China
U.S., China extend tariff truce by 90 days, staving off surge in duties. Washington and Beijing agreed to prolong their tariff ceasefire until November 10, avoiding planned triple-digit duties that could have effectively halted trade. The extension maintains U.S. tariffs at 30% and Chinese tariffs at 10%, buying time for further talks ahead of a possible Trump-Xi meeting. Trevor Hunnicutt, Andrea Shalal, Joe Cash, David Lawder, Alessandro Diviggiano, Reuters, August 12
China seeks to bolster demand by subsidising interest costs on consumer loans. Beijing launched a year-long plan to subsidise up to half the interest costs on personal consumer loans, covering purchases such as cars and education. Running from September 1 to August 2026, the scheme aims to lower household credit costs, spur spending, and complement existing stimulus measures amid persistent deflation and weak demand. Sylvia Ma, South China Morning Post, August 13
China accuses U.S. of using lies as pretext for seeking control of Panama Canal. At a UN meeting chaired by Panama’s president, Chinese envoy Fu Cong rejected U.S. claims of “outsized influence” over the canal, accusing Washington of fabricating lies to justify seizing control. The dispute follows U.S. calls to remove Chinese-linked port operators and criticism of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s $22.8 billion port sale. Fan Chen, South China Morning Post, August 12
South Korea
South Korean President Lee will travel to Washington for Aug. 25 meeting with Trump. President Lee Jae Myung will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss trade, defense cooperation, and North Korea. The summit follows a July deal cutting reciprocal tariffs and includes South Korean pledges to buy $100 billion in U.S. energy and invest $350 billion. Talks will also address alliance restructuring and security threats. Kim Tong-hyung, Associated Press, August 12
South Korea’s former first lady imprisoned after court issues warrant. Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on graft charges including stock fraud, bribery, and influence peddling, making her the first former first lady to be jailed. Prosecutors cited a risk of evidence destruction. She denies the allegations, which involve luxury gifts and undeclared assets. Heejin Kim, Ryan Patrick Jones, Bhargav Acharya, and Jasper Ward, Reuters, August 12
North Korea
Putin holds call with North Korea’s Kim, discusses U.S.-Russia talks, Kremlin says. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un discussed global and regional stability, including planned talks between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska this week. They reaffirmed commitments under last year’s strategic partnership, with Putin praising North Korea’s military support in Ukraine. Jack Kim and Felix Light, Reuters, August 12
Thailand
Thailand says another soldier injured by landmine near Cambodia. A Thai soldier was severely injured by a landmine during a border patrol near Ta Moan Thom temple, the fourth such incident in weeks. The army accused Cambodia of violating the ceasefire and the Ottawa Convention, warning it may exercise self-defense. Cambodia denied planting new mines. Orathai Sriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Napat Wesshasartar, Reuters, August 12
Pheu Thai wants delay in ruling on suspended PM. The Pheu Thai Party urged the Constitutional Court to postpone its decision on whether to remove suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. Party MP Cherdchai Tantisirin cited ongoing crises and suggested a six-month pause. Paetongtarn, accused by 36 senators, insists the call was a private diplomatic exchange. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, August 12
Myanmar
Myanmar security forces involved in systematic torture, UN report says. A UN investigation found Myanmar security forces systematically tortured detainees, implicating senior commanders. Documented abuses included beatings, electric shocks, rape, strangulation, and killings, with children among victims. Tens of thousands have been detained since the 2021 coup. The probe warned budget cuts could hinder justice efforts. Emma Farge, Reuters, August 12
Military authorities authorise domestic companies to operate old oil wells. Myanmar’s military government has granted local firms rights to operate more than 1,000 old oil wells in Magway and Ayeyarwady regions as part of efforts to raise revenue. The move allows small-scale extraction under one-year contracts but excludes foreign investors. Critics warn the plan risks environmental damage and primarily benefits military-linked businesses. Aung Naing, Myanmar Now, August 11
