Regional Summary
Each Country for Itself Asia-Pacific countries are building their own backup plans. The Middle East crisis showed them they cannot wait for Washington or international bodies to solve their problems. This week’s moves show countries putting their own interests first — not because they planned together, but because they all learned the same lesson. Taiwan shows how this works. Cheng Li-wun became the first opposition leader to meet Xi Jinping in a decade, calling her Beijing trip a “peace mission” and saying Taiwan should become “a symbol of peace jointly safeguarded by Chinese people on both sides of the strait.” China responded with ten new policies and party channels. Yet even as the KMT courted Beijing, Lai Ching-te, the president, hosted three US congressional delegations, promising Taiwan’s defence spending will reach 5% of GDP by 2030. The island is preparing for different futures at the same time. Japan is moving just as fast. Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister, set a one-year timeline for constitutional amendments — the strongest commitment to changing the pacifist constitution in postwar history. She told the LDP to “stop debating and start deciding,” backed by a supermajority that makes revision possible. But Japan is also looking beyond Washington: Ms Takaichi held talks with Iran’s president about Strait of Hormuz security and positioned Japan as a potential US-Iran mediator. The country that once defined itself by its American alliance now sees itself as a broker between America and its enemies. The energy crisis is driving similar shifts across the region. Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, struck a deal trading gas for guaranteed Singaporean petrol imports — 32% of Singapore’s gas for 55% of Australia’s fuel — and plans similar deals with Brunei and Malaysia. Prabowo Subianto, the Indonesian president, flew to Moscow for energy talks with Vladimir Putin, calling the trip necessary to “secure oil” for Indonesia despite the diplomatic costs. These leaders are choosing practical needs over alliance loyalty, working with whoever can solve immediate problems rather than waiting for partners to help. What emerges is not anti-American feeling but a more practical approach that puts national interests first. Mr Albanese criticised Donald Trump’s threat that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” as inappropriate language from an American president. Lee Jae-myung, the president, won rare praise from Kim Jong Un for apologising over drone incursions, while building a Special Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia that bypasses Washington entirely. These countries still value their American partnerships, but they are no longer willing to put alliance loyalty ahead of their own priorities.
Taiwan
Cheng Li-wun became the first Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman to meet Xi Jinping in nearly a decade, completing a six-day “peace mission” to China that highlighted Taiwan’s cross-strait tensions.
At the Great Hall of the People, Mr Xi told Ms Cheng that China would “absolutely not tolerate” Taiwan independence and called for efforts to advance “reunification.” Ms Cheng advocated “transcending political confrontation” and suggested the Taiwan Strait should not become a “chessboard for external forces.” China announced ten new incentive measures for Taiwan after the visit.
Even as the KMT deepened its Beijing engagement, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president, was hosting American lawmakers. The president met delegations from both the Republican Study Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasizing Taiwan’s defence spending of more than 3% of GDP and pledging to reach 5% by 2030. He outlined the $40bn special defence budget and promised closer cooperation with defence partners.
The competing commitments sparked a public row at home. Cho Jung-tai, the premier, accused Ms Cheng of “playing with fire” and revealing “an erroneous strategy that panders to China.” The KMT hit back, calling Mr Cho’s comments Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) smear tactics and saying the ruling party could not handle cross-strait relations.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported record first-quarter revenue of NT$1.13 trillion ($35.6bn), a 35% jump from last year that beat market forecasts. The surge came from strong artificial intelligence (AI) chip demand from Apple and Nvidia, with analysts predicting the company will exceed its 30% annual growth target.
Chinese military pressure continued at routine levels. Taiwan detected 17 aircraft and seven naval vessels on April 11th, with 15 aircraft crossing the median line. The pattern was similar the day before, consistent with established grey-zone operations.
