China
China pledges aid to Latin America, Caribbean with no ‘political conditions’. Beijing’s updated policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean frames the region as central to the Global South, promising needs-based aid without political conditions and expanded trade, investment and high-tech cooperation while vowing to oppose unilateral bullying, decoupling and to deepen security ties. Dewey Sim, South China Morning Post, December 10
U.S. seeks ‘constructive’ reset with China as trade tensions ease: Greer. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington wants a managed, constructive relationship with China after a tariff fight, citing de-escalation since Trump and Xi met in South Korea. He defended 45% tariffs and H200 chip sales approval despite criticism, stressing leverage and a pro-American approach. Frank Tang, South China Morning Post, December 10
ByteDance, Alibaba keen to order Nvidia H200 chips after Trump green light, sources say. ByteDance and Alibaba asked Nvidia about buying H200 AI chips for new services after President Donald Trump cleared exports to China, but supplies are scarce and Chinese regulators have yet to approve purchases. H200 far outperforms the H20 once allowed and remains in limited production. Liam Mo, Reuters, December 10
Japan
U.S. nuclear-capable bombers fly with Japanese jets after China–Russia drills, Tokyo says. Two U.S. B-52 bombers flew over the Sea of Japan with six Japanese fighter jets on Dec. 11 in a show of force after recent China-Russia drills near Japan and South Korea, as both allies reaffirmed their resolve to prevent unilateral changes to the status quo and highlighted heightened regional tensions. Kaori Kaneko and Tim Kelly, Reuters, December 11
Japan-China spat lacks immediate off-ramp despite Komeito talks. Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito has held repeated talks with Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks, but says Beijing remains dissatisfied and no de-escalation plan is ready, though he hopes a visit to China could eventually ease tensions for both countries and the region. Yoshiaki Nohara and Akemi Terukina, The Japan Times, December 11
South Korea
Lee to accept resignation of oceans minister over allegations of getting money from Unification Church. President Lee Jae Myung will approve Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo’s resignation after allegations he received luxury watches and cash from the Unification Church, the first ministerial exit of his term, as prosecutors investigate political ties between the church and Democratic Party figures. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, December 11
South Korea’s Lee calls for probe into links between religious group and politics. President Lee Jae Myung ordered a probe into suspected illegal ties between a religious group and politicians, saying it must cover ruling and opposition figures alike as police investigate Unification Church donations linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and possible wider political funding. Joyce Lee and Heejin Kim, Reuters, December 10
Seoul, Tokyo arranging Lee-Takaichi summit in mid-Jan. in Japan’s Nara: report. Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun reported that South Korea and Japan are coordinating summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Nara around Jan. 13-14, possibly at Todaiji Temple, as part of shuttle diplomacy to sustain improving ties despite tensions over Dokdo and territorial claims. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, December 11
South Korea’s Hanwha, U.S. defense startup Vatn to build underwater drones. Hanwha joined a $60 million funding round for Rhode Island-based Vatn Systems to co-develop inexpensive autonomous undersea drones for the U.S. Navy, aimed at swarming surveillance and strike missions as Washington races to counter China’s naval buildup and expand unmanned capabilities across contested sea lanes and key chokepoints. David Jeans, Reuters, December 10
North Korea
N. Korea’s Kim delivers ‘important conclusion’ at party plenary meeting: KCNA. State media said Kim Jong-un presided over the second day of the Workers’ Party Central Committee’s 13th plenary meeting, reviewing 2025 policy implementation and preparations for a ninth congress. KCNA reported he assessed key achievements, identified problems to fix before the congress and assigned tasks and directions. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, December 10
Vietnam
Vietnam set to make it harder for media to protect sources, to expand state secrets. Vietnam’s parliament approved new press and state secrets laws that let security agencies and police compel journalists to reveal sources for any criminal investigation, not only serious offences, while expanding additional classified information to leaders’ travel, compensation and investment disputes, sparking serious press freedom warnings. Francesco Guarascio, Reuters, December 10
National Assembly approves amendments to anti-corruption law. Vietnam’s National Assembly passed revisions tightening asset-declaration rules, requiring officials to explain undeclared wealth increases of at least VND1 billion and treating such disclosures as a performance criterion. The amended law expands reportable asset categories, covers overseas holdings and takes effect July 1, 2026, alongside new construction and citizen-complaint legislation and anti-graft measures. Vietnam News, December 11
