China
China’s Fujian aircraft conducts first training exercise shortly after entering service. China’s newest carrier conducted its first “maritime live-force” training since Nov. 5 commissioning, practicing catapult launches and arrested landings with J-35, J-15T and KJ-600 aircraft; CCTV called the mission routine to strengthen defenses. The 80,000-tonne ship uses electromagnetic catapults; satellite images showed operations in the South China Sea. Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post, November 18
Brazil approves China’s naval visit while U.S. research ship plans call nearby. Brazil cleared Chinese navy hospital ship Ark Silk Road to dock in Rio de Janeiro Jan. 8–15 after a months-long review, while U.S. oceanographic vessel Ronald H. Brown plans a Jan. 14–21 call at Suape. The approval, dated Nov. 13, follows concern over omitted details of Harmony Mission 2025. The visits occur amid expanded U.S. patrols and China’s port push in Latin America, as President Lula criticizes militarization. Igor Patrick, South China Morning Post, November 18
China leveraged India-Pakistan conflict to trial and tout its military strengths U.S. panel. A U.S. commission said Beijing used the May 7–10 clash to test systems including HQ-9, PL-15 and J-10C, then promoted results to boost arms sales via disinformation targeting Rafale deals. Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese weapons reached 81% of imports, the report said. Khushboo Razdan, South China Morning Post, November 18
Japan
China informs Tokyo of suspension of Japanese seafood imports: source. China has informed Japan it will suspend imports of Japanese seafood amid a diplomatic row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. China only resumed purchases earlier this month after lifting a blanket ban imposed in August 2023 following the release of treated radioactive water from Fukushima. Kyodo News, November 19
Japan looks to compile over 20 tril. yen stimulus package. Japan plans an economic package above 20 trillion yen ($129 billion), with Cabinet approval as early as Friday, including a gasoline tax cut and a 17 trillion yen extra budget through March 2026. Utility subsidies early next year and local aid. The economy contracted in Q3; debt stands at 240% of GDP. Kyodo News, November 19
Japan warns citizens in China about safety as diplomatic crisis deepens. Japan urged nationals in China to avoid crowds and stay alert amid a dispute over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks. Talks yielded no breakthrough as airlines offered refunds, Japanese film screenings were suspended, and stocks fell. Liz Lee, John Geddie, Tim Kelly, Mariko Katsumura, Kantaro Komiya, Satoshi Sugiyama, Ritsuko Shimizu, Katya Golubkova, and Laurie Chen, Reuters, November 18
South Korea
Nat’l Assembly speaker discusses bilateral ties with Qatari emir. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha to broaden defense and energy cooperation, citing three decades of LNG trade and plans for solar and other renewables. Woo promoted South Korea’s AI goals; the emir backed cooperation, will send a high-level delegation, and may visit. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, November 19
Lee, UAE president agree to bolster cooperation in AI, defense and energy. The leaders agreed to elevate security ties to joint production and technology collaboration, with prospects above $15 billion in defense contracts and seven MOUs. South Korea will join the UAE’s Stargate AI data-center project, expand cooperation based on the Barakah nuclear model, and pursue a “K-City” platform, estimating benefits near 150 trillion won. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, November 19
North Korea
N. Korea’s Kim visits security ministries, judicial organs on founding anniversary. Kim Jong-un visited the public and state security ministries and the Supreme Court on their 80th anniversaries, lauding security officers and offering “warm military greetings.” It was his first state security ministry visit since 2012, with top aides present, and he urged officials to strengthen the socialist legal system. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, November 19
N. Korea claims near-total elimination of underground churches and prayer groups. Authorities say organized services and prayer groups have almost disappeared after intensified Ministry of State Security crackdowns since the September 2021 Youth Education Guarantee Act. Targets include Protestants and Catholics, often sent to political prison camps. NKDB’s 2025 white paper found 1.7% encountered religion and 4% saw religious items. Lee Sang-yong, Daily NK, November 18
Thailand
Ex-judge Narong voted in as new EC chief. The Election Commission voted 4–3 to appoint former judge Narong Klunwarin as chairman, narrowly beating Narong Rakroi amid competition between senior commissioners and newer members seen as having political backing. The seven-member panel convened after Ittiporn Boonpracong’s term ended in August. Klunwarin has served as Central Bankruptcy Court chief justice and a Supreme Court judge. Bangkok Post, November 19
Govt eyes Thaksin tax collection. Thailand’s Revenue Department will proceed to collect 17.6 billion baht in personal income tax from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after a Supreme Court ruling on the 2006 Shin Corp share sale overturned lower-court decisions, the finance minister said. Pheu Thai’s leader pledged not to politicize the case, while allies posted critical comments. Wichit Chantanusornsiri, Bangkok Post, November 19
Vietnam
Vietnam-Kuwait joint statement on elevating bilateral ties to strategic partnership. The countries elevated ties to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s Nov. 16-18 Kuwait visit, expanded dialogue mechanisms, and set 2026 to mark 50 years of relations. Cooperation will grow in energy, petrochemicals, renewables, AI and food security, with attention to the Nghi Son refinery. Two accords were signed: a visa-exemption protocol amendment and a diplomatic academies MOU. Vietnam News, November 18
