China
China launches new satellite to test high-speed communication tech. China launched Communication Technology Test Satellite No. 25 from Wenchang using a Long March 5 rocket. The mission will test multi-band, high-rate satellite communication technologies and use technical upgrades intended to improve reliability, shorten launch-pad time, and support heavy-payload operations. Zhang Tong, South China Morning Post, June 11
China sanctions Philippine defence chief Gilberto Teodoro. Beijing sanctioned Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, his spouse and child, banning them from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau and barring Chinese entities from dealings with them. China cited remarks it said harmed bilateral relations, amid worsening tensions over South China Sea disputes and Japan-Philippines maritime talks. Orange Wang, South China Morning Post, June 11
Forum on global human rights governance opens in Beijing. The 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance opened in Beijing with more than 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations. China released its 2026-30 National Human Rights Action Plan, while speakers emphasized development, poverty reduction, Global South cooperation, and criticism of Western politicization of human rights. Global Times, June 11
Japan
Takaichi to attend NATO summit in Turkey and seek closer ties with alliance. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to attend a NATO summit in Ankara from July 6 to 8, seeking closer cooperation and a shared view that Indo-Pacific and European security are inseparable. Japan aims to encourage greater NATO involvement in Asia amid China’s growing military pressure. The Japan Times, June 12
Japanese government starts work to draft Imperial House Law amendment. Japan’s government began drafting legislation to revise the Imperial House Law after Diet leaders reached consensus on measures to maintain imperial family numbers. The plan would let female royals retain status after marriage and allow adoption of paternal-line male descendants from former imperial branches, excluding adoptees from succession rights. The Japan Times, June 12
Japan crude oil imports in July to regain year-earlier level despite war. Japan expects July crude imports to return to year-earlier levels after expanding purchases from non-Middle Eastern suppliers, including the U.S., Mexico, Azerbaijan, South Sudan and Sakhalin. Sanae Takaichi said stable oil supplies are projected through March 2028 despite the near halt of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Kyodo News, June 11
Japan emperor makes rare remark amid debate on dwindling family members. Emperor Naruhito expressed hope that discussions on securing enough imperial family members would gain public understanding. His comment followed Diet consensus on revisions allowing female royals to keep imperial status after marriage and permitting adoption of men from former branch families into the imperial family. Kyodo News, June 12
South Korea
U.S., South Korea hold nuclear deterrence talks as North Korea expands arms push. U.S. and South Korean officials met in Seoul under the Nuclear Consultative Group to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's expanding weapons programme. The talks reviewed information sharing, crisis procedures, joint drills, messaging, nuclear planning, and allied readiness amid concerns over Pyongyang's fissile-material production. Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang, Reuters, June 11
Lee says depending on U.S. for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties. President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea’s old approach of relying on Washington for defense while maintaining close economic ties with Beijing no longer fits current geopolitics. He called for self-reliant defense, wartime operational control transfer, stronger high-tech cooperation with the U.S., and deeper strategic ties with Italy. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, June 11
Lee, Mattarella agree to elevate South Korea-Italy ties into special strategic partnership. Lee Jae Myung and Sergio Mattarella agreed to upgrade relations and expand cooperation in semiconductors, AI, defense manufacturing, aerospace, energy, biotechnology, trade and culture. Both sides also planned MOUs, joint action plans through 2030, supply-chain cooperation, and coordination on the Korean Peninsula and international issues. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, June 11
Lee’s approval rating falls below 60% amid ballot shortage controversy. A Gallup Korea poll showed Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating fell 7 percentage points to 57%, while negative views rose to 35%. Election irregularity allegations were the top criticism, followed by the economy and real estate. Democratic Party support dropped to 41%, while the People Power Party rose to 29%. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, June 12
North Korea
North Korea's Kim voices full support for Russia, sends National Day message to Putin, KCNA says. Kim Jong-un sent Vladimir Putin a Russia National Day message pledging full support for Moscow's domestic and foreign policies. KCNA said Kim framed bilateral ties as an alliance under a strategic partnership treaty, while officials marked the holiday at Soviet memorial sites in North Korea. Kyu-seok Shim, Reuters, June 11
North Korea’s parliament elects new judges of highest court. North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly Standing Committee held its first plenary meeting of the new 15th term and elected new Supreme Court judges and people’s assessors. State media did not identify those chosen, while the committee also unanimously passed a law on academic degrees and titles without details. Woo Jae-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, June 12
