China
China close to opening $10 billion canal linking heartlands to Southeast Asia. China is set to finish the 134-kilometre Pinglu Canal by the end of 2026, giving landlocked southwestern provinces direct access to global shipping lanes for the first time in centuries. The $10.4 billion project links Guangxi to the Beibu Gulf and is designed to cut transport costs and bypass Guangdong as the main export gateway. Officials expect the canal to deepen trade with ASEAN, China’s largest trading partner, and accelerate regional industrial development. Carol Yang, South China Morning Post, January 26
Chinese loans to Africa down by nearly 50 per cent as priorities shift to smaller projects. Chinese lending to Africa fell 46% to $2.1 billion in 2024, extending a sharp decline from peaks above $10 billion a decade ago, according to a new study. Researchers said Beijing is shifting away from large sovereign loans toward smaller, commercially viable projects and greater use of yuan-denominated financing. The recalibration reflects debt sustainability concerns while maintaining strategic engagement rather than a full withdrawal. Jevans Nyabiage, South China Morning Post, January 26
Top Chinese officials hold talks with OIC secretary general. China’s vice president and foreign minister held talks in Beijing with the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation amid heightened Middle East tensions. Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for building a regional security partnership and resolving hotspot issues through political dialogue. The meeting followed sharp rhetoric between Iran and the United States over regional security. Colleen Howe, Reuters, January 26
Japan
Japan PM Takaichi’s high approval rating slips ahead of election. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approval rating fell in multiple polls ahead of the Feb. 8 election she framed as a referendum on her leadership. Surveys showed growing voter skepticism toward her economic stimulus plans and election timing. Analysts said the vote outcome remains unpredictable despite her personal popularity. Leika Kihara and Tim Kelly and John Geddie, Reuters, January 26
Party leaders cite main priorities before election campaign starts. Leaders of Japan’s ruling and opposition parties outlined core campaign pledges at a debate ahead of the Feb. 8 Lower House election. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized a shift to proactive fiscal policy, while opposition leaders focused on cutting food taxes, social security reform, wage growth and easing household burdens. Sharp policy contrasts emerged on taxes, defense and immigration as campaigning nears. The Asahi Shimbun, January 26
South Korea
U.S., South Korea agree to deepen cooperation on nuclear-powered subs, Seoul says. The United States and South Korea agreed to deepen cooperation on Seoul’s pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine during talks in Seoul, the defence ministry said. Officials said the move would strengthen South Korea’s ability to lead deterrence on the peninsula. The talks followed the release of a U.S. defence strategy calling for a more limited American role against North Korea. Kyu-seok Shim, Reuters, January 26
Lee’s approval rating remains unchanged at 53.1%: poll. President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating held steady at 53.1% despite controversies over his withdrawn budget minister nominee and the ruling party’s proposed merger with a minor party, a Realmeter survey showed. Positive sentiment earlier in the week from a stock market rally and Lee’s New Year press conference was offset by political backlash later on. Negative ratings edged down slightly, while support for the ruling Democratic Party rose marginally and the main opposition also gained ground. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, January 26
North Korea
Unification minister says review under way for special envoy to facilitate U.S.-N. Korea talks. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the government is reviewing whether to dispatch a special envoy to help restart dialogue between the United States and North Korea. He said the idea was raised during a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung and would involve coordination with neighboring countries to support talks and inter-Korean engagement. Chung denied reports that he has already been appointed envoy, saying the review is ongoing and timing remains flexible. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, January 26
Vietnam
China’s Xi urges greater cooperation with Vietnam. President Xi Jinping called Vietnam’s leader To Lam to press for stronger bilateral cooperation after Lam’s reappointment as Communist Party chief. Xi described the relationship as a shared future community and urged coordination in regional and international affairs. He called for stability, development and opposition to bloc confrontation. Beijing Newsroom and Alexandra Hudson and Sharon Singleton, Reuters, January 26
Thailand
Poll pledge spurs probe call. The Election Commission was urged to investigate whether Pheu Thai properly declared the budget details of its “Nine New Millionaires a Day” campaign pledge, unveiled at a major rally in Bangkok. Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said the scheme may breach party law requirements on reporting public spending policies, warning of fines if details are missing. Pheu Thai said a similar registered policy would cover the initiative’s costs. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, January 26
