China
Chinese premier holds talks with New Zealand's PM. Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Beijing, proposing closer strategic coordination and expanded cooperation in trade, education, and green development. China pledged to import more agricultural goods and support Chinese investment in New Zealand, while Luxon reiterated the one-China policy and backed enhanced regional dialogue. China Daily, June 21
China hits out at U.S. and Israel, calls for de-escalation of conflict with Iran. China condemned U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities and urged de-escalation, civilian protection, and adherence to international law. Beijing, alongside Russia and Pakistan, proposed a UN resolution for a ceasefire and lifting of sanctions on Iran. Analysts warned of risks to China’s Middle East investments, particularly in oil, and noted growing regional instability could disrupt trade flows. Mark Magnier, South China Morning Post, June 22
Japan
Japan scraps U.S. meeting after Washington demands more defense spending, FT reports. Japan canceled the annual 2+2 security dialogue with the United States after the Trump administration requested an increase in Tokyo’s defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, up from a prior 3% demand. The Financial Times cited sources attributing the move to the spending demand and Japan’s upcoming upper house elections. Japanese officials denied such targets were ever discussed. David Brunnstrom, Idrees Ali, Urvi Dugar and Tim Kelly, Reuters, June 21
LDP wins record-low seats in Tokyo assembly race, in blow to PM. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party secured just 22 seats in the Tokyo assembly election, the lowest in its history and below its 2017 record of 23. Tomin First no Kai, led by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, emerged strongest with 32 seats. The result, seen as a prelude to national elections, underscores rising public support for welfare policies and dissatisfaction with the LDP. Tomoyuki Tachikawa, Kyodo News, June 23
South Korea
Ex-President Yoon attends 8th hearing of insurrection trial. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for the eighth hearing of his insurrection trial concerning his December 3 martial law declaration. It marked his first session under special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s leadership. Yoon remained silent on the new probe and separate corruption allegations against his wife, Kim Keon Hee. A special counsel assistant was present to pursue the indictment. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, June 23
South Korean president defends PM nominee amid backlash from opposition party. President Lee Jae-myung urged opposition lawmakers to allow Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok to address controversies during his confirmation hearing, rejecting calls for withdrawal. The People Power Party criticized Kim’s 2005 conviction and alleged favoritism toward his son. During a bipartisan luncheon, Lee also backed reforms to the confirmation process and advocated swift passage of the supplementary budget. Lee Hyo-jin, The Korea Times, June 22
North Korea
New vice unification minister calls for restoration of inter-Korean dialogue channel. Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung urged the swift resumption of suspended inter-Korean communication during his first meeting after taking office. Stressing alignment with President Lee Jae-myung’s agenda, Kim called for addressing urgent bilateral matters and fostering peaceful coexistence. The North has remained unresponsive to South Korean outreach via liaison channels since April 2023. Lee Minji, Yonhap News Agency, June 21
Thailand
Constitutional Court to review petition against PM. Thailand’s Constitutional Court is set to conduct a preliminary review of a petition filed by senators seeking Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s removal. The process involves verifying petitioners’ signatures and legal grounds cited. If deemed valid, the case may advance to a judicial panel as early as July. The petition adds pressure amid her coalition’s instability following a leaked call with Hun Sen. Bangkok Post, June 23
Thai PM claims she has coalition support after resignation calls. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra asserted that all coalition partners remain supportive following calls for her resignation over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen. Despite the Bhumjaithai Party’s exit from the coalition, she emphasized national unity and constitutional governance. Critics accused her of disparaging a senior Thai general in the call, prompting protests scheduled for June 28. Orathai Sriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, June 22
Vietnam
NA set to vote on dozens of legislative packages in final week of ninth session. Vietnam’s National Assembly will vote from June 23 to 27 on a comprehensive range of legislative packages, covering legal revisions in justice, governance, defense, and socio-economic development. Key items include amendments to the laws on nationality, public investment, and credit institutions, as well as resolutions on education support, infrastructure funding, and tax exemptions. Vietnam News, June 22
