China
China begins two days of live-fire drills in Taiwan Strait. China began two days of live-fire drills near Dongshan Island in the Taiwan Strait, shortly after Rubio and Wang Yi discussed Taiwan and other issues. The drills were scheduled to run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Taiwan condemned the exercises, urged Beijing to stop military provocations and gray-zone intrusions, and accused China of creating regional tensions. Liz Lee, Reuters, July 23
Rubio says China’s actions in the South China Sea are “disturbing.” Marco Rubio called China’s South China Sea actions disturbing and reaffirmed U.S. defense commitments to the Philippines after new confrontations near Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. Manila accused a Chinese coast guard vessel of firing a water cannon at a fisheries vessel and said a Filipino sailor was injured Monday. China said it drove away Philippine vessels and defended its actions as lawful. Liz Lee, Shi Bu, Mikhail Flores, and Nestor Corrales, Reuters, July 23
U.S. slaps fresh tariffs on China, 50-plus countries in latest wave. The U.S. imposed new Section 301 tariffs on 60 countries over forced labor concerns, replacing a temporary 10% blanket levy. China faces a 12.5% rate, while Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the European Union face tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5%. Analysts said the move is unlikely to cause the same market shock as earlier sweeping tariffs, but it adds uncertainty as Washington seeks new trade tools after a Supreme Court ruling limited prior import levies. Nayan Seth, South China Morning Post, July 23
Pentagon expands blacklist to include China’s top civilian universities. The Pentagon added Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to its Section 1286 list, expanding research restrictions beyond military-linked Chinese institutions. The list now identifies 88 mainland Chinese institutions and bars Pentagon-funded researchers from collaborating with them or using their equipment starting in the 2026 financial year. The Defense Department cited risks of technology transfer and research misappropriation, while China’s embassy accused Washington of politicizing normal academic exchanges. Teresa Elena Frontado, South China Morning Post, July 23
Japan
Japan to send students to Russia for first time in 7 years. Japan will resume a short-term study program in Russia from August, sending about 15 Russian-language university students to St. Petersburg for around 10 days of language classes and exchanges with local students. The Foreign Ministry said the policy toward Russia, including sanctions, remains unchanged despite severe bilateral relations and domestic criticism. The program, launched in 1999, had been suspended because of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kyodo News, July 23
Japan, China foreign ministers chat, 1st since spat over Taiwan began. Toshimitsu Motegi said he briefly spoke with Wang Yi in Manila, marking the first contact between the foreign ministers since Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks triggered a backlash from Beijing last November. Motegi gave no details but said dialogue remains essential because Japan and China play important roles in regional peace. The exchange may affect prospects for a Takaichi-Xi Jinping meeting at the APEC summit in Shenzhen in November. Kyodo News, July 23
South Korea
Investigators raid election watchdog after detecting data manipulation. Investigators raided the National Election Commission headquarters in Gwacheon to secure evidence in a widening probe into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. A prosecution-police task force detected evidence that some NEC employees manipulated statistics in the computer system to cover up voter-number errors. Ballot shortages were reported at multiple polling stations, forcing some voters to leave without casting ballots. Lee Haye-ah, Yonhap News Agency, July 23
Ex-land minister questioned over expressway project linked to ex-first lady. Former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong appeared before a special counsel team for questioning over suspicions that he tried to change the endpoint of the planned Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway to benefit former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s family. The revised endpoint would have been near land owned by Kim’s family, but Won canceled the project in July 2023 after the controversy emerged. Investigators are also examining whether Won bypassed procedures during the cancellation. Kim Seong-hun, Yonhap News Agency, July 23
Ex-PM Kim, 2 former DP leaders to vie for ruling party leadership. Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and former Democratic Party leaders Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil advanced to the final round of the ruling party’s leadership race. The DP will choose its new leader at an Aug. 17 national convention, with the winner expected to oversee nominations for the April 2028 parliamentary elections. Former presidential spokesperson Ko Min-jung and former Gangjin councilmember Kim Bo-mi failed to make the cut. Kim Seung-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, July 23
