Asia Daily: May 6, 2025

China

U.S. House passes China bills on issues from economic espionage to human rights. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bipartisan bills targeting China’s industrial espionage, export controls, and alleged human rights abuses. The legislation includes the Economic Espionage Prevention Act, which sanctions foreign entities involved in tech theft, and measures supporting Taiwan’s global participation. Other bills address forced labor in Xinjiang, organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners, and restrict funding to institutions tied to Confucius Institutes. Khushboo Razdan and Zhao Ziwen, South China Morning Post, May 6

China, Egypt wrap up first joint air force training, practice air superiority combat, suppressive air defense. China and Egypt concluded their first-ever joint air force training exercise, “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” near Cairo. Held over 18 days, the drills showcased China’s long-range deployment capabilities. Both sides exchanged tactics and conducted aerial refueling and battlefield rescue operations, marking a new phase in bilateral military cooperation. Liu Xuanzun, Liang Rui and Guo Yuandan, Global Times, May 5

Japan

U.S. agriculture secretary to visit Japan as part of tariff talks. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to visit Japan, Vietnam, and India in the coming weeks as part of negotiations aimed at boosting American agricultural exports and addressing trade imbalances. Her trip follows recent Japan-U.S. ministerial tariff talks that failed to bridge gaps over new Trump-era tariffs, including a 25% levy on car parts. Kyodo News, May 6

U.S. rejects Japan's exemption from "reciprocal" tariffs. The United States has denied Japan’s request for full exemption from both a 10% global “reciprocal” tariff and a suspended 14% country-specific duty, offering only to discuss limited reductions based on future negotiation progress. Tokyo has stressed its economic contributions and sought full tariff removal, particularly on autos, steel, and aluminum. Kyodo News, May 6

Japan, India to set up new consultation defense cooperation framework. Japan and India have agreed to establish a bilateral defense consultation body aimed at strengthening military coordination in response to China’s rising influence in the Indo-Pacific. During talks in New Delhi, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh stressed the strategic value of closer cooperation. Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times, May 6

South Korea

DP urges court to postpone presidential candidate Lee's remanded trial until after June election. South Korea’s Democratic Party has called on the Seoul High Court to delay the remanded trial of its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung until after the June 3 election, warning of a “judiciary’s coup” if it proceeds. The trial stems from an overturned acquittal in an election law case that could disqualify Lee if finalized. DP officials hinted at potentially seeking impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Chae Yun-hwan, Yonhap News Agency, May 5

North Korea

China imports flow to North Korea through strategic border points. North Korea has ramped up imports from China, using differentiated trade routes to handle sanctioned and non-sanctioned goods. Sanctioned items such as car parts, electronics, and aluminum are moved through the Quanhe customs house in Hunchun, where inspections and fees are minimal. Over 300 trucks a day enter North Korea from this point. In contrast, Dandong-Sinuiju sees tighter customs scrutiny and mostly non-sanctioned shipments. Seulkee Jang, Daily NK, May 6

Thailand

Opposition urges govt to resume peace talks, calls on insurgents to cease violence. Thailand’s opposition People’s Party has called on the government to resume peace negotiations in the southern border provinces and appealed to insurgent groups to stop targeting civilians. In an open letter, the party condemned recent deadly attacks in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, which killed monks, children, and persons with disabilities. The Nation, May 5

‘Treatment anywhere’ universal healthcare rated as govt’s top achievement: survey. A nationwide survey conducted by Thailand’s National Statistical Office found the government’s “treatment anywhere” healthcare program to be its most popular initiative, with 71.6% of respondents ranking it highest among current policies. Other top-rated measures included the digital wallet stimulus and equal marriage law. The Nation, May 5

Pita vows a comeback in 9 years to be 'best prime minister'. Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat pledged to return to politics after his 10-year ban ends, telling supporters in Khon Kaen he will become Thailand’s “best prime minister.” Campaigning for the People's Party in upcoming local elections, Pita said he is traveling the country to gain experience. Move Forward was dissolved in 2024 for threatening the monarchy, with its executives, including Pita, barred from politics. Chakkrapan Natanri, Bangkok Post, May 5

Vietnam

Vietnam PM says still aiming for growth target despite U.S. tariffs. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to achieving at least 8% economic growth in 2025, despite the threat of U.S. tariffs as high as 46% if no trade deal is reached by July. He warned the tariffs could disrupt global supply chains and announced that trade negotiations with Washington would begin this week. Chinh pledged to bolster exports, public investment, and infrastructure while ensuring energy stability. Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen, Reuters, May 5

