South China Morning Post
Is the PLA rehearsing operations to keep US forces out of a Taiwan conflict?
More than 100 vessels have been reported in the western Pacific and South China Sea but no large-scale drill has been announced.
🇨🇳🇹🇼 PLA Deployments Raise Taiwan Questions
Recent Chinese naval movements in the western Pacific and South China Sea have prompted scrutiny over whether the PLA is rehearsing operations to isolate Taiwan and deter US intervention. According to a November 6 assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, the deployments could simulate blocking outside forces, with more than 100 PLA Navy and China Coast Guard vessels reported across the region, as tracked by SCMP.
Beijing has not announced a large-scale drill, but reported activity includes the Liaoning carrier group sailing near the southern Philippines in late October and other warships entering the Pacific through straits near Japan. The ISW said four naval task forces were operating between Taiwan and Guam, alongside vessels near Taiwan, with forces reportedly drawn from the PLA’s eastern, northern and southern theatre commands.
The reported cross-theatre coordination is unusual, as major Taiwan-focused drills are typically led by the Eastern Theatre Command. A wider operating area into the Pacific would expand the focus from pressure on Taiwan itself to limiting access for US and allied forces.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
Recent Chinese naval movements in the western Pacific and South China Sea have prompted scrutiny over whether the PLA is rehearsing operations to isolate Taiwan and deter US intervention. According to a November 6 assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, the deployments could simulate blocking outside forces, with more than 100 PLA Navy and China Coast Guard vessels reported across the region, as tracked by SCMP.
Beijing has not announced a large-scale drill, but reported activity includes the Liaoning carrier group sailing near the southern Philippines in late October and other warships entering the Pacific through straits near Japan. The ISW said four naval task forces were operating between Taiwan and Guam, alongside vessels near Taiwan, with forces reportedly drawn from the PLA’s eastern, northern and southern theatre commands.
The reported cross-theatre coordination is unusual, as major Taiwan-focused drills are typically led by the Eastern Theatre Command. A wider operating area into the Pacific would expand the focus from pressure on Taiwan itself to limiting access for US and allied forces.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
👍5🫡4❤1👎1
www.zaobao.com.sg
美媒：多家获批采购英伟达晶片中企背景可疑
美国媒体报道，有多家获批采购美国科技巨企英伟达晶片的中国企业背景可疑，包括空壳公司或与受制裁企业有关联。
🇺🇸🇨🇳 Questions Over Nvidia Chip Approvals
The New York Times reported that multiple Chinese companies approved by the US Commerce Department to buy and assemble Nvidia H200 chips have questionable backgrounds, including shell-like entities and firms linked to sanctioned groups. One case, New Matrix, was approved 17 months after its establishment, but reporters found its registered Beijing office vacant and absent from park management and company directories.
Corporate records cited in the report linked two key New Matrix owners to Wise Road Capital and founder Li Bin, whose network has ties to previously blacklisted entities, including a Tsinghua Unigroup subsidiary sanctioned in 2021 for cooperation with the Chinese military. Other approved buyers reportedly included server assembler Maginfra, described as connected to blacklisted Inspur, as well as Zhejiang Yindun Cloud Technology and Shanghai Jiatang Network Technology, both linked to firms with military or state-sector ties.
The approvals followed a late-2025 decision allowing Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China under conditions including US government revenue-sharing and prior national security review by the Commerce Department. The report increases scrutiny on US export-control enforcement and due diligence for advanced AI chip transfers.
#USA #China
@asianomics
The New York Times reported that multiple Chinese companies approved by the US Commerce Department to buy and assemble Nvidia H200 chips have questionable backgrounds, including shell-like entities and firms linked to sanctioned groups. One case, New Matrix, was approved 17 months after its establishment, but reporters found its registered Beijing office vacant and absent from park management and company directories.
Corporate records cited in the report linked two key New Matrix owners to Wise Road Capital and founder Li Bin, whose network has ties to previously blacklisted entities, including a Tsinghua Unigroup subsidiary sanctioned in 2021 for cooperation with the Chinese military. Other approved buyers reportedly included server assembler Maginfra, described as connected to blacklisted Inspur, as well as Zhejiang Yindun Cloud Technology and Shanghai Jiatang Network Technology, both linked to firms with military or state-sector ties.
