China
China bans two Taiwan ministers for alleged ‘independence activities’, angering Taipei. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office banned Taiwan’s interior and education ministers Liu Shyh-fang and Cheng Ying-yao, and their relatives, from entering China, Hong Kong, or Macau. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called it intimidation that undermines cross-strait relations and aims to chill the public. China said it now lists 14 people as “secessionists” and will hold a Taiwanese prosecutor “accountable for life.” Liz Lee and Yimou Lee, Reuters, January 7
China calls for joint counter-terrorism efforts with Pakistan. China’s public security minister Wang Xiaohong told Pakistan’s interior and counter-narcotics minister that China will intensify cooperation on counterterrorism and telecom crime. The ministry said the two sides should address risks and jointly safeguard national security and social stability. The statement came after repeated militant attacks in Pakistan on Chinese nationals working on Beijing-funded infrastructure projects. Xiuhao Chen, Shi Bu and Liz Lee, Reuters, January 7
Gansu ex-vice governor jailed 15 years for bribery, insider trading. The Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court sentenced former Gansu vice governor Zhao Jinyun to 15 years in prison and fined her 3.5 million yuan. The court said Zhao and her husband took more than 54.09 million yuan in bribes and that she made over 300,000 yuan in illegal profits from insider trading. She is the first official jailed in 2026 in China’s anti-corruption campaign. Sun Liangzi, Caixin, January 6
Japan
Japan condemns China's dual-use export ban as rare earth curbs loom. Japan said China’s ban on dual-use exports for Japan’s military was “absolutely unacceptable” and outside international practice. The ban is the latest response to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be an existential threat to Japan, which Beijing has demanded she retract. State media said China is weighing rare earth curbs that could hit Japan’s manufacturing, including automakers. Satoshi Sugiyama, Kantaro Komiya, Tim Kelly, Rocky Swift, Daniel Leussink, Maki Shiraki, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Liz Lee, Ethan Wang, Xihao Jiang, Shi Bu, Lewis Jackson, and John Geddle, Reuters, January 7.
LDP’s push to bring DPP into ruling coalition faces obstacles. The Liberal Democratic Party stepped up overtures to the Democratic Party for the People to broaden the ruling coalition and stabilize Diet control. LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki said a three-party coalition would be preferable to the current framework with Nippon Ishin and would strengthen political stability. DPP members and Rengo opposed joining, and seat rivalries plus Nippon Ishin’s stance remain hurdles. Kohei Morioka, Yuki Minami, The Asahi Shimbun, January 7
LDP secretary-general eyes ‘political stability’ in courting DPP into ruling bloc. The Liberal Democratic Party intensified calls for the Democratic Party for the People to join the ruling coalition as the government seeks more Upper House stability. LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki said he wants DPP cooperation and believes a three-party coalition would firmly establish political stability. Suzuki said the LDP must consult coalition partner Nippon Ishin, and party officials said they would welcome DPP entry. Eric Johnston, The Japan Times, January 7
South Korea
South Korea's Lee says he asked Xi to play a mediating role on North Korea. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he asked Xi Jinping to help mediate Seoul’s push to resume dialogue with North Korea. Lee said Xi acknowledged South Korea’s efforts and said patience is needed in dealing with nuclear-armed North Korea. Lee said trust with Beijing has improved and he hopes China-Japan tensions ease as Seoul balances ties with Tokyo and Beijing. Joyce Lee, Reuters, January 7
North Korea
N. Korea touts achievements in 'rural revolution' ahead of key party congress. The Rodong Sinmun praised new farm villages and said they raised output, improved farming technology, and upgraded rural living conditions without giving figures. It called the “new-era rural revolution” unprecedented in scope and tasks for socialist construction. North Korea is expected to hold its ninth party congress in January or February to set a new five-year plan, its first since 2021. Kim Hyun-soo, Yonhap News Agency, January 7
