A 180-kilometer-wide waterway between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland
The United States and its regional partners are pressing for freedom of navigation as ASEAN nations accelerate talks on a code of conduct. China asserts its claims over disputed waters while continuing coast guard and military activity near Huangyan Island and other flashpoints. Philippines vows to push back against Beijing’s moves, citing recent missile tests and maritime postures.
Taiwan’s Han Kuang exercises are extending to 10 days, testing 24-hour defense operations, urban resilience, and new US-inspired tactics. Civilians are mobilized, internet slowdowns simulate disruption, and reservists are being expanded to strengthen civil defense amid heightened tensions with China.
Typhoon Dolphin has tracked west from the Pacific toward Okinawa and Kyushu with sustained winds near 144–162 km/h, forcing Naha Airport to close and cancelling flights. Evacuation centres are hosting hundreds; authorities are warning of heavy rain, storm surge and gusts that will threaten damaged homes and infrastructure as the storm heads toward China’s eastern coast.
Typhoon Dolphin has weakened inland but continues to cause extreme rainfall and floods across Zhejiang, Shanghai and Fujian. Authorities have evacuated hundreds of thousands, canceled thousands of flights, and closed major attractions as the storm moves westward.
The USS George Washington has left Da Nang and is relocating toward the Indian Ocean as the Lincoln remains in the Middle East, underscoring a sustained, high-pressure naval posture amid Iran-related operations and logistic strains aboard deployed carriers.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has made a brief port call at Laem Chabang, Thailand, allowing about 5,000 sailors and Marines to rest after a record, months-long deployment supporting US operations against Iran. Thai authorities are managing transport, security and restrictions in Pattaya while US officials deny widespread failures in shipboard conditions.
Japan’s lawmakers are in Beijing to restore channels after Tokyo’s Taiwan remarks soured ties; discussions with Chinese officials run through Thursday as both sides seek to mend diplomatic and economic links.
Philippines’ defense chief has read a note he says came from China during a Seoul forum, accusing China of coercion and challenging UNCLOS. Beijing denies wrongdoing, urging restraint as regional tensions persist. The incident follows a string of coast guard clashes in the South China Sea and comes as Manila signals willingness to reset ties while Beijing pushes a harder line.
China has stepped up maritime pressure beyond the Taiwan Strait, deploying Coast Guard cutters east of Taiwan at an average of two vessels per month since June, expanding a lifeline with US allies as Japan and the Philippines define their maritime borders.
US and Iranian officials have held three hours of indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. President Trump has described the session as "very productive" and said he faces a "big decision" about whether to pursue a deal or escalate military action. Gulf states are pressing for a route to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and plan further diplomacy.
US ambassador to China David Perdue has said President Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would like to buy US weapons. The State Department has reiterated that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no plan to sell. The comments come as Washington has paused a roughly $14bn arms package to Taiwan.
The IMF and UN officials have warned at annual meetings in Bangkok that rising energy prices from the US–Iran war, the strongest El Niño on record and higher global interest rates have pushed low‑income, energy‑importing countries toward fiscal crisis. AI investment has bolstered rich economies while poorer nations are paying more of their revenue to service debt and losing fiscal space.
Taiwan has set a record defence budget for 2027 to deter threats while stressing it will not provoke. President Lai Ching-te has warned against aggression and called for international support, with US backing cited as crucial. The National Day address underscores Taiwan’s commitment to exist and defend its democracy amid ongoing cross‑strait pressure.
A flotilla of Chinese vessels has intensified operations around Taiwan and the Pratas Islands, drawing coastguard responses. Beijing asserts sovereignty over the Pratas and surrounding waters, while Taiwan and its allies reject Beijing’s claims and insist on freedom of navigation. The situation follows a pattern of rising Chinese maritime activity in the region.
Champi remains a powerful typhoon moving toward Taiwan’s northeast, with heavy rain and strong winds forecast. Authorities warn of prolonged impact as it nears China and Japan; flights are canceled and power is disrupted.