China
Hong Kong court begins final arguments in Jimmy Lai case. Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Court opened closing arguments in Jimmy Lai’s national security trial. Prosecutors allege collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious material; Lai faces a potential life sentence. Hearings resumed after delays due to weather and Lai’s medical issues; no verdict date has been set. Kanis Leung, AP News, Aug 18
India, China foreign ministers meet to stabilize ties. India’s S. Jaishankar met China’s Wang Yi in New Delhi to discuss de-escalation along the Himalayan frontier after deadly 2020 clashes. Talks focused on reducing deployments and maintaining disengagement while broader ties remain strained. Wang also planned meetings with PM Narendra Modi and NSA Ajit Doval. Rajesh Roy, AP News, Aug 18
Japan
Japan, Germany vow to deepen economic-security cooperation. Foreign ministers in Tokyo agreed to strengthen semiconductor and critical-minerals supply chains and expand strategic dialogue amid pressure on the rules-based order. The visit was Germany’s first ministerial trip since May’s cabinet change and signaled closer Tokyo-Berlin alignment on resilience initiatives.
JIJI, AFP-JIJI, The Japan Times, Aug 18
Taiwan
Entertainers probed for sharing propaganda. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council is investigating 20 entertainers for reposting Weibo content asserting “Taiwan has never been a country,” warning nonresponses to inquiries could bring fines under cross-strait law. Named figures include Patty Hou, Angela Chang, and Ouyang Nana. Ten have replied; others face deadlines. Authorities say amplifying such claims can endanger national security and violate the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. William Hetherington, Taipei Times, Aug 19
North Korea
Kim Jong-un slams U.S.–ROK drills, orders nuclear expansion. As Seoul and Washington began Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, Kim Jong-un called them proof of a will to “ignite a war,” per KCNA, and urged a “rapid expansion” of North Korea’s nuclear forces. He inspected the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer and said the navy will play a role in the state’s nuclear force. The drills run 11 days to Aug. 28. Kim Soo-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, Aug 19
Vietnam
Bhutanese King, Queen start state visit to Việt Nam. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema began a five-day state visit, the first since ties were established in 2012, meeting Vietnam’s top leadership. Both sides discussed cooperation in green growth, tourism, culture, and people-to-people links, with discussions on connectivity and broader economic engagement. Việt Nam News, Aug 18
Thailand
Pheu Thai rallies to back besieged PM Paetongtarn. Pheu Thai lawmakers closed ranks behind suspended PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra ahead of an Aug. 29 Constitutional Court ruling tied to leaked audio with Cambodia’s Senate president. The party rejected speculation of a coalition reset and denied resignation rumors. If removed, Pheu Thai expects to nominate a successor and retain the premiership.Bangkok Post, Aug 18
Myanmar
Myanmar military regime announces election date. Myanmar’s junta-controlled election commission set Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 as election day. Analysts widely condemn the plan as a sham given ongoing repression and violence against opponents. Myanmar Now, Aug 18
Cambodia
Cambodia calls on Thailand to end baseless accusations over border landmines. At a Phnom Penh press conference, CMAA’s Ly Thuch rejected Thai claims that Cambodia recently planted new landmines, calling them “baseless” and insulting to decades of clearance work. He urged Thai forces not to cross into Cambodian territory and cited Ottawa Treaty compliance. CMAC’s Heng Ratana said incidents have been misused to justify clashes and pledged continued clearance once border issues are resolved. Khmer Times, Aug 18
Mongolia
Foreign Minister of Laos to visit Mongolia. Laos’ foreign minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane will visit Mongolia on Aug. 19–23 for talks with counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh and to attend the FEALAC foreign ministers’ meeting. The agenda includes boosting trade and investment (agriculture, transport, logistics), education and cultural exchanges, and coordination in regional forums. The visit marks continued engagement since diplomatic ties were established in 1962. B. Unubold, Montsame, Aug 18
Pakistan
