South Korea President Yoon indicted for insurrection over martial law decree. South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted on charges of leading an insurrection following his brief martial law declaration on December 3. The decree sought to ban political and parliamentary activities, leading to widespread upheaval. Yoon, who was arrested on January 15, could face life imprisonment or death if convicted. The Constitutional Court is reviewing whether to remove him from office or reinstate his powers. Hyunsu Yim, Reuters, January 26
Chinese and Indian diplomats call for warmer relations but make no public mention of border dispute. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian diplomat Vikram Misri discussed strengthening ties in a meeting in Beijing, emphasizing mutual support and cooperation. They agreed to resume pilgrimages to Tibet’s Mount Kailash, paused since 2020, but avoided addressing the ongoing border tensions in the Himalayas. Despite a 2024 pact aimed at troop disengagement, substantial military forces remain stationed along the disputed border. Economic relations between the nations have also faced strain since the 2020 clash. AP News, January 27
Taiwan president appeals for harmony amid budget standoff. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called for harmony between the ruling and opposition parties in his Lunar New Year message as tensions rose over opposition-led budget cuts. The opposition reduced T$207.6 billion ($6.33 billion) from the proposed budget, including nearly T$90 billion ($2.74 billion) in defense spending. Lai emphasized unity but did not directly address the budget issue. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities while deferring to its budget decisions. Ben Blanchard, David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina, Reuters, January 27
MRC Secretariat welcomes new leadership. Busadee Santipitaks has begun her role as the first female Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat, overseeing its work from Vientiane, Laos, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The MRC facilitates cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam for sustainable management of the Mekong River’s resources. Busadee plans to strengthen regional partnerships, enhance monitoring of river changes, and improve flood and drought resilience. Oulayvanh Sisounonth, The Laotian Times, January 27
N. Korea test-fires strategic cruise missile: KCNA. North Korea launched sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles, marking its first test under U.S. President Donald Trump’s new term. The missiles, flying 1,500 kilometers in elliptical patterns, reportedly struck targets with precision. Leader Kim Jong-un emphasized strengthening military power for sustainable peace. South Korea’s military confirmed the launch, noting ongoing analysis with U.S. intelligence. Experts suggest the test aims to enhance tactical nuclear strike capabilities, potentially linked to developments in submarine-launched missiles. Chae Yun-hwan, Yonhap News Agency, January 26
Myanmar junta enacts foreign travel ban for people of conscription age. Myanmar’s military council has amended the conscription law to bar individuals aged 18-35 for men and 18-27 for women from traveling abroad without prior permission. Local administrators are required to compile lists of eligible residents and ensure they undergo medical examinations. Those who pass must register for military service and remain in the country during the waiting period, whether or not they have completed training. Myanmar Now, January 27
Kazakhstan, Türkiye sign military cooperation plan for 2025 in Ankara. Kazakhstan and Türkiye signed a 2025 military cooperation plan during a visit by a Kazakh delegation led by Colonel Olzhas Khussainov to Ankara. The agreement, signed by Khussainov and Turkish Brigadier General Çatal Erdoğan, includes collaboration in military education, peacekeeping, combat training, and medical cooperation, along with high-level exchanges. Dana Omirgazy, The Astana Times, January 27
Chinese envoy to Colombia promotes bilateral ties as Bogota clashes with Washington. Chinese Ambassador Zhu Jingyang highlighted strong ties between China and Colombia, calling the relationship the best in 45 years. His remarks coincided with a diplomatic dispute between Colombia and the U.S. over deportation flights of undocumented migrants, leading to tariff threats and travel bans by U.S. President Donald Trump. Zhu’s comments raised speculation about Beijing leveraging regional tensions to expand influence. Colombia is also exploring participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Brics membership. Igor Patrick, South China Morning Post, January 28
Ishiba, Noda fail to see eye to eye on diplomacy, economy, politics. During an opening Diet debate, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda clashed on key policy issues but achieved little resolution. Noda criticized Ishiba for sidestepping questions on U.S. policies under Donald Trump and raised concerns about Japan’s fiscal deficit projected at 4.5 trillion yen in 2025. The debate also highlighted scandals involving LDP members and unresolved issues surrounding corporate political donations. Takahiro Okubo, The Asahi Shimbun, January 27
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan leaders discuss regional cooperation and tourism development. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met informally in Uzbekistan to discuss bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and joint tourism projects. They emphasized leveraging their countries' natural landscapes to create resorts and recreation centers, aiming to boost tourism and local economies. Japarov praised Amirsoy’s world-class infrastructure while reflecting on Kyrgyzstan’s untapped tourism potential. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, January 27
Prabowo celebrates 45-year bond with Malaysian king. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reflected on his 45-year friendship with Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim, established during their studies in the United States. During his visit to Malaysia, Prabowo emphasized the cultural and historical ties between the two nations and noted his family’s longstanding connections with Malaysia’s founding leaders. Sultan Ibrahim honored Prabowo with the Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor. ANTARA News, January 27
Xi Jinping puts focus on defusing economic risks in Lunar New Year message. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for resilience and reform to address economic risks and external challenges during his Lunar New Year message. Xi emphasized high-quality development, reforms, and self-reliance in technology while warning of obstacles, including fragile investor sentiment and demographic issues. He reaffirmed anti-corruption efforts, citing investigations into 56 senior officials in 2024, and announced plans for China’s next five-year blueprint to modernize by 2029. Enoch Wong, South China Morning Post, January 27