Laos
Princess Aiko meets with Lao president during 1st official visit. In Vientiane, Princess Aiko met President Thongloun Sisoulith, conveyed a message from Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, and thanked Laos for hospitality during her first trip abroad marking 70 years of diplomatic ties. She also called on Vice President Pany Yathotou and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, and visited Patuxai and Pha That Luang. Kyodo News, November 18
Philippines
Palace rejects calls for Marcos to resign. Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not step down despite demands, including from his sister Sen. Imee Marcos and allies of Sara Duterte. Claire Castro called the push political and rejected a hair follicle drug test. The Palace cited charges and asset freezes in the flood control probe as officials resigned. Catherine S. Valente and Red Mendoza, The Manila Times, November 18
Chinese vessels increase presence near Pagasa Island. Ship-tracking data show a buildup of Chinese coast guard and maritime militia near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, as vessels shifted from mainland China, the Paracels and Scarborough Shoal to Subi Reef. Eight militia ships and China Coast Guard 3305 left Nov. 16; two coast guard ships remained at Scarborough and one 100 nautical miles south. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, November 18
Indonesia
Indonesia holds 2025 Marpolex drill in Batam waters. Thirty vessels and about 500 personnel staged the 2025 National Marine Pollution Exercise in Batam, simulating a tanker–motorboat collision with passenger rescue, firefighting and oil-spill mitigation. Units from the transport ministry, Basarnas, TNI, police, customs, Bakamla and local governments joined. ANTARA News, November 18
Malaysia
DPM Zahid: Trade deals with other nations won’t shake Malaysia–China ties. Speaking at the Global Chinese Economic and Technology Summit, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said any trade agreements will not affect Malaysia’s enduring relationship with Beijing. He cited ACFTA 3.0 momentum, ASEAN-China trade rising to $982b in 2024, and Malaysia-China commerce up 5–7% in early 2025 past RM200b by May. Malay Mail, November 19
Taiwan
U.S. confirms sale of $700 mln air defence missile system to Taiwan. The Pentagon awarded RTX a $698,948,760 contract for NASAMS batteries, with completion due by February 2031, Taiwan’s second U.S. arms deal in a week for $1 billion total. Washington reiterated “rock solid” support as Chinese coast guard ships moved near Japan and a drone flew between Taiwan and Yonaguni. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, November 19
Tiny Tuvalu says it treasures ‘special relationship’ with Taiwan. Tuvalu’s prime minister, Feleti Teo, reaffirmed 46-year ties during a Taipei visit, saying cooperation endures. Tuvalu plans its first treaty with Taiwan to support perpetual statehood, including maritime zones, as seas rise. President Lai said collaboration will advance despite geopolitics and climate change; donors including Taiwan, the U.S., Australia and Japan fund coastal defenses and a subsea cable. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, November 18
Bangladesh
Hasina’s death sentence sets stage for volatile Bangladesh vote. A Bangladeshi tribunal sentenced exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, and victims’ families demanded immediate hanging as Dhaka pressed India for extradition, straining ties. Her son threatened mass protests if the Awami League ban persists before February elections, risking garment exports and a $4.7 billion IMF bailout amid bomb attacks, arson and a Yunus-led interim government seeking her return. Krishna N. Das, Sam Jahan, Shivam Patel, and Sunil Kataria, Reuters, November 18
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan expands global rare-earth exploration in Rwanda and Afghanistan. State miner Tau-Ken Samruk will launch geological work in both countries, chair Nurlan Zhakupov said Nov. 17. Rwanda’s effort advances after a cooperation pact identifying five target zones, with a joint venture pending. Afghan samples from two sites showed good results amid licensing talks. Fatima Kemelova, The Astana Times, November 18
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan emerges as key market for China’s real estate giants. With China’s property slump, developers target Uzbekistan’s housing market, where 60,000+ households form annually and 85,000 wait amid 1–2% stock growth. Projects include TSC HK’s $340m Tashkent complex and CSCEC deals near $1b, promising jobs but risking crowd-out of local firms; policies urge use of local contractors and materials. Yunis Sharifli, The Times of Central Asia, November 18
Mirziyoyev and Berdymuhamedov agree on new projects as trade tops $1 billion. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan set a $2 billion trade goal, opened the Shavat–Dashoguz border zone, backed Turkmenbashi port upgrades and agreed to restart direct flights. Cooperation will expand across industry, energy, transport, agriculture and water under a joint statement and multiple accords. Berdymuhamedov received Uzbekistan’s Oliy Darajali Dustlik Order. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, November 18
East Asia
