China and Asean foreign ministers released a joint statement in Manila, addressing the ongoing energy crisis and the Middle East conflict, calling for a ceasefire and peaceful resolution, and welcoming US-Iran negotiations.
Southeast Asian governments face renewed energy shocks and trade disruptions due to revived US-Iran hostilities, prompting ASEAN foreign ministers to express grave concern and urge an immediate cessation of fighting.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Manila, offering China's support for Brazil's sovereignty, security, and development interests. In return, Wang requested Brazil's support for China's "core interests," including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, following new US tariffs on Brazilian goods.
A UN report reveals Southeast Asia's scam industry has evolved into an interconnected criminal economy, with losses estimated at $88.3 billion to $114.1 billion in 2025. It details transnational networks, forced labor from 80 countries, crypto laundering, and the use of advanced tech like AI and satellite internet, urging international cooperation.
China's durian imports increased by 47% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, reaching 1.07 million tonnes, as Southeast Asian exporters, particularly Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, offloaded a fruit glut that led to a price drop.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has rebuffed a threat from eight US lawmakers to suspend military training funds unless Kuala Lumpur reverses its long-standing restrictions on Israeli nationals, asserting Malaysia's sovereign right.
After China's 2023 crackdown on online scams in Southeast Asia, criminal syndicates shifted their primary targets from Chinese nationals to Americans, leading to significant financial losses for US victims and creating a global "whack-a-mole" challenge.
U.S. prosecutors seized over $25 million in cryptocurrency linked to international romance and investment scams that defrauded thousands in the U.S. and Canada. The Justice Department's Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025, recovered the funds.
Top Chinese and American diplomats, Wang Yi and Daniel Kritenbrink, met in the Philippines to discuss President Xi Jinping's planned US trip and the South China Sea dispute. Wang described the meeting as "pragmatic, positive and constructive," urging "strategic stability" and "peaceful coexistence" despite acknowledged differences.
South Korea and ASEAN reaffirmed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Manila, introducing new cooperation initiatives in AI, cultural industries, and maritime safety, while discussing FTA upgrades and supply chain resilience.
Russia and ASEAN foreign ministers met in Manila, reaffirming shared approaches to international issues and discussing enhanced cooperation in areas like food and energy security, digitalization, and high technologies, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of their relations.
Japan is developing a project to map alternative shipping routes around Malaysian states, providing data on depths and hazards, to avoid the Strait of Malacca due to rising geopolitical tensions. This initiative aims to secure Japan's crucial trade, especially energy imports from Gulf states, following US attacks on Iran.
South Korea and ASEAN are set to strengthen cooperation, implement their strategic partnership, and address the Middle East conflict's impact on trade and energy security during a foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. Discussions will also cover FTA upgrades, digital economy, and Korean Peninsula stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the ASEAN summit in Southeast Asia, reaffirming U.S. support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid rising tensions with China and global threats from Middle East conflicts and Myanmar's civil war, impacting energy supplies and regional stability.
The U.S. condemned China's "dangerous and aggressive" actions against Philippine navy personnel in the South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard officer reportedly injured a Filipino sailor. The incident occurred at Second Thomas Shoal ahead of U.S. and Chinese foreign ministers' meetings in Manila.
A new UNODC report reveals online scams, primarily investment fraud, cost victims an estimated US$88.3 billion to US$114.1 billion last year, a significant increase from 2023. Authorities in an unspecified region are reportedly cracking down on this illicit industry under pressure from the United States, Britain, and China.
A study in 'Defence Industry Conversion in China' highlights Yunnan province's role as an "irreplaceable gateway" to Indochinese resources. It proposes Yunnan as a land-based lifeline for critical mineral supply, mitigating China's reliance on the Strait of Malacca and enhancing supply-chain resilience.
Vietnam's new Population Law, effective July 1, introduces subsidies and extended maternity/paternity leave to encourage more births. Despite these measures, the country faces a declining fertility rate and a rapidly aging population, raising concerns about economic growth and social support systems.
The Philippines attracted only US$9 billion in FDI last year, ranking sixth in Southeast Asia amid a regional capital boom. Analysts cite a corruption scandal and systemic issues for the gap, with Singapore and Indonesia leading inflows.
Tokopedia has laid off over 450 tech roles, reducing its workforce by 90%. Analysts worry this deepens ByteDance's control, shifting tech decisions to China and raising questions about Indonesia's digital future.
A study on dipterocarp trees in Malaysia reveals they have evolved specialized water transport systems, challenging the notion that extreme height makes trees more vulnerable to drought. These adaptations allow them to efficiently move water, influencing climate change impact models.
A study in Malaysia found that towering dipterocarp trees have evolved specialized systems, including wider xylem vessels and drought-tolerant leaves, to efficiently transport water to extreme heights. This challenges the belief that tall trees are more vulnerable to drought, with implications for understanding forest resilience in a changing climate.
Indian PM Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo met to discuss defense cooperation, with analysts noting the importance of missiles for protecting Indonesia's waterways. They also visited the Prambanan Temple, emphasizing cultural ties.
India's Modi government has increasingly used the restoration and conservation of ancient temples and cultural sites abroad as a pillar of its foreign policy and soft power, particularly in Asia. This approach aims to reinforce civilisational links and deepen diplomatic ties with partner countries.