Thailand
Trump says he is scheduling a phone call for Thursday with Thailand, Cambodia amid conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with leaders of Thailand and Cambodia about the escalating conflict, telling reporters he believes he can persuade both sides to halt fighting as clashes continue displacing civilians. Steve Holland and Christian Martinez, Reuters, December 10
Prime Minister says dissolving House won’t affect border war. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said safeguarding sovereignty along the Cambodian border will continue uninterrupted even if he dissolves the House, insisting security agencies operate regardless of political timetables. He denied reports of talks on a dissolution date while signalling it could precede Jan. 31 and defending party activity amid criticism. Mongkol Bangprapa, Bangkok Post, December 11
Cambodia
Cambodia collecting evidence for ICC case regarding Thai military aggression. Cambodia is compiling documentation and testimony to bring a case before the International Criminal Court over what officials describe as Thailand’s ongoing armed aggression, citing heavy weapons strikes, air raids on civilian areas and the displacement of more than 127,000 people after deadly attacks across five border provinces this month. Khmer Times, December 10
Philippines
Prison authorities deny reports of special treatment for convicted ex-mayor Alice Guo. Prison officials said convicted former Bamban mayor Alice Guo is under a five-day quarantine at the Correctional Institution for Women, with visitor logs showing her lawyers as visitors and no access to a cellphone, rejecting rumors of special treatment after conviction for POGO-linked human trafficking. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, December 11
PH embassies urged to act now to look for Zaldy Co. Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco urged Philippine embassies worldwide to help locate former Ako Bicol congressman Zaldy Co after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cancelled his passport over flood control corruption charges, pledging to back the administration’s drive against massive graft and ensure Co eventually faces trial soon. Arlie O. Calalo, The Manila Times, December 10
Indonesia
Putin meets Indonesia’s Prabowo to discuss military and energy ties, wheat exports. At the Kremlin, Putin praised growing military cooperation with Indonesia, offered help building the country’s first nuclear power plant and discussed resuming larger wheat shipments after a dip in exports, as Prabowo hailed relations and invited him to visit Indonesia in 2026 or 2027 to broaden economic ties. Ksenia Orlova, Reuters, December 10
Indonesia denies rumors of stalled U.S. tariff talks. An Indonesian economic ministry spokesperson said negotiations with Washington on a zero % tariff deal remain on track, rejecting reports that a U.S. official warned talks could collapse after Jakarta allegedly withdrew commitments. Indonesia seeks duty-free access for palm oil, rubber, tea, coffee and more while pledging big increases in U.S. energy, farm imports and investment. News, December 10
Taiwan
Taipei to review ties with Seoul after ‘wrongful’ designation. Taiwan will reassess relations with South Korea, focusing on a big trade deficit, after Seoul’s new e-Arrival card listed Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” despite protests. Deputy foreign ministry official Richard Liu urged a swift correction, warning the label downgrades Taiwan’s status, further strains ties and bilateral trade. Joseph Yeh and Liao Yu-yang, Focus Taiwan, December 10
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan deepens its critical minerals push. Kazakhstan’s latest geological survey results show new forecasts of rare earths, gold and other strategic metals across Abai, East Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Kostanay, with several deposits added to the national register and mapped subsoil coverage set to reach 2.2 million square kilometres by 2026 under a state-led exploration drive. Dr. Robert M. Cutler, The Times of Central Asia, December 10
AIFC Connect accelerates capital market integration between Kazakhstan and UAE. Kazakhstan showcased infrastructure, financial and technology projects at AIFC Connect: Abu Dhabi 2025 to deepen investment ties with the UAE, highlighting rising Emirati inflows, the AIFC’s role as a regional hub linking exchanges and dirham bonds, and new green finance and privatization opportunities in transport, logistics and digitalization. Fatima Kemelova, The Astana Times, December 10
East Asia
The meaning of China’s record-high trade surplus. China’s leadership celebrates technological self-reliance and industrial upgrading while a record goods trade surplus above one trillion dollars reveals heavy dependence on foreign demand. Exports are up by about a third since 2021 while sales of new flats fall by half, linking external strength with a deep property slump. Exports stay resilient through new markets and indirect routes to America as tariffs rise, but imports contract because weak construction and falling home values suppress business spending and household consumption. Deflation lowers production costs and keeps interest rates and the yuan down, which reinforces export strength, delays large-scale fiscal support and risks a persistent deflationary mindset. The Economist, December 10
