Pacific Winds 20260724
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
What is Beijing thinking? Why Washington is struggling to understand its rival
SCMP 20260723
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361463/what-beijing-thinking-why-washington-struggling-understand-its-rival
Japan, China foreign ministers chat, 1st since spat over Taiwan began
Kyodo 20260723
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/80543
Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Briefly Speaks with Chinese Counterpart Wang in Manila; 1st Interaction Since October
Yomiuri 20260723
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20260723-339639/
FM Cho urges faster progress in talks with Rubio on nuclear pact revision, submarine project: official
Yonhap 20260723
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260723011700315
For South Korea, U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Exposes a Double Standard
NYTimes 20260723
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/world/asia/us-saudi-nuclear-deal-south-korea.html
Just what’s needed: one US friend, Australia, steps up help for another, Philippines
ASPI 20260723
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/just-whats-needed-one-us-friend-australia-steps-up-help-for-another-philippines/
Xi-Putin summit displays transition not only in global power but in the global order
EAF 20260723
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/07/23/xi-putin-summit-displays-transition-not-only-in-global-power-but-in-the-global-order/
Unification minister says policy on N. Korea has shifted to peace-first approach
Yonhap 20260723
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260723010900315
EU, speak out about China. You owe it to the Indo-Pacific
ASPI 20260724
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/eu-speak-out-about-china-you-owe-it-to-the-indo-pacific/
US not getting enough critical minerals from China, Greer says as Xi-Trump meeting looms
SCMP 20260723
https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3361513/us-not-getting-enough-critical-minerals-china-greer-says-xi-trump-meeting-looms
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
Report: Army’s new hypersonic missile deployed to Guam during Valiant Shield 2026
PDN 20260723
https://www.guampdn.com/news/report-armys-new-hypersonic-missile-deployed-to-guam-during-valiant-shield-2026/article_27f25a81-f686-4265-9be6-2f40ff31bffc.html
Island Waves
New Zealand and PNG sign defence cooperation agreement
Reuters 20260722
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-png-sign-defence-cooperation-agreement-2026-07-22/
NZ and PNG strengthen Defence ties
Beehive 20260722
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-and-png-strengthen-defence-ties
PNG Defence Minister Welcomes Historic Agreement with NZ
Post Courier (PNG) 20260723
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-defence-minister-elias-kapavore-welcomes-historic-defence-agreement-with-new-zealand/
Western media’s hype of China factor over NZ-PNG defense deal aims to limit Pacific nations’ independent choices: Chinese expert
GT 20260723
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366617.shtml
Kapavore on Future of PNG-NZ Defence Ties
Post Courier (PNG) 20260723
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/kapavore-on-the-future-of-png-new-zealand-defence-ties/
PM WALE ARRIVES IN TOKYO FOR HIGH-LEVEL TALKS WITH JAPAN
Solomon Star 20260723
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/pm-wale-arrives-in-tokyo-for-high-level-talks-with-japan/
Japan and Solomon Islands leaders agree to bolster ties
Japan Times 20260723
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/23/japan/japan-solomon-islands-bolster-ties/
American Samoans voice opposition to deep-sea mining
ABC (AU) 20260723
https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/am-sam/106947602
Pacific minister says government won’t ‘dictate’ to PIF on China missile statement
PINA 20260723
https://pina.com.fj/2026/07/23/pacific-minister-says-government-wont-dictate-to-pif-on-china-missile-statement/
US Army and PNGDF Conclude Exercise Tamiok Strike 26
Post Courier (PNG) 20260723
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/us-army-and-pngdf-conclude-exercise-tamiok-strike-26/
Japan Rejects China’s Claim That Okinotorishima Is Rock
Yomiuri 20260723
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/news-services/jiji-press/20260723-339583/
A rock, a ruse and a ‘rules-based’ farce: Japan’s Okinotori theater
GT 20260723
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366619.shtml
China Coast Guard Exercises ‘Jurisdiction’ in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone
The Diplomat 20260723
https://thediplomat.com/2026/07/china-coast-guard-exercises-jurisdiction-in-japans-exclusive-economic-zone/
Taiwan + SCS
Total War on Taipei: China Explores Elevating Cognitive Effects into Its Vision of Warfare
WOTR 20260722
https://warontherocks.com/total-war-on-taipei-china-explores-elevating-cognitive-effects-into-its-vision-of-warfare/
U.S. ‘disagrees’ with China’s coast guard patrols near Taiwan: Rubio
CNA (TW) 20260723
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607230003
PLA conducts 2 days of live-fire drills in Taiwan Strait off Fujian island
SCMP 20260723
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3361554/pla-conducts-2-days-live-fire-drills-taiwan-strait-fujian-island
Taiwan condemns China after another research vessel enters its EEZ
CNA (TW) 20260723
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202607230023
What do the PLA’s ‘Steel Rain’ shells say about its war plans for Taiwan?