The approvals followed a late-2025 decision allowing Nvidia to sell H200 chips to China under conditions including US government revenue-sharing and prior national security review by the Commerce Department. The report increases scrutiny on US export-control enforcement and due diligence for advanced AI chip transfers.
#USA #China
@asianomics
❤7😴2
www.zaobao.com.sg
中国交通运输部：继续暂停对美船舶收取船舶特别港务费
中国交通运输部宣布，将继续暂停对美国船舶收取特别港务费，直至明年1月10日。
🇨🇳🇺🇸 China Extends US Port Fee Suspension
China’s Transport Ministry said on Nov. 9 it will continue to suspend special port charges on US ships until Jan. 10, 2027. The decision also pauses implementation of related measures and a separate investigation into impacts on the shipping, shipbuilding, and associated supply-chain sectors.
The ministry said the move was approved by the State Council to implement outcomes from the eighth round of China-US economic and trade consultations. The announcement came the same day Beijing said it would also keep suspended an additional 24% tariff rate on US goods for two months from Nov. 10 afternoon, while retaining a 10% additional tariff rate.
The extension keeps pressure off US vessels entering Chinese ports and delays broader trade-linked scrutiny of maritime and shipbuilding sectors.
#China #UnitedStates
@asianomics
China’s Transport Ministry said on Nov. 9 it will continue to suspend special port charges on US ships until Jan. 10, 2027. The decision also pauses implementation of related measures and a separate investigation into impacts on the shipping, shipbuilding, and associated supply-chain sectors.
The ministry said the move was approved by the State Council to implement outcomes from the eighth round of China-US economic and trade consultations. The announcement came the same day Beijing said it would also keep suspended an additional 24% tariff rate on US goods for two months from Nov. 10 afternoon, while retaining a 10% additional tariff rate.
The extension keeps pressure off US vessels entering Chinese ports and delays broader trade-linked scrutiny of maritime and shipbuilding sectors.
#China #UnitedStates
@asianomics
👍6❤2
Nikkei Asia
Malaysia-Taiwan fraying ties threaten future chip investments
Talks shelved after Anwar's 'One China' remarks fuel 'pure anger' in Taipei
🇲🇾🇹🇼 Malaysia-Taiwan talks shelved
Planned trade talks between Malaysia and Taiwan were canceled after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent One China remarks, with Nikkei reporting that the talks were shelved amid anger in Taipei. Industry players warned the dispute could affect future Taiwanese semiconductor investment in Malaysia.
The friction matters because Malaysia has become a key destination for Taiwanese chipmakers expanding assembly, testing, and related operations, including recent moves by ASE. A deterioration in bilateral working ties could complicate future capital commitments at a time when Southeast Asia is competing for supply-chain shifts in semiconductors.
The immediate impact is political, but the longer-term risk is slower follow-on investment from Taiwanese firms already active in Malaysia or considering expansion.
#Malaysia #Taiwan
@asianomics
Planned trade talks between Malaysia and Taiwan were canceled after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent One China remarks, with Nikkei reporting that the talks were shelved amid anger in Taipei. Industry players warned the dispute could affect future Taiwanese semiconductor investment in Malaysia.
The friction matters because Malaysia has become a key destination for Taiwanese chipmakers expanding assembly, testing, and related operations, including recent moves by ASE. A deterioration in bilateral working ties could complicate future capital commitments at a time when Southeast Asia is competing for supply-chain shifts in semiconductors.
The immediate impact is political, but the longer-term risk is slower follow-on investment from Taiwanese firms already active in Malaysia or considering expansion.
#Malaysia #Taiwan
@asianomics
😴6❤2🔥2
The Straits Times
Okinawa governor calls for review of US forces pact after murder
Lawmakers in Okinawa adopted a resolution calling for revisions to the pact, which will be submitted to the US embassy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
🇯🇵🇺🇸 Okinawa Seeks Forces Pact Review
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said on Nov. 9 he will seek a fundamental review of the 1960 Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement after a US Marine was indicted over the alleged murder of a 39-year-old Japanese woman in Okinawa. Koja said he would call for a review of the pact, as the case reignited local anger over the US military presence on the southern island.
The agreement gives US military authorities primary jurisdiction over service members in Japan when they are on official duty, and critics say it has limited Japanese investigations in some cases. The issue is structurally sensitive because around 54,000 US troops are stationed in Japan, mostly in Okinawa, where crimes involving US personnel and the concentration of bases have long strained the alliance at the local level.
