Pacific Winds 20260715
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Japan and the Philippines draw a line China cannot ignore
Nikkei 20260714
https://asia.nikkei.com/opinion/japan-and-the-philippines-draw-a-line-china-cannot-ignore
Secret doc: China military braced for clash with Japan in 2014
Asahi 20260714
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16724660
Lindsey Graham’s death removes one of Washington’s most influential China hawks
SCMP 20260714
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3360433/lindsey-grahams-death-removes-one-washingtons-most-influential-china-hawks
US tariff probe unlikely to derail fall Xi-Trump meeting: analysts
SCMP 20260714
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3360435/us-tariff-probe-unlikely-derail-fall-xi-trump-meeting-analysts-say
How China Is Winning Friends and Influencing People
FA 20260714
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/how-china-winning-friends-and-influencing-people
Pax Silica only makes the Philippines a sacrificial pawn in US Asia-Pacific designs
GT 20260714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365956.shtml
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
A more balanced review of the buildup is appropriate
GDP 20260714
https://www.postguam.com/forum/featured_columnists/a-more-balanced-review-of-the-buildup-is-appropriate/article_1d0d943f-f258-46af-9ca5-88e625b19e56.html
Guam, Washington Enhance Readiness with Palau Partners
US PaCom 20260713
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Articles/Article/4544399/guam-washington-enhance-readiness-with-palau-partners/
Island Waves
Solomons, China focus on relations
Islands Business 20260714
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/solomons-china-focus-on-relations/
Relationship and cooperation with China highly valued, Soloman Islands FM says
China Daily 20260714
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202607/14/WS6a5624a2a310986e2b4653a0.html
China sends a message to Pacific islands amid unease over missile test
SCMP 20250714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360549/china-sends-message-pacific-islands-amid-their-unease-over-missile-test
China's development of relations with Pacific island countries should not be disrupted by any third party, Chinese FM says when meeting with Solomon Islands FM
GT 20260714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365948.shtml
China does not seek ‘sphere of influence’ in ties with Pacific island nations, foreign minister says
Reuters 20260714
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-does-not-seek-sphere-influence-ties-with-pacific-island-nations-foreign-2026-07-14/
It’s Time for Australia to Be a Good Neighbor to the Pacific
The Diplomat 20260714
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/its-time-for-australia-to-be-a-good-neighbor-to-the-pacific/
𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐮’𝐮𝐟𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥
Solomon Star 20260714
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%89%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a9%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7-%f0%9d%90%a1%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%af%f0%9d%90%9e%f0%9d%90%ab-%f0%9d%90%ae%f0%9d%90%a9/
Tar-sealing of Auki road Project Progresses
Solomon Star 20260714
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/tar-sealing-of-auki-road-project-progresses/
Chinese Embassy gifts Panatina Valley with Solar Street Lights
Solomon Star 20260714
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/chinese-embassy-gifts-panatina-valley-with-solar-street-lights/
Australia–SINU Research Partnership advancing local feed solutions for food security in Solomon Islands
SIBC 20260714
https://www.sibconline.com.sb/australia-sinu-research-partnership-advancing-local-feed-solutions-for-food-security-in-solomon-islands/
Japan boosts Fiji customs with dedicated officer
FBCN 20260714
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/japan-boosts-fiji-customs-with-dedicated-officer/
Taiwan + SCS
South Korea needs to plan for a Taiwan conflict
ASPI 20260714
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/south-korea-needs-to-plan-for-a-taiwan-conflict/
China’s Ethnic Unity Law extends legal reach to Taiwan, diaspora
Asia Times 20260714
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/chinas-ethnic-unity-law-extends-legal-reach-to-taiwan-diaspora/
TPP delegation kicks off maiden mainland visit; trip poised to facilitate cross-Straits communications: expert
GT 20260714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365939.shtml
Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese ships, 3 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260714
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6400537
Will Manila and Hanoi’s maritime deal challenge Beijing in the South China Sea?
SCMP 20260714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360363/will-manila-and-hanois-maritime-deal-challenge-beijing-south-china-sea
10 Years Ago, the Philippines Won a Major Victory in the South China Sea. Did It Matter?
The Diplomat 20260713
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/10-years-ago-the-philippines-won-a-major-victory-in-the-south-china-sea-did-it-matter/
How Beijing proposes to solve South China Sea disputes 10 years after Hague ruling
SCMP 20260714
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360541/how-beijing-proposes-solve-south-china-sea-disputes-10-years-after-hague-ruling
Why can’t the US get Southeast Asia’s support in the South China Sea?
Responsible Statecraft 20260714
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-on-south-china-sea/
The South China Sea Arbitration at Ten: Time for ASEAN Countries to Reassess
SCSPI 20260714
https://www.scspi.org/en/dtfx/south-china-sea-arbitration-ten-time-asean-countries-reassess
‘SCS arbitration’ hype deepens Manila’s ASEAN alienation
GT 20260714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365930.shtml
China illegally ignores South China Sea court ruling for 10 years, U.S. Pacific Command says
WashTimes 20260714
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/14/china-illegally-ignores-south-china-sea-court-ruling-10-years-us/
Why a Chinese academic claim over Batanes has unsettled the Philippines
SCMP 20260713
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3360416/why-chinese-academic-claim-over-batanes-has-unsettled-philippines
AFP says monitoring presence of Chinese vessels in Batanes
Manila Bulletin 20260714
https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/14/afp-says-monitoring-presence-of-chinese-vessels-in-batanes
From the East China Sea to the South China Sea, China’s answer to provocations is firm countermeasures
GT 20260714
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365897.shtml
Capabilities
Who holds the advantage? Three perspectives on the US-China military balance
Brookings 20260714
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/who-holds-the-advantage-three-perspectives-on-the-us-china-military-balance/
Countering China’s A2/AD Capabilities
RCD 20260714
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/07/14/countering_chinas_a2ad_capabilities_1194198.html
China’s missile test reveals fragile state of world nuclear governance
SCMP 20260714
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3360326/chinas-missile-test-reveals-fragile-state-world-nuclear-governance
Stop Overreacting to China’s Missile Test
FP 20260714
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/13/china-nuclear-missile-test-launch-slbm/
New $500M Artillery Shell Plant Failed To Produce Any 155mm Parts
TWZ 20260714
https://www.twz.com/land/new-500m-artillery-shell-plant-failed-to-produce-any-155mm-parts
Pre-positioned military assets a force multiplier, especially in Indo-Pacific
IPDF 20260714
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/07/pre-positioned-military-assets-a-force-multiplier-especially-in-indo-pacific/
US wartime buildup races against China’s industrial clock
Asia Times 20260714
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/us-wartime-buildup-races-against-chinas-industrial-clock/
Space Force agency awards tech companies $1.75 billion contract for missile warning, tracking satellites
Military Times 20260714
https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/07/14/space-force-agency-awards-tech-companies-175-billion-contract-for-missile-warning-tracking-satellites/
Events
United States Air Base Defense
MDAA 16 July 10:30-11:30 EDT
https://www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org/alerts/mdaa-virtual-crt-united-states-air-base-defense/