Japan
Japan's Ishiba departs G7 with US trade deal and political future in doubt. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba failed to secure tariff relief from President Donald Trump at the G7 summit, despite efforts to lower U.S. auto levies from 25% to 10%. The lack of progress adds pressure ahead of July’s upper house elections, with analysts warning of a possible leadership change if his party performs poorly. Tim Kelly, Reuters, June 18
Nippon Steel finalizes $15B takeover of US Steel after sealing national security agreement. Nippon Steel completed its $15 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel after agreeing to a national security deal that grants the U.S. government a "golden share," allowing it to appoint a board member and veto key decisions. The agreement includes a $11 billion commitment to upgrade U.S. Steel facilities and maintain domestic operations. Marc Levy, Associated Press, June 18
South Korea
Ex-President Yoon yet to appear for police questioning as deadline approaches. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol has not complied with a police summons over allegations he obstructed justice and deleted secure communications following a failed martial law attempt. Yoon, who has already ignored two previous summonses, stated he would not appear, questioning the legality of the order. Police are weighing the possibility of seeking a detention warrant if he fails to appear by the Thursday deadline. Lee Haye-ah, Yonhap News Agency, June 19
South Korea eyes Pyongyang tourney talks with North at Uzbek table tennis event. South Korean officials are preparing for potential inter-Korean talks during the Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, aiming to discuss participation in Pyongyang-hosted tournaments in 2025 and 2028. The initiative aligns with President Lee Jae-myung’s pledge to reengage North Korea via sports diplomacy. Hankook Ilbo, The Korea Times, June 18
India
India and Canada to restore diplomatic services nearly two years after killing of Sikh separatist. India and Canada agreed to reinstate full diplomatic services after nearly two years of strained relations sparked by Ottawa’s allegation that New Delhi was involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney announced the restoration on the G7 summit sidelines, committing to mutual respect and sectoral collaboration. Rajesh Roy, Associated Press, June 18
Thailand
Leaked call between Thai PM and Cambodia 'strongman' stokes fresh tensions. A leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian premier Hun Sen has deepened diplomatic tensions amid an ongoing border dispute. In the recording, Paetongtarn urged Hun Sen not to heed a Thai general at the frontier, calling him unconstructive. Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chantha Lach, Reuters, June 18
Big blow for Thailand's PM as major party exits coalition. Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party exited Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s coalition, leaving her government with a fragile majority. The withdrawal followed a leaked call in which Paetongtarn urged Cambodia’s Hun Sen to ignore a Thai general amid a border dispute. The political fallout raises questions about coalition stability as Paetongtarn faces mounting economic and diplomatic pressures. Panu Wongcha-Um and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, June 18
Laos
Laos transfers media oversight to Party committee. Laos has restructured its Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, placing five key media bodies under the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda and Training Board to centralize national media governance. Affected institutions include the Lao News Agency, Lao National Television, and Lao National Radio. This reform renames the ministry as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Phontham Visapra, The Laotian Times, June 18
Oceania
New Zealand halts funding to the Cook Islands over its China ties. New Zealand suspended millions in funding to the Cook Islands due to concerns over agreements the island nation signed with China, citing a breach of consultation expectations under their free association compact. The halted NZ$18.2 million, part of core sector support, was uncovered in a budget document. The freeze complicates Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s concurrent visit to China. Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press, June 18
Northeast Asia
Diplomatic Challenges for the New ROK President. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung faces the dual task of restoring stability after a martial law crisis and redefining diplomacy amid rapidly changing global dynamics. To navigate the competing trilateral relations of ROK-U.S.-Japan and ROK-China-Japan, his administration must adopt a pragmatic approach focused on domestic revival and strategic balance. With economic anxiety surging, especially among an aging population, and the U.S. imposing tariffs, South Korea must strengthen ties with China and integrate into emerging regional markets. While preserving its alliance with the U.S., Seoul is expected to pursue multilateral cooperation without reigniting ideological divides. Zhang Yun, China-US Focus, June 18
Japan’s labour shortage creates jobs but not fair workplaces for disabled workers. Japan's growing labor shortage has expanded employment opportunities for disabled individuals, but without ensuring equitable workplace conditions. Despite legal frameworks mandating equal treatment and reasonable accommodations, many firms meet hiring quotas through indirect methods like subcontracting. Disabled workers remain concentrated in unstable sectors such as care, retail, and manufacturing, and face significantly lower rates of regular employment. Challenges with job retention and workplace integration persist, with advocacy groups pushing for improved conditions amid systemic gaps in union representation and enforcement. Sheltered workshops offer alternatives, but at the cost of low pay and limited independence. Anne-Lise Mithout, East Asia Forum, June 19