Koja also called for a swift return of land used by US bases and faster transfer of suspects. Okinawa lawmakers adopted a resolution in October seeking revisions to the pact, which is due to be submitted to the US embassy.
#Japan #UnitedStates
@asianomics
Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said on Nov. 9 he will seek a fundamental review of the 1960 Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement after a US Marine was indicted over the alleged murder of a 39-year-old Japanese woman in Okinawa. Koja said he would call for a review of the pact, as the case reignited local anger over the US military presence on the southern island.
The agreement gives US military authorities primary jurisdiction over service members in Japan when they are on official duty, and critics say it has limited Japanese investigations in some cases. The issue is structurally sensitive because around 54,000 US troops are stationed in Japan, mostly in Okinawa, where crimes involving US personnel and the concentration of bases have long strained the alliance at the local level.
Koja also called for a swift return of land used by US bases and faster transfer of suspects. Okinawa lawmakers adopted a resolution in October seeking revisions to the pact, which is due to be submitted to the US embassy.
#Japan #UnitedStates
@asianomics
❤8
Japan Wire by Kyodo News
Chinese man sent to prosecutors over rogue cell tower, phishing suspected
A Chinese man was referred to prosecutors Monday for allegedly disrupting a major mobile carrier's services in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district with a rogue cell tower device, with police investigating possible links to a phishing scheme using illegal radio…
🇯🇵🇨🇳 Tokyo probes rogue cell tower
A 31-year-old Chinese man was referred to prosecutors after police arrested him for allegedly operating a fake base station from a car in Tokyo's Ginza district and disrupting NTT Docomo mobile services. Tokyo police said the suspected offense falls under Japan's Radio Law; the man, Yu Hai, denied the allegations.
Police believe the device was an IMSI catcher used to collect handset identifiers, force nearby phones onto an older 2G network, and send text messages linked to a suspected phishing scheme. Since around January last year, foreign tourists and others in busy Tokyo districts had received suspicious Chinese-language messages, and by October 18 Chinese nationals had reported losses including unauthorized card use totaling about 4 million yen.
Japan's communications ministry had raised the issue with police in January last year and later warned the public that fake base stations were interfering with mobile services. Investigators are examining a possible connection between Yu and the phishing messages reported across Tokyo.
#Japan #China
@asianomics
A 31-year-old Chinese man was referred to prosecutors after police arrested him for allegedly operating a fake base station from a car in Tokyo's Ginza district and disrupting NTT Docomo mobile services. Tokyo police said the suspected offense falls under Japan's Radio Law; the man, Yu Hai, denied the allegations.
Police believe the device was an IMSI catcher used to collect handset identifiers, force nearby phones onto an older 2G network, and send text messages linked to a suspected phishing scheme. Since around January last year, foreign tourists and others in busy Tokyo districts had received suspicious Chinese-language messages, and by October 18 Chinese nationals had reported losses including unauthorized card use totaling about 4 million yen.
Japan's communications ministry had raised the issue with police in January last year and later warned the public that fake base stations were interfering with mobile services. Investigators are examining a possible connection between Yu and the phishing messages reported across Tokyo.
#Japan #China
@asianomics
❤7😴2🤬1
Yonhap News Agency
Nvidia, SKT, Rebellions to jointly establish heterogeneous computing system for AI
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- Nvidia Corp., SK Telecom Co. and domestic artificial intelligenc...
🇰🇷🇺🇸 Nvidia joins Korea AI chip tie-up
Nvidia, SK Telecom and Rebellions signed an MOU in Seoul to build a heterogeneous AI computing system linking Nvidia GPUs with Rebellions NPUs for SK Telecom AI data centers, the science ministry said. The partnership will connect locally designed processors to Nvidia infrastructure through the NVLink Fusion program.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of AI Day Seoul, Nvidia’s two-day event in southern Seoul. According to the ministry, the arrangement expands potential applications for South Korean advanced semiconductors, gives local chipmakers a route to validate their technology in the global market, and supports the development of the country’s advanced-chip ecosystem.
The ministry said it will back other domestic NPU developers so similar cooperation can extend beyond Rebellions. That would broaden South Korea’s integration with global AI computing architectures.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
Nvidia, SK Telecom and Rebellions signed an MOU in Seoul to build a heterogeneous AI computing system linking Nvidia GPUs with Rebellions NPUs for SK Telecom AI data centers, the science ministry said. The partnership will connect locally designed processors to Nvidia infrastructure through the NVLink Fusion program.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of AI Day Seoul, Nvidia’s two-day event in southern Seoul. According to the ministry, the arrangement expands potential applications for South Korean advanced semiconductors, gives local chipmakers a route to validate their technology in the global market, and supports the development of the country’s advanced-chip ecosystem.
