China
Former state media editor Hu Xijin warns against collective silence on Chinese social media. Former Global Times editor Hu Xijin urged greater openness and tolerance for public expression, warning that growing self-censorship has led to a “collective silencing” on China’s internet. Hu said citizens should freely exchange information and institutions should respect individual rights within the constitutional framework under Communist Party leadership. Yuanyue Dang, South China Morning Post, October 14
U.S., China roll out tit-for-tat port fees, threatening more turmoil at sea. The United States and China began imposing reciprocal port fees on each other’s vessels, escalating maritime tensions amid an ongoing trade dispute. China exempted domestically built ships and sanctioned five U.S.-linked Hanwha Ocean units. Analysts warned the measures could distort global freight flows and deepen trade instability. Lisa Baertlein, Liz Lee, and Joe Cash, Reuters, October 14
China detains dozens of underground church pastors in crackdown. Chinese authorities detained dozens of pastors from Zion Church, one of the country’s largest underground Christian networks, in what observers described as the biggest crackdown since 2018. Founder Jin Mingri and at least 20 others remain in custody under charges of “illegal use of information networks.” Laurie Chen, Reuters, October 14
Japan
Komeito leader now open to opposition prime minister. Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said his party may back an opposition candidate in the upcoming Diet vote for prime minister, signaling a shift after ending its 26-year coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party. Saito said all options remain open as opposition parties coordinate to field a unified candidate. The Asahi Shimbun, October 14
Parliamentary vote to pick new Japan PM arranged for Oct. 21. Japan’s government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to hold a parliamentary vote on October 21 to elect a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The schedule could shift as new LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and opposition groups vie for coalition support following Komeito’s withdrawal from the ruling bloc. Kyodo News, October 14
Economic, diplomatic fears rise with Japan in political limbo. Japan endures an unusual split between the Liberal Democratic Party presidency and the premiership after Sanae Takaichi’s victory and Komeito’s exit, delaying a Diet vote now eyed for Oct. 21. Plans for a supplementary budget and fuel tax cuts stall as stocks fall. A tight diplomatic schedule looms, from ASEAN in Malaysia to hosting President Donald Trump and attending APEC in South Korea. The Asahi Shimbun, October 14
South Korea
South Korea says huge progress in U.S. trade talks over investment package. South Korea reported major progress in trade negotiations with the United States after Washington accepted that the $350 billion investment package would not be entirely in direct cash. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the compromise would ease foreign exchange pressure on the won as both sides finalize details. Jihoon Lee, Reuters, October 14
Presidential policy chief, industry minister to visit Washington for follow-up tariff talks. South Korea’s presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will travel to Washington this week to negotiate details of the $350 billion investment package agreed in July. Seoul is pushing for a currency swap deal to prevent financial risks as both sides refine revised trade proposals. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, October 15
Gov’t to dispatch joint response team to Cambodia to tackle crimes targeting South Koreans. South Korea will send a joint response team to Cambodia following the torture and death of a college student linked to job scams. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ji-na will lead the group, joined by police and intelligence officials, to coordinate investigations and repatriations amid rising criminal cases. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, October 14
North Korea
N. Korea’s Kim, Trump could meet on occasion of APEC summit in S. Korea: unification minister. South Korea’s unification minister Chung Dong-young said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump could hold talks during the APEC summit in Gyeongju later this month, possibly at Panmunjom. Chung cited Kim’s recent remarks recalling “good memories” of Trump as a signal of conditional willingness. Chae Yun-hwan, Yonhap News Agency, October 14
Thailand
Trump looking forward to Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire deal at ASEAN summit, Malaysia says. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, where Malaysia hopes to host the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire accord. The deal, brokered by Malaysia and the U.S., will require both sides to withdraw heavy weapons and clear landmines. Rozanna Latiff, Reuters, October 14
Cabinet reshuffles 45 high-level officials at Interior Ministry. Thailand’s cabinet approved the transfer and promotion of 45 senior Interior Ministry officials, including provincial governors and department chiefs, to correct what the government described as prior injustices. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the reshuffle was not politically motivated and was proposed by the ministry’s permanent secretary. Bangkok Post, October 14
Activist seeks end to BJT, PP. Red-shirt leader Niyom Nopparat petitioned Thailand’s Constitutional Court to dissolve the ruling Bhumjaithai Party and opposition People’s Party over their coalition agreement, arguing it violates the charter’s ban on actions undermining democracy. The pact, which enabled Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s minority government, commits to dissolving parliament within four months. Bangkok Post, October 15
Cambodia
Cambodia postpones RBC meeting with Thailand amid escalating tensions. Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence announced the postponement of the Regional Border Committee meeting with Thailand’s 2nd Army Area, originally scheduled for October 15–17, at Thailand’s request. The two sides will instead hold a secretariat meeting to coordinate border stability and ensure continued implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Khmer Times, October 15
Philippines
