China
Xi: senior officers must ‘stay pure’ to meet Chinese military’s centenary goal. Xi Jinping told senior PLA officers to uphold absolute loyalty to the Communist Party, reject self-interest and corruption, and restore the party’s and military’s traditions as the armed forces approach their August 2027 centenary goal. He said discipline must be enforced without exceptions or special treatment. Beijing has left the goal undefined, but Xi previously linked it to the PLA’s ability to win local wars. Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post, April 9
U.S. considers new crackdown on Chinese telecom companies. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said it may bar China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from operating U.S. data centres and from interconnecting with carriers in the country. The agency is also considering broader restrictions covering affiliates, Points of Presence, and companies using equipment from firms such as Huawei and ZTE. The FCC plans an initial vote on the proposal on April 30. David Shepardson, Reuters, April 9
Chinese foreign minister tells North Korean minister Pyongyang is making strides despite U.S. 'oppression'. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said North Korea had made notable achievements despite what he described as U.S. and Western efforts to isolate and oppress Pyongyang, according to KCNA. Wang and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui praised their leaders for opening a new era in bilateral ties after a September summit and agreed to deepen relations despite global turmoil. Wang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday and held talks followed by a banquet. Jack Kim, Reuters, April 9
Japan
Takaichi urges Pezeshkian to keep Hormuz safe for traffic. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to ensure safe passage for all vessels, including those tied to Japan, through the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Iran announced a two-week cease-fire. With more than 3,000 ships, including about 40 linked to Japan, stranded west of the waterway, Japan welcomed the truce, pressed for a diplomatic settlement, and raised the case of a Japanese national released on bail in Iran. The Asahi Shimbun, April 9
South Korea
Nat'l Assembly to vote on extra budget bill to mitigate fallout from Mideast war. South Korea’s National Assembly is set to vote on a supplementary budget aimed at easing the economic impact of the Middle East war. The package has grown to about 30 trillion won from the government’s initial 26.2 trillion won proposal after committee reviews. Parties remain divided over cash aid for the bottom 70% of income earners, though earlier they agreed to handle the bill by Friday. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, April 10
North Korea
N. Korean, Chinese FMs hold talks in Pyongyang on strengthening ties: report. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met in Pyongyang and discussed strengthening bilateral relations. Wang said Beijing was ready to deepen strategic communication, high-level exchanges, practical cooperation, and people-to-people ties. The two sides also agreed to prepare events for the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty. Wang’s two-day trip is his first to North Korea since 2019 and comes as direct rail and flight services have resumed. Oh Seok-min, Yonhap News Agency, April 9
Vietnam
As ties warm, Vietnam's top leader schedules China visit. Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, will visit China from April 14 to 17 in what would be his first overseas trip since becoming state president. China said the visit showed the importance both sides place on bilateral ties, which have deepened through trade, investment, and cooperation in areas including rail links, special economic zones, and 5G. Officials said new agreements on telecom infrastructure and other sectors could be signed. Liz Lee, Reuters, April 9
Thailand
PM pledges to create a stronger Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to strengthen Thailand through self-reliance, fiscal discipline, and reforms to improve competitiveness as his government prepared to assume full administrative authority. He said the administration would speed budget disbursement, support vulnerable groups affected by the Middle East conflict, expand the Khon La Khrueng Plus co-payment scheme, ease household debt, and modernise agriculture and tourism, among other initiatives. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, April 9.
MPs grill govt on fuel plan. Soaring fuel prices and refining margins dominated a joint parliamentary debate as opposition parties pressed the government to explain how it would cut oil costs and deliver quick relief. Anutin said global instability, especially the Middle East war, was driving volatility and reaffirmed support for vulnerable groups, faster budget disbursement, and stronger trade engagement. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, April 9
Myanmar
Military officers flood civilian ministries ahead of Min Aung Hlaing presidency. Nearly 70 military officers were transferred to 10 civilian ministries and development committees ahead of Min Aung Hlaing’s inauguration as Myanmar’s “elected” president. The officers were assigned to senior administrative roles across ministries, including home affairs, border affairs, commerce, health, and electricity. Maung Kavi, The Irrawaddy, April 9
Philippines
Marcos orders release of P8B to 42,000 villages. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the release of P8 billion to 42,000 barangays under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program to cushion the impact of the Middle East war, with each village receiving P200,000 for local projects. He also said the government was working with the private sector to create jobs, speed training, and provide business support for returning OFWs, while using the two-week ceasefire to secure more petroleum supply. Kristina Maralit and Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, April 9
Indonesia
