Pacific Winds 20260807
A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region
Alliances
Will latest trade ‘speed bump’ slow China-US ties, or even stop Xi-Trump summit?
SCMP 20260806
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363156/will-latest-trade-speed-bump-slow-china-us-ties-or-even-stop-xi-trump-summit
Old Friends, New Calculations: A Reset in China-North Korea Relations
CSIS 20260806
https://www.csis.org/analysis/old-friends-new-calculations-reset-china-north-korea-relations
Deepening Strategic Partnerships: The Philippines’ Relations with Japan and Vietnam
CSIS 20260806
https://amti.csis.org/deepening-strategic-partnerships-the-philippines-relations-with-japan-and-vietnam/
How to actually share America’s defense burden with allies
Brookings 20260805
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-to-actually-share-americas-defense-burden-with-allies/
China’s retaliation against US shows depth of its trade war strategy, analysts say
SCMP 20260806
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363101/chinas-retaliation-against-us-shows-depth-its-trade-war-strategy-analysts-say
US actions seriously impede normal economic, trade exchanges between Chinese and US companies
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367642.shtml
No need to show courtesy to the enforcers and accomplices of US sanctions against China
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367621.shtml
The Asia Pacific can revitalise the multilateral trading system
EAF 20260806
https://eastasiaforum.org/2026/08/06/the-asia-pacific-can-revitalise-the-multilateral-trading-system/
Micronesia-Marianas (2nd Island Chain+)
US Pacific Command Considers Moving Billions in Planned Infrastructure Out of Micronesia
The Diplomat 20260806
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/us-pacific-command-considers-moving-billions-in-planned-infrastructure-out-of-micronesia/
CNMI: Tinian mayor welcomes US military training approval
RNZ 20260806
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/904421/cnmi-tinian-mayor-welcomes-us-military-training-approval
Island Waves
Toroama Says Referendum Results Must be Respected
National 20260806
https://www.thenational.com.pg/toroama-says-referendum-results-must-be-respected/
President Toroama rejects PNG stand on Bougainville vote, says Independence mandate cannot be denied
PINA 20260806
https://pina.com.fj/2026/08/06/president-toroama-rejects-png-stand-on-bougainville-vote-says-independence-mandate-cannot-be-denied/
Bougainville and Papua New Guinea decide on date for referendum result to be tabled
RNZ 20260806
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/902983/bougainville-and-papua-new-guinea-decide-on-date-for-referendum-result-to-be-tabled
U.S. and Solomons deepen partnership
PINA 20260806
https://pina.com.fj/2026/08/06/u-s-and-solomons-deepen-partnership/
Manasseh Sogavare unleashes on Solomon Islands government over US agreement
RNZ 20260806
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/901665/manasseh-sogavare-unleashes-on-solomon-islands-government-over-us-agreement
𝐏𝐌: 𝐒𝐈 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐧 ‘𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲’
Solomon Star 20260806
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%8f%f0%9d%90%8c-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%88-%f0%9d%90%92%f0%9d%90%ad%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a7%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%ac-%f0%9d%90%85%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%a6-%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%a7/
China tensions and new defence treaty on the agenda for Pacific foreign ministers’ meeting
RNZ 22060807
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics/915269/china-tensions-and-new-defence-treaty-on-the-agenda-for-pacific-foreign-ministers-meeting
Australia-funded Parliament office delayed until October
Samoa Observer 20260806
https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/121309
KOICA pleased with climate change funding
Solomon Star 20260806
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/koica-pleased-with-climate-change-funding/
Kirakira Wharf Construction Reaches 90% Completion
Solomon Star 20260806
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/kirakira-wharf-construction-reaches-90-completion/
Ahanga Wharf Project in Bellona Resumes Progress
Solomon Star 20260806
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/ahanga-wharf-project-in-bellona-resumes-progress/
Australia, SI expand HIV testing, treatment and prevention
Solomon Star 20260806
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/australia-si-expand-hiv-testing-treatment-and-prevention/