North Korea’s Kim reaffirms alliance with Russia in letter to Putin. Kim Jong-un sent Vladimir Putin a Russia Day letter pledging unwavering support for Moscow’s internal and external policies. KCNA said Kim described bilateral ties as an alliance grounded in the 2024 strategic partnership treaty, while Russian Embassy officials in Pyongyang marked the holiday with a wreath-laying and reception. Woo Jae-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, June 11
Myanmar
U.S. official found dead in Myanmar, U.S. State Department says. The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. government employee assigned to the embassy in Yangon. Sources said the official was found last month at Sakura Residence & Hotel, while Thailand's Foreign Ministry described the case as consular assistance and an ongoing police investigation. Simon Lewis, Reuters staff, and Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, June 11
U.S. diplomat's death in Yangon probed as homicide; Thai woman detained. The death of a U.S. diplomat in Yangon is being investigated as a suspected homicide, with regime police detaining a Thai woman. The diplomat was found at Sakura Residence & Hotel near the U.S. Embassy, while the State Department confirmed the death but withheld further details. The Irrawaddy, June 11
Laos
Lao, Japanese PMs meet in Tokyo for talks on energy, security. Sanae Takaichi and Sonexay Siphandone agreed to deepen Japan-Laos cooperation on human resource development, energy security, supply chain resilience and economic stability. Sonexay backed Japan's POWERR Asia initiative, while Takaichi reaffirmed support for Laos' autonomy, resilience and sustainable development under their comprehensive strategic partnership. The Laotian Times, June 11
Laos, China sign seven documents to bolster development financing for key sectors. Laos and China signed seven agreements during President Thongloun Sisoulith's June 2-6 state visit to China, forming part of 32 cooperation documents. The deals cover green industry, poverty alleviation, education infrastructure, human resources, medical capacity-building and development financing to support Laos' socioeconomic priorities. Vientiane Times, June 12
Philippines
Philippine defence chief vows to press on against China's wickedness after sanctions. Gilberto Teodoro said he would continue defending the Philippines after China sanctioned him and close relatives over remarks Beijing called erroneous. Manila described the move as unfriendly and said it complicated ties, while Teodoro framed the sanctions as punishment for speaking against Chinese deception. Karen Lema, Reuters, June 11
Philippines, Germany boost defense, maritime ties. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his June 15-17 state visit to the Philippines. Talks are expected to cover defense, maritime cooperation, peace-building, trade, investment, climate change, renewable energy, people-to-people exchanges, ASEAN issues and regional developments. Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, June 11
Palace tells Sara: Marcos has nothing to do with Senate conflict. Malacanang rejected Sara Duterte’s claim that the Senate leadership dispute reflected weak presidential leadership. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had no role in the Senate conflict or May 13 gunfire incident and accused Duterte of changing the narrative while the government addressed oil and earthquake concerns. Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, June 11
Indonesia
World Bank says Indonesia's GDP to slow to 5% in 2026 as fiscal pressures rise. The World Bank projected Indonesia's growth will slow to 5% as fuel subsidies, capital outflows, rupiah weakness, and public spending pressures strain fiscal space. It urged gradual fuel subsidy reform and more targeted aid for poorer households. Stanley Widianto, Reuters, June 11
RI, China strengthen local currency, cross-border payment cooperation. Bank Indonesia and the People's Bank of China expanded cooperation on local currency transactions, cross-border QR payments, currency swaps and renminbi clearing. The deal includes an RMB Clearing Bank in Indonesia, Mandiri's direct CIPS participation, and wider payment provider access for Indonesia-China retail transactions. ANTARA News, June 11
Taiwan
Taiwan says it won't tolerate Chinese patrols, vows expulsions. Taiwan's coast guard said it would expel any vessel asserting jurisdiction in waters east of Taiwan after China ended a patrol there. Taipei said Beijing had no sovereignty or authority over the area and reported a separate brief intrusion by Chinese government ships near Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, June 11
Taipei envoy sees $14 billion arms package moving ahead under Trump. Taiwan’s U.S. envoy Alexander Tah-ray Yui said he expected Washington to approve a pending arms sale after review, though Donald Trump had not decided. KMT leader Cheng Li-wun said her party did not oppose U.S. arms sales but questioned procurement procedures under Taiwan’s ruling party. Yuanyue Dang, South China Morning Post, June 11
KMT chief Cheng Li-wun meets Trump ally Steve Daines in Washington. Cheng Li-wun met Steve Daines and other U.S. lawmakers during her Washington visit, outlining KMT positions on defence, energy and arms procurement. She said the party values military cooperation with Washington but believes purchases must be financially sound and follow legislative procedures. Xinlu Liang, South China Morning Post, June 11
