https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/318214/feed East Asia's latest news, current affairs, politics and regional issues. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Airline employees in Japan are experiencing a surge in abuse incidents from customers linked to delays or cancellations of flights or from being refused boarding due to late check-in, according to a survey. Some 30 per cent of ground staff or cabin crew reported bearing the brunt of passengers’ anger over such matters in the past year, according to the survey by the Japan Federation of Aviation Industry Unions released last month, rising from 7 per cent in its previous survey in 2023. In... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371187/air-rage-incidents-japan-surge-led-late-check-flashpoint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3371187/air-rage-incidents-japan-surge-led-late-check-flashpoint?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Richard Heydarian Richard Heydarian China and the Philippines recently traded accusations over the medical evacuation of a Philippine serviceman from a grounded naval vessel in the hotly disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The incident has sparked renewed worries about potential armed skirmishes in a global artery of trade. But Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr was also quick to emphasise the economic dimensions of a major conflict. After a decade of rapid economic growth, the Philippines is facing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370775/philippines-china-free-manufacturing-strategy-high-risk-bet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370775/philippines-china-free-manufacturing-strategy-high-risk-bet?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, regarded by Japan’s neighbours as a symbol of the country’s past militarism, at the start of its three-day autumn festival. Takaichi, known as a conservative who routinely visited the Shinto shrine before becoming prime minister a year ago, was unlikely to visit the shrine during the festival, a source close to her said, amid strained relations with China and relatively stable ties with South Korea. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371219/japans-takaichi-sends-offering-controversial-yasukuni-war-shrine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371219/japans-takaichi-sends-offering-controversial-yasukuni-war-shrine?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:33:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters ⁠North Korea conducted an underwater ⁠test of a new torpedo weapon system on Thursday to verify technological upgrades, state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday, describing the test as a success and a significant step in ‌the country’s naval development. The test verified propulsion technology developed through more than 180 tests over the past five years, KCNA said, adding that artificial intelligence was used for target detection and guidance in the new high-speed precision-guided... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371218/north-korea-says-it-tested-new-torpedo-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:37:18 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said on Friday he accepts the deployment of US military MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft at the Futenma air station, reversing the southern Japan prefecture’s long-standing opposition to their presence. Previous prefectural governments, under governors critical of US bases, had opposed the deployment of the tilt-rotor aircraft since before they were first stationed at the base in 2012, citing safety concerns. Koja assumed the post of Okinawa governor late last... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371133/japans-okinawa-drops-opposition-hosting-crash-prone-us-osprey-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371133/japans-okinawa-drops-opposition-hosting-crash-prone-us-osprey-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:29:23 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg South Korea’s long-standing alliance with America is being tested by feuds spanning from investment deals to intelligence leaks, compromising Seoul’s ability to respond to North Korea. In a rare admission, Seoul’s top envoy to the US on Monday acknowledged an “issue” with Washington’s sharing of covert data. “There are limitations in our communication with the White House,” Kang Kyung-wha told lawmakers. “I find it somewhat frustrating.” That follows reports earlier this year that a South Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371082/south-korea-us-alliance-losing-trust-amid-widening-cracks-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371082/south-korea-us-alliance-losing-trust-amid-widening-cracks-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:08:35 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s apparent use of different launch methods to fire two types of cruise missiles from a tactical nuclear-capable submarine raises fresh questions about the operational readiness of its growing undersea arsenal, observers have said. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Thursday the country had “test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles” off its eastern coast. The tests “contributed to inspecting the regular mobilisation readiness of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3371072/north-koreas-cruise-missile-launches-test-regional-defence-arms-race-intensifies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:02:32 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Sylvia Ma,Mia Nurmamat Talk of global decoupling from China has persisted for years, as has speculation that emerging economies such as India and Vietnam could soon replace it as the “world’s factory”. But for Indian hardware engineer Neeraj Arora, the growth of India’s electronics manufacturing industry has not eliminated the need to source components from China. Instead, it has changed the nature of those imports. A decade ago, Arora imported finished phone chargers from the world’s second-largest economy. Today,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3371027/china-decoupling-paradox-why-world-still-needs-its-manufacturing-machine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:00:15 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times South Korea will continue supporting Ukraine “as a responsible member of the international community” despite a diplomatic dispute over the