North Korea
China quietly eases customs rules for North Korea. China temporarily eased customs rules for equipment and materials tied to North Korea’s civilian economy, allowing some goods previously delayed by sanctions concerns to move through formal channels. Trade sources said the arrangement covers livelihood and economic items submitted within a limited window after Xi Jinping’s June visit to Pyongyang and anniversary exchanges tied to the countries’ 1961 treaty. Dandong traders are rushing to secure approved goods, while uncertainty remains over eligible items, shipment volumes, and the policy’s duration. Seon Hwa, Daily NK, July 23
South Korea shifting to “peace first” North Korea policy, retains denuclearisation goal. South Korea is replacing a “denuclearisation first” policy with a “peace first” approach while keeping the long-term goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Seoul will initially seek to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme because demanding denuclearisation before dialogue has prevented talks. Pyongyang remains hostile to Lee Jae Myung’s overtures, but Chung said North Korea and the U.S. still have strategic demand for renewed talks. Kyu-Seok Shim, Reuters, July 23
Vietnam
Vietnam, U.S. seek to substantially promote Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang received newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Wicks and called for stronger implementation of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Hang urged closer work on high-level exchanges, trade, investment, science, technology, and other priority fields, and sought U.S. support for Vietnam’s APEC Year 2027. Wicks said the U.S. values the partnership and pledged to work with Vietnamese agencies to promote substantive, effective, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Vietnam News, July 23
Vietnam reaffirms trade talks, urges U.S. to conclude trade investigation. Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to concluding trade negotiations with the U.S. after Marco Rubio and Le Hoai Trung met on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Manila. Hanoi urged Washington to complete its Section 301 investigation with a decision recognizing Vietnam’s efforts. Vietnam faces three Trump administration probes, while Trung said Hanoi is willing to facilitate expanded U.S. business and investment. Phuong Nguyen, Reuters, July 23
Myanmar
Myanmar regime admits abducting young men for conscription. Myanmar’s regime publicly acknowledged seizing young men from homes and checkpoints for military service, with Deputy Home Affairs Minister Min Thu saying authorities were compelled to act because draft-age men were fleeing townships. He said the raids target people who fail to report for duty, though lawmakers raised concerns about arbitrary arrests of students and schoolboys. The revived conscription law has prompted a youth exodus, while reports describe routine abductions and ransom cases in major cities. The Irrawaddy, July 23
Myanmar leaders’ return to ASEAN meetings “still far off,” bloc’s envoy says. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said Myanmar leaders remain far from returning to top ASEAN meetings because compliance with the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus is still under assessment. Lazaro, ASEAN’s special envoy on Myanmar, said benchmarks will be set to measure progress and determine non-compliance. She will lead a humanitarian mission later this year but said access to detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is uncertain. Mikhail Flores, Reuters, July 23
Laos
China approves market access to imported jackfruit from Laos, deepening agricultural cooperation. China approved imports of fresh jackfruit from Laos that meet phytosanitary standards, creating a new agricultural trade channel between the two countries. The rules require approved orchards and packing facilities, traceability systems, pre-export inspections, quarantine checks, and certification. The opening follows expanded bilateral trade, improved logistics through the China-Laos Railway, and commitments to deepen food-safety, quarantine, and agricultural cooperation under Belt and Road mechanisms. Vientiane Times, July 23
Laos strengthens ASEAN ties with dialogue partners. Laos joined ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings in Manila with 11 dialogue partners, focusing on trade, investment, digital transformation, energy security, connectivity, innovation, climate action, and people-to-people links. Foreign Minister Thongsavan Phomvihane co-chaired the ASEAN-Canada meeting, where ministers adopted a 2026-2030 action plan and urged completion of free trade talks in 2026. ASEAN also reviewed cooperation plans with India, the U.S., Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, and the UK. Vientiane Times, July 24