Chinese President Xi Jinping urges Seoul to be ‘patient’ over North Korean nuclear talks. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Xi Jinping urged “patience” on North Korea’s nuclear programme after Lee asked China to mediate talks. Lee said inter-Korean channels are blocked and proposed phased steps to curb new nuclear weapons and ICBMs and halt exports of nuclear material. The summit came after North Korea’s hypersonic missile test, and Beijing and Seoul agreed to resume cultural exchanges. Seong Hyeon Choi, Alcott Wei, and Oliver Balch, South China Morning Post, January 7
Vietnam
Major tasks for 14th National Party Congress on track. The Party Secretariat’s standing member Trần Cẩm Tú said agencies have completed major preparation tasks for the 14th National Party Congress as of Jan. 7. He called for stronger grassroots communications and proactive countering of hostile online information. He urged finalization of personnel dossiers, delegate eligibility checks, and security plans, and he ordered preparation of key directives, programs, regulations, exhibitions, and the press center. Vietnam News, January 7
Thailand
Thai economy's competitiveness is declining, central bank warns. The Bank of Thailand warned that competitiveness is declining as exports face pressure from U.S. tariffs and a persistently overvalued baht. Deputy governor Piti Disyatat said uncertainty is high and policy room is low but the bank will act if needed. The commerce ministry said headline CPI fell 0.28% in December and inflation stayed below the central bank’s 1%-3% target. Chayut Setboonsarng, Thanadech Staporncharnchai, Reuters, January 7
Thailand's leading think tank unveils six urgent policy priorities for next government. TDRI set six priorities for Thailand’s next government: corruption and online fraud, living costs, climate action, competitiveness, ageing welfare, and fiscal sustainability. It said procurement bribes can hit 20%-30% and online fraud topped 320,000 cases in 2025, urging anti-money laundering and platform oversight. It urged trade talks with the United States and EU and warned public debt is about 65% of GDP. The Nation, January 7
Myanmar
USDP wins majority of seats in Rakhine, Chin on back of advance ballots. The USDP won majorities in Rakhine and Chin using advance ballots and proportional-representation tallies. In Rakhine, voting occurred in only three townships, but the USDP still won 19 seats and took nine of 17 state assembly seats under PR. In Chin, polls ran only in Tedim and Hakha, yet results allow the regime to form assemblies via the USDP and military appointees. The Irrawaddy, January 7
Myanmar junta commander killed in Arakan Army ambush. The Arakan Army ambushed a junta column near Point 666 in Padaung Township on Jan. 4, killing MOC-10 commander Colonel Han Lin Aung and about a dozen soldiers. The military sent reinforcements to block AA advances toward ordnance factories along the Irrawaddy and fought around the Rakhine Yoma-Bago road. The AA controls most of Rakhine and Paletwa and is pressing toward Sittwe and Kyaukphyu port. The Irrawaddy, January 7
Cambodia
Hun Sen calls for unity, patriotism. The Senate President and CPP leader Hun Sen urged Cambodians to unite on Victory Day, marking Jan. 7, 1979 and the fall of the Khmer Rouge. He recalled the regime’s abuses and credited the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation and the CPP with rebuilding peace and development. He accused Thailand of border assaults and said Cambodia exercised self-defense while seeking a peaceful, lawful settlement. Torn Vibol, Khmer Times, January 7
Philippines
Sarah Discaya’s lawyer wants trial moved. The defense for contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and eight DPWH officials asked a Lapu-Lapu City court to void arrest warrants and dismiss charges tied to a P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental. Lawyers said the court lacks jurisdiction and that a Supreme Court circular allowing transfers applies only to officials with Salary Grade 27 or higher. The court has not ruled, and arraignment is set for Jan. 13. Kaiser Jan Fuentes, The Manila Times, January 7
Public trust in Senate, House decline, Pahayag survey shows. The Pahayag 2025 End-of-the-Year Survey showed approval fell for the Senate to 24% from 28% and for the House to 20% from 21%. The survey said most agencies were stable, while trust and approval declined across several bodies tied to governance and the economy. Approval and trust rose for DPWH and the Commission on Audit, and the survey polled 1,500 voters Dec. 7-10. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, January 7
Malaysia
