Hello Readers,
Why did I name the newsletter ‘Asia Communique’?
The vast landmass of Asia holds some of the most diverse regions in the world — geopolitically, economically, and culturally. Substack, in its early days, attracted a community of writers and readers obsessed with China, and I was very much one of them. But my relationship with the subject comes from a slightly unusual vantage point.
I often describe myself as an insider who turned outsider. I spent my late teens and early twenties in Canada, far from the region I now spend so much of my time thinking and writing about. My connection with China began more than a decade ago while I was still in Canada, and over the years it evolved into a long, complicated association with both China and Taiwan — though always from the outside looking in.
Not being ethnically Chinese, nor coming from a Euro-American background, was often an unspoken barrier. When I first became interested in journalism, I quickly realized that most of the big international newsrooms covering Asia were based in Hong Kong. This was nearly a decade ago, around 2015. But those outlets often sought a very particular type of background or profile, and I didn’t fit neatly into any of those boxes.
That early realization led me to broaden my approach. Instead of chasing an exclusive focus on China, I started framing my work within a wider Asian — or even regional — perspective. It wasn’t always easy. Over the past few years, I’ve had my share of difficult and frankly negative experiences with major news organizations — the kind my younger self probably anticipated but still hoped to avoid. You try, you learn, and you adapt.
One day, I hope to shape some of those experiences into a book. Some truths are too sharp to print casually; they have to be handled carefully, or they burn holes straight through the page.
This little rant may have been free-flowing, but maybe that’s the point. I value that freedom. And wherever I am — here, there, or somewhere in between — I’ll keep bringing you this newsletter and exploring the stories that matter.
Top stories
Indonesian protests and government response
Police violence sparks nationwide protests. Demonstrations by students, labor unions and rights groups have spread across Indonesia in response to police violence and perceived misuse of state funds. Ten people have died and the unrest led authorities to dishonorably dismiss one police officer involved in the killing of a motorcycle courier; six other officers remain under investigation. President‑elect Prabowo Subianto pledged to cut lawmakers’ generous allowances (housing and travel) to address protesters’ anger. Fitch Ratings warned that prolonged unrest could erode Indonesia’s sovereign credit profile if it dampens economic growth or forces fiscal slippage.
Socio‑economic grievances. Protesters, including women dressed in pink and waving brooms, demand accountability and an independent investigation into the killings. They point to lavish perks for lawmakers amid rising living costs, saying the government has prioritized elites over ordinary citizens.
China’s parade of power and military deterrence
Largest military parade in Beijing. On 3 September, China held its biggest military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat. The event showcased an upgraded DF‑5C intercontinental ballistic missile (range ~20 000 km) and the new DF‑61 road‑mobile missile, highlighting a complete nuclear triad that can be deployed from land, sea and air. Analysts noted that China’s leader Xi Jinping was sending a deterrent message to the United States and its allies, as well as to neighbors and potential buyers of Chinese arms.
Advanced weapons and new units. Alongside the missiles, China displayed hypersonic weapons, air‑defense lasers, underwater sea drones and the Type‑100 battle tank. The parade also introduced aerospace, cyberspace and information‑support units, signalling ambitions to compete in space and electronic warfare. Despite the impressive lineup, experts cautioned that some weapons may still be in limited deployment and undergoing field testing.
Yesterday, I covered the weapons displayed at the military parade. Due to length of the newsletter, I didn’t go into some of the smaller systems. But I hope to come back to it in the future.
India–China Relations Show Signs of Normalization
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that relations between India and China are “gradually moving towards normalcy,” suggesting that easing tensions is a natural consequence as border disputes are addressed.
The remarks came after a sideline meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The two leaders agreed to work toward a “fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable” resolution of the border standoff and pledged to strengthen trade and investment ties, recognizing the stabilizing role both economies play in global trade.
