China
Chinese embassy calls U.S. House Republicans' report targeting China-U.S. research collaboration 'groundless'. The Chinese Embassy in Washington condemned a U.S. House Republicans' report that accused Pentagon-funded joint projects with Chinese universities of aiding China's military development. The embassy rejected the claims as “groundless” and politically motivated. Xu Keyue, Global Times, September 6
U.S. investigating malware email targeting trade talks with China: reports. U.S. authorities are probing a spoofed email that posed as Rep. John Moolenaar and carried malware seeking insight into US trade talks with China. Cyber analysts linked the operation to APT41, a group tied to Chinese intelligence. FBI and Capitol Police are investigating. A phishing lure asked recipients to open “draft legislation”; it is unclear whether systems were breached. South China Morning Post, September 8
China, U.S., Japan race for control of key African rail routes in critical minerals fight. Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, has become the junction for three rival corridors—China’s Tazara line, the U.S.-backed Lobito route, and Japan’s Nacala network—connecting the Copperbelt to ports. Beijing is investing $1.4 billion to rehabilitate the line under a 30-year concession, Washington is funding Lobito upgrades through the G7’s PGII, and Tokyo plans to expand Nacala after TICAD 9. The country also eyes a dry port. Jevans Nyabiage, South China Morning Post, September 6
Japan
Japan PM Ishiba to resign within 1 year after taking office amid pressure. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he will step down within a year amid internal pressure following the ruling party’s upper house election defeat. He stated his intention to avoid deeper division in the LDP and to allow time for a smooth transition. His decision followed talks with senior lawmakers urging unity. Keita Nakamura, Kyodo News, September 7
Farm minister Koizumi is believed to have urged Ishiba to quit. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi reportedly advised Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign voluntarily to avoid a leadership vote and prevent internal division within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Koizumi and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited Ishiba’s residence Saturday night, with Koizumi remaining for two hours and pressing Ishiba to withdraw from the early election discussion scheduled for Monday. The Japan Times, September 7
South Korea
South Korea to separate prosecution, budget-drafting functions in major overhaul. Seoul announced plans to dismantle the prosecution service, splitting indictment and investigation into two new bodies, and to remove budget drafting from the finance ministry, assigning it to a new agency. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said the overhaul aims to advance agendas and handle challenges like climate and AI. Cynthia Kim, Reuters, September 7
South Korea says U.S. release of video showing workers' arrest was regrettable. South Korea criticized the U.S. release of video and photos from an ICE raid at a Hyundai-affiliated battery plant near Savannah, Georgia, where 475 workers were detained, including more than 300 South Koreans. Vice Minister Park Yoon-joo urged U.S. Under Secretary Allison Hooker to expedite consular access and due process, and LG Energy Solution dispatched an executive to assist affected staff. Hyunjoo Jin, Reuters, September 6
North Korea
N. Korea remains silent on NYT report of 2019 secret U.S. SEAL mission against its regime. North Korea has not responded to a New York Times report alleging a 2019 U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 operation inside its territory to plant a communications interception device targeting Kim Jong-un. The mission reportedly failed after U.S. operatives killed North Koreans on a civilian boat. Analysts say Pyongyang’s silence likely stems from reluctance to admit border security failures. Park Boram, Yonhap News Agency, September 6
Thailand
Thailand's Anutin Charnvirakul elected PM after rout of ruling party rival. Backed by the opposition People’s Party, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul won 63% in a parliamentary vote, doubling Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri and becoming prime minister. He promised a referendum on charter change and elections within four months under a pact with the party. The vote capped turmoil for Pheu Thai as Thaksin Shinawatra left Thailand ahead of a court ruling. Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng, Reuters, September 5
Charter court to be asked to remove MP status of PM-elect, opposition leader Monday. The Constitutional Court will receive a petition Monday from over 60 MPs seeking to disqualify Prime Minister-designate Anutin Charnvirakul and People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut. The petition alleges their agreement for coalition support violated constitutional provisions and political party laws by placing MPs under PP’s control. Bangkok Post, September 7.