Malaysia seizes 2.4 million ringgit in cash tied to army procurement graft probe. Malaysia’s anti-graft agency seized 2.4 million ringgit in cash linked to an investigation into alleged bribery involving army procurement contracts, state media reported. MACC chief Azam Baki said the cash was found when a person tied to the case tried to move it, after earlier raids and account freezes. Bernama said former army chief Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan gave a statement as the probe continued. Ashley Tang, Reuters, January 7
Malaysia-Turkiye US$10 bln trade target well within reach - PM Anwar. The Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the $10 billion Malaysia-Turkey trade target is within reach as both economies remain resilient. He said Malaysia is drawing high-value investment in semiconductors, AI, data centres and rare earths, and he urged education and research links to support new sectors. Anwar said Malaysia wants to expand cooperation to halal industry and Islamic finance. Muhammad Saufee Rosman, Bernama, January 7
Malaysia, Turkiye sign seven documents to strengthen strategic cooperation. The Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan witnessed seven signings during Anwar’s official visit to Turkey. They agreed to form a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and accepted the procurement of a multi-purpose mission ship from Desan Shipyard. They also signed ICT, research, financial cooperation and investment MOUs, and exchanged minutes for the Malaysia-Turkey higher education committee. Muhammad Saufee Rosman, Bernama, January 7
Taiwan
Taiwan says China's war games sought to undermine global support for the island. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said China’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills aimed to counter international support for Taiwan and divert anger over China’s economic setbacks. The bureau said the PLA fired rockets and surged ships and aircraft as state media and AI content pushed 19,000 messages from 799 accounts. It said Taiwan logged over 2 million cyberattacks in two days, naming APT24 and BlackTech. Yimou Lee, Reuters, January 7
Taiwan halts F-16 training missions after pilot and fighter jet go missing. Taiwan suspended F-16 training and searched for pilot Hsin Po-yi after he ejected from an F-16V near Hualien. The air force said contact was lost at about 7:29 p.m. on Tuesday and the pilot and aircraft remain missing. The coastguard deployed vessels, placed marker buoys, and expanded the search in rough seas, and the air force said it will adjust training on spatial disorientation. Phoebe Zhang, South China Morning Post, January 7
Tajikistan
Independent audit raises concerns over financial reporting at Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant. Baker Tilly Tajikistan issued a qualified opinion on Rogun’s 2024 accounts, saying it could not verify some assets and inventories. Auditors cited a share-capital gap of 40.03 billion somoni in financial statements versus 45 billion in the state register. Rogun reported a 277.3 million somoni net loss but 3.2 billion somoni operating cash flow, and auditors said operations depend on state support. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, January 7
East Asia
Hainan Free Trade Port: A game changer? Hainan became an independent customs zone on December 18, 2025, marking full implementation of the Hainan Free Trade Port, with zero tariffs for most imports into the island and normal tariffs when goods enter mainland China unless 30% value-added processing occurs. The plan sets 15% corporate and personal tax, a negative list approach for foreign investment, visa-free entry for citizens of 86 countries, and measures for capital flows and offshore finance. Trade and inbound investment rose during early rollout, supporting a shift from property dependence. Limits include small local demand, transport distance from major Chinese markets, a narrowing edge over national investment rules, weak air links, and geopolitical risk. Success rests on talent, services, and policy credibility within a five to ten year window. Ngeow Chow Bing, ThinkChina, January 7
Paper Cuts. China’s metropolitan print newspaper sector faces a wave of closures as Dalian Evening News ended publication on December 30 after 37 years. At least 14 papers announced closure or suspension around the start of 2026 as advertising and circulation collapsed after 2011 and digital habits shifted to short video and livestream formats. Commercial urban dailies and evening papers lost revenue and staff, with some surviving on parent organizations, while Party newspapers continue for propaganda distribution. Local authorities have expanded Party run convergence media centres and issued social media blue notices that displace field reporting. Falling newsprint demand has shuttered paper mills. Many outlets claim suspension to retain scarce publishing licenses. Dalia Parete, China Media Project, January 7