Indonesia sends letter of reprimand to YouTube over breach of social media curbs, minister says. Indonesia sent Google a letter of reprimand after YouTube failed to comply with new child-protection rules for social media and did not present steps toward compliance, marking the first sanction under the law. High-risk platforms must deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16, and violations can lead to blocking. Indonesia has also flagged TikTok, Roblox, X, and Meta, while Meta said it had raised its minimum age requirement to 16. Stanley Widianto, Reuters, April 10
Singapore
Australian PM Anthony Albanese to visit Singapore from April 9 to 11. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is making an official visit to Singapore that includes a lunch hosted by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and a tour of the Singapore LNG Terminal and Singapore Refining Company on Jurong Island. The visit follows both countries’ March pledge to keep LNG and petroleum products flowing and explore future arrangements under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0. Anjali Raguraman, The Straits Times, April 9
Taiwan
Taiwan should learn from mainland AI, KMT head Cheng Li-wun says. Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun said Taiwan could learn from mainland China’s use of AI during visits in Shanghai to Meituan, Comac, and Yangshan Deep Water Port. She pointed to AI-driven logistics and automation as examples for upgrading Taiwan’s service and manufacturing sectors. Cheng also said Taiwan should foster more high-tech “little giants” and align with “new quality productivity,” while pledging better cross-strait ties if the KMT returns to power in 2028. Alcott Wei, South China Morning Post, April 9
Taiwan opposition leader talks peace with China as her party skips defence talks in Taipei. Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun called for peace during a visit to Shanghai, saying birds, not missiles, should fill the skies and fish, not warships, the sea. Her trip comes as Beijing keeps up military pressure around Taiwan and as lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party criticised the KMT for skipping talks on a stalled extra $40 billion defence budget. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, April 9
Taiwan pledges more loans to help small businesses in Marshall Islands. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taiwan will add US$1 million to a revolving loan fund for women entrepreneurs in the Marshall Islands and create a new economic resilience loan fund for local businesses. During his three-day visit, Lin met President Hilda C. Heine, chaired the first committee meeting under the two sides’ 2025 economic cooperation agreement, and signed an MOU on a credit guarantee mechanism to ease financing difficulties and expand business opportunities. Joseph Yeh, Focus Taiwan, April 9
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan plans to supply 2.5 million tons of oil to Germany in 2026. Kazakhstan aims to raise oil exports to Germany to 2.5 million tons next year after increasing deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline from more than 1 million tons in 2023 to 2.1 million tons in 2025. Officials also discussed broader energy cooperation with Germany, including refinery modernization, solar projects in Karagandy Region, and the Hyrasia One green hydrogen and ammonia project in Mangystau Region. Aida Haidar, The Astana Times, April 9
South Korea eyes investment in Kazakhstan as energy, nuclear talks signal new strategic phase. Kazakhstan and South Korea discussed expanding cooperation in oil and gas, power generation, and nuclear energy during meetings in Astana. The sides aligned on stable Kazakh crude exports to South Korea, reviewed joint fuel and energy projects, and invited South Korean technology firms to take on co-investor roles in future infrastructure. Aida Haidar, The Astana Times, April 9
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan introduces new incentives for conscripts and army graduates. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree expanding benefits for current and former soldiers, including access to distance-learning bachelor’s programs, preferential education loans, and reimbursement for certification costs. Top-performing conscripts will gain direct admission to military schools, while service graduates will receive a 10% bonus on government job test scores from April 2027. Uzbekistan Daily, April 9
Uzbekistan’s international reserves decline after seven months of growth. Uzbekistan’s international reserves fell by more than $8.09 billion, or about 10%, in March to just over $68.99 billion after seven straight months of growth. The decline was driven mainly by a drop in global gold prices, which cut the value of gold holdings even as the Central Bank increased the physical volume of its reserves. Foreign currency reserves also fell by $1.26 billion. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, April 9
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan seeks to increase automobile imports from China. Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency and China’s A-CAR signed a memorandum on investment cooperation in the automotive sector covering imports, sales, and service infrastructure for new Chinese vehicles. A-CAR plans to build a dealer network and open a Central Asia representative office. The push comes as Kyrgyzstan benefits from duty-free EV imports under an EAEU quota and seeks Chinese cooperation on charging infrastructure and energy storage systems. Sergey Kwan, The Times of Central Asia, April 9
East Asia
China’s quiet brokerage: Can Beijing make the US-Iran truce stick? The two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran opens room for talks in Islamabad because Washington wants changes in Iran’s posture and Tehran wants relief from sanctions. Space for compromise exists between those aims, but trust remains weak after military strikes during negotiations. Israel stands as a central obstacle because its pressure on Washington can disrupt diplomacy, and any durable settlement also requires lower tension between Israel and Iran. Pakistan helped secure the ceasefire, and China backed a diplomatic path through contacts with regional actors, positions at the UN Security Council, and a role in future mediation. Peace depends on restraining new attacks and turning the truce into a wider regional settlement. Fan Hongda, ThinkChina, April 9