Parties pitch “clean air” plans for Northern Thailand at Nation debate. Political party leaders outlined competing proposals to tackle PM2.5 pollution in Northern Thailand at a debate in Chiang Mai, focusing on curbing burning, supporting farmers and tightening enforcement. Proposals included decentralising forest fire management, offering machinery and incentives to reduce crop burning, strengthening cross-border action and introducing clean air legislation. The Nation, January 26
Myanmar
USDP sweeps final phase of junta election as rival party leaders lose races. Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won about 80% of constituencies in the final phase of the junta-run election, according to preliminary results. Voting in 61 townships saw senior opposition figures and rival party leaders defeated, including prominent activists and regional party chiefs. Critics cited low turnout, irregularities and exclusion of large areas as evidence the poll was designed to entrench military rule. Myo Pyae, The Irrawaddy, January 26
Laos
Laos announces candidate list ahead of February elections. Laos’ National Election Commission approved a final list of 243 candidates competing for 175 seats in the 10th National Assembly, following a meeting held on Jan. 23. The list was issued in line with election law and a presidential decree and applies to constituencies nationwide. Voters will go to the polls on Feb. 22 to elect lawmakers for a five-year term. Namfon Chanthavong, The Laotian Times, January 26
Cambodia
Hun Manet, U.S. Indo-Pacific commander discuss deepening military cooperation. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo to discuss expanding defence ties and maritime cooperation. Both sides cited the recent docking of a U.S. Navy ship at Ream Naval Base as evidence of improving relations. Hun Manet also confirmed Cambodia will join the U.S.-backed Board of Peace and reiterated its commitment to the Cambodia–Thailand ceasefire. Khmer Times, January 26
Cambodia to join Trump’s Board of Peace, prime minister says. Cambodia will join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Facebook post. He said participation shows Cambodia’s goodwill and commitment to global peace following recent regional ceasefire diplomacy. The announcement places Phnom Penh among countries backing the U.S.-led initiative. Josh Smith, Reuters, January 26
Philippines
Philippines lodges ‘firm representations’ to Chinese embassy over ‘escalating’ war of words on South China Sea. The Philippine foreign ministry said it made firm representations to China’s embassy in Manila over increasingly sharp public exchanges on South China Sea disputes. Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said differences should be handled through diplomacy rather than public rhetoric. Manila called for restraint to preserve diplomatic space amid ongoing maritime tensions. Mikhail Flores, Reuters, January 26
Former Philippines president Duterte fit for pre-trial hearings, ICC judges rule. International Criminal Court judges ruled former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte is fit to attend pre-trial hearings, rejecting defence claims of cognitive decline. Judges said medical experts found Duterte able to understand and participate in proceedings. Prosecutors allege he funded and armed death squads during his war on drugs, charges he denies. Stephanie van den Berg, Reuters, January 26
Impeach raps vs. Marcos sent to justice panel. Two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were formally referred to the House of Representatives committee on justice, triggering a constitutional one-year ban on filing additional complaints. The cases were filed separately by a private lawyer and the Makabayan coalition and were endorsed in plenary session. The referral means the panel will first assess whether the complaints meet the requirements of form and substance. Gabriel Pabico Lalu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 26
House panel begins deliberations on anti-political dynasty bills. The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms opened deliberations on 20 proposed measures seeking to define and ban political dynasties, following referrals from the plenary. Chairman Zia Alonto Adiong said the panel aims to produce a constitutionally sound bill consistent with Article II of the 1987 Constitution. Former justices, election officials and law deans were invited to provide expert input as Congress revisits a long-delayed mandate. Reina C. Tolentino, The Manila Times, January 26
Indonesia
Indonesia’s police chief rejects proposal to place police under a ministry. National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo firmly rejected proposals to place the police under a government ministry rather than directly under the president. Speaking to lawmakers, he warned such a move could weaken command authority, create dual leadership and slow security responses. The proposal is being discussed by a police reform commission, but officials said any change would require legislation and presidential approval. Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta Globe, January 26
