China
China’s Xi pushes a new global order, flanked by leaders of Russia and India. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, Xi Jinping called for reforms to global governance favoring the Global South and denounced hegemonism. He proposed an SCO development bank, pledged ¥2 billion in aid, and announced plans for AI cooperation and lunar research. Modi and Putin also held bilateral talks, reinforcing alignment. Laurie Chen, Mei Mei Chu, Lidia Kelly, Liz Lee, and Qiaoyi Li, Reuters, September 1
SCO has a 10-year plan for a multipolar world, China’s Wang Yi says. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced a development strategy through 2035 promoting a multipolar world, adopted at the SCO summit in Tianjin. The strategy aims to counter unilateralism and enhance cooperation through a WTO-centered framework. Xi Jinping pledged aid, loans, and joint initiatives in AI, education, and infrastructure. Alyssa Chen, South China Morning Post, September 1
Japan
Foreign residents weigh in on “Japanese First” slogan. Foreign residents in Japan are raising concerns over Sanseito party’s “Japanese First” slogan, calling it xenophobic and exclusionary. Critics argue it fosters discrimination and fear among minorities. The slogan’s popularity is seen as rooted in economic anxiety, with observers linking it to far-right populism. Kyodo News, August 31
South Korea
South Korea suspends anti-North Korea radio broadcasts. South Korea halted its “Voice of Freedom” military radio transmission for the first time in 15 years to ease tensions with Pyongyang. The move follows earlier suspension of loudspeaker propaganda and reflects President Lee Jae Myung’s push to resume inter-Korean dialogue. North Korea has so far rejected talks. Ju-min Park, Reuters, September 1
South Korean, U.S. held 'acrimonious' talks over fund ahead of summit, Korean official says. South Korea and the United States clashed over the structure of a $350 billion investment fund tied to their trade agreement before the August 25 summit. Seoul resisted U.S. demands for detailed documentation, leading to a tense conference call involving shouting. Hyunjoo Jin and Jihoon Lee, Reuters, September 1
North Korea
North Korea’s Kim heads for Beijing by train to attend military parade with Putin, Xi. Kim Jong Un departed Pyongyang aboard his armored train for Beijing to attend a military parade marking Japan’s World War II surrender. This marks his first multilateral diplomatic appearance, alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The move aims to bolster North Korea’s alignment with China and Russia amid deepening rifts with U.S.-led alliances. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, September 1
India
Modi and Putin affirm special relationship as India faces steep US tariffs over Russian oil imports. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met during the SCO summit in Tianjin, reinforcing strategic ties amid rising tensions with Washington over India’s Russian oil purchases. Modi called the partnership “special and privileged,” while Putin described it as trusting and long-standing. Their meeting follows steep new U.S. tariffs and signals India’s tilt toward deeper alignment with Moscow. Rajesh Roy and Huizhong Wu, Associated Press, September 1
India signals no oil import cut from Russia, eagerly awaits Putin visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin during the SCO summit that India will deepen cooperation with Russia across sectors, signaling no retreat from importing Russian oil despite U.S. pressure. The leaders affirmed close ties as U.S. tariffs hit Indian exports and Modi publicly embraced Putin, while Trump canceled his India visit amid growing tensions. Orange Wang, South China Morning Post, September 1
Thailand
Impasse in Thailand as big party stalls on deciding who to back for PM. Thailand’s People’s Party has delayed choosing between rival coalitions after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted for ethics violations. With nearly a third of parliament’s seats, the party is seen as a kingmaker but distrusts both leading blocs. A vote could occur this week, but shifting alliances risk prolonging the deadlock. Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters, September 1
Thai People's Party yet to decide which camp to back for next government. Thailand’s opposition People’s Party, the largest bloc in parliament, remains undecided on supporting either of the rival coalitions vying for power. Party lawmakers met to deliberate and plan to reconvene, expressing preference for dissolving parliament and calling fresh elections. The party confirmed it will not join the next government. Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters, September 1
Myanmar
India backs Myanmar military’s election plan, state media says. India will send observer teams to Myanmar’s December elections, signaling support for a vote widely condemned as illegitimate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing during the SCO summit, while China also voiced backing for the polls. Critics say the elections aim to entrench military control amid an ongoing civil war. Shoon Naing, Reuters, September 1
Myanmar junta boss personally thanks Xi for pressuring ethnic armed groups. During a meeting in Tianjin, Min Aung Hlaing expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping for China’s role in pressuring anti-junta ethnic armed groups, including the MNDAA and TNLA, to halt offensives and return captured territory. The acknowledgment, absent from official statements but aired via pro-regime media, signals deepening cooperation. Maung Kavi, The Irrawaddy, September 1.
