China
Trump-Xi summit: U.S. trade chief casts doubt on pre-meeting Beijing visit. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he did not expect cabinet officials to visit Beijing before the expected mid-May summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, casting doubt on the usual round of advance talks. His remarks followed a White House statement that cabinet-level engagement was expected ahead of time. The summit was moved from March after the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, and Beijing has not confirmed dates for the meeting. Khushboo Razdan, South China Morning Post, March 31
China welcomes EU lawmakers' first visit in 8 years as chance to steady strained ties. China welcomed a delegation of European Union lawmakers on its first trip to the country in eight years, presenting the visit as a chance to stabilise strained ties. The lawmakers are set to discuss digital trade, e-commerce, and consumer protection in Beijing and Shanghai with officials and companies, including Shein, Alibaba, and Temu. The visit coincides with a European Parliament delegation trip to Taiwan, where members met Lai Ching-te. Liz Lee, Ethan Wang, and Ben Blanchard, Reuters, March 31
China set to extend fuel export ban with small exemptions, sources say. China is poised to extend its ban on refined fuel exports into April, though sources said small exemptions may be granted for regional countries that asked for help. Possible shipments of diesel, jet fuel and gasoline to South and Southeast Asia could total 150,000 to 300,000 metric tons. Spot export sales would remain barred, with Chinese state firms expected to handle deliveries to countries including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Trixie Yap and Siyi Liu, Reuters, March 31
China, Pakistan call for Iran peace talks, normal navigation in Strait of Hormuz. China and Pakistan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf and wider Middle East and urged the start of peace talks. In a five-point initiative, they backed protection for civilians, infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, and called for normal navigation to resume in the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing also welcomed Pakistan's mediation role and said it hopes Islamabad can help end fighting and reopen a path to negotiations. Shi Bu, Xiuhao Chen, Ryan Woo, Ariba Shahid, and Sakshi Dayal, Reuters, March 31
Japan
Japan deploys long-range missiles as counterstrike capability. Japan's Defense Ministry deployed long-range missile systems to Ground Self-Defense Force camps in Kumamoto and Shizuoka on Tuesday, marking the first operation of practical weapons able to strike enemy bases. The upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missile system went to Camp Kengun. The Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile surface-to-surface missile system for remote island defense went to Camp Fuji. The Ground Self-Defense Force renamed both systems as Type-25 weapons after the designation changes. Jiji Press, March 31
Japan and Indonesia to boost energy security cooperation as concerns grow over Iran war fallout. Japan and Indonesia agreed to deepen economic and energy security ties as oil and gas uncertainty from the Middle East war raises concern across Asia. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Iran situation had underscored the value of resource security. The countries had signed a March 15 memorandum on critical minerals and nuclear energy. They agreed to support supply chain stability between the two countries, including liquefied natural gas flows. The Asahi Shimbun, April 1
South Korea
South Korea hit by steepest stocks selloff since 2008, currency tumbles. South Korean markets plunged as war risk in the Middle East drove investors out of equities and pushed the won past 1,500 to the dollar. The benchmark KOSPI fell 4.3% on the day and stood down 19.9% from its late February record high, near bear market territory. Foreign investors sold a record 35.9 trillion won in March, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix among the hardest hit stocks. Jihoon Lee and Tom Westbrook, Reuters, March 31
Nat’l Assembly ratifies trade pact with UAE. South Korea’s National Assembly ratified the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, its first free trade pact with a Middle Eastern country. Reached in 2023 and signed in 2024, the deal will remove tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods over 10 years. Major beneficiaries include food, cosmetics, and defense exports, while tariffs on UAE crude imports will also end under the phased implementation plan. Kang Yoon-seung, Yonhap News Agency, March 31
South Korea proposes $17.3 billion extra budget to mitigate Middle East shock. South Korea proposed a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget to support households and companies hit by the Middle East war and higher oil prices. The plan includes 10.1 trillion won for energy measures, 4.8 trillion won in consumer vouchers, and support for low-income earners, youth and affected firms. Officials said excess tax revenue from strong chip exports and a stock rally would fund the package without new bond issuance. Jihoon Lee, Reuters, March 31
Thailand
Thailand's king endorses Anutin's new cabinet, Royal Gazette says. Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's cabinet, clearing the way for the ministers to take the oath and assume office after a policy statement to parliament. The lineup keeps Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, with other positions changing hands. Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, March 31
Anutin flags corruption as top concern. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched a renewed anti-corruption drive after Thailand’s Corruption Perceptions Index ranking fell near the bottom in ASEAN and worldwide. Speaking at a governance workshop, he ordered Interior Ministry agencies and Thai local administrations to tighten safeguards against bribery in approvals, permits, official documents, and procurement. He set a goal of zero corruption and zero bribery in agencies. Mongkol Bangprapa, Bangkok Post, March 31
