China
South China Sea joint statement says China’s maritime claims have no basis. Japan, the Philippines, the U.S., and 11 other countries said China’s expansive South China Sea claims have no legal basis, marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling. The joint statement called the award final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines. Beijing rejected the ruling again and protested Japan’s remarks and participation in the statement. Kiyoshi Takenaka and Beijing Newsroom, Reuters, July 12
Japan
Philippines to get 5 used destroyers from Japan: defense secretary. The Philippines expects to acquire five soon-to-be-retired Abukuma-class destroyers from Japan at no cost, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said. The transfer follows a broad agreement after the countries’ leaders agreed in May to accelerate defense equipment discussions. Manila will assess the ships’ autocannons, anti-ship missile systems, and berthing requirements as delivery is expected within a few years. Kyodo News, July 11
Imperial house bill clears Lower House after last-minute deal. Japan’s Lower House passed an Imperial House Law revision bill aimed at securing the number of imperial family members after the Centrist Reform Alliance gave reluctant support. The bill would allow female imperial family members to retain royal status after marriage and permit male-line descendants of former imperial branches to join by adoption, but it faces opposition and amendment efforts in the Upper House. Mika Kuniyoshi, The Asahi Shimbun, July 10
South Korea
South Korean navy recovers body of seaman missing near North Korean border. South Korea’s navy recovered the body of a seaman who went missing from a patrol vessel operating off the eastern coast near the maritime border with North Korea. The navy found him about 52 km east of the coast after a search and rescue operation, but did not provide details on his disappearance. Seoul had asked Pyongyang for help if he had crossed the Northern Limit Line. Jack Kim, Reuters, July 12
Lee seeks closer ties with NATO as Seoul pushes to expand arms exports to Europe. President Lee Jae Myung used the NATO summit in Ankara to advance South Korea’s defense industry ties with the alliance as Europe increases military spending. Seoul and NATO agreed to begin talks on a procurement framework agreement, while Lee proposed broader cooperation on joint research, production, operations, standardization, and third-market expansion beyond arms sales. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, July 11
Special counsel pursues arrest warrant for ex-military commander over alleged martial law ties. A special counsel team sought an arrest warrant for former Army Ground Operations Commander Kang Ho-pil over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid. Kang is accused of forming a situation room, ordering a crisis response team and senior officers to assemble, and joining pre-declaration discussions. He denies prior knowledge or involvement. Yoo Jee-ho, Yonhap News Agency, July 11
North Korea
North Korea condemns NATO summit, says denuclearisation should start with U.S. allies. North Korea condemned the U.S. and its allies after the NATO summit, accusing the alliance of strengthening military blocs, increasing arms spending, and expanding cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners. Pyongyang said denuclearisation efforts should focus on South Korea, Japan, and NATO nuclear-sharing members, while KCNA said North Korea had decided to strengthen its nuclear forces quantitatively and qualitatively. Heekyong Yang and Joyce Lee, Reuters, July 11
N.K. leader denounces corruption in military at rare meeting. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un denounced military corruption at a rare joint meeting of the ruling party, government, and army in Pyongyang. State media focused on Pak Hui-chol, a former General Political Bureau official punished by the Supreme Court for alleged abuse of authority, bribery, and embezzlement, as Kim called for stronger efforts to root out corruption and irregularities. Lee Haye-ah, Yonhap News Agency, July 11
Vientam
Vietnam seeks stronger economic links with Egypt's Red Sea Governorate. Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Nam Duong and Red Sea Governor Walid Al Barqi discussed expanding cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate in maritime transport, logistics, trade, tourism, mining, aquaculture, and the marine economy. Duong urged continued phosphate ore supply contracts, while a Vietnam-Egypt economic forum highlighted opportunities in minerals, tourism, logistics, and bilateral trade. Vietnam News, July 12
Thailand
Senate gives nod to 10 bills. Thailand’s Senate approved 10 bills during the first ordinary session of 2026 and completed consideration of the amended Clean Air Bill. Senators voted 113-10 to remove a proposed deposit-refund system, with supporters of the deletion saying it focused on waste management rather than air pollution, while critics said it could reduce waste burning and address pollution at its source. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, July 11
EC urged to open senate ballot boxes. Senior opposition politicians urged Thailand’s Election Commission to open ballot boxes from the 2024 Senate election, alleging widespread fraud designed to install senators capable of influencing independent institutions. Prachachat Party leader Tawee Sodsong cited alleged coordinated networks, matching ballot patterns, CCTV evidence, and pre-arranged voting lists, while People’s Party MP Parit Wacharasindhu warned that unlawful senators would undermine later appointments and legislative actions. Bangkok Post, July 12