Cambodia
Ministry of National Defense: Border situation “calm.” Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said the border with Thailand near Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey remained calm from midnight to the morning of August 13. It rejected Thai claims about new landmine use, stating the mines are remnants from past conflicts. The ministry urged Thailand to respect the ceasefire, release detained Cambodian soldiers, and honor the 13-point GBC agreement. Khmer Times, August 12
Cambodia rejects Thai mine allegations, calls for fact-based investigation. Cambodia denied claims it planted new landmines after a Thai soldier was injured near Ta Moan Thom temple, reaffirming its commitment to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata urged a transparent probe, warning against premature conclusions that could escalate tensions, and called for adherence to ceasefire agreements through upcoming border committee meetings. Khmer Times, August 12
Philippines
Philippines voices concern over ‘dangerous’ Chinese actions after Scarborough Shoal collision. Manila accused Chinese vessels of hazardous maneuvers during a coast guard mission, resulting in the first known collision between Chinese ships in the area. The Philippine military said a PLA Navy ship appeared to attempt ramming a PCG vessel. The U.S. condemned the incident, while China claimed it was expelling Philippine vessels. Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores, Reuters, August 12
House receives proposed 2026 nat’l budget. The House of Representatives formally received the proposed 2026 national budget of 6.793-trillion Philippine pesos from the Department of Budget and Management, led by Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez accepted the proposal, which was presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier in the week. Reina C. Tolentino, The Manila Times, August 13
Singapore
14 political parties asked for proof of existence have yet to comply with foreign interference law: MHA. Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said 14 dormant political parties, including Barisan Sosialis and United People’s Party, have failed to meet reporting duties under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act. The Registry of Societies issued a notice requiring proof of existence within three months, or they risk being declared defunct. Samuel Devaraj, The Straits Times, August 12
Taiwan
Support for Taiwanese leader William Lai hits new low, 3 polls show. Three surveys found President William Lai’s approval ratings in the low 30s or below, with disapproval in the mid-50s, even in his hometown of Tainan. Analysts cite the failed recall campaign against opposition lawmakers, Typhoon Danas’ fallout, new U.S. tariffs, and stalled cooperation with rivals. Observers warn of a looming political crisis. Lawrence Chung, South China Morning Post, August 12
Kazakhstan
Armenia’s PM to visit Kazakhstan amid historic peace breakthrough and economic opportunities. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will visit Astana later in 2025 following a landmark peace deal with Azerbaijan signed in Washington on August 8, creating the TRIPP corridor through Armenia. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the accord as a chance for regional integration, investment, and expanded trade links. Stephen M. Bland, Times of Central Asia, August 12
Uzbekistan
Mirziyoyev and Modi discuss $2 billion projects and 60% growth in trade turnover. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on strengthening their strategic partnership, noting a 60% rise in trade since January and the launch of about 40 joint ventures. They highlighted $2 billion in projects spanning pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, digital economy, and transport links, and discussed cultural exchanges and upcoming high-level events. Uzbekistan Daily, August 12
Northeast Asia
The narrative trap: How we can misread China. Unverified claims proliferate in opaque systems, as people seek tidy stories that convert ambiguity into certainty. Episodes cited include speculation during Xi Jinping’s absences, a widely repeated yet uncorroborated 2023 submarine mishap, the South China Sea framed as a “core interest,” and a “2027 invasion” shorthand that conflates modernization milestones with intent. The danger is when conjecture hardens into orthodoxy; disciplined analysis means privileging evidence, testing assumptions, and distinguishing possibility from probability. Henry Yep, Lowy Institute – The Interpreter, August 13