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- President Lai inaugurates AI robotics centre, outlines infrastructure plans — Lai Ching-te, the president, officially opened the National Centre for AI Robotics in Tainan, calling it a crucial step towards Taiwan’s goal of becoming a technology-oriented island. The centre operates under the government’s Ten AI Initiatives Promotion Plan. (focustaiwan.tw)
- TPP expels at-large legislator Li Zhenxiu amid party controversies — The Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) expelled Li Zhenxiu, an at-large legislator, following a series of controversies, effectively stripping her of her legislative seat. She was referred for disciplinary action after making unsubstantiated claims during a livestream. (taipeitimes.com)
- Ex-TV producer indicted for spying for China, faces 12-year sentence — The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office indicted Lee Neng-chien, a former television producer, for allegedly collecting Taiwanese military intelligence for China and is seeking a prison sentence of at least 12 years. Mr Lee reportedly transmitted over 3,000 pieces of personal data to Chinese intelligence contacts. (focustaiwan.tw)
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KMT leader Cheng Li-wun visits China, meets Xi Jinping in first such encounter in decade
April 10–12, 2026
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South Korea
Lee Jae-myung, the president, shared a video on social media allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian child, prompting Israel’s foreign ministry to accuse him of playing down the Holocaust. Mr Lee defended his stance and accused Israel of failing to reflect on global criticism. The dispute shows his willingness to accept diplomatic costs for moral positioning.
Even as he created friction with Israel, Mr Lee opened an unexpected channel with North Korea. He expressed regret over civilian drone incursions, and Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong responded positively, calling him “wise” and “broad-minded.” This marks the first friendly language from Pyongyang toward Seoul in years, though conditions for broader engagement remain poor given North Korea’s constitution calls South Korea its “principal enemy.”
The government held interest rates steady and passed a cash-assistance budget to counter the Middle East war’s impact. The Bank of Korea held its benchmark rate at 2.5% for the seventh straight meeting, with Rhee Chang-yong, the governor, warning that economic growth could fall below 2% this year and inflation may rise to the mid-to-upper 2% range. Rival parties agreed to pass a 26.2 trillion won budget providing cash to 35.8 million people — the bottom 70% of income earners. Payments of 100,000-600,000 won per person begin April 27.
At home, Mr Lee advanced reforms stemming from December’s martial law crisis. The cabinet approved a constitutional amendment to tighten martial law requirements, demanding immediate parliamentary approval and automatic cancellation if the Assembly rejects within 48 hours. The amendment would include the 1980 Gwangju uprising and 1979 Busan-Masan protests in the constitution’s preamble alongside the existing April 19 revolution.
Special counsel prosecutors sought a 23-year prison term for Han Duck-soo, the acting president, in his appeals trial. They argued that Mr Han contributed to political turmoil despite serving as acting president after Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, with the appeals verdict expected May 7.
The military is adapting to demographic decline. Ahn Gyu-back, the defence minister, announced plans to replace border troops with AI-based systems and reduce conscripts from 220,000 to 160,000, responding to an expected fall in the eligible conscript pool from 230,000 to 130,000-140,000 by 2040.
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- Lee Jae-myung holds diplomatic meetings with Polish, Thai, and Japanese leaders — Lee Jae-myung held several meetings this week, including a summit with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on defence cooperation and global security, a phone call with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on energy cooperation, and a meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on bilateral relations. (reuters.com)
- Political parties intensify preparations for June 3 local elections — The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and opposition People Power Party are finalising candidate selections and campaign strategies for the June 3 local elections. The Democratic Party has taken early momentum in key regions while the People Power Party faces delays and internal friction in several races. (upi.com)
- Samsung posts record quarterly profits as union demands massive bonuses — Samsung Electronics reported record first-quarter operating profits of 57.2 trillion won, driven by semiconductor market recovery. The company’s union responded by demanding bonuses equivalent to 15% of operating profits, which would amount to about 620 million won per employee. (chosun.com)
- Yoon Suk-yeol draws criticism for Easter message comparing himself to Jesus — Impeached former President Yoon Suk-yeol sent an Easter message from prison urging the public to ‘hold onto the hope of salvation’ and drawing parallels between his suffering and that of Jesus Christ. The message drew sharp criticism from opposition politicians and religious groups for showing lack of remorse. (scmp.com)
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Australia
Anthony Albanese flew to Singapore this week to secure Australia’s fuel supplies, extending his Asia tour to Malaysia and Brunei as the Middle East crisis threatens energy security.