Reverse Deng? For professionals only. Western governments explore a Reverse Deng strategy that seeks technology and skills from Chinese investors in order to rebuild domestic manufacturing while shielding young industries from direct competition. The approach reflects China’s own path, which used special zones, sector catalogues, joint ventures, subsidies and tools such as a battery white list to favor national champions in electric vehicles and push foreign firms aside. Joint ventures on their own do not create strong indigenous brands, as shown by long-standing auto partnerships in China. Western firms face junior roles with higher costs. Success requires strict local hiring and sourcing rules and close engagement with capable anchor enterprises so that emulation, protection and competition can evolve in sequence and create resilient ecosystems. Yanmei Xie, MERICS, December 10
China’s Growing Interest in the Middle Corridor Presents a Dilemma for Europe. The Ukraine war, sanctions on Russia and maritime shocks push both Europe and China to develop the Middle Corridor as an alternative Eurasian route through Central Asia, the Caspian and the South Caucasus. The EU uses Global Gateway projects to support supply chain diversification, critical raw material access and strategic autonomy. China folds the route into the Belt and Road and deepens control over regional minerals, while promoting a South-South cooperation narrative that rejects democratic conditions. European use of the corridor could increase dependence on Turkey and expose the EU to local conflicts and Russian pressure. Europe must strengthen its presence while limiting new dependencies and regional entanglements. Owen Au and Tin-Ching Leung, China Observers, December 10
South Korea’s US pivot raises alarm for Beijing. Under President Lee Jae myung, South Korea tightens alignment with the United States, treating pragmatic diplomacy as a way to secure long-term interests while accepting the ROK-US alliance as the basic framework. Intensified US-China rivalry narrows space for hedging, and South Korean outward investment flows in greater volume to the American market than to China, illustrated by large planned commitments in shipbuilding and high technology industries. At the same time, trilateral security and economic cooperation with Japan and the United States becomes regular and institutional. China remains an important trading partner, and mutual distrust, past retaliation over THAAD and diverging strategic priorities limit Beijing’s leverage over Seoul’s choices. Jin Kai, ThinkChina, December 10
Koryo Medicine in North Korea: Insights From a Pharmaceutical App Dataset. A large dataset from a North Korean medical app reveals 234 Koryo medicines out of more than 3,000 listed products, produced by 69 factories that range from dedicated Koryo medicine plants to general pharmaceutical sites. Most items appear as powders, pills or capsules suited to weak cold chain infrastructure, and include shared formulas such as Uhwangchŏngsimhwan and an injectable form of Angung Uhwanghwan. Prices follow two categories linked to official and market exchange rates, with huge gaps between brands of the same drug. State promotion through herb collection, forests and public factories keeps prices low, yet regulation, quality control and actual health impact remain unclear. Heeje Lee and Myung Sun Kim, 38 North, December 10
Southeast Asia
Can Bangladesh’s political crucible forge lasting democracy? Following a student-led uprising that removed Sheikh Hasina in 2024, Bangladesh faces a fragile transition under an interim authority that prosecutes former leaders, bans the Awami League and its student wing, and uses the International Crimes Tribunal for accountability. Supporters see a break with impunity, while critics fear political revenge and damage to pluralism. A new party constellation of BNP, resurgent Jamaat and a student-rooted National Citizen Party contests timing and content of a July National Charter referendum. The next government must tackle inflation, patronage based banking, tax reform, corruption, climate threats and a tense strategic triangle with India, China and the United States while building independent electoral, judicial and anti-corruption institutions that prevent renewed state capture. Pranab Kumar Panday, East Asia Forum, December 10
South Asia
A US private equity firm’s challenges in bringing Chinese manufacturing to India. India’s growth masks deep regional inequality and persistent failure to create large-scale manufacturing jobs, which leaves a young population underemployed and dependent on precarious gig work. Warburg Pincus seeks to build Chinese-style mass production in India by expanding Haier’s local operations through a joint venture overseen by veteran entrepreneur Sunil Mittal. Success could provide a model for quality manufacturing and stable employment. Political distrust of China, military tensions, fears that Chinese firms will crush Indian competitors and visa problems for Chinese technicians together complicate efforts to admit significant Chinese capital and technology. Henny Sender, Nikkei Asia, December 10