Japan’s scholarship rework reveals uneasy relationship with Chinese students. In June 2025, MEXT proposed limiting SPRING living-expense aid to Japanese nationals, pitching it as a boost for domestic postgraduate uptake and mid-career returnees. Created in 2021, SPRING is a rare university-run route where Chinese doctoral candidates, about one-third of recipients, secure stipends that sustain enrollments. Chinese learners constitute ~37% of all foreign students in Japan yet face hurdles from housing to China Scholarship Council gatekeeping; SPRING sidesteps some of this. The plan implies a talent hierarchy and threatens internationalization and innovation; remedies should expand support, not create zero-sum contests. Japan already trails the OECD average for international doctoral enrolment. Stefan Aichholzer, East Asia Forum, August 12
Quiet Hedging: Indo-Pacific Middle Powers’ Strategic Deterrence. Middle powers move from bandwagoning to hedging, using diversification to boost deterrence and autonomy. Japan in 2020 sent more FDI to ASEAN and Asian Tigers than to China; ROK broadened KASI to security; India keeps links with QUAD partners, China, and Russia to protect strategic autonomy. The Philippines left BRI in 2023 over delays tied to maritime disputes, then turned to Tokyo and sealed a 2023 FTA with the ROK. Malaysia backs de-dollarization and BRICS currency plans, while Vietnam expands high-tech cooperation with the ROK. Diversification acts as a quiet deterrence, lowering vulnerability and complicating coercion. Niño Ryan Embestro, U.S.-China Perception Monitor, August 12
Southeast Asia
Connecting communities to support Cambodia’s vulnerable. Cambodia’s low-income households face economic and climate shocks amid scarce jobs and patchy safety nets, with programs unable to flex beyond core caseloads. Informal social capital, amplified by digital transfers, helps families smooth consumption and access no-interest loans, yet remains insufficient. A proposed “Social Capital Hub,” piloted by the National Social Protection Council in the poorest villages, would verify needs via local leaders, surface ~100 priority households monthly, mobilise donations online, and channel cash or in-kind aid through mobile banking and logistics, with pooled funds redistributed to uncovered cases. Social solidarity must complement, not replace, state responsibility; broader social protection and a personal income tax are needed. Kosal Nith, East Asia Forum, August 13
Why Manus, China’s rising AI star, moved to Singapore. Butterfly Effect moved its headquarters to Singapore four months after Manus’s March launch, cutting staff to about 40, after a US$75 million Benchmark-led round drew regulatory scrutiny; leaders cite thin domestic financing and reliance on U.S. LLM infrastructure. The move reflects diverging ecosystems: China targets chips and core model architecture while Manus pursues application services, and U.S. providers such as Claude focus on product refinement and broad compliance, including GDPR and HIPAA. Yin Ruizhi, ThinkChina, August 12
A Food Security Imperative for the Johor-Singapore SEZ Blueprint. The JS-SEZ can anchor resilience by elevating agrifood alongside higher-value industries, with the blueprint explicitly promoting the sector. Despite respectable global rankings, Singapore’s import dependence and Malaysia’s declining self-sufficiency leave both exposed to climate and market shocks. Recommended measures include multi-stakeholder “food security hubs,” farmer-centred incentives and shared-equity schemes, cross-border research and skills pipelines, and WOAH-aligned bio-secure zones. The SEZ spans over 3,500 sq km, with potential agrifood sites in Desaru, Sedenak, and Pontian. Food security must be hard-wired into the comprehensive blueprint due by end-2025. Elyssa Kaur Ludher, Angaindrankumar Gnanasagaran, FULCRUM, August 13
Indonesia’s Youth and the Online Demand for Change. Social videos and memes about inequality, from “kesenjangan sosial core” to #kesenjangansosial, have surged among young Indonesians, signalling lived frustrations. 63.71% of surveyed undergraduates reported being “very concerned” about socio-economic gaps, aligning with a Gini of 0.381 nationwide and 0.402 in cities. Youth joblessness reached 16.16% versus 4.76% overall, while 74.48% voiced acute worry over unemployment and recession. Three-quarters struggle to secure a preferred job; 33.27% express views online and 55.39% often join political discussions. Recommended steps include expanding targeted social protection, boosting education, vocational and digital training, and creating participatory feedback channels to convert online energy into constructive civic engagement. Iim Halimatusa’diyah, FULCRUM, August 12