The Asia Cable | Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳) | Substack

Asia Daily

Asia Daily: April 7, 2026

Stricter Chinese scrutiny of offshore vehicles a blow for tech and biotech IPO candidates.

20 hrs ago • Alex Gintz (林大可） and Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳)

Asia Daily: April 6, 2026

China moves to regulate digital humans, bans addictive services for children.

Apr 6 • Alex Gintz (林大可） and Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳)

Asia Daily: April 3, 2026

PLA upgrades ageing tanks with protection system for potential Taiwan operation.

Apr 3 • Alex Gintz (林大可） and Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳)

Asia Daily: April 2, 2026

Chinese navy arrives in Sea of Japan just as Tokyo deploys long-range missiles.

Apr 2 • Alex Gintz (林大可） and Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳)

Asia Daily: April 1, 2026

Trump-Xi summit: U.S. trade chief casts doubt on pre-meeting Beijing visit.

Apr 1 • Alex Gintz (林大可） and Nick Ayrton (孔澜岳)

Asian Affairs

The Emerging Franco-German Consensus on China

Two of Europe's major powers are increasingly coming together regarding the People's Republic.

Mar 30 • Sapna

Chinese Counterterrorism Diplomacy in Afghanistan: Cooperation or Coercion?

How Beijing uses investment, recognition, and security demands to shape Taliban behavior after the U.S. withdrawal.

Jan 6 • James Andrew Calderon

Voices From Expo 25: Inside an Imperfect Showcase

With outages, infestations, and language gaps, Expo 25 wavers between mismanagement and marvel, its promise kept alive by people who still show up.

Nov 6, 2025 • Nattan Casey Plewissara

Hello From Expo 25: Connection, Culture & Co-Being

A World Expo is a place where all nations come together and present their latest innovations and celebrate their cultural uniqueness.

Oct 6, 2025 • Nattan Casey Plewissara

Governing AI in a Fractured World: The U.S.-China Trust Dilemma

Mistrust between Washington and Beijing leaves global AI risks unchecked.

Sep 12, 2025 • Liam Kierans

Perspectives

Contesting Self-Governance in the South Pacific

New Zealand’s China concerns deepen a Cook Islands sovereignty dispute.

Feb 25 • Griffin Grubb

How Washington and Moscow Drove the EU’s Indo-Pacific Pivot

As transatlantic trust erodes, the EU’s Indo-Pacific pivot is becoming a bid for strategic autonomy and geopolitical relevance.

Feb 23 • Sapna

Thailand’s 2026 Election: Reform, Patronage, or Decline

Sunday’s vote will decide whether Thailand tries to rewrite the rules, doubles down on brokerage politics, or drifts deeper into stagnation.

Feb 8 • Nattan Casey Plewissara

Examining the Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact

A symbolic move against Washington without genuine mutual defense.

Dec 17, 2025 • Sapna

Where Is the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement?

China’s pursuit of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council is in its third decade, and Beijing is ramping up calls for Gulf states to…

Dec 15, 2025 • Alex Gintz (林大可）

The Asia Cable

The Asia Cable offers a panoramic view of Asia's political dynamics, economic developments, and cultural fabric.

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The Asia Cable

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