The End of China’s One-Child Policy, Ten Years Later. China’s one-child policy began in 1979 from fears of grain shortages and forecasts that projected a population surge. Implemented by open letter, it hardened after 1989 through a one-vote veto that tied officials’ careers to birth targets and drove coercion, including forced abortions, IUD insertions, sterilizations, and mass campaigns praised by Peng Peiyun. Official demographers revised census fertility rates upward and warned that reform would breach a population alert line, while dissenting research faced bans. A selective two-child policy started in 2014 and expanded across China in 2016, yet births kept falling and population decline began in 2022. Manipulated data and protected officials reveal a governance weakness, with demographic collapse a risk. Yi Fuxian, Project Syndicate, January 7
Southeast Asia
Trump’s Tactics Could Unravel U.S. Strategy in Southeast Asia. Donald Trump’s second-term approach pairs stronger ASEAN engagement and closer ties with the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia with tariffs that damage regional views of the United States. A new National Security Strategy gives Southeast Asia limited attention and frames the region through trade routes, shipping, and resource access, raising doubts about US reliability against China. Questions grow over support for the Philippines in a clash at Second Thomas Shoal or Scarborough Shoal. Washington pursues critical-mineral deals, explores access to Myanmar rare earths, and launches the Pax Silica supply-chain initiative with Singapore as the only named regional partner. Transactional bargaining erodes trust and drives hedging toward other powers. Derek Grossman, Foreign Policy, January 7
Myanmar’s election is a litmus test for ASEAN centrality. Myanmar’s junta-run elections in December 2025 and January 2026 deepen doubts about ASEAN’s ability to lead on regional security. The elections exclude key opposition forces, jail figures such as Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, restrict voting in conflict areas, and steer outcomes toward the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party. Min Aung Hlaing signals the military will stay in politics until ethnic armed groups and the civil war end, while the country faces displacement, rights abuses, and economic distress. ASEAN has offered limited responses beyond declining to send observers, and some member states engage the junta. China’s support for the vote sidelines ASEAN, raising pressure for ASEAN to consider non-recognition and flexible decision tools such as ASEAN Minus X. Myat Sandar Zaw, East Asia Forum, January 7
Malaysia's Gamble: Turning Data Centres Into Industrial Power. Malaysia seeks AI sovereignty through its 2021 Artificial Intelligence Roadmap and plans for a sovereign AI cloud funded in the 2026 budget. Foreign hyperscalers are building data centres, with Malaysia taking a large share of new Southeast Asia capacity, yet many facilities focus on inference, not model training. Data centers offer limited spillover compared with manufacturing, and the pace of construction outstrips local skills pipelines. Electricity and water constraints in Johor and Selangor have slowed approvals, while coal and gas power raise emissions risks. US export controls on advanced GPUs, tariff threats, and a US-Malaysia trade deal complicate Malaysia’s neutral position and its National Semiconductor Strategy. Faye Simanjuntak, Asia Society Policy Institute, January 7
South Asia
Australia and India can unearth critical mineral opportunities across Africa. Demand for minerals for clean energy shows supply chain concentration and China’s leverage, pushing India and Australia to seek partners. The Australia India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership can link Australia’s mining and regulatory expertise with India’s downstream processing to work with African states holding over 30 percent of key minerals. Mozambique and Tanzania account for 13 percent of global graphite reserves, and Tanzania has copper, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements, while Mozambique supplies titanium. Angola seeks partners beyond China, and Zambia and Namibia offer stability and plans for higher value activities. The African Union Green Minerals Strategy sets pillars for development, skills, value chains and stewardship, but implementation rests with national institutions. Joint training hubs, traceability tools and investment rules can anchor trilateral projects. Trishala Sancheti, East Asia Forum, January 7