Cambodia
PM Hun Manet: Cambodia halts all fuel and gas imports from Thailand, effective midnight Sunday. Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that Cambodia will stop all fuel and gas imports from Thailand starting at midnight, citing national capacity to meet energy needs from other sources. The move escalates diplomatic tensions, following Thailand’s military-led border checkpoint closure and Thai claims linking Cambodia to cybercrime networks. Cambodia has since sealed the same border crossing permanently. Khmer Times, June 22
Philippines
China's research ships used for intel operations – group. China is deploying research and survey ships as proxies for intelligence and military operations, blending legitimate scientific activities with covert surveillance. These missions serve dual purposes such as submarine routing and undersea monitoring, often occurring in regions like the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. Vessels reportedly disable tracking and trace symbolic routes to assert territorial claims. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, June 23
FFW to join case on political dynasties ban. The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) announced it will intervene in the Supreme Court case urging the enforcement of a constitutional ban on political dynasties. The case, originally filed by Senate employee Angelo Karlo Guillen and endorsed by a group of government workers, seeks a court mandate compelling Congress to pass an enabling law. FFW cited the dynastic monopoly on public office as detrimental to democracy. Jomar Canlas, The Manila Times, June 23
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan calls for nuclear non-proliferation agreement as Middle East conflict escalates. Kazakhstan urged swift international action to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The Foreign Ministry called for negotiations under the UN Charter and highlighted risks to Caspian regional security. It also reaffirmed ties with Iran and pushed for a treaty ensuring security guarantees for non-nuclear states. An emergency IAEA board meeting was scheduled for June 23. The Astana Times, June 22
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and Pakistan sign action plan to accelerate implementation of joint projects. Uzbekistan and Pakistan signed an action plan to expedite the implementation of high-level agreements, aiming to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, transport, logistics, education, and culture. Foreign Ministers Bakhtiyor Saidov and Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed their commitment to translating political agreements into tangible initiatives. The plan includes specific measures to ensure effective and coordinated execution of strategic projects. Uzbekistan Daily, June 22
Northeast Asia
South Korea’s Democracy in the Shadow of the Far-Right. Following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment in April 2025 for declaring martial law after an electoral loss, South Korea faces a deepening crisis fueled by the far-right’s rise. Yoon’s support base, reinforced by the People Power Party and far-right groups, blends conspiracy theories, anti-feminism, xenophobia, and religious nationalism, challenging democratic norms. Economic instability and cultural changes have radicalized older citizens and disaffected young men. Conservative Protestant churches have become hubs of political mobilization, while gender polarization marks electoral divides. President Lee Jae-myung’s centrist pivot aims for unity but risks marginalizing progressive opposition amid wider geopolitical pressures. Ming Gao, East Asia Forum, June 21
The Restructuring of North Korea’s Food Production and Distribution System. Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea has implemented market-oriented reforms in its agricultural and industrial sectors, codified in laws such as the Farms Act (2023) and Food Administration Act (2022). These changes move some authority from farm managers to individual farmers, allowing them to retain surplus grain and reducing state control over planning and procurement. The state appears to be adopting a dual procurement system—mandatory for state needs and sales-based for market distribution, indicating greater autonomy and corporatization of farms. However, it remains uncertain whether this marks a genuine liberalization or a recalibration of control. Peter Ward, 38 North, June 20
A Media Corruption Case in Shanghai. Shanghai authorities have dismantled a WeChat-based “news extortion” ring in which the operator, identified as Ding, allegedly coerced companies into paying for the removal of damaging coverage. Ding used a popular public account to publish misleading reports, often manipulating content and images, then offered “market promotion contracts” ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 yuan in exchange for ceasing negative publicity. This scheme exploited China’s ambiguous “supervision by public opinion” framework, originally meant to empower journalistic oversight but now constrained under Xi Jinping’s focus on unified propaganda. The case shows the ongoing media corruption challenges in China’s tightly controlled information environment. David Bandurski, China Media Project, June 23