Philippines
Trump to Marcos: Will raise PH concerns with Xi. Donald Trump told Ferdinand Marcos Jr. he would raise Philippine concerns with Xi Jinping in his next meeting with the Chinese leader. The call followed Marcos’ meeting with Marco Rubio and came after new confrontations in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos sought a reset with China after summoning Ambassador Jing Quan over the Ayungin incident, while Philippine officials rejected Beijing’s claim that Manila needed permission for resupply missions and reaffirmed that the provisional arrangement does not concede sovereignty, jurisdiction, boarding, or inspection rights. Dexter Cabalza and Gabryelle Dumalag, Inquirer.net, July 24
China Coast Guard fires water cannon at Philippine vessel in Bajo de Masinloc. A China Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon for more than two minutes at BRP Datu Dumangsil while the Philippine government ship was delivering fuel and food to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc. Philippine authorities said the Chinese vessel maneuvered dangerously close before the attack. The mission was completed, no personnel were injured, and officials condemned the incident as harassment of lawful Philippine operations in the West Philippine Sea. Izel Abanilla, The Manila Times, July 23
No discussion on ICC during Rubio’s meeting with PBBM — Castro. Marco Rubio did not discuss the Trump administration’s campaign against the International Criminal Court during his courtesy call on Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to Claire Castro. Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez separately raised the ICC issue with the U.S. State Department, citing the Philippines’ residual obligations and cooperation with Interpol. Castro said U.S. officials understood the sensitivity of pending ICC cases involving Filipinos, including Rodrigo Duterte and Ronald Dela Rosa. Bernadette E. Tamayo, The Manila Times, July 23
Indonesia
Indonesia says M-346 F jet shopping spree needed to train pilots. Indonesia said its order for 12 Italian M-346 F multirole light fighter aircraft is needed to prepare pilots for a modernized air fleet. Defense Ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait said the aircraft will help crews adapt to advanced technologies, support logistics readiness, and strengthen the national defense industry. The jets are expected from 2030 and could help pilots transition to Rafale fighters already ordered from France. Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta Globe, July 23
Indonesia urges Japan, ASEAN to boost support for Palestine. Indonesia urged Japan and ASEAN members to use CEAPAD to provide stronger support for Palestine’s recovery and long-term development. Foreign Minister Sugiono said Palestine is a matter of justice, dignity, and the right to rebuild. The ASEAN-Japan meeting also emphasized secure shipping lanes, maritime cooperation, energy transition, regional energy security, and stronger trade and investment through ASEAN-Japan, RCEP, and ASEAN Plus Three frameworks. ANTARA News, July 23
Malaysia
Malaysia asks UNHCR to temporarily cease registration of refugees. Malaysia asked the UN refugee agency to pause new refugee registrations while it implements a domestic registration programme launched in January. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the system would strengthen identity verification, monitoring, and regulation. UNHCR counted about 215,600 refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia at the end of February, more than half Rohingya from Myanmar. Malaysia also plans to deport about 5,000 detained Myanmar nationals, subject to Myanmar’s agreement. Rozanna Latiff, Reuters, July 23
Singapore
Singapore navy launches second multi-role combat vessel nine months after first. Singapore launched Valour, the navy’s second multi-role combat vessel, three months faster than the first ship after lessons from earlier construction. The vessels will replace Victory-class missile corvettes from 2028 and are designed for configurable missions with unmanned systems. K. Shanmugam said secure maritime routes are a national priority, citing stressed trade routes and the Strait of Hormuz, and highlighted Singapore’s ability to build advanced warships domestically. Wong Man Shun, The Straits Times, July 23
Taiwan
Taiwan condemns China after another research vessel enters its EEZ. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration condemned China after the Lanhai 201 research vessel conducted a weeklong fisheries survey in Taiwan’s EEZ. Taiwan said the activity violated its sovereignty and harmed cross-strait peace and regional stability. The Coast Guard monitored the vessel as it sailed near Orchid Island, and said the incident followed a similar Chinese research mission in June and broader Chinese maritime operations east of Taiwan. Liu Chien-pang and Joseph Yeh, Focus Taiwan, July 23