Myanmar
Myanmar's Suu Kyi health worsening in military custody, son says. Detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is suffering worsening heart problems and needs urgent care, her son Kim Aris said, appealing for release from military custody. She requested a cardiologist a month ago, but it is unclear if that was granted. He added she has bone and gum issues and may have been hurt in a March quake. Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence for offenses she denies. Reuters, September 5
Laos
Lao president Thongloun wraps up China visit with focus on friendship, future cooperation. Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith concluded a four-day visit to China that included talks with Xi Jinping, where both sides pledged to expand cooperation in transport, energy, agriculture, AI, and satellite navigation. They launched a five-year action plan and declared 2026 the “Year of Laos-China Friendship.” Thongsavanh Souvannasane, The Laotian Times, September 7
PM meets President Putin to strengthen ties, eyes BRICS membership. Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok during the 10th Eastern Economic Forum, expressing Laos’ interest in joining BRICS. He emphasized BRICS as a key platform for equitable global development and pledged to implement agreements from President Thongloun’s July visit. Trade between Laos and Russia rose 60% in 2024. Vientiane Times, September 8
Cambodia
Hun Manet congratulates Anutin on election as Thai PM, calls for renewed bilateral ties. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet congratulated Anutin Charnvirakul on becoming Thailand’s 32nd prime minister, expressing hope for improved ties following recent tensions. In a formal message, Hun Manet emphasized mutual trust, peace, and shared prosperity, and pledged to work with Anutin to transform their shared border into a zone of cooperation and development. Khmer Times, September 7
Philippines
President Marcos Jr visits Cambodia to strengthen ties. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed for Cambodia on a three-day state visit at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni. The visit aims to deepen cooperation in defense, trade, agriculture, and heritage preservation. Marcos will meet with top Cambodian leaders and business figures. He emphasized ASEAN unity, boosting Filipino exports, and enhancing bilateral efforts against transnational crime. Kristina Maralit, The Manila Times, September 7
Marcos expresses support for beleaguered Cabinet members. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended Cabinet members under scrutiny, including Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, amid budget controversies and calls for resignation. He said criticisms lacked basis and praised their integrity and performance. The president also dismissed proposals to return the 2026 budget to the Executive, calling it premature. Kristina Maralit, The Manila Times, September 7
Malaysia
Uncertainty over Hornet deal puts Malaysia's air defence at risk. Malaysia’s air defence is vulnerable amid delays in acquiring retired Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornets. Defence Minister Khaled Nordin confirmed the plan, but a deal is still pending as Kuwait awaits new jets. Experts warn the Royal Malaysian Air Force faces reduced deterrence and operational capacity. Leasing options and FA-50M procurement are being considered as stopgap measures. Fuad Nizam, New Straits Times, September 7
Taiwan
China threat to world peace, Lai says. President William Lai warned that China’s expanding military and diplomatic activities threaten global peace, not just Taiwan’s security. In an interview, he emphasized that annexation would only fuel further expansion. He advocated deterrence, increased defense spending, and stronger alignment with democracies. Lai also called for peaceful dialogue with Beijing while rejecting conditions compromising Taiwan’s sovereignty. Tzou Jiing-wen, Huang Wei-chu and Chen Yun, Taipei Times, September 7
India
India eyes nuclear-powered carrier, home-built navy jets in 15-year defence plan. India unveiled a 15-year defence roadmap including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, expanded drone capabilities, and indigenous twin-engine deck fighters by Hindustan Aeronautics. The plan also features at least 10 nuclear propulsion systems and U.S.-style electromagnetic launch systems. Shivam Patel and Krishna N. Das, Reuters, September 5