US War Against Iran Gives Beijing Intelligence Dividend. Operation Epic Fury gives Beijing a live test of US combat endurance, munitions burn rates, partner behavior, and base vulnerability in a high-intensity war. The campaign shows that US forces can strike Iran at scale, but it also exposes pressure on THAAD interceptors, Tomahawk stocks, and recovery timelines. Chinese planners can study Iran’s missile and drone attacks on US bases, the performance of Chinese-linked systems and components, and the strain on Washington’s ability to support allies across more than one theater. For Japan and the Philippines, the lesson concerns whether the United States could sustain treaty commitments in an Asia crisis while engaged elsewhere. The conflict offers Beijing evidence, but it does not remove the risks of war over Taiwan. Sophie Wushuang Yi, FULCRUM, April 9
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia’s whack-a-mole scam economy. Crackdowns in Cambodia exposed how Southeast Asia’s cyberfraud industry survives raids by closing, moving, or reopening under elite protection, while trafficked workers are left stranded without money, documents, or consular help. Hundreds of compounds across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines hold vast workforces in coercive conditions, drawing on a long migration from Taiwan to mainland China and then Southeast Asia. Joint operations, power cuts, and sanctions have disrupted some networks and led to arrests, deportations, and prison terms, but pressure on one site moves activity across borders. Lasting disruption requires action against financial and technical infrastructure, fraud awareness, and systems that protect displaced workers. Ivan Franceschini, Mark Bo, Ling Li, Neil Loughlin, East Asia Forum, April 9
Will ASEAN Welcome Myanmar Back Into Its Fold? Min Aung Hlaing’s move from junta chief to president after a sham election recasts military rule in civilian form and may speed Myanmar’s return to normal standing inside ASEAN. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam have kept channels open or pressed for engagement despite the Five-Point Consensus, while Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste continue to tie progress to an end to violence and inclusive dialogue. The Philippines has sent mixed signals through contact with Naypyidaw. As bilateral outreach expands, ASEAN’s isolation policy has lost force. China, Russia, India, and the United States could accept reintegration for reasons tied to stability and national interests, leaving the bloc to adjust to the junta rather than reshape it. Derek Grossman, Foreign Policy, April 9
More Than a Legal Battle: The Political Stakes of the Petronas-Sarawak Dispute. Sarawak’s court challenge over oil and gas control has moved a long dispute with Petronas from negotiation to litigation, with major effects on elections, federal power, and Malaysia’s federal compact. For the GPS coalition and Premier Abang Johari, the case strengthens a Sarawak rights message before state polls and helps hold the coalition together before the next general election. For Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the fight threatens both federal finances and ties with a key parliamentary partner, making the courts a useful shield. A ruling could clarify the reach of federal petroleum laws and shape Sabah’s position too, but legal clarity will not erase distrust, East-West tension, or doubts about the court’s legitimacy in Sarawak. Amalina Anuar, FULCRUM, April 9
South Asia
India’s gig economy is growing faster than its protections. India’s new social security framework for gig workers records labor growth without securing broad protection. Platform contributions to a welfare fund begin under the Code on Social Security, but access depends on 90 days with one aggregator or 120 days across platforms, a threshold that clashes with abrupt deactivation and frequent platform switching. Women face extra barriers through evening peak work, domestic duties, harassment risks, and the absence of platform liability. Benefits remain discretionary, other labor codes exclude gig workers, and state-level systems leave migrant workers without portable entitlements. A workable framework needs proportional coverage, transparent algorithms, grievance channels, and employer obligations that match platform control. Kasim Saiyyad, East Asia Forum, April 9
Criminalizing cooperators, Pakistan can never win wars against the Taliban. Pakistan’s renewed strikes into Afghanistan rest on the claim that militancy is an external problem, but arrests of anti-Taliban voices at home expose a deep contradiction in that strategy. Ali Wazir, Manzoor Pashteen, and Mahrang Baloch speak for communities that have faced militant violence and state force and would be vital partners in counterinsurgency. By treating nonviolent critics as targets, the state narrows political space, weakens community cooperation, and leaves groups such as the TTP and BLA room to endure in areas where intelligence depends on local trust. Kabul’s denials and the weak returns from pressure on the Afghan Taliban deepen the problem. Pakistan’s challenge lies in policy alignment, not in a lack of coercive power. Salman Rafi Sheikh, Nikkei Asia, April 9
Central Asia
Power, Pathways, and Policy: Grounding Central Asia’s Digital Ambitions. Central Asia’s bid to become a digital hub rests on three linked requirements: power, pathways, and policy. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are launching AI zones and data center projects, and foreign investors are funding new capacity, but electricity systems face wear, losses, and grid limits that can force private operators to build their own power supply. Connectivity remains fragile. Internal fiber access and peering are uneven, while most external traffic moves through Russian networks, leaving the region exposed to route concentration. The Trans-Caspian Fiber-Optic Cable could widen options. Digital policy needs careful sequencing so cloud access and investment can grow before broad localization rules raise barriers in an infrastructure-constrained market. Aruzhan Meirkhanova, Carnegie Politika, April 9