China
U.S., China to discuss tariff deadline extension as Trump reaches Philippines deal. U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Stockholm next week to discuss extending the August 12 tariff negotiation deadline, amid President Trump’s new 19% tariff rate on Philippine goods and a released deal with Indonesia. Talks aim to rebalance trade and address China’s export-driven model. Both nations have eased prior restrictions, including rare earth exports and semiconductor materials. David Lawder, Susan Heavey, Andrea Shalal, Reuters, July 22
Chinese kindergarten lead poisoning scandal raises fresh questions over local governance. Over 250 children and staff at Peixin kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu were diagnosed with lead poisoning, triggering a national scandal. Investigations revealed falsified medical reports, bribes to officials, and years of neglected inspections. Eight individuals, including the school’s owner and principal, have been detained. The case has prompted central government involvement and new food safety guidelines amid rising public distrust and criticism of local governance failures. Yuanyue Dang, South China Morning Post, July 22
Trump says a China trip is ‘not too distant’ as tariff tensions ease. President Donald Trump said he may soon visit China as relations thaw following two rounds of U.S.-China trade talks in Geneva and London. He praised renewed rare earth exports from Beijing and emphasized improving ties. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a planned Stockholm meeting next week to possibly extend the August 12 tariff negotiation deadline. Didi Tang, Associated Press, July 22
Japan
Trump announces trade framework with Japan. President Donald Trump unveiled a trade framework with Japan that sets a 15% tariff on Japanese imports, down from the 25% rate he previously warned of. Japan has committed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. and open its market to American autos and rice. The deal aligns with Trump’s broader strategy of using tariffs to curb trade imbalances and promote U.S. manufacturing. Josh Boak, Associated Press, July 22
Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba to quit after election drubbing, local media report. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will step down by the end of August after a heavy election defeat cost his government control of the upper house. Although Ishiba stated he would remain in office to implement a U.S. trade deal and address economic issues, reports say he informed aides he would accept responsibility for the loss. Satoshi Sugiyama and Leika Kihara, Reuters, July 22
DPP backers abandoned party for Sanseito in Upper House poll, analysis shows. Voter analysis revealed that many former Democratic Party for the People (DPP) supporters shifted allegiance to the right-wing Sanseito party ahead of Japan’s July 20 Upper House election. Although both parties secured 13 seats, Sanseito’s surge came largely from ex-DPP voters disillusioned by scandals and drawn to Sanseito’s “Japanese First” message. Social media played a central role in shaping preferences. Eric Johnston, The Japan Times, July 23
South Korea
Special counsel to summon ex-interior minister this week in martial law probe. Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min has been summoned for questioning on Friday by special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to impose martial law. Lee is accused of directing the National Fire Agency to cut utilities to critical media outlets and plotting a second martial law order after the initial decree was lifted. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, July 22
Korea, U.S. to restart high-level tariff negotiations in Washington ahead of Aug. 1 deadline. South Korea’s finance and trade ministers will travel to Washington this week to resume tariff negotiations with their U.S. counterparts as the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff deadline nears. With just days remaining, both sides aim to finalize a deal, though U.S. officials have given mixed signals about possible deadline flexibility. Park Jae-hyuk, The Korea Times, July 22
North Korea
N. Korea, China tout ties in banquet marking Chinese military anniv. North Korea and China reaffirmed military unity during a banquet in Pyongyang hosted by Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. North Korean defense, foreign, and party officials attended, emphasizing bilateral defense cooperation. Lee Minji, Yonhap News Agency, July 22
Thailand
Thai cabinet picks Vitai Ratanakorn as next central bank chief. Thailand’s cabinet has approved Vitai Ratanakorn, president of the Government Savings Bank, to become the next central bank governor pending royal endorsement. He will assume the role on October 1 for a five-year term. Seen as favoring rate cuts, Vitai’s appointment is expected to reduce friction with the Pheu Thai-led government. Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon, Reuters, July 22
Court to weigh parliament's role in charter amendments. Thailand’s Constitutional Court will issue a ruling on September 10 on whether parliament must hold a referendum before or after approving a draft constitutional amendment. The case stems from a March 17 joint session where two motions sought clarity on sequencing public consent in the amendment process. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, July 22
Vietnam
Vietnam, Singapore strengthen defence ties. Vietnam and Singapore reaffirmed their defence cooperation during a meeting in Hanoi between Defence Minister Phan Van Giang and his Singaporean counterpart Chan Chun Sing. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in training, maritime security, military medicine, and policy dialogue, and emphasized mutual support in ASEAN forums and multilateral defence platforms. Vietnam News, July 22
Laos
Laos, Belarus sign visa waiver agreement to boost travel ties. Laos and Belarus signed an intergovernmental agreement allowing visa-free travel for holders of national passports, aiming to boost tourism and official exchanges. During Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov’s July 16–18 visit to Vientiane, both nations also committed to deepening cooperation in trade, education, energy, and public health. Phontham Visapra, The Laotian Times, July 22
Philippines
