Pacific Winds 20260723
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Rubio and Chinese Diplomat Make Plans for Trump and Xi’s Washington Summit
NYTimes 20260722
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/politics/trump-xi-rubio-manila-china.html
U.S., China top diplomats meet in Manila to pave way for Sept. summit
Kyodo 20260722
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/80391
Rubio meets Wang, discusses laying groundwork for Chinese president’s US visit
Reuters 20260722
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/rubio-says-he-discussed-china-presidents-us-visit-meeting-with-wang-yi-2026-07-22/
China, US agree to make good preparations for next stage of high-level exchanges as Wang Yi meets Rubio in Manila
GT 20260722
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366584.shtml
Rubio arrives in Manila as China-Philippines tensions spike
Responsible Statecraft 20260722
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/china-philippines-second-thomas-shoal/
Quad Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Indo-Pacific Cooperation, ‘Unwavering Support’ for ASEAN
Yomiuri 20260723
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260723-339455/
China warned Pacific missile sparks ‘strong concerns’
AAP 20260722
https://aapnews.aap.com.au/news/china-warned-pacific-missile-sparks-strong-concerns
‘Strong concerns’: Australia meets with China following ballistic missile test
SBS 20260722
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/strong-concerns-australia-meets-with-china-following-ballistic-missile-test/txaw5k5uv
Chinese FM calls for joint efforts with Australia to sustain improving ties
Xinhua 20260721
https://english.news.cn/20260721/b4beaa4dee62472c865865338cfe8ce5/c.html
Australia stands behind Philippines amid China’s aggression
ASPI 20260722
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-stands-behind-philippines-amid-chinas-aggression/
Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
JP MoFA 20260722
https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na2/pageite_000001_00006.html
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan gather in Manila amid N. Korea’s deepening ties with Russia, China
Yonhap 20260722
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260722000251315
Japan and Australia are critical partners in the Pacific
ASPI 20260723
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/japan-and-australia-are-critical-partners-in-the-pacific/
Washington misreads middle power cooperation
Lowy 20260723
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/washington-misreads-middle-power-cooperation
China hawks are losing the public opinion battle
Responsible Statecraft 20260722
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-public-opinion-on-china/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Tinian leaders press military to deliver more work to local biz
Marianas Press 20260722
https://marianaspress.com/news/article/tinian-leaders-press-military-to-deliver-more-work-to-local-biz
U.S. Army Deploys Hypersonic Missiles in Range of China During Exercise
USNI 20260722
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/22/u-s-army-deploys-hypersonic-missiles-in-range-of-china-during-exercise
Analyst: Missile system may be missing missile
GDP 20260722
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/analyst-missile-system-may-be-missing-missile/article_df8a0462-855a-4647-8903-a70ace166d32.html
Island Waves
China’s missile test exposes lack of unity among Pacific island nations
SCMP 20260722
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3361347/chinas-missile-test-exposes-lack-unity-among-pacific-island-nations
PRIME MINISTER WALE CONCLUDES HIGH-LEVEL WASHINGTON D.C. ENGAGEMENTS
Tavuli 20260722
https://www.tavulinews.com.sb/matthew-wale-concludes-us-visit-investment-partnerships/
Chinese mainland spokesperson appreciates the Papua New Guinea government’s closure of Taiwan’s representative office in the country
GT 20260722
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366518.shtml
China says Fiji defence ties inclusive
FBCN 20260723
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/china-says-fiji-defence-ties-inclusive/
China using ‘elite capture’ in Pacific, Taiwan says, citing PNG
CNA (TW) 20260722
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607220006
Prime Ministers of Samoa and New Zealand reaffirm enduring partnership
PINA 20260722
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/22/prime-ministers-of-samoa-and-new-zealand-reaffirm-enduring-partnership/
Work Begins on Recruitment of Papua New Guineans into Australian Defence Force
Post Courier 20260722
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/work-begins-on-recruitment-of-papua-new-guineans-into-australian-defence-force/
Australian Minister faces questions over Fiji climate meeting costs
Fiji TImes 20260722
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/australian-minister-faces-questions-over-fiji-climate-meeting-costs/
Australian survey finds dozens of wartime bombs in Nanumea lagoon
Islands Business 20260721
https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/australian-survey-finds-dozens-of-wartime-bombs-in-nanumea-lagoon/
Taiwan + SCS
PNG signals for Taiwan, the frontier is now the office, not the embassy
Lowy 20260722
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/png-signals-for-taiwan-the-frontier-is-now-the-office-not-the-embassy
Taiwan responds to China’s coercion abroad
Taipei Times 20260723