The ministry said it will back other domestic NPU developers so similar cooperation can extend beyond Rebellions. That would broaden South Korea’s integration with global AI computing architectures.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
❤4
www.zaobao.com.sg
厦金小三通今年客运量创通航以来年度新高
中国大陆官方通报，厦金“小三通”今年的客运量创通航以来的年度新高。
🇨🇳🇹🇼 Xiamen-Kinmen Ferry Traffic Hits Record
China’s border authorities said annual passenger traffic on the Xiamen-Kinmen “mini three links” route reached 1.823 million as of 10:00 a.m. on November 8, setting a new yearly record since service began in 2001. The update was issued by Xiamen’s Gaoqi border inspection station and reported by Chinese media.
The route handles about 90% of cross-border passenger flows under the cross-strait “mini three links” and is widely treated as a key channel between the mainland and Taiwan’s offshore islands. Cumulative traffic passed 1 million in 2005, 10 million in 2014, 20 million in 2023, and has now exceeded 25 million, indicating sustained recovery despite schedules still running at only about two-thirds of 2019 levels.
Officials said average daily traffic this year reached 5,800 passengers, with summer peaks of 6,800, above the same period in 2019. The route is projected to exceed 2 million passengers for the first time this year.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
China’s border authorities said annual passenger traffic on the Xiamen-Kinmen “mini three links” route reached 1.823 million as of 10:00 a.m. on November 8, setting a new yearly record since service began in 2001. The update was issued by Xiamen’s Gaoqi border inspection station and reported by Chinese media.
The route handles about 90% of cross-border passenger flows under the cross-strait “mini three links” and is widely treated as a key channel between the mainland and Taiwan’s offshore islands. Cumulative traffic passed 1 million in 2005, 10 million in 2014, 20 million in 2023, and has now exceeded 25 million, indicating sustained recovery despite schedules still running at only about two-thirds of 2019 levels.
Officials said average daily traffic this year reached 5,800 passengers, with summer peaks of 6,800, above the same period in 2019. The route is projected to exceed 2 million passengers for the first time this year.
#China #Taiwan
@asianomics
❤6🤝2
Japan Wire by Kyodo News
済みUPDATE1: U.S. president plans to hold talks with Chinese, Russian leaders in China
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week, with discussions to include denuclearization and the U.S. war with Iran.
🇺🇸🇨🇳🇷🇺 Trump Plans China Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week, according to remarks reported by Kyodo News. He said the discussions will include denuclearization and the U.S. war with Iran.
The planned meeting would bring together the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia in China. The agenda identified by Trump spans both nuclear issues and an active U.S. military conflict.
If held as described, the talks would place major security issues on a trilateral agenda involving Washington, Beijing, and Moscow. The location in China also gives Beijing a direct hosting role.
#USA #China #Russia
@asianomics
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China next week, according to remarks reported by Kyodo News. He said the discussions will include denuclearization and the U.S. war with Iran.
The planned meeting would bring together the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia in China. The agenda identified by Trump spans both nuclear issues and an active U.S. military conflict.
If held as described, the talks would place major security issues on a trilateral agenda involving Washington, Beijing, and Moscow. The location in China also gives Beijing a direct hosting role.
#USA #China #Russia
@asianomics
❤3😁2💩2
Nikkei Asia
Why China takes a back seat for Democrats after US midterms
Cost-of-living agenda limits appetite for trade fights, but tech controls could tighten
🇺🇸🇨🇳 China Slips Down Democratic Agenda
After the U.S. midterm elections, Democrats are placing less emphasis on China as a political target, with domestic cost-of-living pressures limiting appetite for broader trade confrontation. Nikkei Asia reports that while Beijing’s response to the results has been restrained, U.S. policy could still tighten in technology controls.
The shift points to a narrower approach: less focus on sweeping trade fights, more attention on targeted restrictions tied to strategic sectors. That matters because U.S.-China competition is being framed less through consumer-facing tariffs and more through controls on tech, where bipartisan pressure has remained stronger than support for broader economic escalation.
