China
The last Hong Kong pro-democracy party that held street protests disbands. The League of Social Democrats announced its dissolution due to mounting political pressure, marking the end of visible street protest activity by pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. Founded in 2006, the party was known for its confrontational style and advocacy for the underprivileged. Its decision reflects ongoing repression under the national security law, with members fined, jailed, and denied services. Kanis Leung, Associated Press, June 29
Trump says ‘getting along well’ with China, downplays ‘aggressive’ acts linked to Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump minimized concerns over recent incidents involving China, including arrests tied to pathogen smuggling and allegations of hacking and IP theft, saying such actions are common globally. He emphasized positive U.S.-China relations and expressed satisfaction with current trade dynamics. South China Morning Post, June 29
Former PLA ideology chief Miao Hua removed from China’s Central Military Commission. General Miao Hua, once head of ideological work for the People’s Liberation Army, has been formally removed from China’s Central Military Commission amid an ongoing corruption investigation. The National People’s Congress stripped him of his CMC seat, marking him the second top military official ousted since 2022. William Zheng, South China Morning Post, June 27
Japan
Japan tariff negotiator in Washington holds talks twice with Lutnick. Japan’s economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa held two phone discussions with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday, following an earlier in-person meeting, to address sharp differences over U.S. auto tariffs. Japan is prioritizing relief from the Trump administration’s April hike on car imports from 2.5% to 27.5%. Akazawa extended his Washington stay for possible talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Kyodo News, June 29
Ishiba cautious about expanding ruling coalition. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed reluctance to expand the ruling Liberal Democratic Party–Komeito coalition without firm policy alignment on diplomacy, security, and fiscal matters. Speaking ahead of the July 20 upper house election, he reiterated support for social security reform and proposed cash benefits to counter inflation. Opposition leaders rejected coalition talks, though some endorsed a consultative body on welfare reform. The Japan Times, June 29
South Korea
Lee's approval rating inches up to 59.7%. President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating rose to 59.7% last week, up 0.4 percentage points, driven by measures like his supplementary budget speech and loan restrictions. Negative assessment also rose slightly to 33.6%. Controversies over Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok and Lee’s NATO summit absences hindered gains. The Democratic Party’s support climbed to 50.6%, while the opposition People Power Party fell to 30%. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, June 30
Special counsel questions former President Yoon over martial law case. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol underwent five hours of interrogation by special counsel investigators probing his alleged role in declaring martial law on December 3. Accused of instructing the Presidential Security Service to block an arrest warrant, Yoon clashed with police investigator Park Chang-hwan, prompting a pause and substitution with prosecutors. Dong-Jun Heo, The Dong-A Ilbo, June 30
Thailand
Thousands demand Thai prime minister quit over border dispute. Protesters gathered in Bangkok calling for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation over her leaked call with Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen and criticism of the Thai army. The rally, the largest since 2023, reflected public anger over her handling of a border dispute and economic struggles. Paetongtarn faces a possible no-confidence vote, legal scrutiny, and coalition instability. Panu Wongcha-Um and Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, June 28
Protesters rally in Bangkok to demand Thai prime minister's resignation over leaked Cambodia call. Around 20,000 demonstrators gathered at Victory Monument demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra step down after a leaked call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen fueled outrage over her handling of a fatal border clash. Critics condemned her remarks about a Thai military commander and her perceived appeasement of Hun Sen. Jintamas Saksornchai, Associated Press, June 28
Laos
Lao National Assembly session concludes 9th ordinary session with approval of new, revised legislations. The Lao National Assembly concluded its 9th session by approving 10 laws—five newly drafted and five amended—covering civil service, social work, education, cybersecurity, and taxation. A major cabinet reshuffle reduced ministries from 17 to 13 to improve efficiency. Lawmakers emphasized inflation control, economic recovery, and infrastructure development. Thongsavanh Souvannasane, The Laotian Times, June 27
Laos, Russia pledge stronger strategic ties. Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to reinforce diplomatic and economic cooperation. Both sides committed to deeper engagement through the Eurasian Economic Union and reaffirmed mutual support on sovereignty and international law. Lavrov highlighted plans to expand trade, education exchanges, and collaboration in energy and infrastructure. Vientiane Times, June 30
Cambodia
Hun Sen slams Thai leadership, ends alliance with Shinawatra family. Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen severed ties with Thailand’s Shinawatra family, accusing them of betrayal and treason amid rising tensions following a leaked call with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. He condemned her for criticizing Thailand’s military and accused Thaksin of faking illness for legal advantage. The fallout has intensified diplomatic strain between the two nations. Taing Rinith, Khmer Times, June 30
Philippines
Word war between VP, Palace heats up. Vice President Sara Duterte defended her remarks calling the Marcos administration “stupid,” claiming it was a factual statement and not an emotional outburst, amid continued clashes with Palace spokesman Clarissa Castro. Castro accused Duterte of political scapegoating to deflect attention from impeachment charges, including alleged misuse of confidential funds and questionable travel. Duterte criticized budget inconsistencies and the Marcos administration’s inaction. Red Mendoza, The Manila Times, June 29
