China
Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea. A Chinese coastguard vessel and PLA Navy destroyer collided near Scarborough Shoal while chasing a Philippine ship, prompting predictions Beijing will boost its maritime presence and coordination. Analysts warned of heightened tensions as China seeks to project power, while Manila vowed to maintain its territorial stance without provoking further escalation. Zhao Ziwen, South China Morning Post, August 13
China, U.S. trade barbs over destroyer passage near Scarborough Shoal. China said it monitored and expelled the USS Higgins after it sailed near Scarborough Shoal, calling the move a violation of sovereignty and a threat to stability. The U.S. Navy rejected Beijing’s account, saying the operation asserted lawful navigation rights under international law. The passage followed a collision between two Chinese vessels near the shoal. Ben Blanchard and Karen Lema, Reuters, August 13
Japan
Beijing summons Japanese diplomat over ‘Taiwan and Chinese citizens’ safety’. China’s foreign ministry summoned senior Japanese envoy Akira Yokochi to protest over Taiwan-related issues, wartime history, and the safety of Chinese nationals in Japan. The move follows recent assaults on Chinese citizens in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as Taiwan’s growing unofficial ties with Japan, including a rare visit by its foreign minister. Vanessa Cai, South China Morning Post, August 13
Ishiba to launch new regional economic initiative. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will unveil an economic plan to deepen ties with India, the Middle East, and Africa during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development from August 20-22. The initiative, part of Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy, seeks to aid Japanese companies in expanding trade and investment while countering China’s influence, promoting free trade despite steep U.S. tariffs. The Japan Times, August 14
South Korea
South Korean president Lee to visit Japan for summit with Ishiba, Seoul says. President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Japan from August 23-24 for talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on regional peace and trilateral cooperation with Washington. It will be their second meeting since June, amid historical tensions and U.S. tariffs. Lee will visit the U.S. for a Trump summit on August 25. Heejin Kim, Reuters, August 13
Jailed ex-first lady to appear for questioning by special counsel. Former first lady Kim Keon Hee will face questioning Thursday by a special counsel team, two days after her arrest on corruption charges. Accused of stock manipulation, election meddling, and accepting bribes, Kim was detained over fears of evidence destruction. Her arrest, alongside that of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, marks the first time a South Korean presidential couple has been jailed simultaneously. Lee Haye-ah, Yonhap News Agency, August 13
North Korea
North Korea says South Korea’s peace overtures a ‘pipedream’. Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed Seoul’s belief that dismantled loudspeakers signaled openness to dialogue, calling it a “pipedream.” She said joint drills with the U.S. still show hostile intent and ruled out talks with Washington. South Korea’s military urged caution, noting Pyongyang’s history of false claims. Jack Kim, Reuters, August 13
N. Korea celebrates 80th independence anniversary with events glorifying Kim leadership. North Korea marked the upcoming 80th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule with exhibitions and ceremonies praising the Kim family’s three-generation rule. Events included a stamp display featuring Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, as well as photo exhibitions highlighting their leadership and military achievements. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, August 13
Thailand
Constitutional Court to rule on Hun Sen audio clip against Paetongtarn on Aug. 29. Thailand’s Constitutional Court will deliver its verdict on suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ethics case over a phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The court will question Paetongtarn and the National Security Council chief on August 21, with final statements due by August 27. The Nation, August 13
Vietnam
NA Standing Committee concludes 48th session. Vietnam’s National Assembly Standing Committee ended its 48th session after reviewing 17 items, including six draft laws and initial feedback on seven more for the 10th session. The committee approved proposals on a special investment policy for Gia Binh International Airport and local budget use for certain projects. Chairman Tran Thanh Man urged timely election preparations and legal reviews. Vietnam News, August 13
Myanmar
Myanmar military chief calls for heightened security ahead of election. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged measures to protect politicians and voters before December-January polls, warning of rising attacks on civil servants. The West has dismissed the vote as a military power grab, with opposition barred or boycotting. Plans include “people’s security” groups and strict electoral laws carrying prison or death penalties. Reuters, August 13
Ta’ang resistance leader denounces China’s ‘self-interested’ meddling. Ta’ang National Liberation Army General Secretary Tar Phone Kyaw accused China of pressuring ethnic armed groups to surrender or cede territory to Myanmar’s junta, calling Chinese dominance a major obstacle to the anti-regime struggle. Further China-brokered talks are planned this month. The Irrawaddy, August 13
Cambodia
Royal Government spokesperson stresses troop freeze, no provocations in Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire agreement. Pen Bona, head of Cambodia’s government spokesperson unit, said the 13-point General Border Committee agreement reached on August 7 in Kuala Lumpur requires both nations to maintain current troop positions and avoid provocative acts. The deal prohibits troop movements, patrols toward opposing positions, and military activity across the ceasefire line set July 28. Khmer Times, August 14
Cambodia accuses Thailand of deploying barbed wire and tyres in Cambodia’s border village. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said Thai forces placed barbed wire and tyres in Chouk Chey village, Banteay Meanchey province, on August 12–13, violating the July 28 ceasefire and General Border Committee consensus. Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata demanded an immediate halt, urging Thailand to respect the agreement and resolve disputes peacefully under international law. Khmer Times, August 13
Philippines