Laos
Laos adopted as 15th dialogue partner of SCO in the presence of President Thongloun at its summit. Laos was officially named the 15th dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation during its 25th summit in Tianjin, with full member support. President Thongloun Sisoulith emphasized Laos’ alignment with SCO principles on peace, independence, and cooperation. He also held bilateral meetings with leaders from Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal, and Cambodia. Vientiane Times, September 2
Cambodia
Vietnam, Cambodia reaffirm strong political, economic and border cooperation. During a meeting in Hanoi marking Vietnam’s National Day, General Secretary To Lam and CPP President Hun Sen pledged to strengthen political trust, deepen economic ties, and finalize the remaining 16 percent of land border demarcation. They also emphasized cooperation on cross-border crime and trade, with bilateral trade targeted to reach $20 billion. Khmer Times, September 2
Indonesia
Police arrest 3,195 over violent demonstrations across Indonesia. Indonesian police detained 3,195 individuals following a wave of violent protests, with 55 formally named suspects and over 2,700 under investigation. Arrests spanned multiple regions, including Jakarta, East Java, and Central Java. President Prabowo Subianto ordered security forces to respond firmly, emphasizing legal enforcement to restore public order and national stability. ANTARA News, September 1
No martial law, military acts only on Prabowo’s orders. Indonesia’s armed forces dismissed rumors of impending martial law following widespread unrest over a protester’s death in Jakarta. Deputy Commander Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita clarified that military deployment was constitutionally limited and only enacted at President Prabowo Subianto’s direction. Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta Globe, September 2
Taiwan
China protests Taiwan foreign minister’s visit to the Philippines. China issued a strong protest after Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung led a business delegation to the Philippines, calling the visit a violation of the One China policy. Philippine officials said Lin came in a private capacity and had no official meetings. Beijing accused Manila of supporting separatist activities and warned of serious consequences. Jim Gomez, Associated Press, August 30
Kazakhstan
Three tourist train routes to connect Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in September. Three new cross-border tourist train routes launching this month will link major cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, aiming to boost regional tourism and cultural ties. Departing from Almaty, the routes—operated by Khan-Turan Travel, Turan Kazakhstan Travel, and Skyway—will include cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent. Ayana Birbayeva, The Astana Times, September 1
Kazakhstan consolidates leadership at the Tianjin SCO Summit. At the largest Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit to date, Kazakhstan’s leadership stood out through an ambitious agenda on energy cooperation, sustainable development, and health security. President Tokayev’s diplomacy secured consensus on long-term priorities, deepened ties with China, and elevated Central Asia’s voice within the bloc. Dr. Robert M. Cutler, Times of Central Asia, September 1
East Asia
Chinese-style modern corporations. Beijing advances a governance model fusing Communist Party leadership with management, embedding Party units across state and private firms while insisting on streamlined property rights and clearer board roles. A May 26 policy package sets 19 measures to align state and market interests, reward innovation, and formalize a split wherein Party committees set direction, boards manage risk, and executives run operations. SASAC will specify matters for Party review and expand external directors so boards function as centers. Private firms face compliance, equity, and ACFIC models, though uniform rules risk misfit for small enterprises. Innovation plans lean on SOE “chain-chief” coordination and resource sharing by platforms amid funding constraints for “little giants.” Kalos Lau, CHINA POLICY, August 29
Japan–South Korea diplomatic breakthrough remains fragile despite promises. The 23–24 August summit between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Lee Jae Myung produced the first joint statement in 17 years, labeled both countries “partners” and reset priorities toward future-oriented, mutually beneficial interests. Lee’s decision to visit Tokyo before Washington signaled a change from earlier hardline rhetoric; his Liberation Day address called Japan an indispensable neighbor and economic partner. Strategic alignment reflects shared worries about regional instability and uncertainty created by a U.S. stance under President Trump, even as Trump’s focus on Pyongyang persists. Two risks could unravel momentum: Beijing’s preference for bilateral dealings and domestic volatility inviting reversions to posturing. Brad Glosserman, East Asia Forum, September 1