U.S.-Philippines trade talks yield modest tariff shift after Trump-Marcos meeting. President Donald Trump announced a new 19% tariff on Philippine goods following a White House meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., slightly lower than the 20% rate earlier threatened. In return, U.S. exports to the Philippines will face zero tariffs. The deal marks a shift away from China, with Trump praising Marcos’ negotiating toughness. Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt, Reuters, July 22
Senators: 19% U.S. tariff unfair. Philippine senators criticized the new 19% tariff imposed by the U.S. under a recently announced trade deal following President Marcos' meeting with Donald Trump. Sen. Panfilo Lacson called the deal “the worst insult” to a longtime ally, while Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito described it as grossly disadvantageous. Sen. Imee Marcos questioned the agreement’s value, noting only a 1% tariff reduction on Philippine exports. Bernadette E. Tamayo, The Manila Times, July 23
Indonesia
Indonesia targets foreign investment with new AI roadmap, official says. Indonesia plans to complete its first national artificial intelligence strategy by next month to attract global investors and boost competitiveness in chipmaking. Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said the roadmap will guide developers on infrastructure, clusters, and sector-specific applications like health and agriculture. Stanley Widianto, Reuters, July 22
Indonesia to cut tariffs, non-tariff barriers in US trade deal. Indonesia has agreed to eliminate tariffs on over 99% of U.S. goods and scrap all non-tariff barriers, including pre-shipment inspections and licensing requirements, while the U.S. will reduce its tariff rate on Indonesian products from 32% to 19%. The agreement also includes mutual acceptance of U.S. safety standards, lifting of export restrictions on critical minerals, and support for the WTO e-commerce moratorium. David Lawder and Andrea Shalal, Reuters, July 22
Malaysia
Malaysia’s tourist arrivals up 20% from Jan to May, ministry says. Malaysia welcomed 16.9 million international tourists from January to May 2025, a 20% rise from the same period in 2024, according to the tourism ministry. Visitors from Singapore led with 8.34 million, followed by Indonesia, China, and Thailand. Arrivals from long-haul markets such as Australia and the UK also increased. The government credits the surge to visa liberalization and targeted policy incentives. Danial Azhar, Reuters, July 22
Taiwan
Taiwan, EU both face threats of 'external infiltration', president tells European lawmakers. President Lai Ching-te warned that Taiwan and the European Union face similar threats from external forces attempting to undermine democracy through disinformation and societal division. Speaking to the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, Lai reaffirmed shared values of freedom and democracy, and criticized Beijing for spreading false information. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, July 22
Taiwan June export orders beat expectations, tariff uncertainty a concern. Taiwan’s export orders surged 24.6% year-on-year in June to $56.77 billion, outperforming forecasts and marking a fifth straight monthly gain, driven by robust demand for tech and AI-related products. Orders from the U.S. rose 34.8% and from China 15.4%. However, the Ministry of Economic Affairs warned that U.S. tariff uncertainty and geopolitical risks could disrupt momentum despite continued strength in high-performance computing. Faith Hung and Jeanny Kao, Reuters, July 22
Northeast Asia
Europe’s de-risking from China focuses on AI, cloud, and semiconductors. The EU’s de-risking strategy increasingly targets critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and semiconductors, driven by concerns over dependency on Chinese suppliers. Recent measures include enhanced export controls, stricter investment screening, and coordination with like-minded partners. While Brussels stops short of blanket decoupling, the bloc is moving toward tighter regulation of outbound tech flows and bolstering domestic innovation capacity to mitigate geopolitical and economic risks. Wendy Chang, Rebecca Arcesati, and Antonia Hmaidi, MERICS, July 22
Chinese perspectives on strategic stability engagement with the United States. Chinese scholars distinguish between holistic and reductionist approaches to strategic stability, with the latter focusing on nuclear deterrence and arms race risks. Concerns center on the imbalance in nuclear capabilities with the U.S., especially as China expands survivable deterrents like submarine-launched missiles. U.S. missile defense developments and emerging technologies—such as AI and space systems—are viewed as threats to stability. Despite distrust, both sides are seen as capable of pursuing shared norms. Li Bin, Brookings, July 21
Gender politics and right-wing politics clash in South Korea. Economic stagnation and rising costs have fueled disillusionment among South Korea’s youth, particularly young men, who feel burdened by traditional masculine expectations. Perceiving gender equality policies as unfair, many supported Yoon Suk-yeol’s anti-feminist campaign in 2022. Institutionalised familism and limited public support reinforce gender inequities, while military service is politicised as a male disadvantage. Gender populism thrives amid perceived competition, hindering efforts toward inclusive reform. Mandy Chan, East Asia Forum, July 23
Southeast Asia
Trump’s tariff deals with Southeast Asia: it’s complicated. Vietnam and Indonesia are the only Southeast Asian nations to reach provisional tariff agreements with the U.S., lowering initial reciprocal tariffs to 20 and 19%, respectively. However, vague transshipment provisions and potential 10% penalties on BRICS-aligned states, including Indonesia, add uncertainty. With extended negotiations through August 1 and risk of sectoral tariffs, few regional economies stand to benefit clearly from these evolving arrangements. Stephen Olson, Fulcrum, July 23
Can the Ambalat deal be a model for the South China Sea. Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to jointly develop the Ambalat block in the Celebes Sea, a disputed maritime area, marking a significant shift toward resolving territorial tensions through cooperation. While details remain undisclosed, the arrangement aligns with UNCLOS provisions and strengthens bilateral ties. It also sets a legal and diplomatic precedent that could inform future joint development efforts in contested South China Sea waters. Ngeow Chow Bing, ThinkChina, July 22