Guangdong signs first-ever media partnership with Samoan broadcaster
China Daily 20260806
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202608/06/WS6a73fc80a310986e2b4694e9.html
Australian Navy Vessels Drop Anchor in Lae
Post Courier 20260806
https://www.postcourier.com.pg/australian-navy-vessels-drop-anchor-in-lae/
Taiwan + xCS
Taiwan Coast Guard expels four Chinese ships near Kinmen
Taiwan News 20260806
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6415978
Han Kuang exercise involves Patriot missile deployment in southern Taiwan
Taiwan News 20260806
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6416043
As Taiwan’s Drone Budget Debate Drags on, Time Is Running out
The Diplomat 20260806
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/as-taiwans-drone-budget-debate-drags-on-time-is-running-out/
Any ‘escape route’ for ‘Taiwan independence’ is a dead end
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367674.shtml
PLA to take Taiwan without total destruction: report
Taipei Times 20260807
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2026/08/07/2003862087
Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese ships, 14 military aircraft
Taiwan News 20260806
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6416014
Philippine attempt to sever historical, cultural links between Batanes Islands and China’s Taiwan untenable: Chinese scholar
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367686.shtml
S. Korea stages defense drills near Dokdo for 1st time this year
Yonhap 20260806
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260806005700315
Capabilities
U.S. Department of Defense Prioritizes Tactical Nuclear Weapons in New Strategy
Chosun 20260806
https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/08/06/N7FIP4WV6NDWDO7WDQSELH63NA/
Pentagon mulls new nuclear strategy targeting China, Russia; expert warns tactical nuclear push ignores retaliation risks
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367694.shtml
Nuclear arms makers draw 30% more financing as geopolitical risks rise
Nikkei 20260806
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/aerospace-defense-industries/nuclear-arms-makers-draw-30-more-financing-as-geopolitical-risks-rise
Takaichi avoids clearly pledging Japan will maintain nonnuclear principles
Kyodo 20260806
https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/81639
N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missile toward East Sea: military
Yonhap 20260806
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250710005752315
North Korea launches short-range ballistic missile over Sea of Japan a day after criticising Japan’s military build-up
ABC (AU) 22060806
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-06/north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-over-sea-of-japan/107006920
Has China’s missile force got America’s Kadena base in Japan in its sights?
SCMP 20260806
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3363170/has-chinas-missile-force-got-americas-kadena-base-japan-its-sights
US has too few interceptors to deter war with China, experts say
Defense One 20260805
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/08/interceptors-war-china-heritage/415241/
Japan’s missile leap marks shift from defense to counterstrike
Asia Times 20260807
https://asiatimes.com/2026/08/japans-missile-leap-marks-shift-from-defense-to-counterstrike/
PLA scientists say submarine cables carrying 99% of global data could be ‘easy target’
SCMP 20260806
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3363019/pla-scientists-say-submarine-cables-carrying-99-global-data-could-be-easy-target
Y-20B can switch between transport, tanker, other combat roles, PLA documentary reveals
GT 20260806
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367662.shtml
Australian commits to buying secretive AIM-260 JATM missiles, first non-US user
Breaking Defense 2060806
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/australian-commits-to-buying-secretive-aim-260-jatm-missiles-first-non-us-user/
Australia secures US missiles amid supply concerns
Straits Times 20260806
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-secures-us-missiles-amid-supply-concerns
The Pentagon Can Build Killer Drones. It Needs to Move Faster.
AEI 20260806
https://www.aei.org/commentary/the-pentagon-can-build-killer-drones-it-needs-to-move-faster/
Does Latent Nuclear Deterrence Really Work?
WOTR 22060806
https://warontherocks.com/does-latent-nuclear-deterrence-really-work/
Exercises
Chinese and Russian warships were seen circling Japan. What could it mean?
SCMP 20260806
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3363143/their-warships-encircle-japan-what-signals-are-china-and-russia-sending