disclosure of two North Korean prisoners of war being repatriated to the South, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday. The official said Seoul would treat its help to Ukraine separately from the dispute, while continuing bilateral consultations to resolve outstanding issues. The remarks came after South Korean Ambassador to Ukraine Park Ki-chang was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3371018/seoul-maintain-ukraine-aid-despite-spat-over-north-korea-prisoner-transfer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:35:56 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A South Korean manufacturing company owner accused of severely injuring a migrant worker by firing high-pressure air from an industrial air gun into his body has been sentenced to three years in prison. Judge Koo Na-young of the Suwon district court on Thursday sentenced the owner of a metal-cleaning company, a man in his 60s identified only as A, to three years in prison on charges of aggravated bodily injury and violations of the Labour Standards Act. The court dismissed the case against A’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370975/south-korean-boss-jailed-shooting-industrial-air-gun-thai-workers-anus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370975/south-korean-boss-jailed-shooting-industrial-air-gun-thai-workers-anus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:47:51 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Pyongyang test-fired two types of cruise missile from a submarine, its state news agency said on Thursday, after weeks of friction with Seoul over a landmine explosion along their border. The missiles were fired into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, on Wednesday without “any adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries”, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been further strained since the landmine blast on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370943/north-korea-tests-submarine-launched-cruise-missiles-heightening-tensions-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370943/north-korea-tests-submarine-launched-cruise-missiles-heightening-tensions-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 03:38:54 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong A stabbing rampage by a repeat violent offender wearing an electronic ankle monitor has raised questions about whether South Korea’s criminal justice system can adequately supervise those deemed high-risk and prevent attacks before they happen. The 59-year-old suspect told investigators he had become frustrated over what he perceived as mistreatment at a hospital, police said on Wednesday. Three criminal profilers were helping investigators establish the motive for Tuesday’s attack at a shopping... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3370927/south-koreas-offender-tracking-under-scrutiny-after-stabbing-spree-exposes-serious-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3370927/south-koreas-offender-tracking-under-scrutiny-after-stabbing-spree-exposes-serious-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:30:18 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese companies have faced a growing wave of cyberattacks in recent weeks, exposing millions of customers’ records as analysts warn that artificial intelligence is helping hackers exploit long-standing security weaknesses and overcome language barriers that once offered some protection. More than 500 breaches of corporate systems were reported in the year to this month, surpassing the total for all of 2025, the Yomiuri newspaper reported last week. On October 7, a ransomware attack on IDC... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370875/ai-armed-hackers-tear-through-corporate-japans-neglected-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3370875/ai-armed-hackers-tear-through-corporate-japans-neglected-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japanese Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana said he tendered his resignation following allegations of possible vote-buying, lining him up to become the first minister in Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government to quit over a scandal. “I apologise for causing such a huge inconvenience to those involved,” Yana said to reporters after submitting his resignation on Wednesday. He said he made the move out of concern for holding up parliament and his ministerial duties. Yana declined to comment on how... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370891/japan-farm-minister-submits-resignation-first-scandal-blow-pm-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370891/japan-farm-minister-submits-resignation-first-scandal-blow-pm-takaichi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:53:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s prime minister said on Wednesday she probably spent “three or four more hours” than her male predecessors tackling household duties on top of her already packed daily schedule. “In the morning, I bathe, fix breakfast and then wash dishes, not to mention apply make-up,” Sanae Takaichi, elected last year as Japan’s first woman prime minister, told parliament. “I feel like I’m spending three or four more hours than male prime ministers doing these things.” A self-described workaholic,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370852/i-bathe-wash-dishes-apply-make-japans-pm-says-busier-men-came?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370852/i-bathe-wash-dishes-apply-make-japans-pm-says-busier-men-came?