China
Xi-Trump summit: White House locks in new dates in May, Beijing silent. The White House said Donald Trump will meet Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15 after a delay and uncertainty around the summit. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and Xi had discussed rescheduling because the U.S. president needed to remain at home during combat operations in the Middle East. She said Trump and Melania Trump plan to host Xi and Peng Liyuan in Washington this year for talks. Khushboo Razdan, South China Morning Post, March 25
China demands Japan punish military officer who breached embassy in Tokyo. China demanded that Japan investigate and punish a Self-Defense Forces officer accused of scaling the wall of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo with a knife. Beijing said the breach threatened embassy staff and damaged its dignity, and it linked the case to far-right ideas and neo-militarism in Japan. Tokyo called the incident regrettable, said police were investigating, and increased security around the embassy after the arrest by Tokyo police officers. Joe Cash, Ethan Wang, and Kiyoshi Takenaka, Reuters, March 25
Former defence exec Tan Ruisong given death sentence for ‘exceptional’ corruption. Tan Ruisong, former chairman and party secretary of AVIC, received a suspended death sentence after a court found he took more than 613 million yuan from bribes and insider trading. The court also confiscated all his personal property. Tan pleaded guilty to bribery, embezzlement, insider trading, and leaking confidential information tied to senior posts at AVIC and its Harbin subsidiary between 1998 and 2024 during a range of top jobs. William Zheng, South China Morning Post, March 25.
AI boom accelerates China’s chip industry growth as demand strains supply chain. China’s chip industry is in strong growth as the global buildout of AI infrastructure drives demand, capital spending, and new capacity. Executives at Semicon China said pressure is rising in testing, packaging, and optical interconnects as chips become more complex. China’s share of mature node output is projected to reach 42% by 2028. Foreign suppliers hold strong positions in higher-end segments, after-sales support, technical services, and specialized expertise. Eduardo Baptista, Reuters, March 25
Japan
Takaichi prepares provisional budget as the nature of debate shifts. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the government has begun compiling a provisional budget, a sign that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration may fail to pass the main budget before the fiscal year ends this month. Opposition parties accuse the government of political mismanagement. The shift marks a turn from a path that looked stable in recent weeks. Japan has gone 11 years without drafting a provisional budget for the central government. Michael Macarthur Bosack, The Japan Times, March 25
Japan regrets GSDF officer’s arrest over China embassy entry. Japan said it regrets the arrest of a Ground Self-Defense Force officer on suspicion of unlawful entry into the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo and promised steps to prevent a repeat. Police said Second Lieutenant Kodai Murata was detained by embassy staff and a knife was found inside, though no one was hurt. China lodged protests, demanded punishment, and linked the breach to far-right ideology and neo-militarism in Japan under Takaichi. Kyodo News, March 25
Japan PM backs IEA’s additional joint oil release as Iran war drags on. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi backed a possible extra coordinated oil release by the International Energy Agency as the Iran war disrupts markets and strains Japan’s energy security. She asked IEA chief Fatih Birol to prepare for more action if the crisis continues. Japan gets over 90% of its crude from the Middle East and has joined the record release of more than 400 million barrels from agency member stockpiles. Kyodo News, March 25
South Korea
Ruling party, gov’t aim to submit extra budget bill to National Assembly next Tuesday. The ruling Democratic Party and government agreed to submit a supplementary budget bill next Tuesday to cushion sectors hit by the Middle East war. Budget Minister Park Hong-keun said the plan would support oil price caps, refineries, small firms, low-income households, and youth. It would also fund oil reserves, naphtha, rare earths, urea, and household renewable energy, while the party accused the opposition of risking delay before local elections. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, March 26
Lee hails homegrown KF-21 fighter jets as leap forward into world’s top 4 defense powerhouse. President Lee Jae Myung hailed the first mass-produced KF-21 fighter jets as proof of South Korea’s drive for self-reliant defense and a step toward becoming one of the world’s top four defense powers. Speaking at the rollout ceremony in Sacheon, he pledged more investment in high-end aircraft technology, cited the K9 and Cheongung systems as evidence of strong capabilities, and backed exports of 16 jets to Indonesia. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, March 25
Gov’t aims for approval of extra budget at Cabinet meeting next week. Senior presidential aide Hong Ihk-pyo said the government is preparing to seek Cabinet approval next Tuesday for a supplementary budget aimed at firms and vulnerable households hit by the Middle East war. He said the date is not fixed, but preparations are underway. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered measures to steady the domestic economy, limit damage to affected industries and strengthen supply chain resilience during the prolonged conflict. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, March 25
North Korea
