China
Frictions ‘normal’ but China-U.S. ties must stay on right course, Xi tells Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, calling for constructive ties and describing frictions between the nations as normal. The leaders discussed trade, Taiwan, fentanyl, rare earths, and TikTok, with both sides signaling tentative progress amid ongoing tensions. Dewey Sim, Alyssa Chen, Fan Chen, Meredith Chen, Orange Wang and Sylvia Ma, South China Morning Post, October 30
China says it ‘absolutely will not’ rule out use of force over Taiwan. A Chinese government spokesperson asserted that Beijing would not renounce force in pursuing reunification with Taiwan, despite recent state media articles promoting peaceful integration under a “one country, two systems” framework. Taiwan’s president reaffirmed opposition to annexation. The statement comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi. Beijing newsroom and Ben Blanchard, Reuters, October 29
Xi says China’s development goes hand in hand with Trump’s vision to Make America Great Again. Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that the two nations can help each other succeed, stating that China’s growth aligns with Trump’s goal to revitalize the United States. Meeting during the APEC summit in South Korea, Xi called for mutual prosperity and reaffirmed his commitment to building stable bilateral ties. Global Times, October 30
Trump seeks trade-war truce with China’s Xi in South Korea talks. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan to pursue a trade truce, with Trump signaling potential tariff reductions in exchange for Chinese efforts to restrict fentanyl precursors. Talks also covered rare earth exports and a possible TikTok deal, amid lingering tensions over Taiwan and escalating geopolitical competition. Trevor Hunnicutt, Reuters, October 29
Japan
Japan to keep importing Russian LNG, Takaichi tells Trump: source. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told U.S. President Donald Trump that Japan will continue importing Russian liquefied natural gas to avoid power shortages, despite U.S. pressure to end such purchases. Russian LNG accounted for 8.6% of Japan’s imports in 2024, mostly from Sakhalin 2, where Japanese firms maintain stakes. Kyodo News, October 29
Koizumi conveys to U.S. resolve to increase Japan’s defense spending. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth that Japan will raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP by March, accelerating its timeline by two years. Koizumi pledged updates to Japan’s strategic policies and warned of China’s opaque military expansion, while Hegseth reaffirmed alliance commitments and welcomed stronger bilateral coordination. Kyodo News, October 29
South Korea
South Korea gives details of trade deal struck with the U.S. South Korea revealed terms of a trade agreement with the U.S., including reduced tariffs on auto imports and a $350 billion investment package split between phased cash payments and shipbuilding cooperation. The deal protects Seoul’s foreign exchange stability and secures parity for Korean industries in global competition. Cynthia Kim, Joyce Lee, Jack Kim, Jihoon Lee and Ju-min Park, Reuters, October 29
Trump says South Korea has approval to build nuclear-powered submarine. President Donald Trump announced that South Korea has been cleared to build a nuclear-powered submarine, with construction expected at a Philadelphia shipyard. The move aligns with Seoul’s broader push to gain U.S. approval for nuclear fuel reprocessing. Critics raised concerns over proliferation risks, technology sharing, and the strategic impact of allowing another country to operate such advanced military assets. Josh Smith, David Brunnstrom, and Costas Pitas, Reuters, October 29
North Korea
S. Korea says hopes for breakthrough in resuming N. Korea-U.S. dialogue. South Korea’s unification ministry expressed optimism about reopening talks between North Korea and the United States, despite Pyongyang’s silence on recent offers. The statement followed North Korea’s test-launch of cruise missiles and its lack of response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for a summit during his visit to South Korea. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, October 30
Russian delegation for joint economic cooperation committee arrives in Pyongyang: KCNA. A Russian delegation led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov arrived in Pyongyang for talks on trade and scientific cooperation, according to North Korean state media. The delegation was welcomed by North Korean officials and Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora as Moscow and Pyongyang expand ties following North Korea’s troop support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, October 29
Thailand
Panel split over two border MoUs. A Thai parliamentary committee remains divided on whether to amend or cancel MoU 43 and MoU 44, agreements with Cambodia concerning border demarcation. Some members support revision, others favor repeal, while discussions continue. The committee is considering public engagement, including a possible referendum, but warns that key details remain classified. Aekarach Sattaburuth, Bangkok Post, October 30
Vietnam
UK and Vietnam reach deal on curbing illegal migration. Britain and Vietnam signed an agreement to speed up the return of Vietnamese nationals without UK residency rights and to strengthen cooperation on maritime security and economic ties. The deal follows a surge in Vietnamese small-boat arrivals and comes amid growing political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to curb irregular migration. Sam Tabahriti and Francesco Guarascio, Reuters, October 29
Philippines
Marcos: No compromise on territorial integrity. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to defending its maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea through legal means, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling and international law. At the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, he urged cooperation without coercion, called for restraint, and proposed regional maritime initiatives to promote peace and sustainability. Catherine S. Valente, The Manila Times, October 29
Indonesia
Indonesia seeks zero tariff on palm oil after U.S.-Malaysia deal. Indonesia is pushing for a U.S. trade deal that grants zero tariffs on palm oil, cocoa, and rubber, following Malaysia’s recent agreement. Chief negotiator Airlangga Hartarto confirmed talks would resume after the APEC summit. The U.S. had earlier reduced tariffs from 32% to 19% after a call between Presidents Trump and Prabowo. Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta Globe, October 30.
