Pacific Winds 20260811

A daily collection of news affecting the Asia-Pacific region

Alliances

US not disengaging from Asia, seeks ‘partners, not protectorates,’ says Pentagon official
Defense News 20260810
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2026/08/10/us-not-disengaging-from-asia-seeks-partners-not-protectorates-says-pentagon-official/

Pentagon official renews calls for allies’ greater defense contributions
Yonhap 20260810
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260811000200315

US ‘digging in’ to Asia but wants ‘partners not dependency’: Pentagon
SCMP 20260810
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363543/us-digging-asia-wants-partners-not-dependency-pentagon

Remarks by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby at the Stratbase Institute in Manila, Philippines (As Prepared)
US DoW 20260810
https://www.war.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4566924/remarks-by-under-secretary-of-war-for-policy-elbridge-colby-at-the-stratbase-in/

Australia and China: Embracing while sparring
Lowy 20260810
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/australia-and-china-embracing-while-sparring

Stabilising ties with China is not appeasement
Lowy 20260810
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/stabilising-ties-with-china-is-not-appeasement

Former ambassador warns China relationship remains vulnerable
ABC (AU) 20260810
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/former-ambassador-warns-china-relationship-vulnerable/107016922

Why China Worries About North Korea
FA 20260810
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/why-china-worries-about-north-korea

China challenges Western ‘tribute system’ theory in push to control its narrative power
SCMP 20260810
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363558/china-challenges-western-tribute-system-theory-push-control-its-narrative-power

Section 301 Tariffs and China: A Risky Gambit
CSIS 2060810
https://www.csis.org/analysis/section-301-tariffs-and-china-risky-gambit

Micronesia-Marianas (2^nd Island Chain+)

Decades of changing military buildup plans
PDN 20260810
https://www.guampdn.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-lotz-decades-of-changing-military-buildup-plans/article_3b00690c-7007-4c6d-8adf-366203f07a3b.html

Chinese missiles miss the mark; US missiles hit the target
PIT 202600810
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/chinese-missiles-miss-the-mark-us-missiles-hit-the-target

Island Waves

Solomon Islands PM urges ‘no more secrecy’ over treaties with other countries
RNZ 20260810
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/pacific/951604/solomon-islands-pm-urges-no-more-secrecy-over-treaties-with-other-countries

Australia backs Pacific peace vision
FBCN 20260810
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/australia-backs-pacific-peace-vision/

Australia maintains $5.2b Aid Programme as Pacific takes priority
PINA 20260810
https://pina.com.fj/2026/08/10/australia-maintains-5-2b-aid-programme-as-pacific-takes-priority/

Police ministry moves to modernise RSIPF
Solomon Star 20260810
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/police-ministry-moves-to-modernise-rsipf/

𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐏
Solomon Star 20260810
https://www.solomonstarnews.com/%f0%9d%90%8c%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%a3%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%ab-%f0%9d%90%91%f0%9d%90%a8%f0%9d%90%9a%f0%9d%90%9d-%f0%9d%90%81%f0%9d%90%ab%f0%9d%90%a2%f0%9d%90%9d%f0%9d%90%a0%f0%9d%90%9e-%f0%9d%90%8f/

Taiwan + SCS

Taiwan Gingerly Tests How It Would Cope if China Choked Its Internet
NYTimes 20260810
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/world/asia/taiwan-internet-china-invasion-drill.html

Taiwan tracks 20 Chinese ships, 1 military drone
Taiwan News 20260810
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6418144

4 US fast-response cutters deployed to Philippine EEZ
Phil Star 20260810
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/08/10/2548346/4-us-fast-response-cutters-deployed-philippine-eez

Australia must not be distracted as China ramps up in the South China Sea
ASPI 20260810
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-must-not-be-distracted-as-china-ramps-up-in-the-south-china-sea/

Capabilities

U.S. military bases in Pacific ‘highly vulnerable’ to N. Korean, Chinese missiles, drones: expert
Yonhap 20260811
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260811000300315

The Munitions Reckoning: What the Iran War Reveals About a Decades-Old Problem | AEI + CSIS
SWJ 20260809
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/08/09/the-munitions-reckoning-what-the-iran-war-reveals-about-a-decades-old-problem-aei-csis/

Raytheon awarded $745 million contract for SM-3 IIA interceptors
Naval News 20260810
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/08/raytheon-awarded-745-million-contract-for-sm-3-iia-interceptors/

America’s Military Is Dangerously Exposed
WSJ 20260809
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/americas-military-is-dangerously-exposed-26706217

US strength once looked endless – until the day the warehouse says otherwise
GT 20260810
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367906.shtml

Amphibious assault ship passes combat test
GT 20260810
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367920.shtml

The defense sector is under water: Maritime investments reflect growing threats
Breaking Defense 20260810
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/08/the-defense-sector-is-under-water-maritime-investments-reflect-growing-threats/

Evaluating Pathways for U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation with Allies
CSIS 20260810
https://www.csis.org/analysis/evaluating-pathways-us-shipbuilding-cooperation-allies

US Navy tests AI-powered submarine hunter
Defense News 20260810
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/08/10/us-navy-tests-ai-powered-submarine-hunter/

Chinese Army Drones Target Unmanned Surface Vessels in Exercises
USNI 20260810
https://news.usni.org/2026/08/10/chinese-army-drones-target-unmanned-surface-vessels-in-exercises

Powerful anti-drone laser spotted on PLA amphibious ship in South China Sea
SCMP 20260810
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3363564/powerful-anti-drone-laser-spotted-pla-amphibious-ship-south-china-sea

Marines Learn to 3D Print Raiding Craft, Attack Drones in the Western Pacific
USNI 20260810
https://news.usni.org/2026/08/10/marines-learn-to-3d-print-raiding-craft-attack-drones-in-the-western-pacific

Australia's defense‑funded report hypes risks to subsea cables to 'serve military goals'
GT 20260810
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1367919.shtml

China’s Long March 7A rocket explodes after launch, satellite lost
SCMP 20260811
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3363574/chinas-long-march-7a-rocket-explodes-after-launch-satellite-lost

Power

The Real Cost of the Military’s Pacific Buildup
FPIF 20260810
https://fpif.org/the-real-cost-of-the-militarys-pacific-buildup/

Exercises

USN Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug. 10, 2026
USNI 20260810
https://news.usni.org/2026/08/10/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-aug-10-2026