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:46:47 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele A long-awaited code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea risks becoming a toothless agreement, analysts have warned, as Beijing and Southeast Asian nations scramble to hammer out a deal by the end of 2026. More than three decades since it was mooted, the proposed pact has remained gridlocked over how to balance competing territorial claims among China and four rival claimant states – Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines. Maritime experts speaking at a conference in Kuala Lumpur this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370850/will-south-china-seas-code-conduct-remain-elusive-deadline-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370850/will-south-china-seas-code-conduct-remain-elusive-deadline-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:35:11 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A growing number of Japanese regard the United States as the greatest threat to world peace ahead of traditional rival China, according to a new survey. The annual poll, released by the Japan Press Research Institute on Saturday, found 26.8 per cent of respondents named the US as the biggest threat to global peace. That was up 9.3 percentage points on last year and far above the 6.6 per cent recorded in 2024. Russia came top of the list in 2025 but slipped to third place this year, with 18.3 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370732/why-younger-japanese-now-fear-trumps-us-more-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370732/why-younger-japanese-now-fear-trumps-us-more-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Russia’s FSB security agency said on Tuesday it had detained a Japanese journalist for alleged espionage, and Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said it regretted that Tokyo was using correspondents to carry out spying. In a statement on its website, the FSB said the Hokkaido Shimbun journalist was detained in the far eastern Sakhalin region on the day before he planned to leave Russia. It did not specify when this was. Russia and Japan, ‌which never signed a formal World War II peace treaty, have seen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370789/russia-detains-japanese-journalist-suspicion-spying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3370789/russia-detains-japanese-journalist-suspicion-spying?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:08:47 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A 59-year-old man stabbed at least eight people on Tuesday at a shopping centre in the South Korean city of Incheon, police and fire officials said. One victim was in life-threatening condition and received surgery at a nearby hospital. The suspect attacked shoppers as he moved through the shopping centre before business owners and bystanders subdued him, according to local police and witnesses. The man has a history of violent offences and mental illness and was required to wear an electronic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370755/south-korea-shopping-centre-stabbing-leaves-8-injured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370755/south-korea-shopping-centre-stabbing-leaves-8-injured?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:12:46 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday that officials were reviewing the off-base code of conduct for US troops in Japan following the alleged killing of an Okinawan woman by a US marine. Crimes including rapes, assaults, hit-and-runs and drunk driving by US military personnel have long triggered protests on the southern Japanese island, which has for years urged other regions in the country to share the burden of hosting US troops. “We plan to hold discussions including... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370725/japan-us-review-military-liberty-policies-after-okinawa-killing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370725/japan-us-review-military-liberty-policies-after-okinawa-killing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:54:49 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea now has a museum for its bombs. The National Defence Revolution Museum, which opened on Sunday, is the country’s first dedicated exclusively to military hardware, from rifles to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Observers say it is also intended to send a message to Washington and Seoul, serve as a permanent showroom for the North’s arms exports and visibly enshrine its nuclear programme as an irreversible part of state policy. Third-generation ruler Kim Jong-un cut the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370699/north-koreas-new-missile-museum-part-shrine-part-arms-bazaar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:27:25 +0000 Vincent Caradec Vincent Caradec Last month, Japan’s internal affairs ministry released its yearly data ahead of Respect for the Aged Day. People aged 65 and over now make up a record 29.6 per cent of the population. But the figure I keep coming back to was this: 9.43 million Japanese workers were 65 or older last year, about 13.8 per cent of everyone with a job. Members of Japan’s older population are not simply retired. A large part are still at work and some of those people are the ones businesses depend on. The Asia-Pacific... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370071/dont-leave-asias-ageing-debate-until-its-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3370071/dont-leave-asias-ageing-debate-until-its-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A South Korean container ship has returned from a trial voyage through the Arctic, testing an alternative route opened by melting sea ice as conflict in the Middle East disrupts global shipping. The PanStar Acro made the round trip to Europe in less time than the conventional route through the Suez Canal, officials said. The initiative has drawn concerns that increased traffic could accelerate Arctic ice loss. The Arctic route could also expose operators to sanctions-related risks because it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370523/south-korea-hails-success-its-first-arctic-shipping-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370523/south-korea-hails-success-its-first-arctic-shipping-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:53:02 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul’s military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along the countries’ heavily fortified border. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed in a statement that it had detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area, adding that its military “has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches”. One of the missiles flew more than 900km (559... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370521/days-after-ai-missile-test-north-korea-fires-another-projectile?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:01:42 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The denuclearisation of North Korea has become an “increasingly improbable” goal and the United States and its allies should move beyond it to devote their diplomatic efforts to talks on arms limitations and crisis communication, the director of the US-based North Korean analysis website 38 North said. Recalling the 20 years since North Korea carried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006, Jenny Town said in a written interview that “a pivotal moment” in Pyongyang’s weapons development... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Two men died and more than a dozen others were injured Saturday when floats overturned during annual festivals in Osaka Prefecture. In Izumisano, a 51-year-old man became trapped beneath a float that overturned while he was riding it with other participants, police said. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital, while seven others were injured. A float at a different event in Izumiotsu also toppled, killing a 48-year-old man who was among those trapped underneath, according to the prefectural... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370449/2-men-die-float-festival-accidents-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370449/2-men-die-float-festival-accidents-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 11:44:40 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times Thirty-eight people suffered minor injuries on Saturday when part of a ceiling collapsed at a building in South Korea’s southeastern city of Daegu, fire authorities said. According to local authorities and fire officials, the incident occurred at around 10.16am on the second floor of a four-storey building in Gwaneum-dong. At the time, a vendor was selling kitchenware and other goods to elderly customers when a section of the ceiling’s finishing material fell down. All 66 people inside evacuated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370427/south-korea-38-injured-ceiling-collapses-during-daegu-sales-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370427/south-korea-38-injured-ceiling-collapses-during-daegu-sales-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 05:27:44 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo A craft beer producer in central Japan is hoping that its U-shaped “wobbly” glass will encourage people to drink water along with their beer, in a bid to prevent excessive alcohol consumption and dehydration. The “Wobbly Beer Glass by Yona Yona Ale”, produced by Yoho Brewing based in Nagano prefecture, has been on sale since August amid growing awareness of the need for responsible drinking. The idea is that the glass, divided into two sections, will tilt if a balance between beer and water is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370416/japanese-brewer-designs-wobbly-beer-glass-encourage-responsible-drinking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370416/japanese-brewer-designs-wobbly-beer-glass-encourage-responsible-drinking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 01:57:45 +0000 Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Shi Jiangtao,William Zheng Kurt Campbell is a veteran US diplomat and strategist who has played a leading role in shaping Washington’s approach to China and the Indo-Pacific for more than a decade. He served as the White House coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs from 2021 to 2024 and as US deputy secretary of state from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2009 to 2013 and was a key architect of the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia”. Often... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370379/kurt-campbell-us-china-focus-indo-pacific-quad-risks-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370379/kurt-campbell-us-china-focus-indo-pacific-quad-risks-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:01:05 +0000 Patrick Mendis Patrick Mendis As Russian President Vladimir Putin watched the final stage of the massive Tsentr-2026 military exercise in the Urals recently, Chinese troops were training alongside forces from Russia, Belarus and other countries. More than 47,000 military personnel joined the exercise, which incorporated lessons from the war in Ukraine. The symbolism extends beyond Chelyabinsk. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Chinese military exercises with Belarus – and now China’s participation alongside Russian and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370030/us-japan-poland-strategic-triangle-can-encourage-peaceful-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/world-opinion/article/3370030/us-japan-poland-strategic-triangle-can-encourage-peaceful-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A senior Japanese government spokesperson said it was regrettable that the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office had requested that Dutch authorities extradite International Criminal Court president Tomoko Akane and eight other officials. “Time and again we have conveyed to the Russian side that measures targeting individuals connected to the ICC are unfair and unacceptable. We find it regrettable that the Russian side has nevertheless requested various nations to extradite these individuals,”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370288/japan-angry-after-russia-seeks-extradition-icc-chief-targeted-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370288/japan-angry-after-russia-seeks-extradition-icc-chief-targeted-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:30:01 +0000 CNA CNA The Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) is standing by its decision to screen South Korean political thriller The Assassin(s) as its opening film, despite calls from South Korea’s conservative opposition People Power Party (PPP) to withdraw it over allegations of historical distortion. The film, directed by Hur Jin-ho and starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho, has drawn criticism in South Korea over its fictionalised portrayal of a real-life 1974 assassination attempt on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370256/singapore-film-festival-rejects-south-korean-partys-calls-drop-assassins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3370256/singapore-film-festival-rejects-south-korean-partys-calls-drop-assassins?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 02:30:04 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee A decade after the shutdown of Soranet – a sprawling online hub for secretly filmed and non-consensual sexual videos that became a symbol of South Korea’s digital sex-crime crisis – the country is still struggling to stamp out similar networks and copycat sites that have emerged in its wake. Their prevalence reflects the difficulties of deterring such illegal activities, policing the online space and changing societal attitudes towards women. Last month, a man was detained over an alleged... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3370222/south-korea-struggles-curb-sexual-exploitation-sites-10-years-after-soranet-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3370222/south-korea-struggles-curb-sexual-exploitation-sites-10-years-after-soranet-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:23 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press South Korea flight-tested on Thursday its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon, designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound and evade missile defence systems, bringing Seoul closer to what it says could be game-changing weapons capabilities. There was no immediate response from North Korea, which last week tested its own hypersonic missile that landed in the waters near Japan. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the test, saying it was a major step in strengthening... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:05:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea said on Thursday it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine in response to a deepening diplomatic row over the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The two countries have been at loggerheads since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month disclosed the prisoner transfer, sparking anger in Seoul, which said it had placed their families in North Korea at risk. The recall also comes days after a media report alleged more than 176,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly diesel,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370190/south-korea-recall-ambassador-ukraine-amid-pow-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:36:55 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Fast Retailing, the parent company of Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, has defied the ongoing political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo and soft consumer sentiment in China to log a rebound in sales and profits on the Chinese mainland. The Japanese firm said the 2026 financial year, which ended in August, had been a period in which its mainland China business had “made steady progress, with encouraging steps indicating a return to growth”, according to its annual report released on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370187/uniqlo-sees-profits-soar-china-despite-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370187/uniqlo-sees-profits-soar-china-despite-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:15:41 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of ‌leader Kim Jong-un, denounced on Thursday South Korea’s plans to provide medical equipment aid to Pyongyang, calling it a “political provocation” and violation of its sovereignty. In a statement carried by state media KCNA, Kim criticised Seoul for publicising its efforts to obtain United Nations sanctions exemptions for a medical aid package, saying Seoul had “insulted” North Korea by referring to shortages of medicines and medical equipment... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:11:14 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is expected to float the idea of acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in revised security documents to be released later this year, with analysts suggesting that Tokyo’s initial aim is to promote discussion of the issue and overcome the public’s concerns. Analysts acknowledge there will inevitably be pushback from some sectors of society in the only nation to have suffered a nuclear attack, but say there is a growing recognition that regional rivalries are worsening and Japan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370099/japan-explores-ownership-nuclear-submarines-regional-rivalries-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3370099/japan-explores-ownership-nuclear-submarines-regional-rivalries-worsen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:18 +0000 Reuters Reuters Scientists Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for solving a long-standing riddle of asymmetric “mirror image” molecules, a discovery hugely important for pharmaceutical manufacturing, the award-giving body said on Wednesday. Soai, 76, is Japanese, and Kagan, 95, is French, and their work built on a discovery by the 19th century French chemist Louis Pasteur. “This is the most exciting day in my life, I am very glad to share this prize with professor Henri Kagan,”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370059/nobel-chemistry-prize-awarded-henri-b-kagan-and-kenso-soai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3370059/nobel-chemistry-prize-awarded-henri-b-kagan-and-kenso-soai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:55:49 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg A marooned three-metre-long (nine feet) shark in South Korea has drawn more than a million visitors to the coastal city of Busan, boosting local retail sales and triggering a trademark war, as authorities rush to stop opportunistic vendors from cashing in on the viral phenomenon. The shark, nicknamed “Bukangi” in reference to the park where it has become trapped, has become an internet darling and tourist sensation after non-stop local media coverage about multiple failed efforts to encourage it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369977/viral-trapped-shark-south-korea-brings-tourism-retail-windfall-busan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369977/viral-trapped-shark-south-korea-brings-tourism-retail-windfall-busan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:52:04 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The US military in Okinawa will impose a curfew from midnight to 5am for a month starting Friday following the arrest of a marine on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman, its regional coordinator said on Tuesday. All US military personnel on Okinawa will also observe a 48-hour operational pause from noon on Wednesday, during which there will be “no off-base liberty, including a complete prohibition of alcohol consumption on or off base”, said Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369968/us-military-japans-okinawa-imposes-night-curfew-after-marines-arrest-over-murder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369968/us-military-japans-okinawa-imposes-night-curfew-after-marines-arrest-over-murder?