Chinese fighter intercepts Philippine plane over disputed shoal, Manila says. A Chinese jet came within 200 feet of a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft carrying journalists over Scarborough Shoal, days after two Chinese vessels collided while blocking a Philippine mission. The 20-minute encounter included radio orders to leave and sightings of two U.S. warships nearby. Adrian Portugal and Karen Lema, Reuters, August 13
Marcos signs law postponing local elections to Nov. 2026. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12002, rescheduling barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections from December 2025 to November 9, 2026. The Commission on Elections must adjust its calendar and reassign appropriations. Lawmakers cited efficiency and budget concerns, while critics warned of reduced democratic participation. Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, August 14
Singapore
India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks. At the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable in New Delhi, both nations agreed to expand cooperation in areas including cross-border data flows, semiconductor skills training, green energy exports, and a green shipping corridor between Paradeep and Singapore. The talks also reviewed progress in sustainability, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity projects. Nirmala Ganapathy, The Straits Times, August 14
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s economy expands 6.3% in January–July. GDP grew 6.3% in the first seven months, driven by an 8.3% rise in the real sector and 5.2% in services. Industry increased 6.9%, led by mining and manufacturing, while transport surged 22.5% amid logistics investments. Construction rose 18.5%, boosting regional growth. Risks include oil market shifts, U.S. trade policy, and budget limits. Nargiz Raimbekova, The Astana Times, August 13
Northeast Asia
Keeping the Door Open: How China Uses the CPPCC to Conduct “United Front Diplomacy” with North Korea. Beijing compensates for scarce high-level exchanges by using the CPPCC to conduct united front diplomacy with Pyongyang, expanding outreach since 2019 as formal channels receded; methods mirror domestic practice, elite co-optation, public messaging, and subnational ties, under Politburo-level oversight rooted in wartime links. When inter-Korean tensions rise, CPPCC activity grows, while the CCP International Department leads during security spikes; 2019 saw a surge as relations soured and studies focused on the CPPCC’s flexibility, expertise, and coordination. Engagement runs through the “Charhar Channel,” Xinhua’s He Ping, Zhou Qiang’s personal ties, and business networks tied to the Kim Il Sung–Kim Jong Il Foundation, reaching beyond core elites. These low-profile conduits keep dialogue open and help stabilize ties despite ideological drift. Michael Donmoyer, 38 North, August 13
Beyond America: The New Routes of Chinese Migration. Pandemic-era restrictions and a traumatic zero-COVID experience catalyzed runxue (润学), spurring families to seek exits. As U.S. access narrows (B-visa refusals near 80%), a surge in Mexico border entries in 2023–24, and talk of student-visa bans, the South American corridor has become a dead end. Europe’s tightening rules redirect movement through the Balkans, with visa-free Serbia and Bosnia serving as gateways, and over 15,000 Chinese officially registered in Serbia. Japan regains appeal on demographics, healthcare, proximity, and could host one million people of Chinese descent by 2026. Economic headwinds, falling births, and lower living costs abroad sustain outward flows, raising whether the EU and Northeast Asia can convert arrivals into assets. Filip Noubel, China Observers, August 14
China’s global south dilemma: Ally, leader or outsider? In China, the term gained traction only in 2023; People’s Daily first used it that September around the G77, and in July Wang Yi called China “naturally” a member. At BRICS Plus in October 2024, Xi spoke of a “collective rise,” and in March 2025 a Global South Research Centre was created. Historically, Beijing framed the “south” as Ya Fei La and, in the 1990s, pivoted to dajingmao, linking aid with trade and investment, which foreshadowed the BRI. Current rhetoric stresses sovereignty and “doing it your own way.” Yet fragmented interests and reliance on U.S. demand constrain coordinated efforts to remake the economic order. Zha Daojiong, ThinkChina, August 13
Southeast Asia
Strategy and sustainability critical to Malaysia’s rare earth ambitions. Malaysia targets a “mine-to-magnet” ecosystem after a 2024 survey estimated 16.2 million tonnes of deposits valued at RM747.2 billion, with an export moratorium since December 2023 to spur domestic processing. One sanctioned mine in Perak operates with Chinalco, while Lynas’s Kuantan plant holds a license through March 2026; downstream, Shin-Etsu and Bomatec produce magnets. Lacking proprietary mining and refining technology, the country must secure ESG-compliant partners as China controls most capacity and the United States imposes a 19% reciprocal tariff. Success hinges on technology transfer, strict enforcement, and diversified investment. Tham Siew Yean, East Asia Forum, August 14
The Xin Yimin’s Impact on Malaysia’s Social Anxieties. New Chinese migrants boost growth via BRI-linked professionals, students and tourists, yet their arrival strains Malaysia’s multiethnic equilibrium. Education paths split between Chinese vernacular schools and Western-modeled international institutions; minimal Malay exposure limits contact with the majority. Ties with clan associations deepen, Mandarin displaces dialects, and Xin Yimin, led groups, including a Hui Muslim community, extend networks but face cultural hurdles. The 2024 Teluk Intan flag incident sharpened sensitivities over identity and external influence. Contributions to education and culture coexist with worries about segregation, reflecting long-standing structural tensions rather than migrant-driven causes. Peter T. C. Chang, FULCRUM, August 13
Oceania
Pacific sovereignty maintains the same malleability down China’s belt and road. China’s Maritime Silk Road expands BRI across the region, offering grants and concessional finance; from 2016–19, 11 states signed MOUs, and in 2019, 97% of official loans carried ~2% rates with maturities up to 20 years. Construction rose 228% in 2024, including a US$9m Faleolo airport upgrade and a 10,000-seat stadium. Sovereignty remains flexible via free association and aid ties; Beijing pairs projects with recognition politics, and Taiwan now retains only Palau, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu as partners. Solomon Islands will host the September 2025 Pacific Islands Forum amid debate over Taiwan’s invitation. Charles Hawksley, East Asia Forum, August 13