Pacific Winds 20260718
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Trump alleges China committed interference in 2020 election
Reuters 20260717
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-alleges-china-committed-2020-election-fraud-2026-07-17/
Trump Accuses China of Election Meddling, Threatening Truce
Bloomberg 20260717
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-17/trump-accuses-china-of-election-meddling-putting-ties-at-risk
Trump ends national address with focus on Chinese interference in US election data
SCMP 20260717
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3360854/trump-address-nation-iran-crisis-china-tensions-and-election-fight-intensify
China rejects Trump’s election meddling claims as ‘fabricated’ and ‘slanderous’
SCMP 20260717
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360958/china-rejects-trumps-election-meddling-claims-fabricated-and-slanderous
China rejects Trump’s ‘election interference’ claim as ‘groundless,’ ‘malicious smear'
GT 20260717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366195.shtml
Beijing Rejects Trump’s Claim of Meddling, but Avoids a Fight
NYTimes 20260717
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/world/asia/china-trump-meddling-election.html
U.S.-China Relations Are More Volatile Than Ever
FP 20260717
https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/17/china-united-states-diplomacy-trump-xi-taiwan-stability-chaos-rivalry-partnership/
North Korea calls Seoul a ‘puppet’ for its role in US maritime exercise
Reuters 20260717
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/north-korea-calls-seoul-puppet-its-role-us-maritime-exercise-2026-07-17/
N. Korea warns of ‘chain of countermeasures’ over U.S.-led RIMPAC exercise
Yonhap 20260717
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260717003800315
Philippines Issues Formal Protest to China Over ‘Dehumanizing’ State Media Video
The Diplomat 20260717
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/philippines-issues-formal-protest-to-china-over-dehumanizing-state-media-video/
Philippines protests monkey portrayal of Filipino by Chinese media
Kyodo 20260717
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/80188
French Pacific Commander Says France Had Advance Notice of China’s SLBM Launch
Naval News 20260717
https://www.navalnews.com/interviews/2026/07/france-advance-notice-china-slbm-launch/
U.S. set to shorten duration of student, journalist visas in September
Kyodo 20260717
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/80096
Tougher U.S. student visa rule to affect over 13,000 S. Koreans in America
Yonhap 20260717
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260717001600315
US to toughen up visa regulations for Chinese journalists, foreign students
SCMP 20260717
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3360848/us-toughen-visa-regulations-chinese-journalists-foreign-students
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Japan Donates Navigation Aids, Vessel to Boost Palau Maritime Safety
Island Times 20260717
https://islandtimes.org/japan-donates-navigation-aids-vessel-to-boost-palau-maritime-safety/
‘Where America’s victory at sea begins:’ Navy officials highlight Guam’s undersea power amid China’s renewed threat
PIT 20260717
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/where-america-s-victory-at-sea-begins-navy-officials-highlight-guam-s-undersea-power-amid-china
DOD lends weight to typhoon recovery in Guam, Northern Marianas
S&S 20260717
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2026-07-17/bavi-fema-guam-coast-guard-rota-22288278.html
Island Waves
Can we have peace in a sea of Pacific security pacts?
Lowy 20260717
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/can-we-have-peace-in-a-sea-of-pacific-security-pacts
South Pacific Island Nations: Will They Continue to Shift away from Excessively Leaning toward China?
Yomiuri 20260717
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yomiuri-editorial/20260717-338612/
Pacific leaders seek to preserve regional unity amid growing geopolitical competition
Island Times 20260717
https://islandtimes.org/pacific-leaders-seek-to-preserve-regional-unity-amid-growing-geopolitical-competition/
MCC touts Pacific, Fiji partnerships as strategic alternative to China’s Belt and Road
PINA 20260717
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/17/mcc-touts-pacific-fiji-partnerships-as-strategic-alternative-to-chinas-belt-and-road/
Samoa, Australia strengthen ties with climate and security commitments
Samoa Observer 20260717
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/120993
PNG ousts Taiwanese officials, seeks to ‘reassure’ China after Australian treaty
ABC (AU) 20260717
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-17/png-to-close-taiwan-trade-office-seeking-to-reassure-china/106927630
China highly commends PNG govt's decision to close 'Taipei Economic Office': FM spokesperson on New Zealand's remarks on office closure
GT 20260717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366198.shtml
Three PNG Shipriders to Board US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane for Next Maritime Patrol
Post Courier 20260717
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/three-png-shipriders-to-board-us-coast-guard-cutter-harriet-lane-for-next-maritime-patrol/
Tasimboko Ward Receives Water Tanks from New Zealand High Commission
Tavuli 20260717
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/new-zealand-donates-water-tanks-tasimboko-ward/
Taiwan + SCS
Hsiao calls Papua New Guinea office closure a ‘setback’
Taiwan News 20260717
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6403050
PNG’s Taiwan shift raises questions
Taipei Times 20260717
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/18/2003860955
Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships
Taiwan News 20260717
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6402938
Tokyo’s policies harbor hidden danger of turning S.China Sea into a ‘sea of war’: Japanese historian
GT 20260717
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366214.shtml
Capabilities
Why The US Air Force Is Quietly Giving 19 B-2 Stealth Bombers A New Role In The Pacific
Simply Flying 20260716
https://simpleflying.com/why-usaf-quietly-giving-19-b-2-stealth-bombers-new-role-pacific/
China Is Building A Monster Supply Ship For Its Carrier Groups
TWZ 20260717
https://www.twz.com/sea/china-is-building-a-monster-supply-ship-for-its-carrier-groups
USS Zumwalt Set To Return To Fleet After Long Anticipated Hypersonic Missile Upgrade
TWZ 20260717
https://www.twz.com/sea/uss-zumwalt-set-to-return-to-fleet-after-long-anticipated-hypersonic-missile-upgrade
Navy Ship Modernization:DOD Needs Comprehensive Strategy to Field Hypersonic Missile Capability
GAO 20260717
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107974
Broken Drone, Far from Home: The Case for Overseas Autonomous System Sustainment
WOTR 20260717
https://warontherocks.com/broken-drone-far-from-home-the-case-for-overseas-autonomous-system-sustainment/
Japan and Vietnam to Jointly Develop Fast Landing Craft
Naval News 20260717
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/07/japan-vietnam-fast-landing-craft-development/