Malaysia
Anwar defends Malaysia-U.S. trade deal amid opposition criticism. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended Malaysia’s reciprocal trade agreement with the United States, stating that all provisions include exit clauses and were signed to attract needed investment. He criticized opposition parties for distorting facts and noted that his government had been attacked for both U.S. and China ties, questioning what diplomatic path critics would prefer. Hazween Hassan, New Straits Times, October 30
Still singing praises: Trump hails Anwar, Malaysia’s role in Thailand-Cambodia peace deal at Apec summit. U.S. President Donald Trump commended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for mediating a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, calling Malaysia’s role instrumental in securing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord. Trump said the breakthrough ended escalating violence and praised the swift diplomacy achieved with Malaysia’s support at the ASEAN summit. Malay Mail, October 30
Taiwan
Taiwan ‘confident’ in U.S. ties ahead of Trump-Xi meeting. Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei remains confident in its relationship with the U.S. despite concerns that the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea could jeopardize Taiwan’s interests. Lin stressed continued security cooperation and communication with Washington as China renewed offers of peaceful unification while maintaining the threat of force. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, October 30
KMT chair-elect expresses opposition to 5% GDP defense budget. KMT chair-elect Cheng Li-wun warned that raising Taiwan’s defense budget to 5% of GDP would exceed national financial capacity and risk fueling an arms race. She called for fiscal limits and stressed Taiwan is “not an ATM.” The Presidential Office responded that defense investment safeguards democracy and peace. James Thompson, Hsiao Po-yang, and Teng Pei-ju, Focus Taiwan, October 29
Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina warns of mass voter boycott as her party barred from election. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, exiled in India, declared that millions of Awami League supporters will boycott Bangladesh’s upcoming election after the party’s registration was revoked. She rejected any government formed without her party’s participation and dismissed war crimes charges against her as politically motivated. Krishna N. Das and Ruma Paul, Reuters, October 29
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan lawmakers give preliminary approval to ban on LGBT ‘propaganda’. Kazakhstan’s parliament advanced a bill to criminalize the promotion of what it terms LGBT “propaganda,” with penalties including up to 10 days in jail for repeat offenses. The legislation mirrors laws in Russia and other post-Soviet states. Human rights advocates criticized the move as institutionalized discrimination. Tamara Vaal and Mariya Gordeyeva, Reuters, October 29
Tokayev meets with U.S. envoys ahead of C5+1 summit. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with U.S. envoys Sergio Gor and Christopher Landau to discuss strengthening economic ties and summit preparations. Tokayev voiced support for U.S. policies and praised President Trump’s leadership. Talks focused on energy, digitalization, logistics, and critical minerals ahead of the November 6 C5+1 gathering in Washington. Vagit Ismailov, The Times of Central Asia, October 29
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan halts gas exports to Turkey amid contract talks. Turkmenistan has suspended natural gas shipments to Turkey due to unresolved terms under a short-term supply contract launched in March. Turkmengaz officials said deliveries will resume once pricing and volume issues are settled. Turkey imported 1.3 billion cubic meters this year and plans to expand access via the Caspian Sea. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, October 29
East Asia
Xi Jinping and Four U.S. Presidents: Personal Diplomacy Through a Decade of Change. Xi meets Donald Trump on October 30 in Gyeongju during APEC, as both sides test whether engagement can steady rivalry. Trump predicted a deal and floated meetings in China and the United States. Over the past decade, Xi’s summits with Obama (Sunnylands 2013, Beijing 2014, state visit 2015, Hangzhou 2016), Trump (Mar-a-Lago 2017, Buenos Aires 2018, Osaka 2019), and Biden (Bali 2022, San Francisco 2023, APEC 2024) framed cycles of cooperation, crisis, and repair. Biden’s 2024 encounter followed the Bali thaw and the San Francisco reset, marking tentative, careful stabilization. Sustained head-of-state diplomacy remains a stabilizing guardrail amid structural frictions. Yawei Liu, U.S.-China Perception Monitor, October 29
Hubei Hit-and-Run Escapes the Headlines. On October 22 in Shiyan, a car struck primary school children, killing one and injuring four. Authorities suppressed coverage for three days during the CCP Fourth Plenum, then issued a terse police notice on October 25 describing a “traffic accident” and an arrest for “endangering public safety.” The blackout echoed past silences around sudden disasters and fueled suspicions of a deliberate attack, heightened by leaked footage first circulated via “Teacher Li” and early Taiwanese reports amid broad deletions. Despite controls, citizen posts surfaced with inspection records, traffic violations, and the vehicle’s plate. Freelance reporters’ accounts were swiftly removed, while residents described fear and forced dispersal, and continued mainstream silence. Alex Colville, China Media Project, October 29