Indonesia receives Rafale advanced fighter jets from France in major upgrade. Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France, marking the first delivery under a multibillion-dollar defence deal, officials said. The aircraft represent a major upgrade to Indonesia’s ageing military hardware as defence spending rises. Jakarta has ordered up to 42 Rafales as part of a broader modernisation push. Ananda Teresia, Reuters, January 26
Taiwan
Taiwan monitoring ‘abnormal’ China military leadership changes after top general put under investigation. Taiwan said it is closely watching China’s military after senior generals were placed under investigation. Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the threat level remains high and vigilance will not ease. Taiwan will expand intelligence sharing as Chinese military activity around the island continues daily. Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung, Reuters, January 26
Ko Wen-je says DPP rejected deal on surrogacy bill, defense budget. Former Taiwan People’s Party chair Ko Wen-je said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party rejected an offer that would have traded opposition support for the 2026 budget and special defense spending in exchange for backing a surrogacy bill. Ko said the proposal aimed to break the legislative deadlock by treating surrogacy as a non-ideological issue. The DPP countered that public safety and defense should not be used as political bargaining tools. Tsai Meng-yu, Chen Chun-hua and Matthew Mazzetta, Focus Taiwan, January 26
India
India, EU wrap up talks for landmark trade deal amid strained US ties. India and the European Union concluded negotiations on a long-sought free trade deal hailed as historic. Officials said formal signing will take months, with implementation expected within a year. The pact aims to boost trade and hedge against uncertainty in U.S. economic relations. Shivangi Acharya and Kanjyik Ghosh, Reuters, January 26
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, Mongolia reaffirm commitment to boost trade to $500 million. Kazakhstan and Mongolia reaffirmed plans to raise bilateral trade turnover to $500 million during talks between their deputy prime ministers in Astana. Officials agreed to expand mutual supplies, remove trade barriers and deepen cooperation in agriculture, industry and logistics. Trade between the two countries reached $121.5 million in the first 11 months of 2025, with Kazakhstan exporting mainly food and industrial goods. Fatima Kemelova, The Astana Times, January 26
Kazakhstan, ExxonMobil review cooperation on major oil projects. Kazakhstan’s prime minister met ExxonMobil executives to review cooperation on major oil projects including Tengiz, Kashagan and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Talks focused on addressing safety concerns at Tengiz, ensuring stable pipeline operations and improving efficiency in hydrocarbon development. Officials also reviewed production plans after output rose sharply in 2025 following completion of expansion projects. Dana Omirgazy, The Astana Times, January 26
Tajikistan
European Investment Bank to allocate €100 million for Tajikistan’s transport infrastructure upgrade. The European Investment Bank will allocate €100 million to finance upgrades to Tajikistan’s transport infrastructure, focusing on improving accessibility and strengthening regional logistics links. The funding follows a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2025 and discussions in January on project parameters, monitoring and eligible initiatives. Officials said the investment aims to support economic development and reinforce Tajikistan’s role as a transit hub in Central Asia. Vagit Ismailov, The Times of Central Asia, January 26
East Asia
Xi Jinping: A Year in the Headlines. People’s Daily headline counts for 2025 show Xi Jinping in close to 600 headlines, more than three times the total for Premier Li Qiang, with no narrowing gap among Politburo Standing Committee members. The pattern reflects CCP power signaling, where repetition reinforces the main line and elevates the leadership core. Xi’s headline mentions fell 21 percent in 2025 versus the prior two years, and front-page image counts fell 19 percent, while other PSC members stayed far below Xi. The decline is linked to a lighter travel calendar and delegation of summit attendance to Li Qiang, which did not bring matching repetition for the premier. Attention turns to whether Xi’s frequency continues to fall as 2027 approaches. Alex Colville, China Media Project, January 26
Last man standing: Xi’s purge of the Central Military Commission. Chinese authorities announced investigations of Central Military Commission vice-chairman Zhang Youxia and joint staff chief Liu Zhenli on 24 January, leaving only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin from the seven-member 20th CMC formed in October 2022. The removal of most top PLA leaders within just over three years is presented as unusual and likely to widen to theatre and corps commanders. A PLA Daily editorial accused Zhang and Liu of undermining the CMC chairman responsibility system and fueling corruption that damaged political loyalty and combat readiness. The commentary links the cases to patronage networks, sale of posts, and graft tied to arms procurement and engineering contracts. Zhang Shengmin outlined stricter supervision tied to combat readiness and stronger power controls. Yu Zeyuan, ThinkChina, January 26