Bangladesh
Bangladesh president to resign Friday as pressure grows over Hasina’s planned return. Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin will resign Friday halfway through his term after Sheikh Hasina announced plans to return from exile and surrender following a court conviction. His spokesperson said the resignation becomes effective once a signed letter is submitted to the speaker, who would become interim president until a successor is elected. Sources said the government pressed Shahabuddin to step aside because of his ties to Hasina, whose Awami League is banned after the 2024 uprising. Krishna N. Das and Ruma Paul, Reuters, July 23
East Asia
From Property Boom to AI: China’s Next Corruption Risk. Ma Xingrui’s expulsion exposes corruption networks that linked officials, relatives, state enterprises, developers, and finance during China’s property boom. As growth shifts toward artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles, robotics, and biotechnology, scarce resources include computing power, data, investment funds, talent, and application access. Government support remains central to industrial development, creating rent-seeking risks. China needs transparent allocation, legal safeguards, and fair competition to prevent vested interests from capturing state resources. Sim Tze Wei, ThinkChina, July 23
Xi’s Demands for Loyalty Are Breeding Corruption. Ma Xingrui’s fall exposes weaknesses in Xi Jinping’s loyalty-centered system for selecting and supervising senior officials. Ma passed vetting, led Xinjiang, joined the Politburo, and built a corruption network involving relatives, aides, businesses, projects, and appointments. Obedience earned trust while oversight failed to detect abuse. Party inspections punish misconduct after leaders authorize investigations, but secrecy, fear, weak disclosure, and absent independent scrutiny let trusted officials convert political favor into protection. Deng Yuwen, Foreign Policy, July 23
Beijing Is Celebrating a Race It Never Ran. A Pew survey found better views of China than the United States in 25 of 36 countries, but the result reflects American decline, not Chinese soft-power success. China gains approval where investment, trade, and lending matter, yet faces distrust near contested borders and among wealthy democracies. Views of Chinese freedoms remain negative across much of the West and Asia. Beijing benefits from anger toward Washington, not attraction to China itself. Bobby Ghosh, Foreign Policy, July 23
China Is AI-Maxxing. Chinese AI firms Moonshot AI and Alibaba released Kimi K3 and Qwen 3.8, reviving concern that Beijing is closing the technology gap with Washington. Their open-weight models offer strong performance, low costs, and access despite shortages of advanced chips and computing power. United States officials accuse Chinese developers of distillation and technology access. China’s open model strategy may attract startups and governments while export controls struggle to curb adoption. Rishi Iyengar, Foreign Policy, July 23
PRC Drone Economy Sheds Hobbyists for Workflows. China’s drone economy is moving from hobbyist use toward regulated industrial workflows that the state can register, identify, approve, monitor, dispatch, and insure. Agriculture and power inspection show viable demand while logistics, urban services, tourism, and passenger flight depend on subsidies or lack stable profits. Tight domestic rules and United States restrictions weaken consumer growth. Manufacturers seek revenue from equipment sales to government, industry, farms, and markets with cost savings. CHINA POLICY, July 23
China’s Moment of Weakness. China’s economic model is weakening as property collapse, bad debt, slow credit growth, weak domestic demand, and shrinking fiscal capacity constrain Beijing’s policy tools. Export dependence drives low-priced goods into global markets and deepens trade conflict. Logan Wright sees an opening for the United States and its allies to defend industrial capacity, build alternative supply chains, and use access to consumer demand as leverage against Chinese export controls and coercion. Logan Wright, Foreign Affairs, July 23
Keeping the Ball in Play: Sports, Rules, and U.S.-China Relations. Sports offer a model for U.S.-China relations through fierce competition bounded by shared rules, officials, and accepted limits. Basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, table tennis, and pickleball create experiences across national differences. Mixed American and Chinese teams demonstrate cooperation within rivalry. With tensions rising in the Western Pacific and artificial intelligence, both governments need common expectations that reduce misperception, preserve trust, and keep conflict within recognizable boundaries between the two powers. James Chau, China-US Focus, July 22
