQ-9 Missions
Air & Space 20260709
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-wants-cheap-drones-to-take-on-mq-9-missions/
Good in principle, but China’s new military AI logistics are themselves targets
ASPI 20260709
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/good-in-principle-but-chinas-new-military-ai-logistics-are-themselves-targets/
The Pentagon’s AI Strategy Has a Funding Problem
WOTR 20260709
https://warontherocks.com/cogs-of-war/the-pentagons-ai-strategy-has-a-funding-problem/
Why DoD, Silicon Valley now are betting on solar power beaming sats
Breaking Defense 20260709
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/why-dod-silicon-valley-now-are-betting-on-solar-power-beaming-sats/
Space Force’s New C2 System to Get Key Upgrades in 2027
Air & Space 20260709
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-c2-system-key-upgrades-2027/
Trump seems not to rule out building U.S. military ships he requested in S. Korea: presidential official
Yonhap 20260709
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260709009400315
US alignment can’t give SK shipbuilding second leap
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365597.shtml
New US regulations splinter global submarine cable connectivity
GT 20260709
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365580.shtml
There’s promise — and pitfalls — in the Army’s low-cost interceptor plan, experts say
Breaking Defense 20260709
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/why-dod-silicon-valley-now-are-betting-on-solar-power-beaming-sats/
FY2027 Defense Budget: Funding for SelectedWeapon Systems
CRS 20260708
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28440816-crs-on-fy27-defense-budget/