China
China marks 60 years of rule in Tibet. China marked the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule in Tibet with a parade and speeches in front of Lhasa’s Potala Palace, attended by President Xi Jinping. Officials praised development while warning against separatism, with Wang Huning declaring foreign interference unacceptable. The Dalai Lama, exiled since 1959, remains a symbol of resistance. Associated Press, August 21
China and Pakistan foreign ministers agree to launch new economic corridor projects. Pakistan and China agreed Thursday to expand cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar met in Islamabad, pledging new projects in science, technology, industry and agriculture, while stressing security for Chinese workers amid militant attacks. Associated Press, August 21
South Korea
Nat’l Assembly, led by DP, passes contentious broadcasting bill. South Korea’s parliament approved an amendment to the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act, 169–1, with the opposition PPP boycotting. The bill expands the MBC shareholder foundation’s board from nine to 13 and is part of a DP package aimed at curbing government influence over public broadcasters KBS, MBC, and EBS. The PPP launched a filibuster against a remaining EBS bill. Yi Wonju, Yonhap, August 21
FM Cho departs early for Washington ahead of Lee-Trump summit. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun traveled to Washington days before President Lee Jae Myung’s first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on August 25, skipping Lee’s upcoming meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Officials said Cho’s early trip aims to finalize coordination with U.S. counterparts ahead of the high-level talks. Yi Wonju, Yonhap, August 21
North Korea
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un decorates soldiers who fought for Russia, KCNA says. Kim Jong Un praised “heroic” North Korean troops who served with Russia in Ukraine, awarding decorations to members of the army’s overseas operation and citing the “liberation of Kursk” as proof of their fighting spirit. He laid a flower at a memorial wall, with a concert and banquet for returnees and bereaved families. Joyce Lee, Reuters, August 21
U.S. monitor unveils undeclared N.K. missile base likely housing nuclear-capable ICBMs. The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Beyond Parallel project revealed the Sinpung-dong base in North Pyongan Province, near China’s border, likely housing six to nine Hwasong-15 or -18 intercontinental ballistic missiles. Satellite imagery from July confirmed the base, which has never been included in denuclearization talks, posing threats to East Asia and the U.S. Song Sang-ho, Yonhap, August 20
India
Beijing stands firm with New Delhi against ‘bully’ U.S., Chinese envoy says. China’s ambassador in India, Xu Feihong, pledged solidarity with New Delhi against steep U.S. tariffs, urging collaboration to defend free trade. Speaking at a New Delhi forum, Xu criticized Washington for weaponizing tariffs while stressing China-India cooperation. The comments precede Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. Khushboo Razdan, South China Morning Post, August 21
Vietnam
Politburo gives opinions on Hanoi, HCM City’s preparations for Party congresses. The Politburo, chaired by General Secretary To Lam, reviewed draft documents and personnel plans for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City’s 2025–30 Party congresses. Lam stressed Hanoi’s cultural identity and HCM City’s innovation role, urging both to address bottlenecks and strengthen leadership strategies toward the 2045 vision. Vietnam News, August 21
Thailand
Thai court to deliver ruling in ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s royal insult case. Thailand’s Constitutional Court is set to rule September 18 on a lese-majeste case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accused of insulting the monarchy in a 2015 interview. The decision could inflame political divisions and impact the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, August 21
Paetongtarn arrives to face court. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra testified before Thailand’s Constitutional Court on her 39th birthday over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Thirty-six senators accused her of ethical violations, while she defended the remarks as negotiation tactics. Closing statements are due August 25, with a ruling expected on August 29. Bangkok Post, August 21
Myanmar
UN investigation seeking justice for Rohingya who fled Myanmar hit by cost-cutting. Funding shortfalls and U.N. budget cuts threaten the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, which has submitted evidence to the ICC and other courts. Chief Nicholas Koumjian warned projects on sexual violence and children’s crimes may be halted, while witness protection has already stopped. The U.S. canceled two grants, worsening a multimillion-dollar gap. Emma Farge, Reuters, August 21
