News•Mar 5, 2026
Asia Daily: March 5, 2026
Premier Li Qiang presented China’s 2026 government work report, targeting 4.5‑5% GDP growth, a 4% fiscal deficit and a 7% defence budget rise while emphasizing high‑tech self‑reliance. The report highlighted open‑source AI adoption, with firms like DeepSeek leading, as a counter to U.S. closed‑model dominance. Parallel regional developments include Japan’s Iwoto island base upgrade, South Korea’s bipartisan U.S. investment bill, and heightened security postures across East Asia, all occurring as U.S. President Donald Trump plans a visit to China.
By The Asia Cable
News•Mar 2, 2026
Asia Daily: March 2, 2026
Asia’s political landscape saw several notable moves in early March 2026. China’s top advisory body set its agenda for the CPPCC session, while Japan rushed its fiscal 2026 budget and adopted a cautious stance on the Iran‑Israel conflict. South Korea’s...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 25, 2026
Contesting Self-Governance in the South Pacific
New Zealand’s foreign minister announced a NZ $30 million aid suspension to the Cook Islands after the Pacific nation failed to consult Wellington on a deep‑sea mining partnership with China. The dispute centers on the interpretation of the Cook Islands’ free‑association status...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 25, 2026
Asia Daily: February 25, 2026
China signaled it will weigh counter‑measures after the United States imposed a temporary 15% tariff on all imports, while urging Washington to cancel unilateral duties and resume frank trade talks. A new IISS study warned that ongoing anti‑corruption purges have...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 23, 2026
How Washington and Moscow Drove the EU’s Indo-Pacific Pivot
The European Union is accelerating its engagement with the Indo‑Pacific, highlighted by high‑level visits to India and new free‑trade agreements with Indonesia and a pending deal with India. This pivot reflects two structural shifts: a push for strategic autonomy away...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 20, 2026
Asia Daily: February 20, 2026
The episode reviews a whirlwind of Asian political and economic developments, from China deepening oil ties with South Sudan and extending zero‑tariff access to Africa, to Germany’s Chancellor Merz seeking strategic cooperation with Beijing. In Japan, the LDP appoints a...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 18, 2026
Asia Daily: February 18, 2026
The episode reviews key developments across Asia, highlighting China's 2026 economic agenda focused on domestic demand and tech self‑reliance, U.S. accusations of a secret Chinese nuclear test, and the PLA's push to overhaul English training. It also covers political shifts...
By The Asia Cable
News•Feb 8, 2026
Thailand’s 2026 Election: Reform, Patronage, or Decline
The episode dissects Thailand’s upcoming 2026 general election, outlining three competing visions: the reformist People’s Party rising from Move Forward, incumbent Prime Minister Anutin’s patronage‑driven Bhumjaithai, and the weakened, dynastic Pheu Thai. It explains how the collapse of the “Thaksin...
By The Asia Cable