U.S. House panel unveils defense bill with $2 billion for Taiwan. The U.S. House Appropriations Committee released a fiscal 2027 defense bill allocating $1 billion to the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and another $1 billion for replacement and reimbursement of defense articles and services provided to Taiwan. The bill still requires approval by Congress and the president. Elaine Hou and Evelyn Kao, Focus Taiwan, June 11
Coast guard expels Chinese vessels from Taiping Island restricted waters. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said two Chinese official vessels entered restricted waters near Taiping Island twice and made abrupt turns that endangered Taiwanese personnel. The vessels were expelled after warnings, while Taipei condemned the incident as a sovereignty violation and linked it to recent Chinese maritime operations. Joseph Yeh, Focus Taiwan, June 11
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia sign mining cooperation MOU at AMM Congress. Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on rare earths, critical minerals and mining cooperation during the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress. The deal covers expertise exchange, exploration technology, raw materials evaluation, extraction, processing and higher value-added production as both countries seek broader industrial and critical minerals ties. Javier M. Piedra, The Times of Central Asia, June 11
Ambassador Kazykhan calls for U.S.-Kazakhstan critical minerals projects at AMM Congress. Yerzhan Kazykhan urged U.S. and Kazakh officials and businesses to turn critical minerals cooperation into investment, offtake agreements, processing capacity and resilient supply chains. He presented Kazakhstan as a strategic supplier with major mineral reserves, uranium production, industrial capacity, transport links and legal infrastructure for Western investors. The Times of Central Asia, June 11
Bangladesh
Bangladesh unveils $77 billion budget, eyes 6.5% growth. Bangladesh introduced a 9.38 trillion taka budget targeting 6.5% growth and 7.5% inflation. The plan raises spending and development expenditure, projects a 3.6% deficit, seeks more foreign borrowing, and emphasizes reforms in taxation, banking, public finance, investment, exports and employment. Ruma Paul, Reuters, June 11
Washington’s Asian Allies Need a Backup Plan. Asian allies face a sharper risk from U.S. unreliability after Trump questioned Taiwan arms sales and troop commitments abroad. Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and partners lack a NATO-style fallback and remain exposed to China’s scale. They should expand domestic defense, co-develop weapons, share intelligence, deepen exercises, and build links with Europe to reduce dependence on Washington. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Zack Cooper, Foreign Policy, June 11
East Asia
From Pledges to Plants? Rightsizing China’s Global Clean Tech Investment. China’s outbound clean tech FDI is expanding, but completed projects total $85 billion, half of the $173 billion in announced commitments and below loose $400 billion tallies. Exports dominate overseas market access, while tariffs and local content rules push factory investment in EVs, solar PV, and wind turbines. Political reviews, Beijing controls, cancellations, and mixed local impacts point to piecemeal expansion, not a green-energy tsunami across host markets and sectors. Armand Meyer, Thilo Hanemann, Walter Lam, Rhodium Group, June 11
China’s Techno-Industrial Strategy in the Xi Era: Producing Under Pressure. China’s techno-industrial policy under Xi Jinping has become a centralized, security-linked, finance-driven system. The Party-state sets priorities through fiscal, financial, real economy, Party-firm, and overseas channels. Self-reliance, frontier leadership, and supply chain resilience now outrank catch-up growth. Fiscal strain moves support from subsidies toward mandates, guidance funds, credit, and corporate control, creating gains in scale while deepening inefficiency and global trade friction across firms, governments, and markets in strategic sectors. Gerard DiPippo, Jonathon Sine, Benjamin Lenain, RAND, June 12
Services Move to the Factory Floor. Beijing’s service-sector plan expands services while keeping manufacturing as the economic anchor. The State Council’s April program and MIIT’s service-oriented manufacturing agenda push producer services into factories through R&D, logistics, software, supply-chain finance, testing, certification, AI tools, and design. Guangdong will test the model through clusters, smart factories, and cross-regional coordination. Success depends on capability gaps, procurement demand, and controlled openings for foreign service firms that support industrial upgrading goals. CHINA POLICY, June 11
An Overview of U.S.-China Life Sciences Competition and Cooperation. Life sciences have become a test of U.S.-China competition and cooperation as security concerns, supply chain dependence, market access barriers, data limits, and Chinese industrial policy reshape biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. U.S. firms rely on China for ingredients, contract research, manufacturing, innovation, talent, and market access. Washington should derisk with allies, strengthen research, preserve useful collaboration, and press Beijing for reciprocal treatment in healthcare markets without sacrificing patient outcomes or competitiveness. Brendan Kelly, Asia Society, June 11
The Real Problem With Global Trade: How China’s Currency Manipulation Is Warping the World Economy. China’s weak renminbi and broader Asian currency undervaluation are central drivers of global trade imbalances. China’s property slump, export pivot, subsidies, capital controls, and state bank activity have expanded its surplus and pressured neighbors to hold currencies down. Tariffs have moved assembly through third countries without curbing exports. G7 leaders should revive currency diplomacy and force Beijing to choose between appreciation and coordinated trade restrictions to protect industrial economies and jobs. Brad Setser, Shahin Vallée, Foreign Affairs, June 11