Under Chinese pressure, Myanmar’s UWSP cuts off support to allied ethnic armies. The United Wa State Party (UWSP), under pressure from Beijing, has formally ended its military and financial support to ethnic allies TNLA, MNDAA, and SSPP, citing China’s opposition to Operation 1027 and collaboration with anti-regime forces. UWSP Vice Chair Zhao Guoan warned that China’s escalating punitive actions have created the group’s worst crisis in four decades, forcing the decision. Author, The Irrawaddy, August 21
Cambodia
Cambodia and Thailand hold secretariat meeting ahead of extraordinary border talks. Military officials from Cambodia’s 5th Military Region and Thailand’s 1st Army Area convened a secretariat meeting of the Regional Border Committee to prepare for high-level border talks. Held partly online, the session resulted in agreements on several issues, with unresolved matters to be addressed before finalizing the meeting minutes. Khmer Times, August 22
Philippines
Filipino forces on alert after China deploys coast guard ships closer to disputed shoal. The Philippines said Thursday that 14 Chinese coast guard and militia vessels, some armed and supported by aircraft, have moved near the BRP Sierra Madre at the Second Thomas Shoal. Filipino forces were deployed in response, with officials warning of escalation. China has long demanded Manila remove the ship. Jim Gomez, Associated Press, August 21
Duterte's legal team pushes for release to secret nation. Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer has filed a new request with the International Criminal Court seeking his interim release to an undisclosed country willing to accept him under court-imposed conditions. The filing argues that his continued detention is unjustified and references Article 58(1)(b) of the Rome Statute. Duterte has been in custody in The Hague since his arrest earlier this year. Javier Joe Ismael, The Manila Times, August 21
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan and China set course to double bilateral trade by 2030. Kazakhstan and China aim to double their trade volume by 2030 through a joint roadmap emphasizing transit development, high value-added exports, digital customs, and e-commerce. In a meeting held in Beijing, officials noted trade reached $43.8 billion in 2024, up 9.2% from the previous year. They also discussed investment in Kazakhstan’s real sector and regional cooperation with Chinese provinces. Nargiz Raimbekova, The Astana Times, August 21
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan appeals to Trump, Starmer after UK imposes Russia-related sanctions. President Sadyr Japarov urged U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reconsider sanctions after London targeted Kyrgyz crypto networks tied to Russia. The measures hit the A7A5 stablecoin infrastructure and firms including Grinex LLC and Old Vector LLC, accused of aiding sanctions evasion. Mariya Gordeyeva and Lucy Papachristou, Reuters, August 21
East Asia
80 years later, Japan still can’t agree on how to remember WWII. Debate focuses on whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will issue a cabinet “statement” for the 80th postwar anniversary or present personal “views,” amid disputes over language such as replacing “end of the war” with “defeat.” Past declarations by Murayama (1995), Koizumi (2005), and Abe (2015) frame expectations, while uncertainty persists over timing and political backing. Supporters and opponents within the ruling camp weigh costs, and questions remain about how much continuity with earlier messages Ishiba will retain. Shin Kawashima, ThinkChina, August 21
How China is shaping India without confronting it. After Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit, Beijing and New Delhi agreed on ten-point tracks to restart border talks and revive broader ties, while China tightens influence via minilaterals, corridors, and defense links around India. Projects from CPEC extensions to a proposed Tibet megadam, alongside Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied systems, reinforce leverage as the SCO summit nears. These raise the cost of Indian defiance and channel regional processes toward Chinese standards without open confrontation. Hao Nan, ThinkChina, August 21
China: The powerful outsider missing from Russia-Ukraine talks. High-level efforts led by Washington, from the Alaska summit to White House meetings, proceed without Beijing at the table, even as China’s strategic weight shapes calculations. Not a direct party to the conflict, China is likely to keep to a neutral role in any UN-led framework while retaining options should negotiation formats move toward security guarantees. Influence therefore persists despite absence. Sim Tze Wei, ThinkChina, August 21
