Pacific Winds 20260711
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Nvidia chips, soybean orders signal thaw before Xi-Trump summit
Asia Times 20260710
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/nvidia-chips-soybean-orders-signal-thaw-before-xi-trump-summit/
A World on Fire Needs Australia’s Conflict Mediation Prowess
The Diplomat 20260709
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/a-world-on-fire-needs-australias-conflict-mediation-prowess/
U.S. military in S. Korea cites ‘important’ military interests in Gwangju airport amid relocation plan
Yonhap 20260710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260710008300315
U.S. calls on S. Korea not to impose ‘disproportionate’ burdens on U.S. firms under revised network act
Yonhap 20260710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260710000400315
S. Korea says revised network act nondiscriminatory, vows continued talks with U.S.
Yonhap 20260710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260710003351315
Australia lodges formal objection to Trump administration’s ‘slavery tariff’ plan
ABC (AU) 20260710
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-10/australia-objects-to-trump-administration-slavery-tariff-plan/106900254
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US Marines successfully test-fire new medium-range air defense system
Defense News 20260710
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/07/10/us-marines-successfully-test-fire-new-medium-range-air-defense-system/
Boeing’s Ghost Bat Drone Flew with F-35 and More in Pacific Exercise
Air & Space 20260710
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/boeing-cca-f-35-more-in-pacific-exercise/
Japanese Aid Boosting Education, Health, and More in Chuuk, Micronesia
Nippon 20260710
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g02603/
Peace Corps Returns to Palau After Eight-Year Absence, Sworn-In Volunteers Share Excitement for Service
Island Times 20260710
https://islandtimes.org/peace-corps-returns-to-palau-after-eight-year-absence-sworn-in-volunteers-share-excitement-for-service/
Island Waves
Missiles and charm offensives: Australia’s urgent Pacific test
AFR 20260710
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/missiles-and-charm-offensives-australia-s-urgent-pacific-test-20260709-p60e2o
NZ must consider cost of joining Pacific defence alliance
PINA 20260710
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/10/nz-must-consider-cost-of-joining-pacific-defence-alliance/
A single nuclear-capable missile could undo China’s Pacific charm
National 20260710
https://www.thenational.com.pg/a-single-nuclear-capable-missile-could-undo-chinas-pacific-charm/
Chiefs demand PM Napat resign over Nakamal name
PINA 20260710
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/10/chiefs-demand-pm-napat-resign-over-nakamal-name/
You Can’t Diplomacise What You Don’t Understand
AIIA 20260710
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/you-cant-diplomacise-what-you-dont-understand/
Solomon Islands' FM to visit China; trip signals steady bilateral ties despite external noise
GT 20260710
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365663.shtml
‘Bilateral negotiations over, time for next step’
Daily Post 20260710
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/bilateral-negotiations-over-time-for-next-step/article_7c4dcf4d-3bcb-59f6-96ff-f070ec865e8d.html
Exercise Enhances PNGDF-Australian Army Combat Skills
National 20260710
https://www.thenational.com.pg/exercise-enhances-pngdf-australian-army-combat-skills/
Taiwan + SCS
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese ships, 2 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260710
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6398735
Beijing’s acts dilute impact of South China Sea award, Manila’s lawyer says
Nikkei 20260710
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/international-relations/south-china-sea/beijing-s-acts-dilute-impact-of-south-china-sea-award-manila-s-lawyer-says
A decade after historic ruling, Philippine fishermen say driven away from disputed shoal by China
Reuters 20260710
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/decade-after-historic-ruling-philippine-fishermen-say-driven-away-disputed-shoal-2026-07-10/
Capabilities
North Korea decides on measures to expand nuclear forces, KCNA reports
Reuters 20260709
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/north-korea-decides-measures-expand-nuclear-forces-kcna-reports-2026-07-09/
Why China’s rare missile test is putting the Pacific on edge
CNA (SG) 20260710
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-missile-launch-test-nuclear-weapon-pacific-cna-explains-6243906
What Did China’s Missile Test Have to Do With the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?
The Diplomat 20260709
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/what-did-chinas-missile-test-have-to-do-with-the-marco-polo-bridge-incident/
China just got one step closer to its own nuclear triad
Responsible Statecraft 20260710
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile/
Missile test showcases sensitive Chinese submarine capabilities key to nuclear deterrent
Reuters 20260710
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/missile-test-showcases-sensitive-chinese-submarine-capabilities-key-nuclear-2026-07-10/
The radar system that Taiwan says tracked the PLA’s ballistic missile launch
SCMP 20260710
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3360015/radar-system-taiwan-says-tracked-plas-ballistic-missile-launch
China’s Fujian carrier racing to kill America’s torpedo threat
Asia Times 20260710
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/chinas-fujian-carrier-racing-to-kill-americas-torpedo-threat/
Why navies still matter in the age of drones
ASPI 20260710
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-navies-still-matter-in-the-age-of-drones/
U.S. Navy Eyes South Korean Yards for Tankers and Destroyers
Naval News 20260710
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/us-navy-rfi-south-korea-shipbuilding-destroyers/
S. Korean shipbuilders eye U.S. naval market after Canada submarine setback
Kyodo 20260710
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/79685
The solution to the tanker problem the US military keeps finding in Pacific wargames
Breaking Defense 20260710
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/the-solution-to-the-tanker-problem-the-us-military-keeps-finding-in-pacific-wargames/
DIU, Navy launch containerized payload competition
Breaking Defense 20260710
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/diu-navy-launch-containerized-payload-competition/
Australia achieves landmark prototype missile defence live fire
AU DoD 20260709
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2026-07-09/australia-achieves-landmark-prototype-missile-defence-live-fire
Strategic infrastructure investment means focusing on endurance, not efficiency
ASPI 20260710
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/strategic-infrastructure-investment-means-focusing-on-endurance-not-efficiency/
Why We Know More About China’s Next-Generation Fighters Than America’s
FP 20260710
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/10/china-next-generation-fighters-internet-intelligence/
N. Korea to expand intelligence agency’s role against ‘potential enemies’
Yonhap 20260710
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260710001151315
China’s Long March 10B carrier rocket successfully achieves controlled first-stage recovery
GT 20260710
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365622.shtml
With a Successful Rocket Launch, China Clears a Key Hurdle in Race With SpaceX
NYTimes 20260710
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/world/asia/china-space-reusable-rocket-launch-spacex.html