Pacific Winds 20260712

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

Xi says China’s commitment to North Korea friendship will not change, KCNA reports
Reuters 20260710
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/xi-says-chinas-commitment-north-korea-friendship-will-not-change-kcna-reports-2026-07-10/

Formal China-US G2 framework key to ‘guarantee’ world peace: top Beijing adviser
SCMP 20260711
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360235/formal-china-us-g2-framework-key-guarantee-world-peace-top-beijing-adviser

Japan, New Zealand vow closer security ties amid China’s assertiveness
Mainichi 20260711
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260711/p2g/00m/0na/020000c

China accuses US of ignoring Trump, Xi rapport and targeting Chinese firms
SCMP 20260711
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360197/china-accuses-us-ignoring-trump-xi-rapport-and-targeting-chinese-firms

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

The Pacific Island on China’s Front Line
ABC (AU) 20260711
Watch Video Here

Military says Rota bore brunt of Bavi as recovery effort widens across Guam, CNMI
Marianas Variety 20260712
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/military-says-rota-bore-brunt-of-bavi-as-recovery-effort-widens-across-guam-cnmi/article_de162c98-7306-4d9a-a911-909c1606529c.html

Island Waves

Australia-Fiji pact signals Canberra-led Pacific security posture
RFA 20260710
https://www.rfa.org/english/pacific/2026/07/10/fiji-australia-ocean-of-peace-alliance/

Panic over China’s missile test is born of Western bias
SCMP 20260711
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3360161/panic-over-chinas-missile-test-born-western-bias

VBTC receives new TV cameras from China
Daily Post (VU) 20260711
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vbtc-receives-new-tv-cameras-from-china/article_208df958-8d58-5aa4-a329-2201bddc0126.html

NUS students return from China cultural exchange
Samoa Observer 20260711
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/120573

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan expands missile production as US weapons supplies tighten
Taiwan NEws 20260711
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6399393

Report warns of ‘Kinmen model’
Taipei Times 20260712
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/12/2003860613

China’s ethnic unity law criminalizes support for Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260711
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6398357

Taiwan tracks 2 Chinese ships around country
Taiwan News 20260711
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6399295

The ‘South China Sea Arbitration’: 10 fatal flaws
GT 20260711
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365670.shtml

Ten years on, can ASEAN finally put the South China Sea ruling to work?
Lowy 20260710
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/ten-years-on-can-asean-finally-put-the-south-china-sea-ruling-to-work

Capabilities

Ambition outguns capacity in US plan to deter China
Asia Times 20260711
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/ambition-outguns-capacity-in-us-plan-to-deter-china/

U.S. Extended Deterrence and Regional Nuclear Capabilities
CRS 20260710
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28453228-if127357/

Philippines to get 5 used destroyers from Japan: defense secretary
Kyodo 20260711

Quad’s relevance now depends on delivery
EAF 20260711
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/07/11/quads-relevance-now-depends-on-delivery/

Anti-Drone Warfare at Sea: Matching Sensors and Effectors to the Threat
Naval News 20260711
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/anti-drone-warfare-at-sea-matching-sensors-and-effectors-to-the-threat/

LRASM and JASSM Production to Triple Under New US Air Force Contract
Naval News 20260711
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/lrasm-and-jassm-production-to-triple-under-new-us-air-force-contract/

Why Russia May Share Intelligence – Not Satellites – With North Korea
The Diplomat 20260710
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/why-russia-may-share-intelligence-not-satellites-with-north-korea/

Japan tests reusable rocket prototype RV-X to reduce costs
Kyodo 20260711
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/79733

Japan’s space agency conducts first test flight for experimental reusable rocket
AP 20260711
https://apnews.com/article/japan-reusable-rocket-h3-test-space-china-eb83b8385641a094b4cd69c3ee48090a

Power

Superpower US still too young to take path toward decline
Nikkei 20260711
https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/comment/superpower-us-still-too-young-to-take-path-toward-decline