US negotiators face tough task to secure trade deal with China. With a tariff truce extended to November 10, talks must tackle complex issues. Overcapacity, export controls, fentanyl precursors, and Russian oil, while balancing politics and enforcement. Beijing appears less pressed than Washington, implying a harder bargain and a likely outcome heavy on headline commitments but light on detailed implementation rules. Sustainable progress requires structural, rule-based steps beyond one-off purchases. Wendy Cutler, South China Morning Post, August 18
Behind the Table: China’s Role in the Ukraine Peace Push. Beijing sustains Moscow through trade, technology, and political cover while cultivating a peace-broker image, aiming to reshape the security order without direct entanglement. Russia signals interest in China among potential guarantors, yet Beijing’s wait-and-hold posture enables influence over process design while minimizing risk. The gap between rhetoric and behavior complicates claims of neutrality. Nataliya Butyrska, CHINA OBSERVERS, August 21
Global Health Cooperation as a Foundation for Trust on the Korean Peninsula. A KHPP webinar series highlights DPRK preferences for long-term capacity building over short-term aid, pointing to tiered care, prevention, and growing domestic capabilities. A multi-donor trust fund managed by recognized health bodies could depoliticize cooperation and expand infrastructure, training, and equipment under existing humanitarian exemptions, building credibility while improving outcomes. David S. Hong, 38 North, August 21
Iran’s bid for Beijing’s backing meets its limits. Tehran seeks diplomatic cover amid isolation, but Beijing calibrates engagement, wary of alienating Gulf partners and undermining non-proliferation goals. The SCO offers optics, not decisive support; end-August timelines for renewed talks heighten pressure as Washington signals potential snapback sanctions. China extends limited lifelines through trade and forums while avoiding commitments that would trigger broader pushback. Jesse Marks, East Asia Forum, August 22
The United States and South Korea Are Allies and Trade Partners. Will They Reinforce Ties at Their Summit? Trump and Lee meet August 25 to manage tariffs, alliance costs, and force posture questions while minimizing divergence on China. The summit follows a 15 percent tariff move and coincides with Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises; Seoul also coordinates with Tokyo to steady trilateral cooperation. Clara Fong, Council on Foreign Relations, August 21
Chips made Taiwan indispensable. AI can make it unstoppable. Taiwan’s dominance in advanced semiconductors underpins global AI, with TSMC leading data-center logic chips; policy initiatives aim to build an “AI shield” by expanding infrastructure and talent. Yet chip concentration invites pressure, including tariff risks and strategic hedging by partners, furthering the need to diversify alliances and embed in multilateral AI governance. Davide Campagnola, Lowy Institute, August 21
Southeast Asia
China’s security success conditional on Southeast Asia. Beijing’s initiatives such as from the “new security concept” to the GSI, depend on Southeast Asian domestic politics and China’s approach in the South China Sea. Regional leaders prioritize regime stability and growth, shaping cooperation choices; persistent maritime assertiveness sustains high concern across ASEAN, limiting China’s appeal despite nontraditional security outreach. Ian Seow Cheng Wei, East Asia Forum, August 21
How TikTok’s Visual Politics Shaped Indonesia’s 2024 Election. Indonesia’s 2024 race leveraged short-form video to mobilise young voters, with the app reaching 107.7 million users by February 2025 and driving virality through engagement-based ranking and occasional “heating.” Prabowo Subianto’s team recast him as gemoy via dance clips, pet moments, and AI toolkits (prabowogibran.ai, FotoBer2) that enabled mass meme-making; one selfie app logged over 2.5 million uses in six weeks, reinforced by celebrity endorsements and Jokowi’s elevation of Gibran to the ticket. The same design created echo chambers and simplified discourse, prompting calls for transparency, media literacy, and limits on manipulated imagery, which Indonesia’s Constitutional Court addressed in 2025. Nuurrianti Jalli, Ika Ningtyas, and Yearry Panji Setianto, FULCRUM, August 21
The Thai-Cambodian War of Cyber Attrition: Implications for ASEAN. From 28 May to 10 June, Cambodian hacktivists (AnonSecKh) claimed 73 DDoS attacks on Thai state, military, and commercial targets; Thai actors allegedly struck back, while KH Night Mare leaked 800GB tied to Cambodian officials. Attribution remains murky as proxies blur state responsibility, yet Thailand reportedly set a 24/7 “cyber war room,” illustrating how border tensions spill into grey-zone operations. Gaps in international law on “use of force” and “armed attack,” ASEAN’s non-interference norm, and non-binding regional checklists impede accountability, making pragmatic steps, like empowering the ASEAN Regional CERT to coordinate information-sharing and confidence-building measures, urgent. Surachanee Sriyai, FULCRUM, August 21