China
Trump on track to meet Xi in South Korea, Bessent says. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month to ease trade tensions following tariff threats and export control disputes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said communications have improved and tariffs may be avoided if talks progress. Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu, Reuters, October 13
U.S. condemns China over South China Sea vessel clash with the Philippines. The United States denounced China after a Chinese Coast Guard ship rammed and used water cannons against a Philippine fisheries vessel near Thitu Island. Washington said Beijing’s “dangerous actions” undermined regional stability and affirmed its support for the Philippines amid the ongoing maritime dispute. Kanishka Singh and Bhargav Acharya, Reuters, October 13
Full text of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote address at opening ceremony of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged renewed global commitment to advancing women’s development, calling for peace, equality, and cooperation. He announced $10 million in new donations to U.N. Women, $100 million in development funding for women’s projects, and 1,000 aid programs prioritizing women and girls. Global Times, October 13
Japan
Japan to promote domestic AI development for national security. Japan will prioritize domestic artificial intelligence development to reduce reliance on foreign systems and bolster national security. The government’s upcoming AI strategy calls for improved pay for researchers, stronger collaboration among academia and industry, and a next-generation supercomputer to succeed Fugaku. Kyodo News, October 13
CDP asking DPP, Ishin to help halt Takaichi’s rise to prime minister. Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party called for talks with the Democratic Party for the People and Nippon Ishin to unite behind a single candidate against Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takaichi. The move follows Komeito’s split from the LDP, creating an opening for opposition cooperation. Takahiro Okubo and Shinkai Kawabe, The Asahi Shimbun, October 13
South Korea
Seoul plans first civilian nuclear bunker under public housing complex. Seoul authorities will construct the city’s first nuclear-resistant civilian bunker beneath a public housing complex by 2028 to protect against North Korean threats. The 2,147-square-meter shelter will serve 999 households, support 14 days of survival, and withstand nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks. Joyce Lee, Reuters, October 13
Rival parties agree to hold parliamentary plenary session later this month. South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party agreed to convene a National Assembly plenary session on October 26 to pass 70 pending bills related to public welfare. Five unresolved measures will undergo further talks, and the PPP proposed inquiries into recent national incidents. Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, October 13
Chief justice attends audit but stays silent during questions. South Korea’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de attended a parliamentary audit but declined to answer lawmakers’ questions about alleged interference in the June presidential election. Jo defended judicial independence and said forcing judges to testify would violate the separation of powers. Lawmakers clashed over his appearance amid ongoing controversy. Hwang Joo-young, The Korea Herald, October 13
Vietnam
Government’s first Party Congress concludes successfully. Vietnam’s Government Party Organization wrapped up its first congress for the 2025–2030 term, adopting a resolution to strengthen Party building, governance, and socio-economic growth. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized leadership reform, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable development while targeting annual GDP growth of 10% or more. Vietnam News, October 13
Cambodia
Presidential office urges swift repatriation of Koreans from Cambodia amid surging abuse cases. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac called for the urgent return of South Koreans trapped in Cambodia amid a rise in job scams and illegal detentions following the torture and death of a student. Seoul is considering sending investigators to coordinate with local authorities. Oh Seok-min, Yonhap News Agency, October 13
Cambodia joins four-party peace talks in Kuala Lumpur. Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to peacefully resolve its border dispute with Thailand during four-party talks hosted by Malaysia and attended by the United States. Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn urged adherence to ceasefire terms and condemned Thai military harassment of civilians, while calling for UN intervention over psychological intimidation tactics. Ben Sokhean, Khmer Times, October 13
Philippines
Rift deepens between the Philippines, China over South China Sea. Relations worsened under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Manila aligned more closely with the United States and expanded security ties with partners. A detailed 2024–2025 timeline records collisions, water cannon incidents, joint patrols, new maritime laws, and repeated confrontations at Second Thomas, Scarborough and Thitu, culminating in an Oct. 12 ramming and water cannoning near Thitu Island. Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores, Reuters, October 13
House approves P6.793T 2026 budget. The Philippine House of Representatives approved the proposed 2026 national budget worth 6.793 trillion pesos on third and final reading, with 287 votes in favor, 12 against, and two abstentions. Lawmakers earlier debated amendments, including a reduction in the Office of the Vice President’s allocation. The Manila Times, October 13
Indonesia
Indonesian president asks Trump for meeting with son Eric in ‘hot mic’ moment. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was recorded asking U.S. President Donald Trump to arrange a meeting with his son Eric following a Gaza ceasefire summit in Egypt. Trump responded that Eric would call him. The exchange, captured on a live microphone, appeared unrelated to official business. Katharine Jackson and Costas Pitas, Reuters, October 13
Indonesia denies report of Prabowo visiting Israel. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed claims that President Prabowo Subianto planned to visit Israel, calling the reports false. The ministry confirmed Prabowo would return home after attending the Gaza peace summit in Egypt. Speculation followed his appearance on Tel Aviv billboards promoting Trump’s peace initiative and the Abraham Accords. Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta Globe, October 13
Taiwan
Taiwan says ‘T-Dome’ to better integrate air defence system for higher kill rate. Taiwan’s new “T-Dome” system will integrate air defense sensors and weapons into a unified “sensor-to-shooter” framework to improve interception efficiency and resource coordination. Defense Minister Wellington Koo said the initiative will emphasize mobility and survivability, with a special budget planned by year’s end. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, October 13
