China
China puts forward ‘Four Nos’ to U.S. in dealing with HK affairs. China’s Hong Kong commissioner Cui Jianchun delivered “Four Nos” to U.S. Consul General Julie Eadeh: no meeting improper figures, no collusion with anti-China forces, no inciting/assisting/funding unrest, and no interference in national security cases; he lodged “solemn representations” over her conduct and urged adherence to diplomatic norms as officials warned against “destructive activities.” Global Times, October 2
U.S. Treasury chief sees ‘big breakthrough’ ahead in China trade talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted a “big breakthrough” in upcoming talks with China, flagged a Trump–Xi pull-aside at the South Korea APEC summit, and said soybean farmer aid could be announced Tuesday. He cited four rounds with He Lifeng since May as tariffs stay for revenue while broader issues, including TikTok, subsidies and export controls, are negotiated. Frank Chen, South China Morning Post, October 2
Japan
Japan, U.S. arranging Trump visit Oct. 27 for talks with new PM. Tokyo and Washington are planning a late-October summit between President Donald Trump and Japan’s incoming prime minister to reaffirm the alliance amid rising Chinese and North Korean military capabilities. The stop follows ASEAN-related events in Malaysia and precedes APEC in South Korea, with possible talks on defense spending, Japan’s pledged $550 billion U.S. investments, and the abductions issue. Kyodo News, October 2
Parliament expected to elect new prime minister on Oct. 15. Japan plans an extraordinary Diet session on Oct. 15 to choose Shigeru Ishiba’s successor, with Cabinet formation expected the same day. The Liberal Democratic Party’s new chief is poised to become premier as opposition parties remain divided. Lawmakers may also take up a supplementary budget and a bill scrapping the provisional gasoline tax surcharge. The Japan Times, October 2
South Korea
South Korea President Lee orders crackdown on anti-Chinese, anti-foreigner rallies. President Lee Jae Myung ordered a clampdown on demonstrations targeting Chinese nationals and other foreigners, saying they damage South Korea’s image and economy. The move follows a pilot visa-free entry program for Chinese tourists running through June and precedes an expected Xi visit for APEC on Oct. 31. Jack Kim, Reuters, October 2
Seoul awaits U.S. response on revised investment deal: presidential office. Seoul submitted a revised plan for managing a US$350 billion investment fund tied to July’s tariff pact and is waiting for Washington’s reply, spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, declining to reveal specifics while noting multiple scenarios are under review. The deal would see tariffs on South Korean goods, including autos, fall to 15% from 25% in exchange for large-scale U.S. investment. Woo Jae-yeon, Yonhap News Agency, October 2
North Korea
Kim Jong Un orders creation of unified satellite intelligence command system. Kim ordered the military to link reconnaissance satellite feeds with the Reconnaissance General Bureau through a unified, real-time command network, tasking multiple agencies to fuse imagery, signals and communications intelligence, harden underground fiber lines, and bolster electronic-warfare defenses. Jeong Tae Joo, Daily NK, October 3
Thailand
Panel reviewing Thaksin’s pardon petition. Thailand’s justice minister Rutthapon Naowarat formed a committee to examine Thaksin Shinawatra’s royal pardon request, with a review expected within three days. The 76-year-old returned to prison on Sept. 9 after the Supreme Court ruled his hospital stay didn’t count and must serve one year. His daughter Paetongtarn reported minor neck issues after a visit and reclaimed a 28.43% SC Asset stake. Wassayos Ngamkham, Bangkok Post, October 2
Anutin visits Surin-Buri Ram on October 3 to monitor border situation. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will travel to Surin and Buri Ram on October 3–4 to review security and rehabilitation efforts following recent border unrest. His schedule includes briefings with Suranaree Force, inspections at Sam Yaek Operational Base, and meetings with affected residents. The Nation, October 2
Vietnam
Vietnam Coast Guard delegation sets sail for Philippines to strengthen maritime partnership. Vietnam Coast Guard Vessel 8002 departed Da Nang on Oct. 1 for the first visit this year, led by Major General Tran Quang Tuan of Coast Guard Region 2, to deepen cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard through talks, courtesy calls, cultural exchanges, and joint at-sea training, implementing a 2024 memorandum and boosting coordination on incidents and patrols. Vietnam News, October 2
Laos
President to visit Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Secretary General and State President Thongloun Sisoulith will lead a high-level delegation to the DPRK on Oct. 7–8 at Kim Jong Un’s invitation to strengthen ties. The visit marks the Workers’ Party of Korea’s 80th anniversary, 50 years of Laos–DPRK relations, and 60 years since the first Pyongyang summit between Kaysone Phomvihane and Kim Il Sung. Vientiane Times, October 3