The prime minister struck a deal with Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s prime minister, to maintain fuel imports — Singapore supplies 55% of Australia’s unleaded petrol and 22% of its jet fuel. But even as he pursued this urgent diplomacy, Mr Albanese criticised Donald Trump’s threats against Iran, calling the American president’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” both “inappropriate” and “extraordinary.” Australia is acting directly to protect its interests while distancing itself from American rhetoric that conflicts with those interests.
At home, the government is preparing the most ambitious economic reforms since superannuation expansion. Mr Albanese announced sweeping changes to the $55 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme while ruling out means-testing. He also signalled potential limits on negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts for property investors. Both reforms, he said, are about “resilience” and what younger Australians can expect from government.
The security state is also expanding. The government introduced legislation to make the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s (ASIO) compulsory questioning powers permanent, removing the sunset clause that required parliamentary review every three years. The spy agency can now question people about “promotion of communal violence” without having to justify renewal.
The opposition is fracturing along ideological lines. Angus Taylor, the Liberal leader, and Matt Canavan, the Nationals leader, took different approaches when asked about Mr Trump’s Iran threats — Mr Taylor hedged with “not the words I would use” while Mr Canavan was direct, saying the American president “went way too far.” The divide goes deeper than rhetoric: Mr Taylor favours free markets while Mr Canavan supports tariffs and industry protection. After the Coalition’s collapse to 18% in primary polling, the anti-spill rules meant to provide stability cannot hide fundamental disagreements about economic policy.
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- Penny Wong calls for talks to resume after US-Iran negotiations fail — Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the collapse of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad as ‘disappointing’ and urged both countries to continue the ceasefire and return to negotiations quickly. She warned that further escalation would increase humanitarian and economic costs. (theguardian.com)
- Government launches $20 million fuel conservation ad campaign amid opposition criticism — The Albanese government rolled out a $20 million advertising campaign encouraging Australians to conserve fuel during the global oil crisis. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor criticised the spending as ‘propaganda’ and called for greater transparency through a public fuel dashboard. (abc.net.au)
- Reserve Bank rate hike expectations rise amid oil crisis and inflation concerns — Financial markets increasingly expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to raise interest rates again as fuel price rises drive inflation higher. The RBA previously hiked rates to 4.10% in March, and analysts debate whether further increases are needed despite economic uncertainty. (au.finance.yahoo.com)
- Australia appoints first female army chief as part of ADF leadership changes — Susan Coyle was appointed as Australia’s first female army chief, while Vice Admiral Mark Hammond was named as the new Chief of Defence Force. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the appointments were significant for women in the ADF and those considering military service. (theconversation.com)
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Japan
Japan downgraded China from “one of its most important ties” to merely “an important neighboring country” in its annual diplomatic bluebook, marking the sharpest decline in Tokyo-Beijing relations in years.
Sanae Takaichi, the prime minister, announced that her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans to propose constitutional amendments within one year. At the LDP’s annual convention, she said she was willing to hold a referendum: “Let us boldly ask the people whether we should change course.”
Japan is already shifting military resources from support duties to regional defense — the Maritime Self-Defense Force will withdraw from Antarctic research duties in the early 2030s, freeing up 180 personnel for security tasks as it faces personnel shortages.
Ms Takaichi announced the country has secured oil supplies until early 2027 from imports and stockpiles, with American imports expected to quadruple in May. Japan holds eight months of oil reserves and has bought more from Middle Eastern sources that avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
Ms Takaichi communicates differently from her predecessors. She has spoken to press groups just 34 times in five months — far less than previous leaders — while posting to X 370 times in the same period. When she met British rock band Deep Purple at her Tokyo office, she told drummer Ian Paice “you are my god.” The moment got widespread attention ahead of the band’s Japan tour.