Thaksin on prison list for parole. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was among 10 inmates approved at the prison level for parole review, with possible release under electronic monitoring in May. A Justice Ministry source said the Central Klong Prem Prison committee endorsed the shortlist and sent it for further scrutiny by officials. Serving a one-year sentence, Thaksin is expected to meet the two-thirds threshold in May and could be released on May 11. Bangkok Post, March 31
Myanmar
Myanmar's former spymaster Ye Win Oo rises to become military chief. Ye Win Oo became commander in chief of Myanmar's military after Min Aung Hlaing handed him the post before a move into the presidency. Analysts, diplomats, and a military defector said his rise reflects loyalty to Min Aung Hlaing, who is expected to retain influence through a key trusted ally. Ye Win Oo led troops in the 2021 arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and ran the military intelligence service. Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, March 31
Myanmar military’s business supremo elected vice-president. Former junta prime minister Nyo Saw was elected vice-president by Myanmar’s military bloc in parliament and became one of three candidates for the presidency. Nyo Saw is a longtime aide to Min Aung Hlaing and oversees key military business interests. He chairs Myanmar Economic Corporation and holds senior posts in other military-owned firms that help finance the regime and protect the junta’s economic network. The Irrawaddy, March 31
Cambodia
Phnom Penh and Washington edge toward military reset with talks on joint exercises. Cambodia and the United States have begun planning talks on reviving the Angkor Sentinel joint military exercises, suspended since 2017, as both sides test a broader reset in defense ties. Officials said renewed training would strengthen interoperability, readiness, and trust between their armies. The move follows a formal defense dialogue last year and recent U.S. naval visits, including the USS Cincinnati's stop at Ream Naval Base in January this year. Torn Chanritheara, Cambodianess, March 31
Philippines
Iran’s help eyed to safeguard tankers bound for Philippines. Manila will start diplomatic talks with Tehran to protect shipments bound for the Philippines that must pass through the closed Strait of Hormuz. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the foreign department to handle the effort as the country faces risk from disrupted oil supplies and rising prices. Officials said the government is diversifying fuel sources, securing contracts, extending subsidies, and enforcing conservation measures while it tracks costs from the crisis. Kristina Maralit, Izel Abanilla, and Bernadette E. Tamayo, The Manila Times, March 31.
House to review oil deregulation law. The House of Representatives will review the Oil Deregulation Law as lawmakers prepare hearings on how the Middle East war is affecting Filipinos. Ways and Means Committee chairman Miro Quimbo said a market without strong enforcement can fail to stop price fixing or collusion. Speaker Faustino Dy III ordered joint hearings after Holy Week as lawmakers study support measures, renewable energy options, and private investment needs for fuel security goals. Reina C. Tolentino, The Manila Times, March 31
Indonesia
President Prabowo arrives in Seoul for official South Korea visit. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Seoul on Tuesday evening for an official state visit to South Korea after departing Tokyo. He landed at Seoul Air Base on the Garuda Indonesia-1 aircraft and received a guard of honor and a 21-gun salute. South Korean and Indonesian officials welcomed him on arrival. The visit will include official events and is intended to deepen friendship and strategic cooperation between the two countries. ANTARA News, March 31
Taiwan
Look at Hong Kong and don't be naive about China, U.S. senator says on Taiwan trip. U.S. Senator John Curtis told Taiwan to look at Hong Kong and not underestimate China's intentions as visiting lawmakers pressed for passage of a stalled $40 billion defence budget. Curtis said Beijing's tightening control over Hong Kong showed the risks of misplaced hopes for peace. The remarks came as Taiwan's opposition defended its refusal to approve what it called blank cheques and China welcomed Cheng Li-wun for a Beijing trip. Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard, Reuters, March 31
No deals on mainland China visit, Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai warns KMT chairwoman. Premier Cho Jung-tai warned Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun not to negotiate or strike agreements involving government authority during her April 7 to 12 visit to mainland China. He told lawmakers that cross-strait engagement must follow existing laws and that no person or group may represent the government. Cho also rejected talks under the one-China framework or the 1992 consensus, saying such engagement would not benefit Taiwan’s core interests or security. Lawrence Chung, South China Morning Post, March 31
Mongolia
Mongolia names new prime minister following stalemate in parliament. Mongolia's parliament confirmed Uchral Nyam-Osor as prime minister after Zandanshatar Gombojav resigned amid ruling party strife and a legislative stalemate. Uchral won backing from 88 of 107 lawmakers after promising to cut bureaucracy and stabilise import prices. Analysts said the change is unlikely to end political volatility before the 2027 presidential race, while economic weakness and government instability may keep foreign investors wary and delay reforms. Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo, Reuters, March 31
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and Russia focus on trade and transit at Termez meeting. Uzbekistan and Russia used a conference in Termez to emphasize expanding cooperation in trade, industry, energy and transport as regional logistics shift. Officials discussed direct regional links, industrial projects, nuclear energy work in Jizzakh, and transit routes through Afghanistan toward South Asia. The meeting showed Termez's role as a logistics hub and reflected Tashkent's effort to deepen practical ties with Russia while keeping a multi-vector foreign policy. Stephen M. Bland, The Times of Central Asia, March 31