Committee for Constitution amendment convenes first meeting. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired the inaugural meeting of the committee responsible for drafting amendments to Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution. The committee approved six draft documents, including plans to collect public feedback and assign member responsibilities. Drafts will be published from May 6 across government platforms and media outlets for public comment. Vietnam News, May 5

Myanmar

U.S. puts sanctions on Myanmar warlord and militia linked to cyber scams. The United States has sanctioned Myanmar warlord Saw Chit Thu, his two sons, and the Karen National Army (KNA) militia he commands for involvement in cyber scams, human trafficking, and cross-border smuggling. Operating from Shwe Kokko along the Thai-Myanmar border, the group allegedly runs scam compounds exploiting trafficked individuals. Susan Heavey, Katharine Jackson and Simon Lewis, Reuters, May 5

Myanmar’s NUG names controversial US businessman as envoy to Washington. Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government has appointed American businessman John Fredric Todoroki as its envoy to the United States, tasking him with securing high-level support from President Trump’s administration and Congress. Todoroki, previously arrested in Myanmar in 2019 for a marijuana operation and linked to U.S. lobbying efforts, will serve an unpaid six-month term. The move may strain the NUG’s relations with China, which opposes its Western ties. The Irrawaddy, May 5

TNLA defies China’s demand to return towns; junta launches airstrikes. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army has publicly rejected China’s demand to return five towns seized from the Myanmar military, including key trade hubs like Kyaukme and Hsipaw. While other ethnic groups reportedly complied in private, the TNLA’s defiance marks a break from Chinese-brokered ceasefire efforts. In retaliation, junta forces resumed aerial assaults across northern Shan State, targeting resistance-held areas days after talks concluded. Myanmar Now, May 5

Cambodia

Cambodian court convicts prominent politician of incitement in latest legal move to stifle opponents. A Cambodian court sentenced Rong Chhun, a senior advisor to the Nation Power Party, to four years in prison for incitement over comments and photos posted about villagers allegedly displaced by government-backed development. The case is the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting opposition figures under Prime Minister Hun Manet’s administration. David Rising and Sopheng Cheang, Associated Press, May 5

Cambodia to sign MoU with the Philippines on human trafficking. Cambodia and the Philippines are finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation against human trafficking, following a regional dialogue in Manila. The agreement will address shared regional vulnerabilities and aims to strengthen efforts against transnational networks, including surrogacy-related crimes. Som Sotheary, Khmer Times, May 5

Philippines

Philippine coast guard says China ship conducting illegal survey within EEZ. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed a vessel and aircraft to confront Chinese research vessel Tan Suo 3, which it said was conducting unauthorized marine scientific research within the country's exclusive economic zone on May 1. The ship was located 92 nautical miles off the Ilocos coast and retrieved a deep-sea submersible and other equipment. Manila deemed the activity a violation of sovereign rights and halted the operation. Karen Lema, Reuters, May 5

'Jurisdiction tack vs ICC likely to fail.' Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction is likely to be unsuccessful, according to ICC-accredited human rights lawyer Gilbert Andres. He said the ICC retains authority over alleged crimes committed during the Philippines’ membership in the Rome Statute, which includes the height of Duterte’s war on drugs. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, May 6

Malaysia

Malaysia PM sees possible reduction in U.S. tariffs, but growth to miss target. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia may avoid a 24% tariff set to take effect in July as the United States has agreed to further negotiations, though the ongoing global trade war will likely cause the country to miss its 4.5–5.5% economic growth target. Anwar told parliament the government is pursuing new trade opportunities and aiming to finalize upgrades to the ASEAN-China free-trade deal. Danial Azhar, Reuters, May 5

Taiwan

Taiwan foreign minister to visit Texas to boost trade ties. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will visit Texas this week to speak at an artificial intelligence forum and strengthen trade and investment links with the United States. His trip comes as Taiwan seeks to avoid threatened 32% U.S. import tariffs, currently paused under a 90-day reprieve. Lin will be joined by an industry delegation to promote Taiwanese investment and President Lai Ching-te’s U.S. engagement roadmap. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, May 5

Kazakhstan

President Tokayev greets General Secretary of Vietnams Communist Party To Lam at airport in Astana. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed Vietnams Communist Party General Secretary To Lam in Astana, calling the visit historic and pivotal for enhancing bilateral cooperation. The two leaders are set to hold talks in narrow and expanded formats and sign key agreements. Tokayev emphasized untapped potential in bilateral ties, while To Lam expressed gratitude for the hospitality and longstanding friendship. Adlet Seilkhanov, Kazinform, May 5