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:03:35 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Jeff Kingston used to take long walks with his dogs across the hills of Gunma in central Japan. But not this year. He has good reason. Kingston says he has encountered bears in those mountains more than 100 times over the years and been charged by aggressive bears around a dozen times. In 2014, a black bear knocked him down and attacked him across the skull with its claws, leaving a gash that required nine stitches. “This year, I have actively refrained from going into the hills precisely... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3369955/bear-attacks-rise-japan-fearful-residents-change-daily-routines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3369955/bear-attacks-rise-japan-fearful-residents-change-daily-routines?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:28 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s laying of landmines along its heavily fortified border with the South has laid bare how misaligned the two nations have become over their de facto land boundary, after three South Korean soldiers were wounded in an explosion last month. Seoul blames Pyongyang for the blast near the military demarcation line (MDL) on September 21, in which one soldier lost a foot. On Tuesday, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was preparing a response to force an apology for the blast,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:22:21 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defended her absence from a Group of Seven online meeting, responding over social media to some critics who questioned why she did not attend despite her apparently free schedule. “This was a last-minute meeting arranged by the chair, France, and allowed for substitute representatives. I understand that UK Prime Minister Burnham did not attend in person and had someone fill in for him, and that European Council president Costa was also absent,” she posted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369884/japan-pm-takaichi-defends-skipping-g7-online-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369884/japan-pm-takaichi-defends-skipping-g7-online-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 06:24:08 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The alleged murder of an Okinawan woman by a US marine has raised questions over the American military presence on the island, piling pressure on its newly elected governor just as the prefecture assumes greater importance in Japan’s regional security strategy. Anna Yagi, 39, was found dead at a hotel in Naha in the early hours of Saturday morning. A postmortem determined she died from suffocation. The killing sparked protests the following day, with around 100 people rallying outside the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369802/marines-arrest-murder-japan-fuels-anger-over-us-military-presence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369802/marines-arrest-murder-japan-fuels-anger-over-us-military-presence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Reuters Reuters Japan ⁠and Australia ⁠have agreed to establish an ⁠annual finance ministers’ dialogue aimed at deepening cooperation in financial and economic policy, as well as strengthening bilateral collaboration on economic security. Under ‌a memorandum of understanding signed on Monday that is effective for five years, the two countries’ finance ministers will meet regularly to promote cooperation across a broad range of economic themes. “Recognising ⁠that Japan and Australia’s economic and security... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369822/japan-australia-boost-economic-security-ties-finance-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369822/japan-australia-boost-economic-security-ties-finance-dialogue?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:45:31 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea ⁠said on Monday that a ⁠recent border blast that seriously wounded two ⁠of its soldiers was caused by mines planted by North Korea. North Korea, which has been fortifying its border with South Korea since April 2024, deployed up to 7,000 workers to install mines and fences this year, with some 50 incidents of ‌crossing the border, according to a briefing on Monday by the South’s military. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:20:38 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times A former South Korean lawmaker has called for the abolition of the military exemption system granted to outstanding national athletes, arguing that military service should not be used as an incentive for achievements in sports or the arts. Yoo Seong-min’s remarks came amid controversy over comments made by members of South Korea’s men’s football team, who recently won its fourth consecutive Asian Games title, regarding the military benefits they received. South Korea defeated host Japan 1-0 on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369761/if-bts-has-serve-why-are-south-korean-sportsmen-artists-exempt-ex-lawmaker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369761/if-bts-has-serve-why-are-south-korean-sportsmen-artists-exempt-ex-lawmaker?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:35:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday ⁠he believed Russia ⁠may have shared jet-drone technology ⁠with its long-standing ally North Korea. In recent weeks, Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-drones against Ukraine, which so far has no effective means of countering them other than using ‌combat aircraft. Earlier in the war, North Korea supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and it has since provided ballistic missiles that Moscow regularly uses to attack... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3369727/ukraine-believes-russia-shared-jet-drone-technology-north-korea-says-zelensky?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:45:32 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei For American and Chinese people interested in the outcome of the latest summit between China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, their conclusions could not be more different if they turn to the media and pundits for guidance. Chinese state media spared no superlative, echoing the official description of the summit as: forging the right way for the major powers to get along and writing a new chapter in ties. It played up the fact that Trump gave Xi the highest-level reception... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3369358/how-g2-effect-trump-xi-summit-reverberating-through-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:30:06 +0000