East Asia
China visit before Trump: Can Cheng Li-wun rescue the Kuomintang? Kuomintang chair Cheng Li-wun will visit Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing from 7 to 12 April after an invitation from Xi Jinping and the CCP Central Committee, framing the trip as part of a cross-strait peace initiative under the 1992 Consensus. The visit echoes Lien Chan’s 2005 trip and may bring a Cheng-Xi meeting with senior Party leaders. Cheng seeks gains for the KMT before local elections and the 2028 presidential race, yet party factions, disputes over defense spending, rivalry from other KMT figures, and fallout from Ko Wen-je’s corruption case have weakened party unity. Concrete results appear unlikely, while trust building, exchanges, and business ties remain the main aims. Chuang Hui Liang, ThinkChina, March 31
Hormuz closure is quietly threatening Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Taiwan’s semiconductor sector faces a hidden supply risk from the Strait of Hormuz closure because chip fabrication depends on naphtha-based chemicals supplied through a long petrochemical chain. After Formosa Petrochemical stopped buying Russian naphtha in late 2025, Taiwan moved to imports routed through Hormuz. Taiwan’s cracker output feeds the chemical networks that support TSMC and the wider fab base, while Japan and South Korea face the same feedstock exposure. The closure has passed four weeks, a point at which upstream strain can begin to hit production and valuations across logic, memory, and industrial segments. Emergency options include rerouted imports, LPG substitution, shared reserves, and new strategic naphtha stockpiles. Alvin Camba, Nikkei Asia, March 31
Examining European Engagement With North Korea. European NGOs and political foundations offer one of the few workable channels for engagement with North Korea through reforestation and other low-politics projects. Reforestation fits North Korea’s own priorities on climate stress, land management, and regional development, while also serving wider Northeast Asian interests. European actors hold an advantage because they have long ties, technical experience, and some distance from state diplomacy. The path faces sanctions barriers, funding shocks, weak institutional memory, and a gap between North Korean demands and donor limits. A modular project design, pooled funding, stronger knowledge sharing, legal review paths, and environment-focused dialogue could preserve contact, support ecological gains, and sustain narrow but durable cooperation in a harsh geopolitical setting. Chan Mo Ku, 38 North, March 31
Southeast Asia
Fuel Shortages Raise Stability Risks in Myanmar. The war-linked shock to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz is pushing Myanmar toward a new crisis as the military regime seeks to project stability after political gains. Fuel reserves are low, transport limits are in force, and taxi, fertilizer, medicine, and household costs are rising in urban and rural areas. Myanmar is exposed because it imports fuel and fertilizer, lacks refining capacity, holds weak foreign exchange reserves, and faces sanctions that raise transaction costs. China’s export ban and force majeure claims from some suppliers add pressure. The strain threatens unrest, food security, and the junta’s claims of control, while any long jet fuel shortage could weaken airstrike capacity. Andrew Nachemson, Foreign Policy, March 31
Riders at Risk: Who Speaks for Thailand’s Platform Workers? Thailand’s new Thai Digital Platform Trade Association strengthens corporate influence as riders remain outside standard labor law, minimum wage protection, paid leave, and employer-funded accident coverage. Recent legal changes and the proposed Independent Workers Promotion and Protection Bill preserve precarity by keeping risk and funding burdens on workers. Riders face road crashes, income loss after accidents, harassment, falling pay, and algorithmic pressure to accept unsafe jobs for incentives. Informal networks, labor groups, and public protests show that riders are organising and pressing for legal recognition. Meaningful change depends on labour protections, transparent platform governance, and collective representation that matches the scale of platform work. Panarat Anamwathana and Eugene Mark, FULCRUM, March 31
South Asia
A New Generation Takes Power in Nepal. Nepal’s snap election shattered the old party system as the Rastriya Swatantra Party won 182 of 275 seats and lifted Balen Shah, a former Kathmandu mayor, to the premiership. The party drew strength from Gen Z anger after the September protests, urban voters, social media outreach, and Shah’s appeal across the Madhes and Kathmandu Valley. Its 100-point agenda promises arrests tied to protest killings, anti-corruption probes, digitized public services, institutional reform, jobs, and growth. The mandate carries risks from populist impulses, weak institutional capacity, constitutional limits, external economic shocks, and the burden of turning anti-establishment energy into durable governance. Amish Raj Mulmi, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 31
Oceania
Australian universities need a new model for engaging China. Australian universities face weaker demand from China as housing shortages, visa scrutiny, rising costs, policy uncertainty, and fee increases cut Australia’s appeal. China’s own universities have gained ground through state investment, stronger rankings, and in-country international programs, while families weigh cost and safety and look to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Two long-standing models, full-degree study in Australia and articulation programs, remain exposed to mobility and value pressures. A third model, joint programs delivered in China, would let partners share curriculum and teaching under China’s regulatory framework. This approach could protect revenue, sustain brand presence, support research links, and preserve Australia’s China knowledge if paired with quality controls and risk-based governance. Songshan (Sam) Huang, East Asia Forum, March 31