Xi-Putin Summit Displays Transition Not Only in Global Power but in the Global Order. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin used their Beijing summit to promote an alternative vision of international order, not a formal alliance. Their statement condemned strikes on Iran, criticized Japan’s defense policies, opposed United States missile deployments, and supported deeper energy cooperation. China’s growing power supports efforts to reshape global rules, norms, and legitimacy. Australia and other middle powers should diversify partnerships, defend legal principles, strengthen institutions, and shape regional narratives. Alexander Korolev, East Asia Forum, July 23
Evolution, Not Revolution: Why China Isn’t Pushing Its Cleantech Advantage in the Hormuz Crisis. China restrained fossil fuel imports during the Strait of Hormuz crisis because higher oil prices threaten its larger export economy. Cleantech represented 6 percent of Chinese exports in 2025, while electronics, textiles, metals, and chemicals generated greater revenue. Costlier energy weakens global growth and reduces demand for Chinese goods. The crisis may support clean energy adoption over time, but Beijing favors stability and gradual transition over disruption that harms trade. David M. Hart, Council on Foreign Relations, July 23
How Chinese Cars Took Over Thailand. Chinese automakers captured 30 percent of Thailand’s vehicle market and 89 percent of electric vehicle sales through tariff advantages, subsidies, low prices, model choice, and pressure to export excess production. Their future growth depends on fiscal support, charging infrastructure, local production rules, and political acceptance. Chinese investment has expanded assembly and parts capacity, but local content remains below Japanese levels, raising risks for employment, local suppliers, and Thailand’s automotive industry. Gregor Williams, Agatha Kratz and Armand Meyer, Rhodium Group, July 23
The Factors That Matter: A Formula for Understanding China’s Use of Force Calculus Over Taiwan. China’s decision to use force against Taiwan emerges from interactions among eight variables. Internal factors include PLA readiness, domestic stability, and Xi Jinping’s legacy. External factors cover Taiwan’s separation trajectory, geopolitical events, United States intervention, allied participation, and Taiwanese defenses. War risk rises when Beijing sees force as urgent, feasible, and affordable. Danger grows if leaders believe China’s advantage approaches its peak as Taiwan’s identity and regional support networks strengthen. Lyle Morris, Asia Society, July 23
North Korea’s Nuclear Doctrine: Implications and Strategic Countermeasures for the US-ROK Alliance. North Korea has embedded nuclear weapons development and command rules in its constitution, ending prospects for near-term denuclearization and lowering the threshold for use. Its expanding arsenal, tactical systems, strike exercises, and ties with Russia create risks of coercion and miscalculation. Seoul and Washington should strengthen deterrence through nuclear sharing, deployed assets, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, sanctions, alliance integration, and diplomatic pressure tied to responsible nuclear conduct and nonproliferation standards. Yong-sup Han, 38 North, July 23
Southeast Asia
Cambodia Still Seeks Peace With Thailand. Cambodia says the ceasefire with Thailand has failed to produce peace because Thai forces remain on Cambodian territory and thousands of families remain displaced. Phnom Penh accuses Thai authorities of demolitions, land surveys, barriers, excavation, and road construction during the truce. Cambodia calls for sovereignty, civilian returns, legal settlement through boundary agreements, renewed Joint Boundary Commission work, maritime talks under UNCLOS, and ASEAN observation to prevent conflict and support resettlement. Prak Sokhonn, Nikkei Asia, July 23
Thailand’s Defence Budget: Money and Materiel. Thailand’s defence spending rose after the 2025 Cambodia border clashes and under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, whose government seeks military support. The 2027 budget remains at 203.4 billion baht despite national austerity. Procurement favors the Army, with purchases spread across United States, Chinese, and European suppliers. Drone warfare, border security, modernization, and domestic industry shape plans, but military power over budgets weakens civilian oversight, accountability, and democratic control in Thailand. Paul Chambers, FULCRUM, July 23
South Asia
Modi’s Australian Hat-Trick. Narendra Modi’s third visit to Australia marked a mature bilateral relationship built on trust despite past disputes. New agreements deepen defense, maritime, energy, and industrial cooperation, while uranium export arrangements give India another supply source for nuclear power. Trade could grow through a full free trade agreement. The visit showed that ties can withstand political tensions, migration concerns, and historical setbacks, with security, economic, diplomatic, and cultural links sustaining partnership. Purnendra Jain, East Asia Forum, July 23