For Its Own Sake, China Should Change Its Growth Model. China’s high-tech export success has not revived household confidence, jobs, or broad growth. Advanced manufacturing is less labor-intensive, clustered in leading coastal cities, and supported by subsidies that strain local finances and crowd sectors such as electric vehicles. Weak domestic demand, falling prices, low rates, and a cheap currency reinforce export reliance. Beijing should diversify demand through stronger consumption and social support. The Economist, June 11
Sino-US Action Against Drugs Keeps Functional Cooperation High. Fentanyl cooperation remains a practical channel in U.S.-China relations under “constructive strategic stability.” China’s 2025 precursor controls, export licensing for North America, and expanded substance catalogue target illicit supply chains. Recent extradition and joint arrests show agency-level action. Southeast Asia can benefit through intelligence sharing, joint operations against Golden Triangle synthetic drugs and scam networks, and regulatory alignment with ASEAN partners to improve public health protection beyond bilateral politics efforts. Zha Daojiong, FULCRUM, June 11
The Chinese Chasing Gold Across Africa. Chinese miners from Guangxi’s Shanglin county are returning to Africa’s goldfields as prices surge, drawn by incomes unavailable at home. Many work in legal gray zones across Mali, Ghana, and other states through local partners, bribes, and front companies. The rush brings robbery, kidnapping, forced labor, arrests, environmental damage, and local anger. Tighter African regulation and weaker equipment sales suggest the small-scale boom may fade within coming years for prospectors. Lim Zhan Ting, ThinkChina, June 11
In Pyongyang, Ceremonies of Friendship. Xi Jinping’s Pyongyang visit showed how China’s Party press performs power through ritual language, pageantry, and repetition. People’s Daily framed the trip around friendship, Xi’s authority, and the Three Unchangings, using slogans to signal hierarchy and strategic intent. Provincial papers echoed the center, showing official media as instruments of consensus, discipline, and upward political signaling within the Chinese Communist Party system of power rather than news providers for public audiences. David Bandurski, China Media Project, June 11
Drones Hover at Center of Taiwan's Defense Debate. Taiwan’s drone industry has become central to disputes over deterrence, identity, and China policy. Lai Ching-te’s special defense budget would fund U.S. purchases and domestic production, but the KMT-backed legislature blocked local procurement. Drone exports are rising, private firms are active, and Anduril sees Taiwan as a defense exporter. Voters face a choice between self-reliance as deterrence or provocation. Chris Horton, Nikkei Asia, June 11
Southeast Asia
Singapore’s Middle Power Muscle. Singapore shows how a small state can exercise middle-power influence through connectivity, credibility, and defense of multilateral rules. Its wealth, ports, airport, refineries, educated workforce, and governance reputation support an outsized role in trade and diplomacy. Initiatives such as the Global Governance Group, Digital Economic Partnership Agreement, Forum of Small States, P4, COVAX cooperation, cyber diplomacy, and climate work advance national interests while great-power rivalry narrows diplomatic room for maneuver. Joseph Chinyong Liow, East Asia Forum, June 11
Prabowo in Paris: liberté, égalité, and the autonomy that isn’t. Prabowo’s repeated Paris visits project autonomy while revealing dependence. The $3.5 billion business package adds commercial commitments, not new defense capability, since Rafale jets and Scorpène submarines came from earlier deals. Buying aircraft from France, Turkey, South Korea, China, and the United States creates training, logistics, spares, and political burdens. Leader-centered diplomacy masks fuel subsidy costs, limited technology transfer, and public accountability risks for Indonesian industry at home and citizens. Aniello Iannone, Lowy Institute, June 11
Indonesia’s Resource Nationalism Is Testing Its Relationship with China. Chinese investors in Indonesia’s nickel sector are challenging Prabowo’s resource nationalism after royalty hikes, foreign exchange rules, mining quota cuts, and enforcement raised costs. Chinese firms have placed more than $65 billion in smelters, industrial parks, and battery materials, making them central to downstreaming. Jakarta needs that capital but seeks more rent and control, leaving investment plans, policy trust, and China-Indonesia economic ties under strain in a fragile balance. Siwage Dharma Negara, Leo Suryadinata, FULCRUM, June 10
South Asia
Accelerating the EV Transition in the Global South Through India-Africa Partnership. India and African partners can use shared electric mobility challenges to build affordable local EV ecosystems across the Global South. South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt show varied progress in adoption, manufacturing policy, minerals, finance, and transport planning. India offers useful lessons on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, fiscal incentives, charging, battery swapping, and policy sequencing. EMBRACE can anchor cooperation on standards, capital, minerals, skills, and local value creation through structured regional exchanges. Akanksha Golchha, Gaurav Sansanwal, Abhinav Subramaniam, CSIS, June 11