Kazakhstan-Vietnam trade reached USD 860 mln in 2024. Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev announced that bilateral trade with Vietnam totaled 860 million USD last year, underscoring Vietnam's role as a key partner in Southeast Asia. He highlighted 13 Vietnamese-invested firms operating in Kazakhstan and praised projects such as Mareven Food Holdings in Konayev city and Crystal Tourism Group’s resort initiative. Zhanna Nurmaganbetova, Kazinform, May 6

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s trade with European countries significantly declines in 2025. Trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and European countries fell by 65% in January–February 2025 compared to the same period last year, totaling $142 million. Exports from Kyrgyzstan dropped by 50% to $37.8 million, while imports declined by 65.6% to $104.2 million. This comes despite earlier growth from 2021 to 2024 under the Generalised System of Preferences, which had boosted trade with the EU. Baktygul Osmonalieva, 24.KG, May 6

Northeast Asia

Was Made in China 2025 Successful? Made in China 2025 (MIC25), launched in 2015, aimed to transform China into a global leader in advanced manufacturing by targeting strategic sectors such as semiconductors, robotics, and electric vehicles. Despite being downplayed in public discourse by 2018 due to international backlash, its core policies persisted under alternative frameworks. The initiative succeeded in reducing import dependence by pressuring foreign firms to localize production and acquiring overseas technologies. However, critical dependencies remain, especially in high-end technologies like commercial aircraft and cutting-edge semiconductors. Chinese firms became globally competitive in areas like EVs, clean tech, and agricultural machinery, while technological parity was achieved or approached in fields including robotics and electronics. Still, technological gaps persist in several sectors. MIC25’s success came with trade-offs: substantial industrial growth accompanied by inefficiencies, overcapacity, and fiscal burdens at local levels. While China's GDP growth slowed, industrial capabilities surged, generating reverse dependencies globally, especially in high-tech exports. The report concludes that MIC25 advanced China’s industrial and technological rise, but at the cost of mounting economic imbalances and strained global trade relations. Camille Boullenois, Malcolm Black and Daniel H. Rosen, Rhodium Group, May 5

Japan’s Soft Power Gains a Hard Edge. Japan’s longstanding commitment to Official Development Assistance (ODA) is moving toward a more security-oriented approach amid global uncertainty and growing geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific. While Europe and the United States retreat from development aid, Japan has increased its ODA, integrating it with security strategies like the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework. In particular, Japan has targeted “like-minded countries” such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia with aid that includes patrol vessels and surveillance systems aimed at countering Chinese maritime activity. Simultaneously, Japan has relaxed arms export rules and introduced Official Security Assistance (OSA) in 2023, enabling overt military aid to these partners. This dual-track approach, pairing ODA with OSA, blurs the lines between development and defense, raising concerns about Japan’s image as a “peace-loving nation.” NGOs warn that securitising aid may compromise Japan’s credibility in promoting liberal values, especially as Tokyo aligns more closely with authoritarian states for strategic reasons. With U.S. leadership perceived as unreliable and China’s defense spending outpacing Japan’s sixfold, Japanese policymakers increasingly view strategic ODA as vital for building quasi-alliances in the region. The evolution of Japan’s aid policy suggests a continued shift from purely economic development goals toward reinforcing regional security, making a reversal of this trend unlikely. Hiroaki Shiga, East Asia Forum, May 6

China’s Economic Pivot Invites Global Recalibration. China is moving away from its traditional export- and investment-led growth model toward one based on domestic consumption, financial market stability, and strategic state intervention. This pivot was underscored during the March 2025 Two Sessions, where leaders signaled a departure from austerity with a record-high 4% deficit ceiling. Key proposals include massive real estate and stock market stabilization funds and targeted subsidies to boost consumer spending. The aim is to foster a sustainable consumption-driven economy, but rising local government debt and inefficient capital allocation pose risks of a fiscal trap. Internationally, the pivot coincides with a recalibrated foreign policy, reducing reliance on debt-heavy Belt and Road Initiative projects and promoting equity-based investments focused on green tech and digital infrastructure. China is strengthening its role in energy transition economies and realigning trade through yuan-denominated deals with Global South partners. Recent retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. highlight an assertive geoeconomic stance amid renewed trade tensions. These developments show a broader strategic repositioning as China seeks long-term structural autonomy, economic resilience, and leadership in sustainable development despite growing friction with Western powers. Sadia Rahman, East Asia Forum, May 5