North Korea’s Kim welcomes fellow Putin ally Lukashenko with fanfare. Kim Jong Un welcomed Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang with a cavalry escort and 21-gun salute, underscoring ties between the two allies of Vladimir Putin. During the two-day visit, Belarus and North Korea plan to sign a friendship and cooperation treaty and discuss trade in food and pharmaceuticals. The visit came six days after Lukashenko met Donald Trump’s envoy, as Washington eases some sanctions on Belarus after prisoner releases in recent months. Mark Trevelyan, Reuters, March 25
North Korea purge spreads to provincial party officials. North Pyongan party officials were summoned to emergency training that extended the Ninth Party Congress purge into provincial ranks. Officials were told the leadership wants generational turnover based on loyalty and competence, with no province exempt. Cadres must inspect conditions in the field, pass competency tests and stop relying on desk reports. The warning shocked attendees, while new slogans cast officials who do not study or know conditions as enemies. Eun Seol, Daily NK, March 25
Thailand
Thai tanker safely transits Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran. Thailand said a Bangchak oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz after diplomatic coordination with Iran and Oman, with no payment required for safe passage. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow asked Iranian authorities to assist Thai vessels as conflict in the region disrupted one-fifth of global oil and gas flows. Another Thai vessel awaits clearance, while Bangkok seeks updates on three crew missing after a projectile attack in the strait. Panu Wongcha-um and Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters, March 25
Myanmar
Myanmar’s rice farmers scrounge for diesel as Iran conflict dries up supply. Rice farmers in Myanmar are scrambling for diesel as the Iran war drives up oil prices, drains supplies and worsens fuel rationing. Pump prices rose from 2,450 kyat a litre in February to 3,800 kyat by mid-March, while black market fuel reached 12,000 kyat. Farmers say harvests face ruin without tractor fuel, and the U.N. warns production costs could double if instability continues and shortages persist through the monsoon season. Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, March 25
Regime fuel rationing threatens Myanmar’s rice harvest. Fuel rationing and shortages are raising irrigation costs and threatening Myanmar’s summer rice harvest in the Ayeyarwady Delta. Farmers say diesel prices have doubled and pumps stay dry during a period when fields need water before harvest. Combine operators have halted work without fuel, pushing some growers to cut crops early. With production costs high, weaker yields and lower profits could deepen food insecurity and strain the next planting season. Phoe Tar, The Irrawaddy, March 25
Philippines
Marcos declares national energy emergency. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency through Executive Order 110 to address risks to fuel supply and price stability from the Middle East conflict. The government adopted the Uplift framework to protect energy supply, essential services, economic activity and vulnerable sectors. A committee chaired by Marcos will oversee fuel, food, medicine, transport and utilities, while the energy department can act to protect supply across key sectors. Luisa Cabato, Gabriel Pabico Lalu, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 25
House panel seeks Duterte SALNs, NBI records on ‘threat’ vs. Marcos. The House Committee on Justice ordered subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from several periods and for National Bureau of Investigation records on her alleged assassination threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lawmakers are deciding whether probable cause exists for impeachment after finding two complaints sufficient in form, substance and grounds. Reina C. Tolentino, The Manila Times, March 25.
P20 billion allotted to emergency fund to secure fuel supply. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the release of P20 billion from the Malampaya Gas Fund to secure fuel supplies, stabilize pump prices and support transport, logistics, agriculture and emergency response. The government says the country has enough oil for 45 days and plans to buy 1 million more barrels. Officials are seeking U.S. waivers for oil from sanctioned countries and allowing the temporary use of Euro II fuel during shortages and disruptions. Catherine S. Valente, Kristina Maralit, Benjamin L. Vergara, and Bernadette E. Tamayo, The Manila Times, March 25
Philippines says it is working with Washington to obtain oil from U.S.-sanctioned countries. The Philippines is seeking U.S. waivers to buy oil from sanctioned countries as it responds to supply risks and fuel price spikes from the Middle East war. Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said talks with Washington cover all options, including Iran and Venezuela. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country has about 45 days of fuel and is building buffer stocks while searching for alternative sources beyond the region for imports. Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Nestor Corrales, and Florence Tan, Reuters, March 25
Indonesia
Indonesian military intelligence chief steps down amid acid attack probe. Indonesian Military Strategic Intelligence Agency chief Yudi Abrimantyo stepped down as an investigation continues into an acid attack on rights activist Andrie Yunus, with suspected involvement by agency personnel. Four active duty Bais personnel have been charged and detained over the attack, while investigators continue examining the motive behind the case itself. Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta Globe, March 25
Malaysia