Ishiba’s China policy increasingly contested after electoral setback. July’s Upper House vote left the LDP–Komeito coalition weakened, while parties advanced amid xenophobia and claims that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba “panders to China.” Policy continues the Kishida line: a “constructive, stable” relationship affirmed with Xi in late 2024, even as the setting changes with President Trump’s return and Beijing’s friendlier tone toward an administration minus Abe-faction ministers. Security frictions are rising with more PLA Navy and Coast Guard activity, Chinese carriers reaching the Second Island Chain, and detentions and violent incidents involving Japanese nationals. Economic ties endure yet investment declines as economic-security risks grow. Domestic backlash could sharpen the stance under a conservative successor or fuel autonomy-minded newcomers. Shin Kawashima, East Asia Forum, August 31
Unpacking the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Japan’s rising far-right. Sanseito’s July Upper House breakthrough (14 of 124 seats and 12.6 percent of the vote) marked the first time a clearly far-right party cleared 10 percent. Weakening support for the LDP and economic discontent opened space for a “Japanese First” banner, enabling Sanseito to claim ownership of the “foreigner problem.” The platform opposes “excessive” acceptance of foreigners and seeks to curb non-citizens’ rights, from tighter family reunification and shorter stays to stricter naturalization and denying votes to first-generation naturalized citizens, plus a proposed Foreigner Policy Agency. Attention clustered around non-immigration items, students, tourism, land purchases, driver’s licenses, previously floated by others. The surge appears circumstantial, not a realignment, but could catalyse a coherent policy framework. Naoto Higuchi and Yoojin Koo, East Asia Forum, August 29
Summer Break, Power Intact. Xi Jinping re-emerged from August’s Beidaihe lull with blanket prominence in the People’s Daily during a rare visit to Lhasa marking the Tibet Autonomous Region’s 60th anniversary, filling front pages on August 21–22 with multiple headlines and near-duplicate images. The schedule-driven dip in mid-August underscores how headline frequency tracks the Party calendar rather than signaling diminished authority. Updated counts through August 29 show only a modest decline from 2023’s unusually busy year, with no corresponding surge for other leaders; coverage continues to amplify Xi far above peers, reflecting his unmatched status. In CCP “mouthpiece” media, repetitive headline placement functions as power signaling, whereas activities by figures like Premier Li Qiang draw sparse front-page treatment. Alex Colville, China Media Project, August 29.
Sanseito forces Japan to confront its quiet divisions. July’s upper house vote vaulted Sanseito from fringe status to 14 seats, giving the party bill-submission power and eroding the LDP’s conservative base. Campaign messaging pivoted toward tax relief and policies while outreach dominated; supporters, especially the “employment ice age” cohort now in their 40s–50s mobilized through YouTube, TikTok, and X, distrustful of legacy media. Immigration became the sharpest rallying point despite foreign residents constituting a small share of the population, with calls to restrict benefits and tighten conformity. Japan’s ideological split remains narrower than in the U.S., yet disengaged voters and socioeconomic anxiety are widening cracks. Stabilizing politics will require a strategic immigration framework and integration measures alongside economic security. Yasuo Takao, East Asia Forum, August 31
China’s surging A-share market: Recovery or bubble in disguise? China’s onshore equities breached RMB 100 trillion in capitalization on 18 August, propelled by dividend-rich state firms, tech leaders, and policy steps that eased allocations from public funds, pensions, and ETFs. Lower deposit rates and comparatively attractive yields spurred household rotation into shares, with millions of new accounts and sizeable changes from bank savings into market products. Despite strong year-to-date gains, macro gauges temper the narrative. Valuations remain moderate: the Shanghai Composite’s P/E near 15.7 sits well below prior peaks, supporting a “repair over bubble” view, though leadership concentration and policy-sensitive volatility warrant caution as breadth and earnings visibility evolve. Bo Chen, ThinkChina, August 29
Southeast Asia
Will Southeast Asian Exporters ‘Eat’ the Trump Tariffs? Southeast Asian manufacturers face a choice between absorbing Washington’s new import levies or passing the charges along the chain; competitive dynamics and broad, multi-country coverage of the duties point to widespread pass-through, not margin surrender. Early price signals suggest rising costs will filter to consumers, then into inputs, wages, and monetary tightening risks. Over time, suppliers are expected to diversify away from the U.S. market, further reducing incentives to “eat” the levies. Evidence from prior rounds shows only partial, product-specific absorption; the long-run tendency is near-full pass-through, amplifying inflation, inequality, and growth headwinds. Regional firms may safeguard profitability, yet export volumes can fall if U.S. demand cools. Jayant Menon, FULCRUM, August 29