As Generals Fall, Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Is Eating Itself. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli entered official custody after rumors circulated among overseas Chinese. The short gap between detention and confirmation broke a familiar pattern for senior leaders. PLA outlets accused the two men of undermining the CMC chairman responsibility system and threatening the party’s control of the armed forces. The charges align with language used against former CMC vice chair He Weidong and point to political discipline rather than financial graft. The pattern places Xi’s associates and top commanders at risk and spreads fear across the system. Deng Yuwen, Foreign Policy, January 26
Why Xi Jinping purged Zhang Youxia, his 'ironclad' top general. Zhang Youxia, a Politburo princeling with deep family ties to Xi, fell despite an image of political immunity. The purge is framed as a response to war preparation failures tied to equipment scandals and doubts about Rocket Force readiness. The argument adds counterintelligence fears after past defense leadership cases and points to patronage networks that resisted a combat focus. Factional struggle produced damaging evidence that erased Zhang’s protection and exposed wealth and influence. Xi is portrayed as acting to prevent a cornered general from using his network for defection or a power grab, with the Lin Biao precedent as a warning. Youlun Nie, Nikkei Asia, January 26.
China fears a flood of unemployed workers in rural areas. China’s rural affairs ministry warned against migrants remaining in home villages after the lunar new year as construction and factory jobs weaken. Reporting from Henan and nearby areas found early returns tied to job gaps, pay cuts, and export factory shutdowns on the coast. The property slump threatens a long pool of building work, and leased land rights limit the countryside as a fallback, with contracted-out land near 40 percent. Local job offices can offer delivery work but few stable options. Some towns in Hubei have gained factories, yet wages lag big cities. Cross-province migration fell from 47 percent in 2014 to 38 percent, with family priorities shaping choices. The Economist, January 26
Can tech reshape health and ageing in the PRC. Beijing is pushing technology-led public services to support ageing, expand access, and lift consumption in a large market with many real-world use cases. Policy steps include smart health and aged-care action plans from 2017 to 2020 and 2021 to 2025, a 2019 medium to long-term plan, and a surge in applications during 2024 and 2025. Priorities include robots, wearables, smart beds and care equipment across home, community, and residential settings, plus R&D on humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and AI. Health reforms target mutual recognition of test results, e-prescriptions, and cross-regional records, supported by imaging clouds and shared diagnostic centres, but system incompatibility and data limits persist. Governance gaps and health data rules remain central constraints. CHINA POLICY, January 26
Southeast Asia
Human networks anchor maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. A medical evacuation off Thailand during the late 2025 floods showed how maritime outcomes depend on trusted contacts, after a ship’s security officer turned to Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre for rapid coordination. Southeast Asian states are expanding maritime domain awareness through satellites, sensors, drones, and AI, yet technology cannot replace judgment when signals are unclear. Strategic competition, grey-zone coercion, attacks on shipping, and risks to undersea cables add pressure, while climate shocks reshape coastlines and strain coastguards and navies. The Information Fusion Centre links liaison officers from over two dozen countries as a trust-based hub that supports incident response. Priorities include wider liaison representation, shared data standards, stronger training exchanges, and climate-security planning in maritime operations. Eric Ang and Tita Sanglee, East Asia Forum, January 26
Oceania
Trump stretches Australia’s strategic straddle. Australia avoided steep US tariffs in 2025, secured support for the AUKUS submarine deal, and reached a critical minerals arrangement with Washington, yet these gains sit beside deeper exposure to a volatile United States. Anthony Albanese’s government pursued an “Australian straddle” by resisting US pressure for higher defence spending while expanding selective engagement with China. Canberra held firm on foreign investment rules, Darwin Port ownership, and responses to Chinese naval activity near Australia. Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy points toward spheres of influence and prioritises defending the first island chain, placing Taiwan at the centre and leaving Australia as a support base. Future governments may face a choice on whether to back US operations tied to Taiwan. James Curran, East Asia Forum, January 26