Anwar: Malaysia, Singapore concerned over Strait of Hormuz closure amid West Asia conflict. Malaysia and Singapore voiced concern over the Strait of Hormuz closure and attacks on critical infrastructure after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Anwar said the crisis could disrupt oil market stability and regional energy security, including in Southeast Asia. Malaysia backs a United Nations call for an immediate ceasefire, urges all sides to return to talks, and supports de-escalation through diplomatic efforts and dialogue. Malay Mail, March 26
Taiwan
Taiwan wary that China could exploit U.S. distraction over Middle East war. Taiwan fears China could use the U.S. focus on the Middle East war to raise pressure across the strait and weaken faith in American support. Officials said Chinese air force incursions resumed after U.S. forces shifted from East Asia, while state media cast doubt on U.S. weapons and radar systems. Taipei sees the conflict as a chance for Beijing to study American operations and push propaganda on Taiwan’s defense posture. Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, and Michael Martina, Reuters, March 25
New trade office to boost public-private ties with allies: diplomat. Taiwan will launch a trade promotion office under the foreign ministry to build public-private cooperation and create business opportunities with diplomatic allies. Modeled on the Central America Trade Office, it will expand support to allies and like-minded partners in the South Pacific and Africa. The office is due in the second half of 2026 and will provide administrative help, marketing support, and liaison work with embassies and governments. Joseph Yeh, Focus Taiwan, March 25
KMT’s defense bill ‘highly unfeasible’: ex-KMT lawmaker. Former KMT lawmaker Jason Hsu said the party’s NT$380 billion defense bill is insufficient to cover U.S.-approved arms procurement and should be raised to NT$800 billion or NT$900 billion. He said phased budgeting clashes with the structure of arms deals and warned that a delay before a Trump-Xi summit could hurt Taiwan. Hsu and President Lai Ching-te both criticized the bill’s omission of drones and AI-assisted command and control systems. Sean Lin, Focus Taiwan, March 25
UPS opens $100 million Taiwan logistics hub to meet tech boom demand. UPS opened a $100 million logistics center in Taoyuan, its largest in Asia Pacific, to meet rising demand from technology companies tied to Taiwan’s chip sector. The site will serve as an Asian distribution center for Applied Materials, and about 80% of freight will be high-tech goods. UPS said flights to Kaohsiung are under study as customer demand rises with semiconductor investment in southern Taiwan for future cargo flows. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, March 25
Tajikistan
Tajikistan adapting its approach on Afghanistan. Cross-border violence with Afghanistan is pushing Tajikistan to adjust its foreign policy. Dushanbe approved a Chinese-financed plan for nine new border posts after attacks, shootings and rising drug seizures along the frontier. There is increasing contact with the Taliban through calls and meetings after years of hostility. Analysts say security concerns, regional pressure, and the weakness of anti-Taliban forces are driving a thaw in relations with authorities in Kabul. Alexander Thompson, Eurasianet, March 25
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan prioritizes export support as external trade declines. Kyrgyzstan is expanding support for exporters after foreign trade weakened. The government is weighing transport and logistics reimbursements and a new export contract financing program backed by insurance and state guarantees. Exports fell 20.3% in January and 44.5% in 2025, driven by weaker demand, lower gold shipments and curbs on goods such as scrap metal and livestock. Officials see export growth as a central pillar of economic policy. Sergey Kwan, The Times of Central Asia, March 25
East Asia
No, China Doesn’t Want Spheres of Influence. China seeks greater power and resists foreign pressure near its borders, but its main aim is access to and influence within the global economy, not a world split into regional spheres. Beijing treats Taiwan and nearby seas as sovereignty issues, yet it has not tried to drive rival powers from Afghanistan or Southeast Asia at high cost. The sharper risk comes when other states try to cut China out of trade and technology networks. In those cases, Beijing has shown a readiness to use export controls and supply chain leverage with global effects, making fragmentation more likely than stable great power spheres. Aaron Glasserman, Foreign Policy, March 25
Trump, Xi, and the Specter of 1914. The world resembles the years before 1914, with several major powers, strained globalization, regional wars, and rivalry that smaller conflicts can inflame. The United States has lost relative economic dominance, while China has risen through scale, manufacturing strength, and state-backed industrial practices, but both face deep internal strains. American anger over decline reflects lost manufacturing jobs, weak worker support, and inequality. China faces slower growth, debt, aging, party pressure on private firms, and resentment over U.S. export controls and supply chain limits. Avoiding conflict requires stable trade rules, equal market access, and a shared commitment to preserve the Taiwan status quo, yet Trump and Xi may lack the judgment needed for that task. Odd Arne Westad, Foreign Affairs, March 25
