Pacific Winds 20260716
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
China as a future hegemon? Easier said than done
Lowy 20260715
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/china-as-a-future-hegemon-easier-said-than-done
China Is Ready to Get Tough
FP 20260715
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/14/china-diplomacy-retaliation-sanctions/
Analysis: Xi Jinping tests Trump’s limits with Pacific SLBM firing
Nikkei 20260716
https://asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks/china-up-close/analysis-xi-jinping-tests-trump-s-limits-with-pacific-slbm-firing
As China’s global star rises, how is Washington planning to adjust?
CSM 20260715
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2026/0715/trump-xi-china-united-states-pew
CRS Report to Congress on Japan’s Evolving Defense Policy and the U.S.-Japan Alliance
USNI 20260715
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/15/report-to-congress-on-japans-evolving-defense-policy-and-the-u-s-japan-alliance
Prepare for wild and dangerous scenarios on the Korean Peninsula
Asia Times 20260715
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/prepare-for-wild-and-dangerous-scenarios-on-the-korean-peninsula/
China’s image in the Asia-Pacific region
Pew 20260715
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/07/15/chinas-image-in-the-asia-pacific-region/
China outpolls U.S., and Xi beats Trump, in Pew survey
Japan Times 20260716
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/16/asia-pacific/politics/china-japan-pew/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Breaking America’s Promise to Pacific Island Veterans
WOTR 202600715
https://warontherocks.com/breaking-americas-promise-to-pacific-island-veterans/
Veterans of nuclear cleanups could soon get compensation
Task & Purpose 20260715
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/atomic-veterans-bill/
Guard/Navy joint training outliving Task Force Talon
GDP 20260715
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guard-navy-joint-training-outliving-task-force-talon/article_adcaddbd-ad86-491a-834e-b9acee50df7b.html
Island Waves
Foreign Minister Meets Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency in Beijing
Solomon Star 20260715
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/foreign-minister-meets-chairman-of-the-china-international-development-cooperation-agency-in-beijing/
New Caledonia Has a New, Pro-France President. What Now?
The Diplomat 20260715
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/new-caledonia-has-a-new-pro-france-president-what-now/
PM consults independence pioneers on Matthew and Hunter before next Gov’t move
Daily Post (VU) 20260715
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/pm-consults-independence-pioneers-on-matthew-and-hunter-before-next-govt-move/article_406f5072-605c-5549-8e39-68aef69b4f00.html
NZ’s Pacific Islands Forum budget could face a $10m squeeze, OIA reveals
PINA 20260715
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/15/nzs-pacific-islands-forum-budget-could-face-a-10m-squeeze-oia-reveals/
NZ boosts FEO election readiness with digital equipment
FBCN 20260715
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/nz-boosts-feo-election-readiness-with-digital/
Safety and sport in the Solomons
AU DoD 20260715
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2026-07-15/safety-sport-solomons
Taiwan + SCS
Chinese coast guard ships enter Kinmen restricted waters
Taiwan News 20260715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6401331
Taiwan Mobilizes HIMARS, Anti-ship Missiles For Major Defense Drill
USNI 202600715
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/15/taiwan-mobilizes-himars-anti-ship-missiles-for-major-defense-drill
Taiwan-US agree to co-produce Jingfeng I loitering munition
Taiwan News 20260715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6401491
Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese ships, 6 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260715
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6401309
How Beijing’s islands of control are reshaping the South China Sea
SCMP 20260715
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360496/how-beijings-islands-control-are-reshaping-south-china-sea
Manila upping resistance to China’s control of shoal 10 yrs after ruling
Kyodo 20260715
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/79874
China Aggressively Patrols Disputed Waters. Now the U.S. Coast Guard Is Moving In.
WSJ 20260715
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-aggressively-patrols-disputed-waters-now-the-u-s-coast-guard-is-moving-in-89d6a646
No place for US Coast Guard overreach in China's adjacent waters
GT 20260715
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366057.shtml
Capabilities
Behind successful SLBM test, a look at China's decades-long nuclear missile journey, significant role in maintaining global strategic stability
GT 20260715
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1365984.shtml
First the coast guard, then an ICBM: China tests new, long-term ways to hold off rivals in Asia
Defense News 20260715
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2026/07/15/first-the-coast-guard-then-an-icbm-china-tests-new-long-term-ways-to-hold-off-rivals-in-asia/
Japan ramps up defences amid concerns about China’s ‘military activities’
ABC (AU) 20260715
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-15/china-japan-defence-spending/106912686
S. Korea, U.S. stage joint logistics drills on record scale
Yonhap 20260715
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260715006100315
Revealed: China’s Plan to Bomb US Warships
Telegraph (UK) 20260715
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/15/revealed-chinas-plan-to-bomb-us-warships/
How Many J-20 Mighty Dragon Fighters Does China Actually Have?
TWZ 20260715
https://www.twz.com/air/how-many-j-20-stealth-fighters-does-china-actually-have
The US Navy is eyeing next-gen carrier-based drones. Here’s what they might do.
Defense News 20260714
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-navy/2026/07/14/the-us-navy-is-eyeing-next-gen-carrier-based-drones-heres-what-they-might-do/
Army reveals new details on autonomous launcher, high energy laser program
Breaking Defense 20260715
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/army-reveals-new-details-on-autonomous-launcher-high-energy-laser-program/
USAF Plans To Buy 28,000 Low-Cost Cruise Missiles In Five Years Advance With New Deals
TWZ 20260715
https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-plans-to-buy-28000-low-cost-cruise-missiles-in-five-years-advance-with-new-deals
How Tariffs Are Slowing the US Navy’s Shipbuilding Surge
AEI 20260715
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/how-tariffs-are-slowing-the-us-navys-shipbuilding-surge/
War stores may be safe at Bandiana, but they have to get north
ASPI 20260715
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/war-stores-may-be-safe-at-bandiana-but-they-have-to-get-north/
US Navy Seeks ‘Seabed Superiority’ in Undersea Warfare Push
Naval News 20260715
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/cne-2026/2026/07/us-navy-seabed-superiority-undersea-warfare/
AI-driven defense capabilities reshaping underwater domain
IPDF 20260715
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/07/ai-driven-defense-capabilities-reshaping-underwater-domain/
Arctic a missile defense corridor, emerging national security node
Asia Times 20260715
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/arctic-a-missile-defense-corridor-emerging-national-security-node/
Space Development Agency resumes key satellite launches after delays, watchdog criticisms
Defense One 20260715
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2026/07/space-development-agency-satellite-launches-criticisms/414781/
SDA resumes data relay satellite launch following tech fixes
Breaking Defense 20260715
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/sda-resumes-data-relay-satellite-launch-following-tech-fixes/
SDA to Resume Launches After 9-Month Pause, Early On-Orbit Challenges
Air & Space 20260715
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/sda-first-launch-9-months-early-on-orbit-challenges/
Pentagon blocks review of F-35 fighter jet project for first time in over 20 years
SCMP 20260715
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3360686/pentagon-blocks-review-f-35-fighter-jet-project-first-time-over-20-years