Northwest Pakistan flooding leaves over 150 missing. Flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed at least 277 people, with 150+ still missing in Buner. Villagers say there were no mosque-loudspeaker warnings; officials cite the speed of the deluge. The army and air force airlifted relief supplies, while PM Shehbaz Sharif reviewed aid efforts. Monsoon rains since June 26 have killed at least 645 nationwide; further flooding is possible as new rains begin. Riaz Khan, AP News, Aug 18
Northeast Asia
Was the Trump–Putin Alaska Meeting About Ukraine — or China? The Alaska summit gave Putin rare face time in the U.S. and showcased U.S. airpower, but its deeper purpose may be prying Moscow from Beijing. Trump’s team, influenced by China hawks, seeks to end the Ukraine war on terms that ease Russia’s tilt toward China. No final Ukraine deal emerged, yet the optics signaled Washington can engage Moscow and potentially recalibrate the U.S.–Russia–China triangle. Beijing must now guess what was discussed while Washington weighs whether preventing a durable Sino-Russian bloc matters more than “dual containment.” Artyom Lukin, ThinkChina, Aug 18
The EU and China at 50: Is It All Just a Matter of Trust? Amid tariffs, probes and mutual sanctions, Brussels and Beijing still preserve climate and energy dialogues as a “safe haven.” Trust, however, is threadbare, strained by market-access barriers, cyber concerns, rights disputes, and China’s stance on Russia. The 2025 summit produced limited climate language about “results-oriented actions,” while trade frictions over EVs, wind and solar persist. Small, verifiable agreements—not rhetoric—are needed to rebuild confidence, and that ring-fencing climate from geopolitics will only work if implementation is tangible and monitored. Kim Vender, China Observers, Aug 19
Southeast Asia
Anwar’s Diplomatic Dilemma. Anwar Ibrahim scored foreign-policy wins, mediating a Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire and securing a U.S. tariff cut, but now faces a domestic minefield over President Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador, Nick Adams, whose hardline pro-Israel rhetoric could inflame Malaysia’s Muslim majority. Accepting Adams risks backlash and opposition attacks; rejecting him under the Vienna Convention could provoke U.S. retaliation, including higher tariffs, undermining growth already forecast to slow. The episode could erase Anwar’s momentum from recent successes and sharpen scrutiny of living-cost pressures and perceived nepotism inside his party. Khairy Jamaluddin, FULCRUM, Aug 18
Fiqh Sabahi: A Rare Jurisprudential Path Towards an Inclusive Islamic Paradigm in Malaysia. Sabah’s Mufti Bungsu Aziz Jaafar advances “Fiqh Sabahi,” a place-based Islamic jurisprudence that integrates local custom (ʿurf) and ijtihad to serve a multiethnic, multi-faith society. Institutionalised via a 2024 action plan, it underpins inclusive rulings, such as permitting Muslims to greet non-Muslims and distribute qurbān meat and zakat to them, contrasting with stricter Peninsular practices. The framework champions Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah as a bulwark against extremism while widening civic space for interfaith engagement. Advocates argue other states should emulate Sabah’s contextual approach to reduce rigidity and social friction.
Mohd Faizal Musa, FULCRUM, Aug 18
ASEAN’s Centrality Depends on a Shift to Collective Security. ASEAN’s consensus and non-interference norms are faltering amid Myanmar’s war, Thai–Cambodian tensions, South China Sea frictions, and tariff shocks from Washington. An ASEAN Collective Security Mechanism within the APSC, guided by security advisers and qualified-majority voting for critical issues, formalising near-consensus practices already used to downgrade Myanmar’s representation, is needed. A dual-track system (full consensus for routine matters, near-consensus for crises) would strengthen regional responses to transnational threats and keep ASEAN central as members hedge with outside groupings. Tin Shine Aung, East Asia Forum, Aug 19
South Asia
An India–Australia Mineral Partnership Is Critical for Resilience. To cut dependence on China’s dominant critical-minerals supply chains, India and Australia should build a “mineral corridor” linking Australian mines to Indian processing and manufacturing hubs. Leveraging AI-ECTA and the Critical Minerals Investment Partnership, both can co-invest in processing, set up joint R&D, streamline clearances, and create strategic stockpiles. A bilateral fund could de-risk projects and accelerate value-chain integration for EVs, batteries and defence. Trishala Sancheti, East Asia Forum, Aug 18