Good morning and happy Sunday,

This is Pacific Weekly, a premium exclusive of The Intel Brief intended to keep you updated on events across the hotly contested Indo-Pacific region.

Reporting Period: 8-14 September 2025

Bottom-Line Up Front:

China, Russia, Mongolia Conduct First Border Defense Exercise

Summary
From 8 to 9 September, China, Russia, and Mongolia conducted their first trilateral border defense exercise ever. Exercise “Border Defense Cooperation 2025” focused on counter-terrorism and counter-sabotage operations and included joint planning to support future operations.

Findings

• Significance: On 10 September, the People’s Liberation Army Daily reported that the exercise was organized as “Border Defense Cooperation 2025,” the nomenclature of which implies two things: China’s leading role in the planning and execution of the exercise, and commitments to conduct future iterations (China Daily).

• Scope: The exercise took place in a “frontier area” where the borders of each country meet, with China stating the location was in its Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (TDM). The drills included the establishment of a “joint command post” to coordinate counter-terrorism strikes and patrols (China Daily). Specifically, China Military Online stated that “The exercise comprehensively tested the participating border troops' capabilities in obstacle-crossing, target search, and identification using military dogs” (China Military). Additionally, the drills were concluded with a cultural exchange of folk songs and dances (China Military).

Why This Matters
While details are sparse and the drills seem strategically insignificant, the stated goal was to deepen “strategic trust” and improve the opportunity for future joint training and counter-terrorism operations.

It is a major step in China’s regional ambitions, whereby Beijing utilizes its growing PLA capabilities to provide unorthodox and effective security solutions to the region, a key component in making developing and rural regions open for economic and social development. This is generally China’s goal via its Belt and Road Initiative.

There is also the added advantage that China can loop in new partners to assist with operations that counter domestic opposition in Xinjiang. Regionally, China is concerned about the Islamic East Turkestan Movement, so this exercise appears to be the basis for future training and real-world operations.

China Proposes Establishing A Nature Preserve On Philippine Island To Improve Sovereignty Claims, Expand Enforcement

Summary
On 10 September, China approved a proposal to establish a nature preserve on the Scarborough Shoal, a Philippine island in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing. The decision is China’s most recent and egregious effort to exploit international law to expand sovereignty claims and justify illegal security operations in the region.

Findings

• Background: In 2012, China seized the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines, which Beijing asserts as its own through the “9-Dash Line” and “11-Dash Line” claims (U.S. Department of State). A 2016 ruling in the United States nullified China’s claim to the territory. Despite this, China has used its claims as the basis for naval incursions and provocation operations against Pacific neighbors, such as the Philippines, as a means of pursuing its strategic and territorial ambitions. This is generally referred to as “Salami Slicing” tactics (European Parliament).

• Announcement: On 10 September, China’s State Council, the supreme executive body in the National People’s Congress, stated that China will establish a nature reserve at the Scarborough Shoal (Chinese Government). The area will be designated as the “Hunagyan Island National Nature Reserve” (Chinese Government).

• Scope: China’s State Council stated that establishing a nature reserve on the island would help preserve the “diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem” and that efforts to expand “supervision and law enforcement” should continue (ABS-CBN). The extent of the reserves’ boundaries would be identified by China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration (ABS-CBN). CNN reports that the reserve will cover 3,500 hectares of the Scarborough Shoal (CNN).

Why This Matters
First and foremost, Beijing’s efforts to feign environmental protection are weak, especially given the nation’s decades-long practice of dredging coral reefs, a practice Beijing uses to build artificial islands (CSIS). Not to mention China’s massive over-fishing practices.

The truth is, China is looking to formalize its territorial claims and expand construction projects on these islands, so that Beijing can better expand its military and infrastructure posture across the South China Sea. By formalizing its sovereignty over these contested areas, and backing it with a legal framework and security apparatus, Beijing is also creating artificial conditions to help justify its excessive naval incursions and provocation patrols against the Philippines.

Finally, I would like to propose that this concept will be tested, observed, and improved upon by China, and that PLA planners and CCP officials could use similar strategies on Taiwan’s outlying islands in the future—both as a means to compel a diplomatic solution to the Cross Strait issue or to subvert a military encounter.

Lawmakers Publish Bill To Stop Foreign Influence, Exploitation In American Universities

Summary
On 11 September, U.S. Congressman Barr (R-KY) and Senator Cotton (R-AR) published a bill that, if made into law, would prohibit foreign adversaries like China from influencing and exploiting American universities. The bill does have waiver eligibility requirements, suggesting that even if the bill is passed, it may not fully protect American educational institutions from foreign malign influence.

Findings

• The Bill: Senator Cotton and Congressman Barr proposed the bill to the 1st Session of the 119th Congress. The aim of the bill is to “provide that no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with a covered entity” (U.S. Senate).
  The bill’s short title is “Protecting American Research and Talent Act” (U.S. Senate).

• Targeted Entities: The entities that are excluded from Federal funding, grants, and cooperation would be:

  • Any academic institution on the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

  • Any entity included in the list of Chinese military companies operating in the United States (included in the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021).

  • Certain Chinese colleges or universities affiliated with CCP programs, organizations, or committees, or individuals holding degrees from those entities (U.S. Senate).

• Waivers and Exceptions: The bill allows for the “head of a Federal agency to waive the prohibition… on a case-by-case basis” and that the waiver determines the case is in the interest of U.S. national security (U.S. Senate). General eligibility for waivers is determined by an educational institution’s student body makeup and the demographic of international students in attendance (U.S. Senate).

Why This Matters
The bill reflects growing recognition that U.S. universities are a key target for foreign adversaries seeking to access advanced research, recruit talent, and shape narratives favorable to their interests. China, in particular, has leveraged academic partnerships, funding streams, and research collaborations to bypass export controls and gain access to sensitive technologies. If you want further reading, I highly recommend “The Hundred-Year Marathon” by Michael Pillsbury.

If passed, the bill would theoretically restrict the leading avenues of influence. But, the waiver provisions leave potential gaps that adversaries could exploit. For U.S. national security, the legislation highlights the ongoing tension between protecting open academic exchange and defending critical research from espionage and strategic theft. It is also complicated by President Trump’s recent decision to accept 600,000 Chinese students (NBC News).

End Brief

That concludes this edition of Pacific Weekly.

Thank you for reading!
— Nick