Myanmar
Myanmar tells ASEAN 'sister' Aung San Suu Kyi will be looked after, envoy says. Myanmar’s foreign minister told ASEAN that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was in good health and would be cared for, according to ASEAN special envoy Maria Theresa Lazaro. ASEAN foreign ministers met Myanmar’s top diplomat in person for the first time since the 2021 coup, pressing for access to Suu Kyi and progress on the bloc’s five-point peace plan. Panu Wongcha-Um and Martin Petty, Reuters, July 12
Myanmar parliament passes official rejection of ASEAN’s Five-Point Peace Plan. Myanmar’s military-backed parliament formally rejected ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus after lawmakers argued it conflicted with the country’s “political reality” and infringed on sovereignty. The motion followed ASEAN’s continued exclusion of Min Aung Hlaing from summits and came ahead of an informal Bangkok meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Myanmar’s foreign minister. Maung Kavi, The Irrawaddy, July 10
Philippines
A decade after historic ruling, Philippine fishermen say driven away from disputed shoal by China. Philippine fishermen in Masinloc say they remain unable to safely fish at Scarborough Shoal 10 years after the 2016 arbitral ruling rejected China’s sweeping South China Sea claims. Fishermen described being chased away, hit with water cannon, and having anchor lines cut by Chinese personnel. Philippine officials say the ruling strengthened Manila’s legal position and international support. Adrian Portugal and Karen Lema, Reuters, July 10
Legal experts split on criminal intent. Legal experts offered contrasting assessments of whether prosecutors established criminal intent in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial over alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former speaker Martin Romualdez. Retired justice Adolfo Azcuna said evidence shifted the burden to the defense, while international law expert Melissa Loja said no impeachable offense had emerged. Franco Jose C. Baroña, Bernadette E. Tamayo, Reina C. Tolentino, and Philippine News Agency, The Manila Times, July 12
Philippines urged to anchor South China Sea code on arbitral ruling. Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit urged the Philippines to use its 2026 ASEAN chairmanship to push for a legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct anchored on the 2016 arbitral ruling. He warned that any agreement weakening the award would undermine international law, regional stability, and claimant states’ maritime rights. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, July 11
Indonesia
Top Indonesian prosecutor resigns amid corruption probe. Febrie Adriansyah resigned as Indonesia’s head prosecutor for special crimes after police raids tied to corruption investigations, including at his residence, led to seizures of more than US$20 million in cash and 74 kg of gold bars. Police named him a suspect in alleged extortion, bribery, and money laundering linked to a past Asabri case, which Febrie denied. Gayatri Suroyo, Reuters, July 11
Malaysia
Malaysia PM's coalition routed by key partner in Johor state poll, testing federal ties. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan coalition suffered a major defeat to federal partner Barisan Nasional in Johor’s state election. BN won 48 of 56 seats, while Pakatan fell to eight, raising pressure on the governing alliance despite no immediate effect on Anwar’s parliamentary majority. The result may deepen strains between the blocs ahead of another state vote in Negeri Sembilan. Rozanna Latiff, Reuters, July 12
Taiwan
Taiwan military gains 5,000 volunteers, but ‘real problem’ is retention. Taiwan’s volunteer force grew by more than 5,000 personnel over the past year after higher pay, improved living conditions, relaxed recruitment standards, and personnel-management changes. Lawmakers and analysts warned the increase does not resolve chronic manpower shortages or declining combat readiness, with eligible male conscripts projected to fall below 80,000 by 2027 and retention remaining the central challenge. Lawrence Chung, South China Morning Post, July 12
India
New Zealand, India upgrade ties as PM Modi visits Auckland. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon upgraded bilateral ties to a strategic partnership during talks in Auckland. The leaders cited shared democratic values, people-to-people links, and Indo-Pacific interests, while the countries also signed a defense cooperation arrangement and pledged closer collaboration on maritime safety amid New Delhi’s broader Asia-Pacific outreach. Sam McKeith and Lucy Craymer, Reuters, July 11
Bangladesh
Bangladesh's Hasina plans December return with party colleagues to surrender. Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she and senior Awami League colleagues plan to return from exile in India around December and surrender in court despite her death sentence. Hasina said she had not consulted any foreign government, wanted the ban on her party lifted, and would test Bangladesh’s treatment of its most prominent political opponent. Krishna N. Das, Reuters, July 10