Cambodia
China denies supplying weapons for Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, urges peaceful resolution. The Chinese Embassy in Thailand rejected claims that Cambodia used Chinese-made rockets in recent border clashes, stating no new military equipment was supplied for fighting and that existing hardware stems from prior cooperation. Beijing said it is working to de-escalate tensions, supports ASEAN-led steps, will keep close contact with regional partners, and urged an end to rumor-spreading. Khmer Times, October 2
Kingdom’s UN ambassador warns of ‘Thai xenophobia’ against Cambodian migrants. Cambodia’s UN envoy in Geneva, Dara In, warned the Human Rights Council of rising xenophobia and racist violence against Cambodian nationals in Thailand, including migrant workers and students, and decried disinformation that fuels prejudice. He urged stronger vigilance and reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to equality and dignity, as authorities report increased discrimination and large-scale returns amid border tensions. Niem Chheng, The Phnom Penh Post, October 2
Philippines
ICC reveals plan for Duterte’s detention, recommends shorter trial sessions due to health. A redacted Registry report filed Sept. 30 outlines medical supervision at the ICC Detention Center and potential courtroom adjustments, including shorter daily sessions, seating changes, and possible remote participation. The medical officer will assess Rodrigo Duterte daily during confirmation hearings, while judges decide on scheduling. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, October 2
Taiwan
Vice premier touts ‘Taiwan model’ for U.S.-bound investment. After a fifth round of talks, Cheng Li-chiun said Washington gave a positive response to a plan centered on enterprise-led projects, state financial guarantees, and a government-to-government approach to build industrial clusters. Taipei is seeking a lower “reciprocal” tariff, broad Section 232 preferences covering semiconductors and more=. Lai Yu-chen and James Thompson, Focus Taiwan, October 2
Uzbekistan
US.-Uzbek business deals keep coming. Uzbekistan announced more than $4 billion in energy agreements with U.S. firms, including multiple Air Products projects to accelerate a “green transition,” from a Bukhara petrochemical complex to coal gasification and cleaner jet fuel. Additional deals involve Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and a Gulf Oil retail network, with EXIM preparing an $852 million credit line and broader contracts unveiled during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s U.S. trip. Eurasianet, October 2
East Asia
China eyes the LDP election warily. Beijing views Japan’s snap Liberal Democratic Party leadership race as a potential inflection point for bilateral ties after a tentative thaw under Shigeru Ishiba. Five contenders signal divergent risks. Sanae Takaichi’s nationalist record and Yasukuni links raise volatility, though recent restraint suggests tactical pragmatism. Shinjiro Koizumi’s limited diplomatic experience and prior shrine visits create uncertainty but also maneuvering space. Takayuki Kobayashi’s economic security focus implies a tougher line. Toshimitsu Motegi’s experience points to calibrated engagement aligned with the United States. Yoshimasa Hayashi would most likely deliver steadier, predictable management of frictions. Domestic polarization, LDP weakness, and U.S. pressure constrain any leader, increasing odds of firmer China policy despite dialogue. Shao Jingkai and Wang Guangtao, East Asia Forum, October 3
Safety Valve Needed for Crisis Management. The Xiangshan Forum spotlighted rising crisis risks in China–U.S. relations across Taiwan, the South China Sea, cyber, and space, aggravated by low strategic trust and signaling gaps. Historical episodes from Korea, the 1996 Taiwan Strait standoff, the 1999 embassy bombing, and the 2001 Hainan collision illustrate costs of misjudgment. Recommended steps: upgrade domain awareness and hotlines with 24/7 multilayer connectivity, codify prevention rules via a dedicated working group, and rebuild strategic confidence through sustained dialogue, using multilateral platforms where useful. Recent mixed U.S. messaging and operational moves fed skepticism in Beijing, underscoring the need for clear communication and restraint to uphold the baseline of no conflict. Zhang Gaosheng, CHINA US Focus, October 2
Creating a domestic market for innovative drugs through commercial health insurance. Beijing introduced a draft Commercial Insurance Innovative Drug List covering 121 therapies to spur uptake of advanced treatments outside basic medical insurance. The plan aims to build a dual-track system in which middle-class households purchase commercial policies that reimburse high-cost options such as Cejemly and RC18, while popular foreign drugs like Semaglutide, Opdivo, and Tecentriq appear, and Keytruda is absent. Adoption depends on data-sharing, coordinated price talks, and access to public hospitals. Commercial coverage remains small, with slow sales growth and heavy out-of-pocket spending, so insurer buy-in and discount expectations will determine traction for domestic biotech. Jeroen Groenewegen-Lau, MERICS, October 2