“We had an issue in Galwan which caused a blip in the relationship,” Goyal said. “As the border situation improves, a return to normalcy is a very natural outcome.”
The development could have policy implications for Press Note 3 (PN3) — introduced in April 2020 amid heightened tensions — which mandates government approval for all foreign direct investments (FDI) from countries sharing land borders with India, including China. While Goyal did not commit to policy changes, the ongoing talks hint at possible future relaxations if relations continue to improve.
Kim Jong Un vows support for Russia and deepens China‑Russia‑North Korea alignment
Meeting of leaders in Beijing. During Beijing’s WWII anniversary events, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Kim pledged to “fully support” Russia’s army as a fraternal duty, while Putin praised North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine and emphasized the special nature of their alliance. South Korea’s intelligence service estimates that around 2 000 North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia have been killed, and Pyongyang plans to send an additional 6 000 troops.
Reaffirming defense treaties. Putin and Kim discussed plans to deepen their long‑term partnership and reaffirmed their mutual‑defense treaty. The gathering of Xi, Putin and Kim underscores a trilateral alignment not seen since the Cold War.
Thailand’s power struggle
Opposition manoeuvring. Thailand’s political crisis deepened as Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul claimed he had sufficient support to become prime minister after the opposition People’s Party agreed to back him if he dissolved parliament within four months. The ruling Pheu Thai coalition petitioned the king to dissolve the House to prevent Anutin’s rise and called for a snap election. Anutin’s critics accuse him of seeking a minority government and of planning to revise the constitution to consolidate power.
South‑Asian monsoon disasters
Deadly floods. Torrential rain across northern India and Pakistan has caused severe flooding. On 3 September at least five people died in New Delhi and around 10 000 residents were evacuated after the Yamuna River burst its banks. Across India, more than 130 people died during the August‑September monsoon season, which triggered landslides and washed away villages in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab. In Pakistan’s Punjab province, 43 people have died since 26 August and over 3.3 million residents are affected; authorities issued fresh warnings after India released water from upstream dams.
Market snapshot and corporate moves
Bond sell‑off and safe‑haven demand. A global sell‑off in long‑dated bonds pushed Japan’s 30‑year government bond yield to 3.28%. Investors sought safe assets, driving gold prices to a record ¥3 577 per gram and causing market volatility. Weak economic indicators from Europe and expectations of a U.S. rate cut added to uncertainty.
Asian share buybacks soar. Asian companies have repurchased about US$266 billion of their own shares in the first eight months of 2025 – nearly 70% more than in all of 2024. Japan accounts for ~US$110 billion of these buybacks and Hong Kong another US$105 billion. Unlike U.S. buybacks, most Asian repurchases are funded from free cash flow rather than debt.
SK On’s battery deal. South Korea’s SK On signed its first dedicated energy‑storage contract to supply up to 7.2 GWh of lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) batteries to Flatiron Energy Development between 2026 and 2030. The firm will convert some electric‑vehicle battery lines in Georgia to produce energy‑storage batteries and plans to start mass production in the second half of next year.
AI adoption partnership. Thinking Machines Data Science partnered with OpenAI to help organizations in Southeast Asia embed agentic AI into daily workflows. The collaboration includes hands‑on training, leadership programs and customized frameworks to deploy tools like ChatGPT Enterprise. Only 23% of Filipino executives said AI projects met expectations, signalling a gap between investment and returns.
Rise of AI‑enabled insider threats. A survey of 1 010 cybersecurity professionals across Asia‑Pacific and Japan found that 69% expect insider‑threat incidents to grow over the coming year. Insider attacks have overtaken external attacks as the top security concern because generative AI allows malicious actors to spoof trusted voices and accelerate data exfiltration. Only 37% of organizations use behavior‑analytics tools to detect anomalous activity
Reads:
Xi’s Pablum and Power — Foreign Policy
Beijing’s Dangerous Game in Tibet — Foreign Affairs
Thank you for reading!