The immediate implication is not a reset in bilateral ties, but a change in emphasis. Trade may move lower on the political agenda, while export and technology restrictions remain active policy tools.
#USA #China
@asianomics
After the U.S. midterm elections, Democrats are placing less emphasis on China as a political target, with domestic cost-of-living pressures limiting appetite for broader trade confrontation. Nikkei Asia reports that while Beijing’s response to the results has been restrained, U.S. policy could still tighten in technology controls.
The shift points to a narrower approach: less focus on sweeping trade fights, more attention on targeted restrictions tied to strategic sectors. That matters because U.S.-China competition is being framed less through consumer-facing tariffs and more through controls on tech, where bipartisan pressure has remained stronger than support for broader economic escalation.
The immediate implication is not a reset in bilateral ties, but a change in emphasis. Trade may move lower on the political agenda, while export and technology restrictions remain active policy tools.
#USA #China
@asianomics
❤8😴1
South China Morning Post
Why is Vietnam’s To Lam in Japan? AI, chips and nuclear power
Critical minerals, LNG projects and defence ties are also on the agenda as Hanoi seeks to build domestic industrial muscle.
🇻🇳🇯🇵 Vietnam, Japan expand strategic agenda
Vietnamese President To Lam held talks in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with both sides pledging to speed up public-private cooperation on critical minerals and deepen coordination on defence and investment. They also reaffirmed plans to accelerate Japanese-backed LNG and gas-fired power projects and advance nuclear power development in Vietnam during Lam’s four-day visit.
The visit is focused on expanding trade and investment options, especially in technology, including AI and semiconductors, as Hanoi seeks to strengthen domestic industrial capacity. Japan and Vietnam elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2023, and their latest joint statement identified economic security as a top bilateral priority amid pressure linked to China, including rare earth export restrictions and separate maritime disputes with both countries.
The talks indicate continued alignment between Hanoi and Tokyo on supply-chain resilience, energy infrastructure and security cooperation. Lam’s trip follows Takaichi’s visit to Vietnam six months earlier.
#Vietnam #Japan
@asianomics
Vietnamese President To Lam held talks in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with both sides pledging to speed up public-private cooperation on critical minerals and deepen coordination on defence and investment. They also reaffirmed plans to accelerate Japanese-backed LNG and gas-fired power projects and advance nuclear power development in Vietnam during Lam’s four-day visit.
The visit is focused on expanding trade and investment options, especially in technology, including AI and semiconductors, as Hanoi seeks to strengthen domestic industrial capacity. Japan and Vietnam elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2023, and their latest joint statement identified economic security as a top bilateral priority amid pressure linked to China, including rare earth export restrictions and separate maritime disputes with both countries.
The talks indicate continued alignment between Hanoi and Tokyo on supply-chain resilience, energy infrastructure and security cooperation. Lam’s trip follows Takaichi’s visit to Vietnam six months earlier.
#Vietnam #Japan
@asianomics
❤4🌚1😴1
South China Morning Post
China biotech giant WuXi AppTec’s shares jump after Pentagon blacklist reversal
Removal from military-linked entities list eases investor concerns and highlights path for other Chinese firms facing similar challenges.
🇨🇳🇺🇸 WuXi AppTec Removed From Pentagon List
WuXi AppTec shares rose after the US Department of Defense removed the company from its Section 1260H list of alleged Chinese military-linked entities. The stock gained more than 6% at the open in Hong Kong before trimming gains to about 2%, while its Shanghai shares rose about 1.8%.
WuXi AppTec was added to the list in June, a designation that blocks US federal procurement and can create wider capital-market and compliance risks. The company sued the Pentagon the same month, and a US court in August issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement; the Pentagon said the delisting was made to comply with that order.
The case remains in litigation, and relisting is still possible. The reversal also adds to a pattern of Chinese firms, including Xiaomi and Amec, using US courts to challenge Pentagon designations.
#China #US
@asianomics
WuXi AppTec shares rose after the US Department of Defense removed the company from its Section 1260H list of alleged Chinese military-linked entities. The stock gained more than 6% at the open in Hong Kong before trimming gains to about 2%, while its Shanghai shares rose about 1.8%.
WuXi AppTec was added to the list in June, a designation that blocks US federal procurement and can create wider capital-market and compliance risks. The company sued the Pentagon the same month, and a US court in August issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement; the Pentagon said the delisting was made to comply with that order.