The next AI superpower? China’s quiet lead in the race for scale. Huawei announced Ascend 950 chips with FP8 support and 2 TB/s interconnect, scaling to Atlas 950 SuperPoD nodes of up to 8,192 accelerators and planning larger Ascend 960 clusters. While single-chip performance trails Nvidia, Huawei targets parity through cluster architecture. Meanwhile, China’s AI application scale has surged: official data show daily token usage rising from 100 billion in early 2024 to over 30 trillion by June 2025, indicating heavy deployment across services and content generation. U.S. tech firms also report rapid growth, but China’s expansion rate is described as faster. The spread of automation is helping offset deflationary pressure by cutting costs and maintaining output. Yin Ruizhi, ThinkChina, October 2
Glass towers, German villas and the ghosts of empire: This is Qingdao. Once a German leasehold on Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao fused European planning with maritime commerce, leaving Jugendstil landmarks, Badaguan’s villa quarter, and the 1903 Tsingtao Brewery. Zhanqiao pier and its 1930s octagonal pavilion still anchor the Shinan waterfront while a forest of new towers rises behind it. Reform-era policy turned the port into a top-ten global hub; restored districts such as Dabaodao show the city’s historic core. Along the Yellow Sea, imperial monuments, Japanese-era commercial blocks, and modern finance sit side by side, beloved by domestic travelers yet overlooked abroad. Kennie Ting, ThinkChina, October 2
Kim Jong-un’s Flurry of Diplomacy. Kim attended Beijing’s September war-anniversary celebration alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, securing high-visibility optics without substantive outcomes. The move fit a strategy of normalizing nuclear status through selective engagement while maintaining military advances, signaled by a factory visit tied to solid-fuel ICBM production. Beijing’s posture indicates space for improved ties without denuclearization progress, aligning against U.S. “hegemonism” yet stopping short of Moscow’s explicit acceptance. Washington and Seoul are advised to distance theatrics, sustain calls for denuclearization, and avoid lending legitimacy. The visit could precede engine tests or an ICBM launch. Kim Ju Ae’s prominence suggests deliberate succession preparation, not urgency. Sydney Seiler, CSIS, October 2
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia optimistically embraces digital automation. AI and automation are advancing gradually across the region, augmenting tasks rather than replacing whole jobs. A cited study found AI assistance raised resolutions per hour by 14 percent, with novice and low-skill workers gaining 34 percent. Firms in Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines report widespread but measured adoption to boost efficiency and service delivery. Plans vary: many Singapore firms target 11–50 percent automation, Indonesia shows the highest share planning full automation, while Cambodia and Malaysia aim mid-to-high levels. Employment expectations diverge: Singaporean and Vietnamese firms foresee little change; Indonesian and Malaysian firms expect modest gains; the Philippines anticipates reductions. Upskilling and social safety nets remain pivotal. Faizal Bin Yahya, East Asia Forum, October 2
Command Shakeup Hints at Myanmar Military’s Next Leaders. The junta has dissolved BSO 6 and restructured BSO 5 to control Central, Naypyitaw, Southern, and Yangon commands, focusing resources on core regions facing urban insurgency and active resistance. The post-coup battlefield map remains fluid: Lashio stays encircled by the MNDAA and Western Command has changed to Sittwe after losing Ann. Lieutenant General Ko Ko Oo, a close ally of Min Aung Hlaing with China and India liaison roles, now heads BSO 5 and is viewed as a candidate for deputy commander-in-chief. Chief of the General Staff Kyaw Swar Lin is widely seen as heir apparent. The reorganization both consolidates territory and tests succession options as leadership transition looms. Aye Chan Hsu, The Irrawaddy, October 2
One Piece Flag, Multiple Protests. A Jolly Roger associated with One Piece has become a mobile emblem for Indonesian youth anger over hardship and governance under President Prabowo, appearing across campuses, city rallies, and online since August and even alongside the national flag before Independence Day. The symbol’s appeal draws on themes of friendship and defiance, with variants adapted to local contexts, while officials warn against its display. The trend fits an Asian repertoire of visual dissent that includes umbrellas in Hong Kong, the three-finger salute in Thailand and Myanmar, and Milk Tea Alliance colors. Authorities’ crackdowns often amplify such imagery, yet sustained impact depends on organization and issue framing. Eugene Mark and Panarat Anamwathana, FULCRUM, October 2