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Estonia discuss defense, arms cooperation. South Korea’s Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur met in Seoul to explore expanded defense and arms collaboration. Discussions highlighted progress in cybersecurity cooperation and Estonia's acquisition of South Korea's K9 self-propelled howitzers. Both sides agreed to pursue personnel exchanges and training initiatives while expressing concerns over military ties between North Korea and Russia, calling for an end to their cooperation. Lee Minji, Yonhap News Agency, January 27
Chinese companies to launch land reclamation project in Champassak, Oudomxay. Three Chinese companies have signed an agreement to initiate a large-scale agricultural land reclamation project in Champassak and Oudomxay provinces of Laos. Supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the project spans 267,000 hectares in each province and focuses on cultivating tobacco, sugarcane, and bananas. This venture aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and aims to boost agricultural development, create jobs, and contribute to Laos' tax revenues. Vientiane Times, January 28
China's Faltering Economy and Investment: Beijing's Challenge at Home. China's economy is experiencing a slowdown, confronting a real estate crash, banks laden with bad loans, rising youth unemployment, heavily indebted local governments, and a declining, aging population. Foreign investment has notably decreased, with net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows dropping from a peak of $344 billion in 2021 to $42.7 billion in 2023—the lowest in over two decades. In the first half of 2024, net FDI inflows turned negative, indicating that foreign firms repatriated more earnings than they invested in China. This decline in investment is attributed to China's tightening economic controls, lack of transparency, and political factors under Xi Jinping's leadership, which could strain its global economic relationships and exacerbate tensions with the U.S. and its allies. Doug Bandow, China US Focus, January 27
Urban farms take root in Singapore’s race for more food self-sufficiency. Singapore is striving to achieve food resilience through high-tech urban farming and novel food production as part of its "30 by 30" goal to meet 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. While initiatives such as indoor vegetable farms, lab-grown proteins, and aquaculture have gained attention, rising costs, delayed projects, and economic challenges have hindered progress. Over 90% of Singapore’s food is imported, and despite efforts to scale up domestic production, local farms struggle to compete with cheaper imports from neighboring countries. Novel food technologies remain expensive, and urban farming risks becoming a niche activity unless supported by strong infrastructure, government funding, and consumer acceptance. Paul Teng, East Asia Forum, January 28
Timor-Leste’s financial cliff draws closer in 2025. Timor-Leste faces a looming fiscal crisis as unsustainable withdrawals from its $18 billion Petroleum Fund continue to finance government budgets, which have grown to more than double sustainable levels. The 2025 budget prioritizes environmental spending and cultural sectors but abandons earlier efforts to rein in expenditures. With depleted oil fields and a stagnant economy, the government banks on the stalled Greater Sunrise liquefied natural gas project, hoping onshore processing will drive economic diversification, despite limited infrastructure and skills. Meanwhile, Australia has offered Timor-Leste 90% of the gas revenue, yet no agreement has been reached. Living standards have slightly improved, but over a quarter of the population remains in absolute poverty, with significant food insecurity and stunting among children. Without urgent reforms, Timor-Leste risks deepening economic challenges and reversing development gains. Damien Kingsbury, East Asia Forum, January 27
The return of the vortex in South Korea and the turbulence ahead. South Korea faces a deep political crisis following President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024, which was swiftly overturned by parliament and led to his impeachment and ongoing legal battles. Yoon’s actions have exposed the nation’s entrenched factionalism but also demonstrated the resilience of its democratic institutions, with civil society playing a role in resisting military involvement in politics. The conservative People Power Party struggles to distance itself from Yoon, while progressive leader Lee Jae-myung, despite corruption charges, is positioned to gain power. The political turmoil coincides with Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, raising concerns about renewed pressure on South Korea over defense spending, trade, and relations with North Korea, as well as potential rifts in the U.S.-South Korea alliance. A progressive administration in Seoul may slow trilateral security integration with Japan and resist U.S. efforts to contain China, though experts believe Lee could pragmatically manage relations with both Washington and Beijing. Daniel Sneider, East Asia Forum, January 26
New leadership, continued orthodoxies in Singapore. Singapore’s economy grew by 4% in 2024, recovering from 1.1% growth in 2023, despite global tensions and disruptions in shipping. New Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in May 2024, continued established policies, including household transfers to offset a GST hike, the Majulah Package to boost retirement savings, and new initiatives like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker scheme and increased housing subsidies. Inflation moderated, unemployment remained low, and real wages grew, but challenges such as technology sector retrenchments, housing affordability, and a skills gap persisted. Rising public housing prices outpaced wage growth, complicating retirement savings and family planning. Singapore’s government emphasized stability ahead of a general election due by November 2025, citing its governance record, including the 2024 conviction of a minister for corruption. The establishment of the Johor–Singapore Economic Zone offers new development opportunities, but balancing continuity with adaptation remains critical amid global economic volatility. Chang Yee Kwan, East Asia Forum, January 25
The State of the South China Sea: Coercion at Sea, Slow Progress on a Code of Conduct. In 2024, the South China Sea experienced heightened tensions due to increased Chinese coercion against Philippine vessels, including harassment and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia. The Philippines responded by adopting a new maritime defense strategy, increasing patrols, and strengthening alliances with the United States and other partners. Vietnam intensified construction activities in the Spratly Islands. Despite these developments, negotiations between ASEAN and China on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea made little progress, with key issues remaining unresolved. Carl Thayer, The Diplomat, January 27.