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and United States leaders discuss expanding strategic partnership. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call to deepen strategic ties in trade, security, and culture. They highlighted growing economic cooperation, joint efforts against terrorism, and the C5+1 regional dialogue. Mirziyoyev invited Trump for an official visit. Times of Central Asia, September 6
Uzbekistan says border troops acted lawfully in shooting of two Kyrgyz citizens. Uzbekistan’s Border Troops confirmed that servicemen followed legal protocol in the August 15 shooting of two Kyrgyz nationals near the Ugam-Chatkal nature reserve. The individuals, found in a restricted area, ignored warnings and fled toward the border, prompting the use of firearms. A bilateral inspection deemed the response lawful. A third suspect escaped into Kyrgyz territory and remains under investigation. Sadokat Jalolova, Times of Central Asia, September 5
East Asia
China’s continental identity on a blue horizon. The PLA Southern Theatre Command’s April patrols in the South China Sea illustrate normalized operations beyond the first island chain. Naval capacity exceeds 370 vessels, while the Shandong carrier group’s 2023 sorties demonstrated sustained blue-water activity. China conceptualizes maritime space as “blue territory,” a continental view that prioritizes regulated access and deference over high-seas liberalism. This shapes selective readings of UNCLOS and informs “active defence” aimed at securing continental objectives, not seapower projection. Diplomacy echoes this logic through appeals to “Asian family” solidarity and spheres of influence, aided by ASEAN members that dilute communiqués. Strategic risk stems from cognitive mismatch, as maritime powers misread territorial signaling as expansionism, amplifying escalation. Sophie Wushuang Yi, East Asia Forum, September 6
China’s factory exodus is turning Vietnam into the world’s assembler. Chinese manufacturers relocate to northern Vietnam to preserve U.S. market access, transforming Bac Ninh into an electronics hub while squeezing margins through higher wages and dearer land. Firms accept the trade-off because a tariff gap endures: a 46% U.S. levy in April on Vietnamese goods was cut to 20% in August; Washington also set a 40% duty on third-country transshipment via Vietnam. Supply chains remain patchy: electronics partly localize, furniture is relatively complete, textiles still import most inputs. Trade patterns shift as ASEAN leads China’s commerce and Vietnam deepens import dependence on Chinese components. Major automakers plan local assembly. Profitability hinges on policy stability and logistics upgrades. Zhang Erchi and Han Wei, ThinkChina, September 5
Yiwu: How a barter town became the heartbeat of global small trade. Rooted in the “chicken feather for sugar” tradition, Yiwu rose from roadside stalls to a centralized small-commodity complex through phased market building and pragmatic local state facilitation. Districts 1–5 consolidated over 75,000 booths across four million square metres, while a single operator streamlined leasing, coordination, and services. Global links followed: rail to Madrid and London, and new rail-sea routes via Ningbo-Zhoushan reaching West Asia. The next upgrade, a Global Digital Trade Center (District 6), adds data platforms and 5,000 booths that drew more than 19,000 bids; e-commerce and foreign merchant flows are rising. First-half 2025 trade hit 406 billion RMB, up 25% year-on-year, demonstrating resilient, adaptive commercial growth. Zhang Shuyue, ThinkChina, September 5
Are China, Russia and North Korea ‘conspiring’ against the US? A joint Xi–Putin–Kim appearance at Beijing’s 3 September military parade signalled coordination to counter Washington, not a clandestine plot, with Beijing framing the moment as yangmou, an overt strategy. Xi paired calls for “sovereign equality” and “democracy in international relations” with a staged display of nuclear triad capabilities and advanced systems to reinforce deterrence. Trump’s jab underscored a sharpening rivalry amid reciprocal tariffs. Beijing asserts it upholds a postwar order while implying the US no longer leads it. Operational questions persist as the PLA wrestles with corruption and conversion of showcased hardware into reliable combat power. Regional states will judge intentions by deeds as China pushes patrols and operations. Han Yong Hong, ThinkChina, September 5
