China
China’s ‘dirt cheap’ hypersonic missiles could upend global defense markets: state media. Chinese firm Lingkong Tianxing has unveiled the YKJ 1000 hypersonic glide missile, with 1,300 km range and top speed of Mach 7, using foamed concrete and other civilian grade materials to cut costs. State media say unit cost may be about $99,000, far below Western interceptors, raising concerns about cheaper mass production reshaping global defense markets. Zhang Tong, South China Morning Post, December 2
China issues first batch of streamlined rare earth export licenses, source says. China has issued the first batch of new rare earth export licenses, which should speed shipments to selected customers after months of disruption caused by tighter controls introduced in April. The year long general licenses cover many clients of three major magnet makers and partly ease shortages, though eligibility is limited and questions remain over access for sensitive sectors and foreign buyers. Reuters, December 2
Chinese military issues new rules to ‘prioritize strict political discipline’. New rules expand disciplinary violations to include erroneous political remarks, disobeying Central Military Commission orders and undermining the CMC chairman responsibility system. They support Xi Jinping’s anti corruption drive by targeting fake combat capabilities, tightening oversight of promotions, procurement and business activity, and enforcing thrift in defense spending. William Zheng, South China Morning Post, December 3
China’s Xinjiang hosts regional forum to boost Central Asia links, trade. China’s Tianshan Forum for Central Asia Economic Cooperation in Urumqi gathers over 300 officials, financiers, experts and business representatives to discuss trade, transport, energy and digital connectivity across the region. The event launches a Central Asia fiscal cooperation research center and highlights surging China Central Asia trade as Xinjiang strengthens its role as a Belt and Road hub. Author, Global Times, December 2
Japan
Affiliates of 9 Japanese firms sue U.S. government for tariff refunds. Affiliates of at least nine Japanese firms have sued the U.S. government seeking full refunds of additional tariffs paid this year if the Supreme Court finds President Donald Trump’s reciprocal levies illegal. They argue his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act without congressional approval overstepped presidential authority, and rushed to court amid uncertainty over refunds and ongoing legal challenges by other importers. Kyodo News, December 3
Japan Coast Guard reports standoff with Chinese vessels near Senkaku Islands. Two China Coast Guard ships entered and later left Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, prompting a fresh standoff with Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea. The incident comes amid heightened tensions after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan could intervene militarily in any Chinese attack on Taiwan. The Japan Times, December 2
Japan holds first meeting on DOGE-inspired waste cut. Japan holds a first ministerial meeting to review tax measures, subsidies and funds, inspired by the United States Department of Government Efficiency. The government forms a 30 person unit in the Cabinet Secretariat to hunt wasteful spending and orders ministries to verify outcomes from the budget request stage. Officials plan reviews tied to the 2026 budget and will solicit public views on cuts. The Japan Times, December 2
South Korea
Lee thanks opposition party for cooperation in passage of 2026 budget bill. President Lee Jae Myung thanked the main opposition People Power Party for cooperating with the ruling Democratic Party to pass the 727.9 trillion won 2026 budget before the legal deadline. He said the cross party agreement was unexpected but showed room to improve bipartisan cooperation. Lee stressed continued dialogue with the opposition and framed national unity as a top priority. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, December 3
South Korea’s Lee says on martial law anniversary perpetrators must face justice. President Lee Jae Myung marks the first anniversary of former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid, warning that those who tried to destroy constitutional order must face justice. He hails citizens for stopping the attempted coup, compares reform to removing cancer, proposes December 3 as a national holiday, and says Koreans deserve consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize. Ju-min Park, Joyce Lee and Jack Kim, Reuters, December 3
Lee touts securing U.S. consent for nuclear-powered subs as major achievement in summit with Trump. President Lee Jae Myung said securing U.S. consent for South Korea to acquire nuclear powered submarines was the key outcome of his two summits with Donald Trump, calling it a gain for strategic flexibility and autonomy. He wants the vessels built at home, stresses full adherence to nonproliferation rules, and offers to scale down drills with the U.S. to revive talks with North Korea. Kim Seung-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, December 3
North Korea
Lee proposes restoring communication channels with N. Korea. President Lee Jae Myung proposed restoring communication channels with North Korea as a starting point for peaceful coexistence, speaking at the launch of the 22th Peaceful Unification Advisory Council. He called for ending hostility, shared growth and cooperation on climate, disasters and public health, and pledged to act as a pacemaker for dialogue while reducing military tensions and preventing clashes along the border. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, December 2
Thailand
Thai inflation posts eighth straight negative reading in November. Thailand’s annual headline inflation fell 0.49% in November, the eighth straight negative reading and ninth month below the central bank’s 1% to 3% target, as cheaper energy and government support eased living costs. Core inflation rose 0.66%, while the Commerce Ministry expects 2026 inflation between 0.0% and 1.0% and markets anticipate an interest rate cut from 1.50% at the December 17 policy review. Orathai Sriring, Thanadech Staporncharnchai and Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters, December 3