China’s Economic Slowdown and Spillovers to Africa. The country’s transition from investment-driven expansion to weaker, structurally constrained output alters trade, lending, and investment ties across the continent, exposing diverse African economies to sharper commodity cycles and shrinking Chinese finance. Three growth paths, stagnation, the IMF baseline, and a reform scenario shape flows in goods, infrastructure funding, foreign direct investment, and portfolio holdings. Oil exporters and traditional mineral producers face softer demand for crude and construction metals but a resilient appetite for transition minerals. Low-income and middle-income states confront tighter credit, persistent trade deficits, and inflation risks, yet may gradually gain from offshored manufacturing activity abroad and stronger Chinese consumer demand if reforms succeed. Matthew Mingey, Jeremy Smith, and Laura Gormley, Rhodium Group, November 18
Japan–Germany security cooperation deepens in a changing global order. Japan and Germany have increased defence collaboration through strategic dialogues, “2+2” meetings and naval and air visits, reflecting recognition that their security depends on supporting a fragile rules based international order. Postwar reluctance to use force is eroding as the war in Ukraine, tensions over Taiwan and assertive moves by China, North Korea and Russia, together with US unilateralism, show how closely European and Indo Pacific security are linked. Because distance limits the impact of deployments, cooperation is moving toward cybersecurity, advanced weapons development, secure communications and resilient supply chains, yet restrictive export rules, overlapping alliances and competition with other partners constrain progress, so a wider coalition of like-minded middle powers may give these efforts greater strategic weight. Werner Pascha, East Asia Forum, November 18
South Korean Nuclear-Powered Submarine Plan: Unpacking China’s Moderate Reaction. President Trump’s October 29 decision to share nuclear propulsion technology so South Korea can build a nuclear-powered submarine has produced a restrained response from Beijing. Chinese officials, unlike during the AUKUS announcement, issued cautious statements while managing summit timing, preserving a reset with President Lee Jae Myung and stressing that this arrangement, grounded in the civil 123 Agreement and small modular reactors using low-enriched uranium, differs technically from AUKUS. Analysts frame the project as controlled proliferation and an economic transaction, yet Beijing resents the timing, worries about tighter US–ROK security links and may respond indirectly by relaxing pressure on North Korea or sharpening rhetoric if later technical details heighten nuclear risks. Yun Sun, 38 North, November 18
Southeast Asia
Thailand–Cambodia border agreement on shaky ground. The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, signed on 26 October under US President Donald Trump’s auspices, expanded a July ceasefire that halted serious Thailand–Cambodia border clashes, but Thailand’s National Security Council has since temporarily suspended the deal. Ambiguous colonial era boundaries around temples such as Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom, combined with nationalist sentiment and distrust, fueled the crisis, while Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Cambodian and Thai exports gave both governments incentives to negotiate. Malaysian mediation as ASEAN chair produced monitoring arrangements, phased withdrawals and commitments on demining, yet landmine incidents, detainee disputes and domestic political pressures in Bangkok still endanger implementation. Sustaining peace will require disciplined incident management, humane repatriation, restrained rhetoric and consistent US and regional engagement that addresses the roots of this long running dispute. Ryan Claffey, East Asia Forum, November 18
Thailand Pays the Price for Unregulated Mining Boom. An unregulated rare earth rush in Myanmar’s Shan State under the United Wa State Army has contaminated the Kok River with arsenic, seriously damaging ecosystems in northern Thailand and sickening local communities. Thai monitoring efforts treat symptoms while mining continues outside any liability. A joint panel with Myanmar shows diplomacy is weak when rebels control extraction and China benefits from pollution. A memorandum with the United States on minerals gives Bangkok leverage to link contamination to wider basin governance and environmental security. Using forums and China’s dependence on rare earths, Thailand can turn vulnerability into bargaining power for stricter oversight of green supply chains. Eugene Mark and Kyi Sin, Fulcrum, November 18
South Asia
China and India Are Trapped in a Cycle of Hope and Distrust. Periodic gestures of rapprochement open hopeful phases that quickly risk relapse into confrontation. Core drivers of mistrust include the contested Himalayan frontier, Tibet, China’s partnership with Pakistan and rising nationalism in both societies on both sides of the border. Crises from the 1962 war to Doklam and Galwan show how every breakthrough soon unravels. Breaking the loop requires new diplomatic formats, possibly quiet third party facilitation by a neutral country such as Singapore, and bold moves such as Beijing supporting India’s UN Security Council bid while New Delhi relaxes restrictions on Chinese visitors, scholars and firms. Tansen Sen, Foreign Policy, November 18
Oceania
The Pacific Will Endure US Aid Cuts but China Wins Narrative Advantage. Plans to dismantle USAID and cut foreign aid affect the Pacific still modestly because most US money there goes through Compacts of Association that sit outside the reductions. Once those deals are excluded, Washington provides only a minor share of regional assistance compared with Australia, China, New Zealand and Japan. The main impact is reputational as program closures and reduced support for UN agencies disrupt health efforts and reinforce doubts about US reliability. China’s steadier engagement lets Beijing present itself as a consistent partner while Australia carries more strategic weight. Alexandre Dayant and Riley Duke, Nikkei Asia, November 18