Healthy China 2030 & APEC Opportunities: “Health-First” Domestic Reform, Biotech Innovation, and International Cooperation. Healthy China 2030 elevates health to a core instrument of statecraft, linking population aging and chronic disease management to economic resilience, industrial upgrading, and social stability. The program seeks an integrated, tiered system, stronger primary care, and fiscally sustainable insurance, while overhauling regulation, procurement, and reimbursement to speed access to safe, innovative therapies. Progress coexists with constraints: hospital dominance, fragmented oversight across the “three medicals,” misaligned incentives, fragile financing for biotech, and geopolitical uncertainty. Beijing is simultaneously pushing regulatory convergence, AI-enabled discovery, and full-chain support for biopharma. APEC provides a practical, regional bridge: joint reviews, data-sharing, multiregional trials, and targeted roadmaps could turn domestic reforms into regional public goods ahead of China’s 2026 chairing. Lizzi C. Lee, Chang Liu, and Jing Qian, Asia Society, October 29
Trump’s Trade Policy Feeds Taiwan’s Growing U.S. Skepticism. Tariffs imposed by the United States (20%) have increased doubts in Taiwan about the durability of its “silicon shield” and Washington’s commitment. Taipei refrained from retaliation, instead urging deeper ties and positioning itself as essential to U.S. reindustrialization and AI leadership. Most exports to America are ICT goods and components, many exempt and subject to a separate probe, while TSMC’s Arizona plant cannot meet soaring demand, keeping reliance on Taiwan high even as onshoring proceeds. Despite pledges, surveys show declining trust: majorities judge the tariff policy unreasonable and view the United States as unreliable. Rising skepticism risks sapping support for resilience measures and could embolden Beijing. David Sacks, Council on Foreign Relations, October 29
Southeast Asia
Can ASEAN build its own battery future in a world powered by China? Intensifying U.S.–China rivalry elevates batteries to a strategic lever: Beijing’s export curbs effective November 8 cover energy-storage cells, materials, and production equipment. China controls about 70% of global lithium-ion output. McKinsey sees a supply gap outside China, Europe, and North America rising from 80 GWh in 2025 to 300 GWh by 2030; regional EV sales reached ~350,000 in 2024 (13%). Indonesia with half of global nickel mining, rose to 13th in Bloomberg’s supply-chain ranking. Lithium-ion should dominate for 5–10 years, while Chinese firms commercialize sodium-ion with large cost advantages. Regional safety-standards work and financing bottlenecks remain still binding constraints. Thomas Li Tao, ThinkChina, October 29
Conservative and Religious: Filipino Evangelicals Go MAGA. Cross-border ties between communities in the United States and the Philippines are amplifying conservative frames at home as American evangelical networks shape religious practice and politics. Surveys before the 2024 U.S. election showed 18% preference for Donald Trump versus 14% for Kamala Harris among Philippine respondents, while Filipino Americans leaned toward Harris. Evangelicals constitute roughly 7–14% of the population yet wield disproportionate influence through elite backing, U.S. funding, and media. Political reach includes Jesus Is Lord’s legislators and agenda-setting on social issues. Alignment with conservative Catholics could constrain reforms and bolster strongman currents, though MAGA evangelicalism remains nascent and its trajectory uncertain and electoral dynamics in coming cycles nationally. Lisandro E. Claudio and Aries A. Arugay, FULCRUM, October 29
South Asia
Bangladesh’s Islamist parties edge towards a coalition of convenience. Bangladesh heads toward a vote expected in February 2026 with Islamist parties weighing a pragmatic, seat-maximizing pact despite theological disputes. Reformists around Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami court voters, while reactionists led by Islami Andolan Bangladesh condemn the order and favor a Qawmi-aligned agenda. Past unity efforts collapsed, and signs are mixed: leaders met in January 2025 to explore cooperation, yet a July liaison committee excluded Jamaat. Coordination reappeared September 18 with rallies demanding proportional representation and fair rules. Doctrinal red lines continue to block cohesion, even as pressure for unity grows. Any arrangement would reflect convenience over convergence amid uncertainty since Sheikh Hasina’s 2024 ouster. Md Abrar Hossain, East Asia Forum, October 29
Nepal’s Gen Z uprising is a catalyst for real economic renewal. Youth-led demonstrations on September 8–9 against a social-media ban and graft left over 70 dead, toppled KP Sharma Oli’s government, dissolved parliament, and produced an interim prime minister, Sushila Karki. Elections are set for March 2026. Structural roots include roughly 20% youth joblessness, dependence on remittances, and corruption, with Nepal ranked 107th on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. Policy priorities include empowering the anti-graft authority, prosecuting major cases, investing in vocational training and startups, and accelerating hydropower. The unrest inflicted significant losses, estimated up to $21 billion, yet mobilized new voters and revived reform hopes despite short-term instability risks. and broader economic renewal. Brabim Karki, Nikkei Asia, October 29