Impeach team eyes SC plea if Senate junks case. The House prosecution panel signaled readiness to appeal to the Supreme Court should the Senate dismiss Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment without trial. Spokesman Antonio Bucoy noted this as a constitutional safeguard, despite expressing hope that senators would allow proceedings. Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense filed a counteraffidavit with the Ombudsman addressing accusations including plunder and corruption. Krixia Subingsubing, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 29
Taiwan
Taiwan VP says will not be intimidated after Czech says China planned physical intimidation. Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim vowed not to be deterred after Czech military intelligence confirmed Chinese diplomats and secret service agents followed her and plotted physical intimidation during her 2024 visit to Prague. Czech authorities condemned the conduct and summoned Beijing’s envoy. China denied wrongdoing and accused the Czech Republic of interfering in its affairs. Jan Lopatka and Yimou Lee, Reuters, June 28
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz parliament votes to close agency that monitored prisons, police. Kyrgyzstan’s legislature approved dissolving the National Center for the Prevention of Torture and transferring its functions to the national ombudsman, a move critics say weakens oversight of law enforcement. The bill passed 62–6 and awaits President Sadyr Japarov’s signature. Human rights groups argue the center’s unique authority to inspect detention sites unannounced will be lost. Eurasianet, June 27
Northeast Asia
Alibaba fights Tencent for dominance over AI in China. Alibaba and Tencent are escalating their rivalry in China's AI sector, adopting contrasting strategies to secure dominance. While Tencent embeds AI into consumer-facing products like WeChat and its Yuanbao chatbot, Alibaba is investing heavily in cloud infrastructure and open-source foundational models, notably the Qwen series. Tencent’s partnership with DeepSeek has redefined its AI trajectory, fueling applications from browsers to productivity tools. Alibaba, meanwhile, leads in developer adoption and has pledged nearly US$53 billion in AI and cloud through 2028. As GPU scarcity mounts under U.S. sanctions, all three giants are stockpiling chips and exploring domestic alternatives. Ultimately, platform power, be it infrastructure, user base, or proprietary data, is becoming the most decisive asset. ThinkChina, June 27
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia needs to ramp up its trade links with Europe. Amid escalating U.S. trade pressure and increasing tariffs, ASEAN nations are exploring deeper economic ties with Europe to diversify their partnerships and safeguard development. While bilateral agreements between individual ASEAN states and the EU or EFTA are progressing, these risk undermining intra-regional coherence. Europe remains ASEAN's top partner in forward global value chain linkages, and EU companies are expanding market-driven investments in ASEAN. However, European trade measures pose potential friction. Increased cooperation may require alignment on digital trade and sustainability standards, especially within frameworks like the CPTPP. ASEAN nations must pursue structural reforms to maximize these opportunities, strengthening domestic industries to resist external shocks. Ken Heydon, East Asia Forum, June 29
The disinformation paradox gripping the Philippines. The Philippines faces a contradiction as an administration propelled by digital disinformation now confronts the same issue. President Marcos Jr’s government attempts to curb pro-Duterte online influence, using legal mechanisms including cyber libel laws and media license revocations, yet lacks moral authority due to its own disinformation-driven rise. The Duterte camp, leveraging emotionally charged narratives around Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC arrest and charismatic figures like Sara Duterte, dominates online engagement. In contrast, the Marcos administration's data-focused messaging falls flat. Internal fractures, such as Imee Marcos defecting to the Duterte side, show political volatility. Despite these challenges, the midterms revealed openings for progressive voices. Ross Tapsell, East Asia Forum, June 28
The Tariff War Will Cost Malaysia More Than Trade. U.S. tariffs have jeopardized Malaysia’s key solar and semiconductor sectors, pushing foreign firms to reconsider their investments and triggering an economic and diplomatic balancing act. Dominated by Chinese and Western corporations, Malaysia's high-tech industries now face declining expansion and rising uncertainty. Chinese solar producers are withdrawing due to lost U.S. market access, while American semiconductor giants, despite not being directly affected by tariffs, are reevaluating their commitments amid reshoring pressures. The Malaysian government is courting both Washington and Beijing, conceding on trade demands to the former while signaling deeper ties with the latter. This precarious stance reflects Malaysia’s deep foreign dependency and the broader global shift away from shared economic principles. Jackie Wang, Sino-Southeast Initiative, June 28
The Elusive Code: Why ASEAN Needs a New Playbook for the South China Sea. Two decades of negotiations over a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea have failed to yield results, hindered by China's assertive stance and ASEAN’s internal divisions. Strategic and legal divergences, including China's "historic rights" claims and resistance to UNCLOS, complicate efforts for a binding agreement. ASEAN's claimant states increasingly pursue unilateral or minilateral strategies, undermining unity. To remain relevant, ASEAN should pivot from seeking an ideal legal treaty to a pragmatic, phased approach: strengthening political instruments, embedding confidence-building measures, improving intra-ASEAN coordination, and managing external actors through clear engagement parameters. The emphasis must move from rigid legalism to adaptable diplomacy. Joanne Lin and Pou Sothirak, FULCRUM, June 27