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- Imperial family visits Fukushima to mark 15 years since nuclear disaster — Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko made a two-day visit to Fukushima Prefecture to inspect reconstruction efforts 15 years after the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. They visited educational facilities and museums documenting the disaster. (mainichi.jp)
- Takaichi pushes through record budget breaking Diet conventions — The 122.31 trillion yen budget for fiscal 2026 was enacted after unusually brief 115 hours of deliberations as Sanae Takaichi rushed the process, breaking parliamentary conventions and bewildering her own party. (asahi.com)
- Bank of Japan Governor Ueda discusses monetary policy with new PM — Kazuo Ueda, the Bank of Japan governor, met with Sanae Takaichi and told her the bank would gradually adjust monetary policy to guide inflation smoothly towards the 2% target. Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff urged respecting central bank independence at a government economic council meeting. (reuters.com)
- Japan’s intelligence community reform proposals under Takaichi — Sanae Takaichi is considering reforms to Japan’s intelligence and counter-intelligence capabilities, with proposals for enhanced intelligence gathering and analysis systems to address regional security challenges. (theowp.org)
- LDP faces internal divisions over retrial reform and membership decline — The Liberal Democratic Party delayed a government bill on retrial system reform after internal disagreements, while also reporting membership fell by 25,000 in 2025 for the third straight year of decline. (japantoday.com)
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Japan downgrades China from 'most important' to 'important neighbor' in diplomatic bluebook
April 9–10, 2026
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Indonesia
“It’s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,” Prabowo Subianto told critics as he left for Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin this week. The Indonesian president’s blunt defence captures his government’s approach: build partnerships with all major powers, depend on none.
The Putin meeting focused on energy cooperation, with Sugiono, the foreign minister, saying oil matters to Indonesia. The visit shows Indonesia’s approach of courting all sides — keeping ties with Russia while preserving Western partnerships, striking deals issue by issue rather than choosing sides.
Even as Mr Prabowo courted Moscow, his government was flexing state power at home. The president said the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force had recovered $21.65 billion in state assets from illegal logging — nearly 10% of the entire state budget. He ordered prosecutors to file criminal charges against companies resisting the crackdown and set aside the recovered funds for infrastructure and education.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the vice president, revealed another drain on state coffers: trade misinvoicing that has cost Indonesia an estimated $401 billion in under-invoiced exports from 2014 to 2023. He called this a hidden threat to financial sovereignty and pushed for digitisation to improve transparency and close revenue gaps.
Mr Gibran also waded into judicial management, proposing ad hoc judges for the acid attack case of Andrie Yunus to protect public trust in the justice system. Legal experts expressed scepticism about the mechanism, but the proposal reflects the regime’s focus on managing legitimacy around sensitive cases.
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- Prabowo departs for Moscow to meet Putin on energy cooperation — Prabowo Subianto departed for Russia on Sunday evening to meet with Vladimir Putin. The meeting will focus on energy cooperation and global geopolitical issues, particularly oil supply stability amid Middle East conflicts. (jatim.antaranews.com)
- Prabowo steps down as pencak silat chief, Sugiono takes over — Prabowo Subianto concluded his multi-decade tenure as chairman of Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI), citing presidential duties. Foreign Minister Sugiono was unanimously elected as his replacement during the national conference. (en.antaranews.com)
- US seeks blanket overflight access for military aircraft through Indonesia — A classified US defence document reveals plans to secure blanket overflight access for American military aircraft through Indonesian airspace, following a February meeting between Prabowo and Trump in Washington. (sundayguardianlive.com)
- Golkar consolidates leadership with regional congresses across Indonesia — Golkar party held multiple regional congresses across provinces including North Sulawesi, North Maluku, and other regions, with Bahlil Lahadalia, the party chairman, emphasising solidarity and preparation for 2029 elections. (antaranews.com)
- Pertamina officials named suspects in corruption probe over oil procurement — Indonesia’s attorney general named seven people as suspects in a corruption case involving crude oil procurement between 2008-2015, including Pertamina executives and oil tycoon Tommy Suharto associate. (reuters.com)
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