China's Position in the Global Aviation Industry. China is advancing its aviation sector by promoting the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) as a competitor to industry leaders Airbus and Boeing. Efforts include persuading Vietnam to authorize COMAC's C909 jets for operation, with ongoing discussions between Chinese officials and Vietnamese regulators. Domestically, China's aviation market has become the largest globally, operating over 4,300 transport aircraft and managing 262 airports, with plans to expand to 400 airports by 2035. State-owned carriers such as Air China, China Southern, and China Eastern are among the world's largest airlines and are expanding their international reach, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. COMAC's flagship aircraft, the C919, entered commercial service in 2023, and the company aims to increase production capacity to 50 units in 2025. However, challenges persist, including obtaining international certifications and establishing global maintenance support, as the C919 relies heavily on Western-made components. Matthew Rochat, The Diplomat, January 27
China's Lesson for India on Weaponized Interdependence. Recent reports indicate that Chinese companies are restricting exports of advanced capital goods and machinery to India, impacting Indian manufacturers in sectors such as electronics, solar panels, and electric vehicles. This move poses a significant geoeconomic challenge for India, which relies on integrating into global manufacturing networks, many of which are dominated by China. The export curbs come amid a diplomatic rapprochement between the two nations, following tensions from border disputes in 2020. India's previous measures, including investment screening laws targeting Chinese companies, have contributed to the current situation. Srijan Shukla, The Diplomat, January 25
Smog and Mirrors: Bishkek’s Half-Hearted Battle With Pollution. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, faces severe winter air pollution, with recent air quality rankings placing it among the world's most polluted cities. Contributing factors include widespread use of low-quality lignite coal for heating in informal settlements, emissions from aging vehicles, rapid population growth, and urban development that impedes air circulation. Despite government discussions on measures such as mobile air quality monitoring and restrictions on substandard coal, tangible improvements remain elusive. Health impacts are significant, with pollution-related issues costing Kyrgyzstan an estimated $24 million annually and contributing to approximately 5,000 premature deaths each year. Joe Luc Barnes, Vlast, January 27
Riau Islands 2024 Gubernatorial Election: Decisive Win Despite Low Voter Turnout. On November 27, 2024, incumbent Governor Ansar Ahmad secured re-election in Indonesia's Riau Islands province, defeating challenger Muhammad Rudi with 55.1% of the vote. Ansar's victory is attributed to his broad coalition support and controversies surrounding Rudi, including the contentious Rempang eco-city project and internal divisions within Rudi's National Democrat Party. Notably, voter turnout was low, with 47.6% abstaining, a increase from the 33.4% abstention rate in the 2020 election. Factors contributing to the low turnout include inclement weather on election day and potential issues with voter list distribution. The high abstention rate raises concerns about political engagement in the region. Ady Muzwardi and Siwage Dharma Negara, Fulcrum, January 28
Myanmar in 2025: Change or Plus ça Change? Myanmar’s military junta, the State Administration Council (SAC), remains entrenched in power despite territorial losses to ethnic armed organizations in 2024. While the SAC pushes for elections, key political stakeholders like the National League for Democracy remain excluded, and resistance groups, though determined, remain fragmented. Economically, Myanmar’s GDP declined by 1% in 2024, with high inflation, declining foreign investment, and food prices up over 40%. Conflict and SAC policies, including money printing and forex restrictions, hinder growth prospects for 2025, with poverty and out-migration expected to stay high. An illegitimate election is unlikely to resolve the nation’s deep political and economic crises. Kyaw Yin Hlaing, Kyi Sin, Jared Bissinger, Su Mon Thazin Aung, and Moe Thuzar, Fulcrum, January 27