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/23/2003861230
Mobilization drills to build resilience against China threats: Analysts
CNA (TW) 20260722
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607220019
Beyond a ‘Non-Red’ Supply Chain, Taiwan Should Export a Drone Ecosystem
The Diplomat 20260722
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/beyond-a-non-red-supply-chain-taiwan-should-export-a-drone-ecosystem/
Taiwan tracks 17 Chinese ships, 12 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260722
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6405668
Beijing and Manila should avoid South China Sea ‘miscalculation’: top diplomats
SCMP 20260722
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361490/china-philippines-should-avoid-south-china-sea-miscalculation-top-diplomats
Chinese FM meets Philippine counterpart, lodges strong protest over Philippine personnel’s violent act to Chinese vessel at Ren’ai Jiao
GT 20260722
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366590.shtml
Chinese mainland spokesperson slams Taiwan regional authorities for echoing Philippine claims over Ren’ai Jiao incident
GT 20260722
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366517.shtml
Manila’s distortion campaign changes nothing on South China Sea
Xinhua 20260722
https://english.news.cn/20260722/575415f961ad4cbf924ce82475812171/c.html
China demands Australia stop ‘exaggerating tensions’ over South China Sea
ABC (AU) 20260722
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-22/china-australia-south-china-sea-philippines-tension/106946822
Chinese FM rejects Australia’s accusations over South China Sea confrontation, urges outsiders to stop sensationalizing tensions and provoking confrontation
GT 20260722
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366539.shtml
Allies, Partners condemn China Coast Guard assault on Philippine Sailors
IPDF 20260722
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/07/allies-partners-condemn-china-coast-guard-assault-on-philippine-sailors/
Minister asserts Taiwan’s claims in South China Sea
Taipei Times 20260723
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/07/23/2003861229
China says countries who are not a party to South China Sea issue have no right to intervene
Xinhua 20260722
https://english.news.cn/20260722/1549e8a6b22041c19c2763ea3d494787/c.html
Capabilities
The Power Trap: Why AI’s Energy Demands Risk Undermining American Operations in the Indo-Pacific
SWJ 20260721
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/21/ai-energy-demands-indo-pacific/
Obvious but not easy: uncrewed systems should surveil Indonesia’s seas
ASPI 22060722
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/obvious-but-not-easy-uncrewed-systems-should-surveil-indonesias-seas/
Australia to give PH underwater drones, anti-drone systems
Inquirer (PH) 20260721
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/331715/australia-to-give-ph-underwater-drones-anti-drone-systems
Mind the Gaps: Rethinking Landpower in a Maritime Environment
SWJ 20260722
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/rethinking-landpower-first-island-chain/
Beyond Deterrence: Evolving China-Russia Military Coordination and the U.S.-Japan Alliance
CSIS 20260722
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-07/260722_Aizawa_Beyond_Deterrence.pdf
The Indo-Pacific and the Coming OKEAN Test
AIIA 20260722
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/the-indo-pacific-and-the-coming-okean-test/
The Bomber Paradox: The B-21, Nuclear Deterrence, and the Risk of Legacy Defense Assumptions
MWI 20260722
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/the-bomber-paradox-the-b-21-nuclear-deterrence-and-the-risk-of-legacy-defense-assumptions/
Going nuclear: the true costs Australia would face
Lowy 20260722
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/going-nuclear-the-true-costs-australia-would-face
China Has Quietly Accepted a Nuclear North Korea
AEI 20260722
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/china-has-quietly-accepted-a-nuclear-north-korea/
Chinese Gravity-1 rocket launches new satellites from sea
Xinhua 2026022
https://english.news.cn/20260722/8138411e0597448d9c99ff40d13abb40/c.html
China’s real space race is not against SpaceX
Think China 20260722
https://www.thinkchina.sg/technology/chinas-real-space-race-not-against-spacex?ref=top-hero
The strategic competition with China: winning the multi-domain race
Space News 20260722
https://spacenews.com/the-strategic-competition-with-china-winning-the-multi-domain-race/
Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites Launches into Orbit
DVIDS 20260721
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/570457/robotic-servicing-geosynchronous-satellites-launches-into-orbit
Could This New Northrop Spacecraft Use Its Robotic Arms To Attack Enemy Satellites?
TWZ 20260721
https://www.twz.com/space/could-this-new-northrop-spacecraft-use-its-robotic-arms-to-attack-enemy-satellites
Extra $11 billion to fund huge leap in Space Force launches
Breaking Defense 20260722
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/07/extra-11-billion-to-fund-huge-leap-in-space-force-launches/
Exercises
China’s Live-Fire Drill Near Okinotorishima Tests Japan’s Maritime Nerves
The Diplomat 20260721
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/chinas-live-fire-drill-near-okinotorishima-tests-japans-maritime-nerves/
Russian Bombers Fly over Sea of Japan
Yomiuri 20260722
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260722-339337/