SCMP 20260723
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3361601/what-do-plas-steel-rain-shells-say-about-its-war-plans-taiwan
Taiwan Receives Latest Coast Guard Cutter from $1.3B Fleet Build-up Plan
USNI 20260723
https://news.usni.org/2026/07/23/taiwan-receives-latest-coast-guard-cutter-from-1-3b-fleet-build-up-plan
The US-Taiwan relationship is stronger than the headlines suggest
Brookings 20260723
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-us-taiwan-relationship-is-stronger-than-the-headlines-suggest/
To deter China from invading Taiwan, Trump must exploit Beijing’s pressure points
Hudson 20260723
https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/deter-china-invading-taiwan-trump-must-exploit-beijings-pressure-points-ken-moriyasu
Lawmakers get taste of AI-enabled cyberattacks in China-Taiwan war game
Defense One 20260722
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/07/lawmakers-get-taste-ai-enabled-cyberattacks-china-taiwan-war-game/414952/
Taiwan tracks 21 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships
Taiwan News 20260723
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6406477
China, Philippines clash again at Scarborough Shoal, a day after Wang Yi warning
SCMP 20260723
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3361523/after-latest-clash-sea-china-warns-philippines-bitter-consequences
China Coast Guard fires water cannon at PH vessel during Panatag mission
Inquirer (PH) 20260723
https://www.inquirer.net/481933/china-coast-guard-fires-water-cannon-at-ph-vessel-during-panatag-mission/
China drives away Philippine vessels intruding into Huangyan Dao waters
Xinhua 20260723
https://english.news.cn/20260723/5cb2d515b985402d8836335fe9a3d116/c.html
Who is behind Manila’s latest provocations against Beijing in South China Sea?
GT 20260723
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1366680.shtml
Capabilities
U.S. Army Is Buying Older PAC-2 Patriot Missiles For The First Time In Decades
TWZ 20260723
https://www.twz.com/land/u-s-army-is-buying-older-pac-2-patriot-missiles-for-the-first-time-in-decades
China may be building a new type of attack submarine; satellite imagery suggests “minimized bridge.”
Asahi 20260723
https://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASV7Q3Q03V7QUHBI00ZM.html
S. Korea, U.S. open shipbuilding partnership center to advance MASGA project
Yonhap 20260723
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260723009500320
Uncrewed and untested: The wrong lessons for a hybrid navy
Lowy 20260724
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/uncrewed-and-untested-the-wrong-lessons-for-a-hybrid-navy
Sustaining Agile Operations
RAND 20260723
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA3500/RRA3582-2/RAND_RRA3582-2.pdf
‘Most people don’t know we’ve set up a doomsday system’: physicist Laura Grego on satellites, nuclear weapons and the battle for our skies
Guardian 20260720
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jul/20/doomsday-system-physicist-laura-grego-satellites-nuclear-weapons-battle-skies-space-elon-musk
China launches new data relay satellite
Xinhua 20260723
https://english.news.cn/20260723/9c52ef10cd0e4ed2ba16a1e088b65127/c.html
China’s Shijian-31 satellite is sweeping GEO using a unique orbit
Space News 20260722
https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-31-satellite-is-sweeping-geo-using-a-unique-orbit/
The rise of the military-technology complex
BAS 20260723
https://thebulletin.org/2026/07/the-rise-of-the-military-technology-complex/
Power
Is US War With China Inevitable? Thucydides Trap and Analogical Reasoning
AIIA 20260723
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/is-us-war-with-china-inevitable-thucydides-trap-and-analogical-reasoning/
China’s Moment of Weakness
FA 20260723
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas-moment-weakness