U.S. Senate pushes for Taiwan to attend Rimpac drill in latest defence bill. The U.S. Senate passed its 2026 defence policy bill urging the Pentagon to invite Taiwan’s navy to the Rim of the Pacific exercise for the first time. The legislation authorises US$1 billion for Taiwan’s defence cooperation and expands joint work on drone, AI, and missile technologies. Lawrence Chung, South China Morning Post, October 13
India
India and Canada agree on new roadmap for relations. India and Canada established a new framework to restore diplomatic and economic ties after nearly two years of strained relations over the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The agreement prioritizes cooperation on trade, agriculture, and critical minerals as both nations seek to diversify beyond U.S. markets. Sakshi Dayal, Reuters, October 13
East Asia
Beijing showcases its global order pitch. Xi Jinping used a meeting of over 25 leaders in Beijing tied to the SCO Plus summit and a WWII anniversary parade to signal military clout and an alternative governance vision, alongside Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. Beijing unveiled the Global Governance Initiative to reform institutions via sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and results, presented as a path to a “community with a shared future for humanity.” China’s meanings diverge from liberal democracies, favoring bilateral consultations and elevating national interests over universally binding rules. The plan anchors a wider bid to rally the Global South, curb Western sway, and foreshadows sharper EU–China systemic rivalry and a more fragmented rule set. Helena Legarda, MERICS, October 13
Consequences be damned. China loves its own economic model. A widening split pits external observers highlighting deflation, a property slump, weak consumption, and export flooding against Beijing’s conviction that innovation and scale underpin robust health. People’s Daily editorials under the authoritative pen name Zhong Caiwen argue the economy is transitioning to new drivers, resilient to shocks, a source of global certainty, and competitive due to systemic strengths rather than subsidies. The critique flags blind spots: property’s prolonged malaise drags incomes and spending, welfare tools remain constrained by leadership preferences, and patents cannot replace broad demand. Industrial overcapacity in cars, solar, and other sectors ensures supply exceeds global needs, amplifying friction as China wields full-spectrum industrial breadth and rare-earth leverage. The Economist, October 13
A whole new game: China rewrites its strategy towards the US. Beijing moves from cautious defense to a blended offense-defense play, using calibrated countermeasures to force recalibration of rules while seeking parity, security, and growth space. After goodwill talks, authorities sanctioned US-linked defense suppliers via an unreliable entities list, tightened export controls on rare earths and critical inputs, and imposed shipping fees on US-bound cargo and vessels. Washington answered with a threatened 100% tariff surge and possible summit cancellation. The change reflects assessments of institutionalized US containment and years of preparation: tariff delays, accelerated tech self-reliance, and leverage over chokepoint industries, plus expanded Global South backing and US political distraction. Aim: “peace through strength” via disciplined counteroffensives and rule-shaping engagement. Gu Qingyang, ThinkChina, October 13
Japan’s likely first female prime minister is no feminist triumph. Sanae Takaichi’s LDP leadership win and likely premiership mark symbolic advancement but little policy liberalization. She opposes separate surnames for married couples, rejects same-sex marriage, and defends male-only imperial succession. She mirrors Shinzo Abe’s focus on labor participation over structural remedies and enjoys backing from Taro Aso, who drew criticism for sexist remarks in 2024. Recent national elections fractured the party system and ended the LDP’s bicameral majorities, exposing sharper value cleavages on gender. Candidate support for separate surnames and same-sex marriage slipped in 2025 upper-house races, while women’s representation in both chambers reached record highs. Japan still places 118th in the 2025 Global Gender Gap ranking. Peter Chai, Nikkei Asia, October 13
Southeast Asia
China’s defence white paper sets sights on Southeast Asia. Released 12 May 2025, “China’s National Security in the New Era” outlines a security vision and positions Beijing at the center of order. It rejects the US-led Indo-Pacific framing, reiterates “Asia Pacific,” and markets China as provider of stability and growth. The document lists core interests from Taiwan to the South China Sea and asserts readiness to use force to defend them. ASEAN is urged toward bilateral settlements while Beijing shows little urgency on a Code of Conduct despite a 2026 target. Regional responses diverge: Vietnam balances through external ties, while the Philippines leans hard toward the United States. Hedging persists as states seek autonomy. Ananta Swarup Bijendra De Gurung, East Asia Forum, October 13
Traditional ecological knowledge is under threat in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Traditional ecological knowledge is a living system built through practice, observation, and exchange, sustaining rural livelihoods and shaping “living with floods” cultures. In the delta, crafts like fish trap making encode hydrological patterns and species behavior, demonstrating learning and dissemination. Multiple pressures erode this knowledge base: changing flood regimes linked to climate factors, extensive dyke construction, agrochemical use, commodity-focused agriculture, and out-migration that disrupts transmission. Modernization introduces drones and value-chain integration, reducing reliance on traditional methods, though pockets still combine deep-water rice practices with new technology. Preservation requires community memory, intergenerational engagement, and integration within region’s “living with nature” development approach to support adaptation over time. Thong Anh Tran and Duong Van Ni, East Asia Forum, October 13
Myanmar’s Junta Forces Are Gaining Back Ground, Presaging a Long-Term Quagmire. After years of losses following the 2021 coup, the military has recently retaken positions such as Kyaukme and secured Chinese support, including proposed financing and drone coverage, while opposition gains stall. Beijing has pressured northern militias and helped rehabilitate the regime’s diplomacy. Washington has reduced aid and may engage the junta, partly due to rare earth interests. The result is a protracted stalemate marked by increased airstrikes on civilians, deepening poverty, displacement, disease, and a surge in organized crime. Planned national elections are expected to be unfree and boycotted, while thousands of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, remain in harsh detention. Joshua Kurlantzick, Council on Foreign Relations, October 13