ICC judges disqualify ICC prosecutor Khan from Duterte case, court document shows. International Criminal Court appeals judges barred prosecutor Karim Khan from handling the war crimes case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over a conflict of interest tied to Khan’s prior representation of victims. Deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang will oversee the case as Khan remains under UN investigation. Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch, Reuters, October 14
Anti-administration sentiment rises as national outlook weakens — Pahayag survey. Public dissatisfaction with the Marcos administration climbed to 435 in Q3 2025 from 27% a year earlier, while pro-administration support fell to 18%. Visayas and Mindanao recorded the highest opposition (53% and 52%). More Filipinos see the country moving in the wrong direction (43%) and expect a weaker economy (34% optimistic). Franco Jose C. Barona, The Manila Times, October 14
Indonesia
Jakarta says Prabowo’s caught-on-mic talk with Trump was casual. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono said President Prabowo Subianto’s brief conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, recorded on a “hot mic” during the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt, was informal and unrelated to state affairs. The exchange included a request to meet Eric Trump, whom Prabowo called “a good boy.” Ricki Putra Harahap and Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta Globe, October 14
Malaysia
Malaysia to discuss sectoral tariffs with U.S. at ASEAN summit, state media reports. Malaysia will meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur to discuss tariffs on semiconductors and other sectors. Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said a final tariff agreement could be signed next week as Malaysia seeks to maintain exemptions and safeguard competitiveness. Danial Azhar, Reuters, October 15
Singapore
Singapore to cane scammers and mules under tightened laws, local media reports. Singapore plans to introduce mandatory caning for individuals convicted of scams and related crimes under new criminal law reforms. Offenders could face six to 24 strokes, while those laundering proceeds or supplying IDs and SIM cards to scammers may receive up to 12. Scam losses totaled S$456.4 million in early 2025. Jun Yuan Yong, Reuters, October 14
Taiwan
Taiwan flags rise in Chinese cyberattacks, warns of online troll army. Taiwan reported a 17% surge in Chinese cyberattacks in 2025, averaging 2.8 million daily strikes on government networks. The National Security Bureau said Beijing’s online troll army is spreading disinformation to undermine public trust and exploit political divisions, using AI-generated content on social media. Yimou Lee, Reuters, October 14
East Asia
Policy, not palace intrigue: The real focus of China’s fourth plenum. The upcoming fourth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party will emphasize policy over personnel, focusing on drafting the 15th Five-Year Plan rather than leadership reshuffles. Commentator Deng Yuwen notes that while anti-corruption campaigns continue, no major political crises justify major personnel changes, making economic and social strategies the session’s true priority. Deng Yuwen, ThinkChina, October 14
Beijing’s coded editorials reveal big economic plans. A new series of pseudonymous commentaries in the People’s Daily, written under “Zhong Caiwen,” outlines China’s roadmap for an era of slower but more deliberate growth. The essays highlight industrial upgrading, innovation-driven manufacturing, and a growing “care economy,” framing structural challenges as part of long-term transformation toward resilience and stability. Lizzi C. Lee and Shengyu Wang, Foreign Policy, October 14
The NBA’s long road back to China. The National Basketball Association returned to China for the first time in six years, hosting two preseason games between the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets in Macau’s Venetian Arena, owned by U.S. billionaire Miriam Adelson. The games marked a cautious revival of NBA-China relations, strained since the 2019 Hong Kong controversy. Rishi Iyengar, Foreign Policy, October 14
Southeast Asia
Indonesia makes a quiet return to Pyongyang. Indonesia renewed diplomatic ties with North Korea through Foreign Minister Sugiono’s visit to Pyongyang, the first since 2013, marking a new phase of “independent and active” diplomacy. Jakarta aims to act as a regional mediator by encouraging Pyongyang’s engagement with ASEAN while balancing ties with China, the U.S., and other major powers. Akhmad Hanan, The Interpreter, October 14
Caught in the Sino-U.S. crossfire: ASEAN needs to act as one. The escalating economic rivalry between the United States and China has left ASEAN increasingly vulnerable to coercive trade, technology, and financial measures from both sides. As tariffs and investment restrictions disrupt global supply chains, ASEAN must respond collectively. Initiatives such as the ASEAN Geoeconomic Task Force and the Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain Framework aim to enhance regional coordination, resilience, and strategic autonomy. Maria Monica Wihardja and Dennis Trinidad, Fulcrum, October 14
South Asia
The true cost of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Thousands have vanished in Pakistan’s Balochistan province as security forces use detention without trial to suppress dissent. A 2025 law allows preventive arrests for up to three months, deepening impunity amid resource exploitation and inequality. Despite UN warnings, accountability remains elusive, leaving families in anguish as human rights abuses continue unchecked. Natiq Malikzada, The Diplomat, October 14
Central Asia
The Gulf turns east: How Central Asia became a new financial frontier. Investments from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Central Asia have nearly tripled since 2022, led by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Gulf banks are financing major infrastructure, renewable energy, and transport projects, while expanding Islamic finance through sukuk and Shariah-compliant loans. Regulatory barriers remain, but deeper reforms could make Gulf partnerships key to regional modernization. Timur Serikuly, The Diplomat, October 14
Oceania
Building on the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Australia and India are expanding defense and economic cooperation as part of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthened by new accords on information sharing, maritime security, and joint activities. With the Quad’s future uncertain under U.S. tariffs on India, both nations aim to uphold an open Indo-Pacific through greater autonomy, shared defense initiatives, and green energy collaboration. Shubhamitra Das, The Diplomat, October 14