China Holds a Kill Switch to European Power Grids. A growing dependence on Chinese solar inverters, which serve as the control hubs for Europe's solar systems, has created a critical cybersecurity risk. These devices, often managed via platforms hosted on Chinese servers, grant Chinese companies — and by extension, the Chinese government potential access to Europe’s power infrastructure. Despite security concerns that led to Huawei’s exclusion from 5G networks, Chinese firms like Huawei and Sungrow dominate the European solar inverter market. Only a few states, such as Lithuania and the UK, have taken action to restrict remote access by Chinese firms. European institutions largely overlook the risks, even as the technology scales into critical infrastructure status. Cybersecurity experts warn that in a crisis, China could exploit its remote access to disable solar systems or destabilize grids via voltage manipulation. Historical precedent from Russian and Chinese cyber campaigns, including threats against power systems in Ukraine, Guam, and Lithuania, shows the feasibility of such actions. The report calls for immediate policy changes: recognizing solar systems as critical infrastructure, banning remote access from adversarial states, defending distributed energy assets, and diversifying supply chains to reduce dependency on Chinese tech. Without decisive action, Europe risks handing China leverage over its energy systems under the guise of clean energy progress. Erika Langerová, China Observers, May 6

Southeast Asia

Armed Forces Enter Indonesia’s Food Production Battle. President Prabowo Subianto’s food security initiative, a key campaign promise, is now leveraging military logistics and personnel to meet national food production goals. The government plans to expand farmland by 3 million hectares by 2029, prompting fears over large-scale deforestation and indigenous rights violations, particularly in Papua. In February 2025, an active general was controversially appointed to lead Bulog, contravening laws separating military and civilian duties. Investigations have linked military deployments to forest clearance operations, suggesting escalating risks of conflict and harm to indigenous communities. Critics argue that military involvement in agriculture reflects institutional dysfunctions and career stagnation within the armed forces, creating illiberal practices and undermining military professionalism. This also sidelines civilian agencies like the Ministry of Agriculture, resulting in overlapping authorities and policy fragmentation. The military’s centralized and hierarchical approach is ill-suited to the participatory and technically complex nature of food security. A failed food estate project in Central Kalimantan from 2020 to 2022 shows the pitfalls, having cost 6 trillion rupiah with negligible output. Gaffar Muaqaffi, East Asia Forum, May 6

Abdullah Badawi – An Understated and Underrated Leader. Abdullah Badawi, Malaysia’s fifth prime minister, governed from 2003 to 2009 and passed away on April 14, 2025. Known as “Pak Lah” and “Mr Clean,” he promoted a more moderate, consultative leadership style in contrast to his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad. His administration initiated key reforms including transforming the Anti-Corruption Agency into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and forming a Royal Commission of Inquiry to improve police accountability. He championed Islam Hadhari, encouraging religious harmony and political openness, and proposed the Interfaith Commission of Malaysia. His government also invested in education, regional development, and small business support. Despite an overwhelming victory in the 2004 general election, Badawi's popularity waned by 2008 due to internal party dissent, stalled reforms, and increased public demonstrations on civil liberties and religious rights. Nevertheless, he resisted authoritarian impulses, did not suppress opposition, and stepped down gracefully after electoral losses — a departure from Malaysia’s typical power transitions. Some of his initiatives, such as the eventual establishment of a diluted Independent Police Conduct Commission and expanded discourse on policy reform, yielded results only years later. Badawi’s legacy is marked by restraint, integrity, and a democratic temperament during a pivotal period in Malaysia’s political evolution. Francis E. Hutchinson and Tricia Yeoh, FULCRUM, May 6

Legal Pluralism in Malaysia: Navigating the Civil and Shariah Systems. Malaysia’s legal framework is marked by pluralism, with a federal Constitution that upholds both civil and Shariah laws under distinct but often overlapping jurisdictions. While Islam holds a constitutionally exalted status, the Constitution remains the supreme law, limiting the scope of Shariah law. State legislatures may enact personal and family laws for Muslims and prescribe religious offences, but their powers are constrained by federal authority, especially in criminal law. Judicial interpretations have been inconsistent: some civil courts defer to Shariah jurisdiction broadly, while others uphold constitutional supremacy and review state laws. High-profile cases like Lina Joy, Indira Gandhi, and Nik Elin Zurina have spotlighted tensions around apostasy, child conversion, and the rights of non-Muslims. The 1988 Article 121(1A) amendment, which granted Shariah courts independence within their jurisdiction, has been used to assert expansive state authority, often at the expense of civil liberties. Controversies persist as states like Kelantan enact laws exceeding their constitutional remit, prompting federal court interventions. Recommendations include reaffirming constitutional supremacy, amending federal statutes to define permissible Shariah offences, advising states to align with court rulings, and rejecting proposals to share criminal law jurisdiction with states. Upholding a uniform legal standard is essential to safeguard Malaysia’s democratic integrity and ensure equal protection for all citizens. Shad Saleem Faruqi, FULCRUM, May 5

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