Australia and Vanuatu Sign Pact Expanding Canberra’s Pacific Role
Australia and Vanuatu signed the Nakamal agreement, giving Canberra a consultation role over third-party investment in Vanuatu’s critical infrastructure.
China
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Typhoon Bavi Makes Landfall in China on July 11 After Affecting Japan and Taiwan
Typhoon Bavi made landfall in Zhejiang province on July 11 after bringing strong winds and rain to Japan’s southern islands and Taiwan. More than 1.7 million people were evacuated in Zhejiang, while Taiwan lifted its land and sea warnings the next day.
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ASEAN Says South China Sea Code Talks Are Progressing Toward a 2026 Deadline
ASEAN foreign ministers said negotiations with China on a South China Sea code of conduct have progressed, setting an end-of-2026 target while leaving the agreement unfinished.
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Japan Says China’s July 7 Ballistic-Missile Launch Is a Serious Security Concern
Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi said Chinese military activity, including a July 7 ballistic-missile launch, poses a serious concern for Japan and the international community.
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U.S. Imposes Forced-Labor Tariffs on Goods From 60 Trading Partners
The Trump administration imposed 10% and 12.5% tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, as a temporary global tariff expired.
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China Defends State-Led Industrial Policy Ahead of U.S. and EU Trade Talks
China is defending an economic model built around advanced manufacturing as expected trade talks with the United States and European Union approach, while weak domestic demand increases pressure for monetary support.
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ASEAN Sets End-2026 Target for South China Sea Code as China-Philippines Tensions Rise
ASEAN foreign ministers said progress had been made toward a long-delayed South China Sea Code of Conduct and set an end-2026 target for completing it, amid a new maritime confrontation and joint exercises involving the United States, Japan and the Philippines.
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China Reports 16.5% Drop in Criminal Cases in First Half of 2026
China’s Ministry of Public Security says criminal cases fell 16.5% in the first half of 2026, while authorities reported thousands of environmental cases and increased enforcement against AI-enabled crime.
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China Holds August 1 South China Sea Drills Near Disputed Shoal as ASEAN Talks Continue
China conducted military drills near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea on August 1, 2026, adding a new security flashpoint as China and ASEAN continue discussions on maritime conduct.
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U.S. and Japan Join Philippines in South China Sea Drills After July 26 Vessel Encounter
The United States and Japan joined the Philippines in maritime exercises after a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels, raising the stakes in disputed waters.
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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry Will Test Relocating Weapons Production During August War Games
Taiwan will use its Han Kuang exercises to test moving weapons-production lines and converting civilian factories if a Chinese attack disrupts supply hubs.
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U.S. Announces Polysilicon Tariffs Targeting Solar and Semiconductor Supply Chains Ahead of Planned China Summit
The Trump administration says tariffs on polysilicon and related products will take effect December 4, 2026, putting a critical solar and semiconductor input at the center of U.S.-China trade tensions.
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China’s Second-Quarter Growth Slows to 4.3% on July 15, 2026, Increasing Pressure for Support
China’s economy grew 4.3% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, its slowest quarterly pace in more than three years, as weak household consumption offset stronger manufacturing and exports.
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ASEAN and China Set South China Sea Code Talks Target for End of 2026
ASEAN foreign ministers said negotiations on a South China Sea Code of Conduct had advanced and set a target to conclude the process by the end of 2026, but no agreement has been adopted.
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Typhoon Bavi moves toward China after battering Taiwan and Japan
Typhoon Bavi prompted sheltering, sandbagging and crop-protection efforts in Taiwan and Japan as China prepared for the storm’s possible arrival.
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ASEAN and China Target Year-End 2026 for South China Sea Code After Philippines Talks
ASEAN officials say negotiations with China on a long-delayed South China Sea code of conduct have made significant progress, but the text and enforcement provisions remain unsettled.
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China holds military drills near Scarborough Shoal as Philippines, U.S. and Japan confront rising South China Sea tensions
China conducted military drills near disputed Scarborough Shoal on August 1, 2026, as territorial tensions with the Philippines intensified and ASEAN-China talks on a maritime code of conduct continued.
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China-EU talks create four trade workstreams but no settlement
China and the EU created four trade workstreams and a data-monitoring channel after June talks, but tariffs, export controls and market access remain unresolved.
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ASEAN Urges Hormuz Access, Renews South China Sea Code Goal
ASEAN’s July Manila meetings urged an immediate Middle East ceasefire and safe Hormuz passage while renewing a 2026 South China Sea code goal.
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Taiwan Begins Han Kuang 42 Drills With Civilian Readiness Tests
Taiwan’s Han Kuang 42 drills run through August 14 and test military readiness, arms-production relocation, sea routes, communications and civilian response.
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China’s First Consumption Plan Puts Household Spending at the Center
China’s first dedicated 2026-2030 consumption plan targets 60 trillion yuan in retail sales, but weak demand and precautionary saving complicate delivery.
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Philippines, U.S. warn against coercion as ASEAN talks continue
U.S. and Philippine officials warned against coercion in Kuala Lumpur as ASEAN said South China Sea code-of-conduct talks with China had accelerated.
