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This Week in Asia /

Politics

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung after a meeting in Nara, western Japan, in January. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Will China’s maritime moves push Japan and South Korea closer together?

A sharp rise in naval transits could give Tokyo and Seoul good reason to put historical rancour aside, analysts say.

2 hours ago

The Philippines

Philippines’ Marcos accused of hiding Manila’s poor behind art for Asean summit

10 Nov 2026 - 8:20PM

US-Asean relations

Trump called ICE raids ‘too tough’, but will Asian-Americans see change?

10 Nov 2026 - 7:00PM

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang scandal casts shadow over South Korea’s chip ‘bromance’

The scandal surrounding the Nvidia CEO risks delaying data centre roll-outs and accelerating White House restrictions on Korean chip giants.

10 Nov 2026 - 5:07PM

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (right) toasts with South Korean tech chiefs - including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin - over a casual dinner in Seoul in June. Huang’s informal diplomacy and warm ties with South Korea’s chip leaders now face uncertainty amid an escalating controversy. Photo: Yonhap/Reuters

Why is Vietnam’s To Lam in Japan? AI, chips and nuclear power

Critical minerals, LNG projects and defence ties are also on the agenda as Hanoi seeks to build domestic industrial muscle.

10 Nov 2026 - 12:12PM

Nvidia scandal, China chip claims put Singapore firm Megaspeed under scrutiny

Megaspeed, previously led by businesswoman Alice Huang, is accused of helping Chinese firms circumvent US chip export restrictions.

10 Nov 2026 - 1:02PM

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SCMP Highlights

China’s torpedo tech; ‘unimaginable’ defects at MTR station: 5 weekend reads

From China’s steady moon plan to India’s row with US over Pakistan F-16s, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

9 Nov 2026 - 12:29PM

The MTR Corporation has been urged to set up a reporting mechanism that would allow frontline workers to flag problems during construction. Photo: Karma Lo

The Philippines

Philippines seeks bespoke BrahMos missiles from India for island defence

A deal worth up to US$800 million to double its batteries could help Manila erect a coastal ‘missile wall’, analysts say.

9 Nov 2026 - 2:09PM

Why Indonesia’s death penalty lives on, even with executions halted

No one has faced a firing squad since 2016, yet the number of prisoners on death row has more than doubled since 2019.

9 Nov 2026 - 2:32PM

India-Pakistan tensions

India questions US ‘double standards’ as Pakistan secures F-16 upgrade deal

Although the package does not include nuclear weapons, analysts say that it could boost Pakistan’s nuclear strike capabilities against India.

8 Nov 2026 - 4:04PM

Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly in formation during a National Day ceremony in Islamabad. Photo: AP

Myanmar’s will to fight money laundering questioned as tougher curbs loom

The Financial Action Task Force has warned of further measures unless the regime remedies failing safeguards by February.

7 Nov 2026 - 10:00AM

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing reviews an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Bangkok in August. Photo: EPA

Will Russia’s asset takeover finally push Japan into retaliation?

Analysts say Takaichi will need to mount a ‘more assertive’ response after Moscow seized Japan Tobacco assets.

7 Nov 2026 - 2:41PM

By all memes: why Asia’s Gen Z are revolting

From India to Indonesia, satire and pop culture symbols are mobilising a generation that fears its future is slipping away.

8 Nov 2026 - 4:07PM

What’s next after airlines? Asia data breach raises wider cyber fears

The breach has highlighted the region’s dependence on shared platforms, and analysts warn other critical sectors may soon be affected.

6 Nov 2026 - 10:30PM

A wave of airlines reported last week that customer information was accessed in a data security breach involving Spanish software provider Amadeus. Photo: Shutterstock

Diploma dispute fuels speculation of growing Prabowo-Widodo rift in Indonesia

Political factions are proposing using parliamentary oversight powers to investigate Gibran after his high school diploma was ruled ‘invalid’.

6 Nov 2026 - 7:25PM

Joko Widodo (left) and Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2024. Photo: Pool via Reuters

The Philippines

Why Democratic Congress may enhance US-Philippines alliance, pivot to Asia

An end to the Iran war could see a greater shift of US military assets to the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines, analysts say.

6 Nov 2026 - 3:12PM

Is EU’s Southeast Asia push facing a funding crunch as China widens lead?

Net payers force a deep cut to the European Commission’s proposal on overseas aid, potentially leaving Asean clean-energy projects short.

6 Nov 2026 - 7:07PM

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Malaysia’s Najib to stay in prison as legal issues linger despite fine payment

The former prime minister’s party said it settled the US$12.3 million court payment using funds collected from a donation drive.

6 Nov 2026 - 6:32PM

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex last month. Photo: AP

Trump’s Israel aid cut reveals push to trade grants for tech cooperation

A shift towards joint technology development looks set to replace traditional grants with deeper, less scrutinised Pentagon funding.

6 Nov 2026 - 4:43PM

Malaysia’s Sarawak locks election date amid autonomy, resource control push

The ruling GPS aims to retain power in the December 12 race as petroleum sovereignty among issues expected to dominate the campaign.

6 Nov 2026 - 12:41PM

Will Japan press Vietnam on labour rights or prioritise security goals?

Human Rights Watch’s Tokyo office has urged Takaichi to confront To Lam over Vietnam’s failure to deliver promised labour reforms.

6 Nov 2026 - 4:57PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) and Vietnamese President To Lam shake hands at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 2. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

Philippines’ project budget allocations spur accusations of pork barrel politics

Two budget watchdogs claim there are proposed projects whose coordinates show that they are located far away from the country.

6 Nov 2026 - 10:30AM

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers his State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City in July. Photo: Reuters

Vietnam seeks Russia’s help for its nuclear ambition. Will sanctions stall it?

The two countries have agreed to let Vietnamese experts gain access to a Russian nuclear reactor under construction.

5 Nov 2026 - 6:59PM

The Philippines

Philippine envoy says US immigration detention rules may change after midterms

Jose Manuel Romualdez says the potential rule change would ‘definitely’ ease the concerns of Filipinos with questionable visa status.

5 Nov 2026 - 3:52PM

North Korea digs in for US stand-off as Democratic midterm wins dim summit hopes

Recent weapons tests signal Pyongyang will lean on Moscow and Beijing rather than bank on Washington talks amid shifting US politics.

5 Nov 2026 - 3:15PM

A newly designed advanced air-defence missile system is test-fired by North Korea in this photograph released by state media on Thursday. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

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