Myanmar
Myanmar’s opium poppy cultivation hits highest level in a decade, UN says. Opium poppy cultivation in war torn Myanmar has risen to its highest level in 10 years, up 17% in the year as conflict and economic hardship push farmers toward illicit crops. The UNODC estimates 53,100 hectares under cultivation, reinforcing Myanmar as the main source of opium amid falling Afghan output. The sharpest growth is in eastern Shan and Chin States, with fields expanding near India. Naw Betty Han, Reuters, December 3
Myanmar junta boss urges civil servants to vote for military-aligned candidates. With less than a month before the regime’s planned election, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing urges Myanmar’s 900,000 civil servants to back candidates aligned with the military and its Three Main Causes. He effectively endorses the USDP, built to entrench generals in power, after dissolving major pro democracy parties and seeking a parliamentary majority to secure his own presidency. The Irrawaddy, December 2
Cambodia
Cambodia rejects Thai allegations over ‘new landmines,’ calls for evidence-based dialogue. Cambodia rejects Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow’s claim that Phnom Penh recently laid new anti personnel mines along the border and should face Ottawa Convention action, calling it baseless. The mine authority says contamination dates to conflicts from the 1970s to 1990s and urges cooperative, evidence based demining under the Mine Ban Convention. Khmer Times, December 3
Philippines
Gov’t open to bounty for Zaldy Co’s arrest. Malacañang signaled it may offer a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, a key figure in a widening flood control bribery scandal. Palace officials said agencies are verifying reports he is abroad as investigators raid Taguig condominiums linked to him to secure documents on alleged kickbacks and rigged public works contracts. Catherine S. Valente and Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, December 2
Gov’t open to bounty for Zaldy Co’s arrest. Malacañang signaled it may offer a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, a key figure in a widening flood control bribery scandal. Palace officials said agencies are verifying reports he is abroad as investigators raid Taguig condominiums linked to him to secure documents on alleged kickbacks and rigged public works contracts. Catherine S. Valente and Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, December 2
Indonesia
Indonesia needs $757 billion by 2035 to meet climate targets, government says. Indonesia says it will need $757.6 billion in climate financing by 2035 to meet its upgraded NDC targets, exposing a major funding gap as climate outlays average $4.4 billion a year, or 3% of the budget. Minister Rachmat Pambudy urges large scale investment in low carbon technology and highlights a new Innovation and Technology Fund to back provincial projects. Jakarta Globe, December 2
Malaysia
Malaysia tightens nuclear controls under amended law. The amended law tightens control of atomic energy activities, requiring permits for import, export, transshipment and transit of radioactive and nuclear material. It expands oversight to safety, security and safeguards, obliges operators to submit decommissioning plans and maintain material accounts, and grants the International Atomic Energy Agency access for inspections. Sabotage or nuclear weapons offences can bring prison terms of 40 years or death. Ashley Tang, Reuters, December 2
Taiwan
Taiwan looking forward to re-establish ties with Honduras, foreign minister says. Taiwan is preparing for possible restoration of diplomatic ties with Honduras as both leading presidential candidates signal openness to Taipei. Foreign Minister Lin Chia lung says Taipei is in close contact with both campaigns and will pursue equal mutually beneficial relations with the new Honduran leadership. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, December 3
Trump signs Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act into law. United States President Donald Trump has signed the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, requiring the State Department to regularly review and update guidelines on official U.S. interactions with Taiwan. The law amends the 2020 Taiwan Assurance Act, mandates reviews at least every five years with reports to Congress, and is welcomed by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, which calls it a major step toward deeper engagement. Elaine Hou and Evelyn Kao, Focus Taiwan, December 3
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, China prepare to launch remote sensing satellite Samarqand-2028. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed plans for the Samarqand-2028 Earth remote sensing satellite, to be built with Chinese partners and launched in 2026. The craft will carry AI modules to process imagery in orbit, enabling spectral analysis of crops and mapping of cotton and wheat. Data will also support air quality checks and forest monitoring. Gazeta, December 2
Tajikistan
Tajikistan is in talks with Russia about helping guard its Afghan border, security sources say. Tajikistan is discussing joint patrols of the Afghan frontier with Russia and a Moscow led security alliance, using troops from Russias base near Dushanbe after deadly attacks on Chinese workers. Five Chinese nationals were killed and five injured, prompting China to urge its citizens to leave the area, and a decision is expected soon. Felix Light, Reuters, December 2
Afghanistan