Coercion by the Kilogram: Rare Earths and the Next Phase of US–China Competition. On 4 April 2025, China imposed export licensing on seven rare earth elements, adding friction without a formal ban. The measure targets dependencies that underpin defense and clean energy supply chains and is read as calibrated retaliation to US tariff hikes. China controls 60% of production, 90% of processing, and nearly all heavy rare earth separation, reinforced by acquisitions and technology export bans. US projects remain immature, with Mountain Pass shipping concentrates to China and pilot efforts years from scale. Allies seek alternatives through Lynas, Brazil’s Serra Verde, and recycling, yet volumes lag. Licensing enables case-by-case pressure while avoiding escalation, highlighting supply-chain chokepoints as geostrategic leverage. Alice Quan, Sino-Southeast Initiative, September 5
Diplomatic Challenges for ROK’s New President. Lee Jae-myung took office after a six-month vacancy triggered by former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s December martial law. The core task is balancing ties with the United States, China, and Japan through pragmatism to support recovery. Domestic anxiety centers on livelihoods: senior poverty near 40 percent, the OECD’s highest; fertility at 0.75 percent; a population over 65 above 20 percent; inflation and a 7 percent rise in real estate since Yoon. Values-driven policy heightened regional tensions and diverged from public priorities. Regional integration advances as China and ASEAN conclude FTA 3.0 and attract sizable FDI, with two-way trade near $1 trillion. Strategy should diversify while preserving the U.S. alliance and improving trilateral cooperation. Zhang Yun, CHINA US Focus, September 5
Power of Siberia 2: A litmus test of Sino-Russian relations. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller announced on September 2 a memorandum to build Power of Siberia 2, moving up to 50 bcm a year from Yamal to China; Beijing has not confirmed terms. The move signals a tilt toward deeper alignment as China-U.S. ties deteriorate under tariffs and controls. A cargo from Arctic LNG 2 landed in China while Beijing slashed U.S. LNG imports and resisted pressure on Russian oil purchases. If built, PoS2 would reinforce Russia’s dependence on China and add supply that could weigh on LNG prices, while China hedges with Turkmen gas. The announcement carried immediate symbolic weight. High costs and hard bargaining limit profitability; Gazprom’s shares dipped. Henrik Wachtmeister, MERICS, September 5
Southeast Asia
Elite Competition and Narrative Inconsistency in Vietnam’s Propaganda Apparatus. Vietnam’s propaganda remains centrally directed yet split by rival coalitions and a decentralized online ecosystem. Conservatives in security organs press ideological rigidity, while reformist technocrats push performance and external engagement, yielding clashing messages across party media, military outlets, and influencer networks. Semi-autonomous actors such as Force 47, Tifosi, and Thang Long TV chase virality, worsening principal–agent drift. Case studies expose contradictions: diaspora “reconciliation” versus “yellow flag” vigilantism; the Fulbright University Vietnam storm reversed after a foreign-ministry intervention; and To Lam’s pragmatic signals invited criticism, a banned magazine cover, and sharper military rhetoric. With power struggles before the 2026 congress, inconsistency will persist and complicate policy. Dien Nguyen An Luong and Nguyen Khac Giang, FULCRUM, September 5
Indonesia’s protests hit a brick wall of elite unity. Protests from 25 August reflected anger at elite impunity and economic strain, leaving at least ten dead and damage to government buildings. Democratic checks weakened as Joko Widodo turned parliament into a rubber stamp through patronage and coercion, moving contestation to the streets. Prabowo Subianto commands tighter coalition discipline while growth slows and rideshare drivers signal worker frustration. Budget reallocations cut transfers to local governments, spurring cuts and tax hikes, while tycoons face pressure to finance Danantara cheaply. Expensive free meals and village cooperatives draw technocratic skepticism yet may lift rural demand. Structural headwinds persist: shrinking manufacturing, waning consumption, capital-intensive investment, a declining middle class, and youth job scarcity. Liam Gammon, East Asia Forum, September 7