Xi Jinping Is Targeting China’s Christians. Chinese authorities launched a broad crackdown in October 2025 against Zion Church, one of the country’s largest underground Protestant networks, detaining Pastor Wang Lin and later senior figures across several cities, including Pastor Jin Mingri. The campaign reflects a wider drive under Xi Jinping to tighten control over unregistered religious life through the policy of Sinicization, which treats faith groups tied to outside traditions as political risks. Independent churches had operated with uneven tolerance through the 2000s and early 2010s, but conditions worsened after 2018 when religious oversight shifted to a stricter party body. Fraud charges, limits on online religious content, and pressure on clergy show that the state now seeks far tighter control over Christian worship outside party-approved institutions. James Moules, Foreign Policy, March 25
North Korea's Pursuit of Medical Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges. North Korea’s 20×10 regional development policy has expanded from light industry to hospitals, science centers, grain facilities, and cultural hubs, with healthcare taking a central place in efforts to raise living standards outside Pyongyang. New hospitals in Pyongyang and Kangdong require equipment, drugs, and trained staff. Russia has become North Korea’s main medical partner through a 2024 health agreement, equipment transfers, and training in pharmaceuticals, infectious disease control, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases. Exchanges with Belarus and Vietnam point to broader outreach. Humanitarian aid has lost ground to technical and academic exchange, though sanctions constrain cooperation from other countries. Heeje Lee, Angie Sohn and Samuel S. Han, 38 North, March 25
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Edging Closer in an Era of Geopolitical Churn. Southeast Asian interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has grown as major power rivalry, trade tension, and frustration with the present order push states to widen their options. Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos have joined as partners, while Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have taken part in recent meetings without seeking membership. The SCO offers access to trade, investment, and a wider Global South platform, with China and Russia at its core. Yet its value to the region remains limited by weak institutions, a broad and divided membership, anti-Western perceptions, and ASEAN’s wish to protect its own central role. Most Southeast Asian states will keep ASEAN, the UN, and APEC above the SCO. Ian Storey, FULCRUM, March 25
Indonesia’s economic security requires ecological resilience. Cyclone Senyar, which struck Indonesia in November 2025, caused 1201 deaths and Rp 68.7 trillion in losses and exposed failures in disaster preparedness, land governance, and environmental protection. An official warning came eight days before landfall, but mitigation measures did not follow, and the disaster agency’s budget fell from US$118.7 million in 2025 to US$29.1 million in 2026. Forest conversion, logging in vulnerable watersheds, and the 2020 Omnibus Law on Job Creation have weakened safeguards and opened land to extraction. Indonesia’s growth model needs stronger protection for forests, tighter adaptation policy, and wider use of carbon markets and Payment for Ecosystem Services so conservation supports jobs, resilience, and future growth. Intan Lestari, East Asia Forum, March 25
Modernisation Is Not Enough: The Case for Transforming the Philippine Armed Forces. The Philippines cannot meet its territorial defense needs through military modernization alone. Decades of focus on internal security left the Armed Forces of the Philippines without the doctrine, force structure, and joint capacity needed for maritime and external threats in the South China Sea. The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept marks a shift toward territorial defence, but clear doctrine has not followed, and the military remains dominated by the army despite the need for stronger air and naval roles. Transformation requires more than new platforms and higher spending. It calls for a full review of doctrine and force structure, along with budget changes that give the air force and navy the resources needed to build a credible defence force by 2040. Francis C. Domingo, FULCRUM, March 25
South Asia
AI Ambitions in a Thirsty Region: Water, Data Centers, and South Asia’s Digital Future. South Asia’s AI push depends on data centers that consume large volumes of water for cooling and power, placing new pressure on a region with severe water stress. India is drawing huge investment into data infrastructure, yet many centers sit in cities with weak water security. Pakistan and Bangladesh face comparable risks as they pursue digital growth under acute scarcity, climate stress, and fragile infrastructure. Competition among agriculture, cities, power generation, and industry could sharpen across shared river systems. A workable path includes closed-loop cooling, wastewater reuse, site selection based on local water conditions, coordination between energy and water policy, regional cooperation, and community input. AI offers tools for flood forecasting, farming, and climate resilience. Farwa Aamer, Asia Society, March 25
Bangladesh reaches the limits of garment-led growth. Bangladesh’s export rise since the 1990s has rested on ready-made garments, which account for 81 per cent of exports and have made the country the world’s second largest garment exporter. Duty-free imported inputs, back-to-back trade finance, and fast customs clearance created a free-trade enclave for apparel, but other sectors remained under high tariffs and para-tariffs that favor domestic sales over exports. Research shows many non-garment products hold a competitive position, but trade policy blocks diversification. As least developed country graduation narrows trade preferences in 2026, Bangladesh needs economy-wide duty-free input access, lower tariff protection, better logistics, stronger standards systems, more foreign investment, and new trade agreements. Zaidi Sattar and Hasan Al Banna, East Asia Forum, March 24