How US Involvement in the Israel-Iran Conflict Will Affect Taiwan. As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates, with US forces poised for potential military intervention, questions arise about its global implications, particularly for Taiwan. A US attack could neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat, but risks triggering regional chaos and global oil shocks. The debate splits American conservatives between hawks and isolationists. For Taiwan, the stakes are symbolic: if the US fails to support Israel militarily, confidence in American intervention in a Taiwan Strait crisis may falter. However, dual-front conflict involving Iran and Ukraine could distract US focus, offering China a strategic opening. Han Yong Hong, ThinkChina, June 20
Chinese Biotech Is Having a ‘DeepSeek Moment.’ China’s biotechnology sector is surging as multinational pharmaceutical giants pursue billion-dollar deals for innovative Chinese-developed therapies, particularly PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies. Recent licensing agreements, including Pfizer’s US$6.05 billion deal with 3SBio and BioNTech’s US$7.6 billion partnership involving Biotheus, show global validation of China’s drug innovation. The wave, sparked by Akeso’s clinical triumph over Merck’s Keytruda, has revived investor confidence and repositioned Chinese biotech as a key global player. With IPOs sluggish, licensing has become a critical funding lifeline. However, only firms with competitive assets and global strategies are likely to survive the sector’s ongoing structural shakeout. ThinkChina, June 20
Southeast Asia
Redefining Asia-Europe Security in a Multipolar World. Europe and Asia are deepening strategic interdependence amid rising global tensions, with converging threats across cyber, space, AI, and technology supply chains exposing shared vulnerabilities. Current engagements, often symbolic, must evolve into interoperable frameworks reflecting multi-domain competition. Europe, though limited in military projection, remains vital to Asia through its technological expertise, crisis management models, and normative influence. Finland’s resilience strategy and Ukraine’s war-tested adaptability show the importance of societal endurance in modern deterrence. Future cooperation must prioritize cyber frameworks, space norms, AI governance, and secure supply chains. Singapore, given its strategic positioning, is well-placed to facilitate these evolving cross-regional partnerships. Michael Raska, RSIS, June 20
Bolstering the Singapore–Asia Taxonomy as a Regional Sustainable Finance Benchmark. The Singapore–Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (SAT), launched in December 2023, has set rigorous, quantifiable standards for green and transition finance, aiming to become ASEAN’s benchmark for sustainable investments. Its alignment with the EU Taxonomy increases global relevance, while its traffic-light classification promotes consistency across regional taxonomies. Despite this, challenges persist, including balancing stringency with adoption, integrating into regulatory frameworks, and expanding public awareness. As a voluntary framework, its impact could be amplified through institutional incentives and periodic assessments. Future iterations should address climate adaptation, biodiversity, and pollution, and tighten energy transition criteria in line with global norms. Seonghoon Kim, East Asia Forum, June 21
Power and Opposition Under Prabowo’s Political Cartel. President Prabowo Subianto has consolidated near-total political control through his KIM+ coalition, effectively transforming it into a unified, loyalty-driven political cartel. With the PDIP as the sole major party outside the government, Prabowo has neutralized dissent within parliament and tightened bureaucratic and financial oversight, notably via the new sovereign wealth fund Danantara. Despite public discontent over corruption, austerity, and military resurgence, the PDIP remains cautious, avoiding a full oppositional stance. Civil society, however, is exploring political alternatives, signaling potential future challenges to Prabowo’s centralized power. Max Lane, FULCRUM, June 23
Thai-Cambodian Tensions: For Thailand, Appeasement Will Not Hold the Line. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s leaked appeasement call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen has triggered domestic backlash and undermined Thailand’s stance in a simmering border conflict. The dispute, centered on colonial-era map discrepancies near the Emerald Triangle, escalated after a deadly skirmish on May 28. Cambodia’s diplomatic maneuvering, including filing with the ICJ and invoking inflammatory comparisons, contrasts with Thailand’s slow response. The Thai military, now enjoying public support, is urged to assert a firm but non-aggressive stance. Strategically, Thailand could leverage Cambodia’s scam industry and seek closer US alignment to counterbalance Phnom Penh’s provocations. Tita Sanglee, FULCRUM, June 20