North Korea-Russia People-to-People Exchanges as a Tool for Sustained Dialogue. North Korea and Russia are expanding civilian cooperation under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a focus on people-to-people diplomacy through education, tourism, culture, and youth exchanges. Despite international focus on military ties, non-military initiatives like student and cultural exchanges, tourism development, and infrastructure projects are gaining momentum. Regional Russian politicians and universities are pivotal in sustaining this engagement. Such grassroots diplomacy could become a cornerstone of enduring bilateral relations. Nika Pasko, 38 North, June 18
Benign Invitations: China’s Playbook for Approaching Western Academics. China is escalating its academic outreach to Western scholars through ostensibly innocuous invitations for collaboration, conferences, and publishing opportunities, many linked to high-risk institutions engaged in military-civil fusion. These tactics, often involving vague proposals and attempts to move communication to encrypted platforms, exploit academia’s openness while aiming to extract sensitive data or build influence networks. With Beijing’s 2035 education blueprint planning massive international engagement, these interactions are part of a broader, state-directed strategy. The lack of institutional awareness and safeguards leaves researchers vulnerable, underscoring the need for a defensive academic policy. Erika Langerová, China Observers, June 19
Can China use rare earths to checkmate the US? Amid escalating US-China trade tensions, China is leveraging its rare earths dominance, 61% of global production and 92% of refining, as a strategic counter to US chip export controls. In response to US tariffs and tech sanctions, Beijing has imposed rare earth export controls, transitioning from outright bans to opaque approval systems, effectively weaponizing supply chain control. Although global efforts to diversify rare earth sources are underway, China’s entrenched industrial policy and ability to depress prices maintain its supremacy. Analysts view China’s tactic not as a knockout strategy but a bargaining tool for better negotiation terms. Sim Tze Wei, ThinkChina, June 18
The outlook for Korean diplomacy under Lee Jae-myung. Following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol and a polarised political climate, South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung assumes office with a focus on restoring domestic stability and pragmatic diplomacy. Despite being from the progressive camp, Lee is continuing many aspects of Yoon’s foreign policy, reflecting strategic necessities more than ideological alignment. His administration favors engagement on Korean peninsula issues while cautiously recalibrating ties with China and Russia. Although distancing itself from NATO-related rhetoric and the Indo-Pacific label, Seoul maintains alignment with the US and Japan amid deepening US-China tensions. Tadashi Kimiya, ThinkChina, June 18
China’s possible role in Cambodia-Thailand border dispute. Following a deadly border clash on May 28, tensions between Cambodia and Thailand have reignited over disputed territories, compounded by nationalist fervor and unresolved historical claims. The Thai military’s influence and nationalists’ rhetoric accuse Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of compromising sovereignty, linking her to Cambodian leaders through familial and business ties. Despite past ICJ rulings favoring Cambodia, Thailand resists international arbitration, leveraging military and economic superiority. China, maintaining strong ties with both nations and advancing its mediation credentials, could play a stabilizing role. However, deep-rooted nationalism limits external influence on boundary resolution. Sokvy Rim, ThinkChina, June 18
Southeast Asia
The Philippines’ Dynasties are Going Scorched-Earth on Each Other. The intensifying feud between the Marcos and Duterte dynasties threatens to destabilize the Philippines, a country already weakened by entrenched political families. Nearly 80% of Congress and over half of local officials belong to dynasties, creating corruption, inequality, and stunted economic development. With Rodrigo Duterte winning a mayoral seat from prison and Sara Duterte serving as vice president, their rivalry with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to escalate until the 2028 election, echoing the authoritarian tactics of Marcos’s father. This conflict could severely impact the nation’s governance and economic trajectory. Joshua Kurlantzick, Council on Foreign Relations, June 18
Southeast Asia deepens hedging amid Trump 2.0 turbulence. Facing renewed trade unpredictability under President Trump and intensified US–China rivalry, Southeast Asian states are reinforcing strategic hedging through a mix of blunting, broadening, boosting, and binding. Countries like Singapore and Vietnam are modernizing their militaries and diversifying alliances, while maintaining key partnerships with both superpowers. Multilateral platforms like the Shangri-La Dialogue and ASEAN summits are leveraged to amplify regional concerns. Even states closely tied to China, such as Cambodia and Malaysia, engage in parallel cooperation with Western powers, reflecting a nuanced, flexible diplomacy designed to preserve autonomy amid global instability. Hunter Marston, East Asia Forum, June 18