Pacific Winds 20260717
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
West losing battle for influence in Asia-Pacific, warns Aussie envoy
AFR 20260716
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/west-losing-battle-for-influence-in-asia-pacific-warns-aussie-envoy-20260715-p60fmt
Top military officers of S. Korea, U.S., Japan reaffirm 3-way cooperation against N.K. threats
Yonhap 20260716
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260716002200315
Japan, U.S., S. Korea uniformed defense chiefs reaffirm unity on N. Korea
Kyodo 20260716
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/80063
'Tribute system' to describe China's foreign policy a false proposition through which Western countries project their hegemonic logic: FM
GT 20260716
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366101.shtml
Global Opinion Shifts Toward Favoring China Over the U.S., Poll Finds
NYTimes 20260716
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/world/asia/pew-opinion-survey-china-united-states.html
Is it really surprising that a US poll finds China’s popularity rising?
GT 20260717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366163.shtml
Trump-Xi Summit to Take Stock of China Commitments, Greer Says
Bloomberg 20260716
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-16/trump-xi-summit-to-take-stock-of-china-commitments-greer-says
China’s rare earth curbs endanger $6.5 trillion of Western industry, IEA says
Reuters 20260716
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-rare-earth-curbs-endanger-65-trillion-western-industry-iea-says-2026-07-16/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
How Palau became caught between two superpowers
SBS 20260716
Watch Story Here
President Whipps Jr. on Pacific Islands Freedom
Micronesia Sun 20260716
https://micronesiasun.com/?p=1301
Island Waves
Has the Pacific’s Ocean of Peace concept been hijacked?
RNZ 20260717
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/728499/has-the-pacific-s-ocean-of-peace-concept-been-hijacked
New Zealand, Fiji renew five-year partnership
Fiji Times 20260717
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/fiji-new-zealand-deepen-security-partnership/
Provinces consulted on proposed Vanuatu-China trade deal
Daily Post (VU) 20260716
https://www.dailypost.vu/news/provinces-consulted-on-proposed-vanuatu-china-trade-deal/article_ca374fa6-5ec3-56d3-a60b-620a5b123d09.html
ADB, Japan supports US$16 million aged care facilities for Tonga
Matangi 20260716
https://matangitonga.to/2026/07/16/adb-japan-supports-us16-million-aged-care-facilities-tonga
PM Wale sets to travel to U.S & Japan on eight-day trip
PINA 20260716
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/16/pm-wale-sets-to-travel-to-u-s-japan-on-eight-day-trip/
Papua New Guinea says it will shut Taiwan’s rep office, winning praise from China
Reuters 20260716
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-papua-new-guinea-has-closed-taiwans-office-country-2026-07-16/
China highly commends Papua New Guinea govt's decision to close 'Taipei Economic Office': FM spokesperson
GT 20260716
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366102.shtml
Taiwan protests PNG decision to close office, vows to reassess ties
CNA (TW) 20260716
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607160024
Australia hands over two new classrooms in West Kwara’ae
Solomon Star 20260716
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/australia-hands-over-two-new-classrooms-in-west-kwaraae/
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐚
Solomon Star 20260716
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%82%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9c%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%80%f0%9d%90%b0%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%9d/
Australia Backs Local Solutions for Peace and Justice in PNG
Post Courier (PNG) 20260716
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australia-backs-local-solutions-for-peace-and-justice-in-papua-new-guinea/
Winston Peters to meet with Ministers from Niue, Fiji and Samoa
RNZ 20260716
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/724687/winston-peters-to-meet-with-ministers-from-niue-fiji-and-samoa
U.S., Papua New Guinea launch Tamiok Strike 26
US Pa Com 20260714
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Articles/Article/4545512/us-papua-new-guinea-launch-tamiok-strike-26/
Taiwan + SCS
Lai says Taiwan not responsible for cross-strait tensions
Taiwan News 20260716
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6402256
US, Taiwan region reportedly advance drone cooperation; expert says military impact limited, island residents bear cost
GT 20260716
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366130.shtml
Taiwan Is No Berlin – It’s More Important for US Deterrence
AEI 20260716
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/taiwan-is-no-berlin-its-more-important-for-us-deterrence/
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese ships, 5 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260716
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6402182
Expeditionary Cutter Squadron to enhance operational capabilities
SeaPower 20260716
https://seapowermagazine.org/coast-guard-transitions-expeditionary-cutter-squadron-to-enhance-operational-capabilities/
US coastguard cutters have a South China Sea mission. Will it make a difference?
SCMP 20260716
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360824/us-coastguard-cutters-have-south-china-sea-mission-will-it-make-difference
Ten years after the South China Sea ruling: Is China’s position better or worse?
Think China 20260716
https://www.thinkchina.sg/politics/ten-years-after-south-china-sea-ruling-chinas-position-better-or-worse
South China Sea arbitration awards run counter to international judicial practice: report
Xinhua 20260716
https://english.news.cn/20260716/11c948da17ae4d98b69d90ea56de9663/c.html
Indonesia’s telling empty chair on the South China Sea
Asia Times 20260716
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/indonesias-telling-empty-chair-on-the-south-china-sea/
Does Beijing own Batanes? Why Chinese scholars’ claim is a warning shot to Manila
SCMP 20260716
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360828/does-beijing-own-batanes-why-chinese-scholars-claim-warning-shot-manila
Capabilities
What China’s sub-launched missile test really signaled
Asia Times 20260716
https://asiatimes.com/2026/07/what-chinas-sub-launched-missile-test-really-signaled/
Trump says U.S. will look at S. Korean, other firms for shipbuilding cooperation to strengthen Navy
Yonhap 20260716
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260716000400315
Navy Wants 1,000 Mile Combat Radius For Carrier Based Tactical Drone Fleets
TWZ 22060716
https://www.twz.com/air/navy-wants-1000-mile-combat-radius-for-carrier-based-tactical-drone-fleets
Marines Used Anti-Drone Netting During Recent Logistics Exercise
TWZ 20260716
https://www.twz.com/land/marines-used-anti-drone-netting-during-recent-logistics-exercise
AMC Gains Momentum in Push to Equip Tankers with Better Connectivity
Air & Space 20260716
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-tankers-connectivity-link-16-beyond-line-of-sight/
Wilsbach Touts Allied Airpower: ‘Effects No Nation Can Generate Independently’
Air & Space 20260716
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/wilsbach-allied-airpower-global-air-chiefs/