Afghan Taliban vow border cooperation after Tajikistan says attacks killed five Chinese. Afghanistans Taliban administration told Tajikistan it is ready to tighten border security and hold joint investigations after attacks from Afghan territory killed five Chinese nationals and injured five more. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed regret and said coordinated action against militants is essential as Tajikistan orders tougher controls along the frontier where China has significant investments. Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Ariba Shahid, Reuters, December 2
East Asia
China’s new Web ID tightens government’s grip on online activity. China’s new Web ID creates a centralized National Internet Identity that ties users real-world credentials and facial data to a single login used across social media, government services and commercial platforms. Marketed as a voluntary tool for security and fraud prevention, it moves identity checks from tech companies to state agencies, letting authorities track activity across sites, lift anonymity and punish speech they view as destabilizing. By consolidating data under government control, Web ID reinforces the Great Firewall, exposes journalists and activists who rely on VPNs, advances China’s data-driven AI ambitions and heightens cybersecurity risks, including if its use spreads through foreign firms and Belt and Road partners. Wendy Chang and Altynay Junusova, Merics, December 2
How Modern Chinese Surveillance and Censorship Prevail on Self Regulation. Contemporary censorship in China rests on constant reminders that online speech is monitored, creating uncertainty that pushes citizens and companies to police themselves. A multilayered system involving state regulators, network providers and content platforms uses vague rules and a Public Pledge on Self Discipline to move legal risk onto private actors, who over-censor to stay safe. Laws framed as protecting national unity and cybersecurity reinforce a chilling effect in which self-preservation replaces open expression. Foreign firms and governments also strengthen this system through data sharing, tailored technologies and export of surveillance tools, helping sustain a security model built on internalized control. Erica Ruoxin Zhang, Sino-Southeast Initiative, December 2
Why China Didn’t Do a ‘Kissinger’ to Split Europe From America. China had a chance to exploit loosening transatlantic ties by mediating Russia’s war on Ukraine and enticing Europe with peace, economic access and security guarantees, yet chose to deepen support for Moscow instead. Chinese financing, oil purchases and provision of critical military production equipment keep Russia fighting and increase Beijing’s leverage over the Kremlin. As Russia becomes a dependent junior partner, China can gain stakes in Russian energy and resources and possibly press historic border claims. This hardened axis leaves Europe more vulnerable and less able to aid the United States, demanding that Western governments confront the long term security implications. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Foreign Policy, December 2
America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins. Chinese born students, scientists and technology specialists have long powered American innovation, yet hostile immigration policies, espionage fears and China Initiative prosecutions are driving many away while China expands funding for research and development and offers generous incentives for returnees. Numbers of Chinese students in the United States have fallen sharply since 2019, and tens of thousands of researchers of Chinese origin have left, often heading to new universities and laboratories in China. The change is especially worrying in artificial intelligence, where American firms rely heavily on Chinese talent and risk losing a vital edge in their rivalry with Beijing. The Economist, December 2
South Korea’s THAAD pain shows what Takaichi can expect from China. Chinese retaliation against South Korea’s deployment of the THAAD missile defense system illustrates the mix of economic pressure, tourism cuts and diplomatic cold shoulders now directed at Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her Taiwan remarks. South Korean firms such as Lotte suffered consumer boycotts and lost access to the China market, although overall exports and growth held up as producers found substitutes. The episode drove South Korean public opinion sharply against China and strengthened support for the United States alliance. Japan faces similar coercion but enters the confrontation with deeper de-risking and a firmer stance toward Beijing. Joel Atkinson, Nikkei Asia, December 2
South Asia
Trump’s Tariffs Are Hitting India Hard. Trump’s decision to double tariffs on many Indian exports from 25 percent to 50 percent exposes the fragility of India’s trade model, which leans heavily on the United States and on low value manufactured goods. Half of Indian exports to the US have suddenly become far less competitive, hurting workers and firms that depend on that market. India needs to secure targeted carve-outs through negotiation while also reorienting toward more diverse partners and higher value production. Stronger regional integration and industrial upgrading can turn this shock into a catalyst for more resilient long term growth. Shashi Tharoor, Project Syndicate, December 1
India’s Future Strategic Choices: Complications of Mass. India seeks to convert rapid economic growth and a vast population into greater influence for the Global South while preserving strategic autonomy. Long-standing grievances about exclusion from top institutions such as the UN Security Council shape a push for governance reform, new plurilateral groupings and stronger regional ties. Expanding trade, development assistance and digital infrastructure underpin efforts to present India as a partner that supports sovereignty and inclusive growth. Yet rivalry with China, persistent border tensions and Beijing’s role in South Asia drive India toward closer security cooperation with the United States and its allies, complicating its ambition to remain a neutral bridge among competing powers. Richard M. Rossow, CSIS, December 2