The case remains in litigation, and relisting is still possible. The reversal also adds to a pattern of Chinese firms, including Xiaomi and Amec, using US courts to challenge Pentagon designations.
#China #US
@asianomics
❤3😁1🏆1
The Straits Times
China's trade surplus soars past $1 trillion as AI boom powers exports
BEIJING, Nov 10 - China's trade surplus surged past $1 trillion in the first 10 months as a global race to build AI infrastructure buoyed sales of high-tech products and helped offset weak domestic demand, a dynamic likely to sharpen tensions with major trading…
🇨🇳 China Trade Surplus Tops $1tn
China's trade surplus exceeded $1 trillion in the first 10 months of 2026, reaching $1.04 trillion as exports rose 35.2% year-on-year in October. The data from Beijing was supported by strong overseas demand for high-tech products linked to the global AI infrastructure buildout.
The surplus crossed the $1 trillion mark for a second straight year and did so one month earlier than in 2025, reinforcing China's reliance on external demand amid weak domestic consumption and a prolonged property downturn. The figures come ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, where Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are expected to meet, with broader economic ties and tariff policy in focus.
The stronger surplus may add to trade friction with the EU and the US as Chinese manufacturers expand overseas sales. Near-term exports could also be lifted by front-loaded shipments before agreed limits on Chinese hybrid vehicle exports to Europe take effect.
#China #US #EU
@asianomics
China's trade surplus exceeded $1 trillion in the first 10 months of 2026, reaching $1.04 trillion as exports rose 35.2% year-on-year in October. The data from Beijing was supported by strong overseas demand for high-tech products linked to the global AI infrastructure buildout.
The surplus crossed the $1 trillion mark for a second straight year and did so one month earlier than in 2025, reinforcing China's reliance on external demand amid weak domestic consumption and a prolonged property downturn. The figures come ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, where Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are expected to meet, with broader economic ties and tariff policy in focus.
The stronger surplus may add to trade friction with the EU and the US as Chinese manufacturers expand overseas sales. Near-term exports could also be lifted by front-loaded shipments before agreed limits on Chinese hybrid vehicle exports to Europe take effect.
#China #US #EU
@asianomics
👏4❤1
The Straits Times
Taiwan says China is conducting ‘area denial’ drills in Western Pacific
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the military was keeping a close watch on what China was up to. Read more at straitstimes.com.
🇹🇼🇨🇳 Taiwan flags Pacific denial drills
Taiwan said China is conducting “area denial” drills in the Western Pacific involving the Liaoning carrier group and other naval formations, according to Defence Minister Wellington Koo on Nov 10 in Taipei. Koo said the activity follows a wider surge in Chinese operations around Taiwan, including naval, coast guard and air deployments, as Taiwan described the manoeuvres as anti-intervention training.
In the Taiwan context, anti-access/area denial refers to blocking outside forces from intervening in a conflict, particularly potential US or allied support. Taiwan’s security officials had earlier reported more than 100 Chinese naval and coast guard ships operating off Taiwan, in the South China Sea and into the Pacific, while the defence ministry also recorded a sharp increase in Chinese aircraft near the island.
The drills come ahead of next week’s APEC summit in Shenzhen and Taiwan’s local elections. China has not formally announced the exercise, and its defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
Taiwan said China is conducting “area denial” drills in the Western Pacific involving the Liaoning carrier group and other naval formations, according to Defence Minister Wellington Koo on Nov 10 in Taipei. Koo said the activity follows a wider surge in Chinese operations around Taiwan, including naval, coast guard and air deployments, as Taiwan described the manoeuvres as anti-intervention training.
In the Taiwan context, anti-access/area denial refers to blocking outside forces from intervening in a conflict, particularly potential US or allied support. Taiwan’s security officials had earlier reported more than 100 Chinese naval and coast guard ships operating off Taiwan, in the South China Sea and into the Pacific, while the defence ministry also recorded a sharp increase in Chinese aircraft near the island.
The drills come ahead of next week’s APEC summit in Shenzhen and Taiwan’s local elections. China has not formally announced the exercise, and its defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
#Taiwan #China
@asianomics
❤4🫡1
Yonhap News Agency
(LEAD) N. Korea tests new torpedo, eyes early 2027 deployment
(ATTN: ADDS photo, more details, official's comments in paras 4-6) SEOUL, Nov. 10 (...
🇰🇵🇰🇷 North Korea Tests New Torpedo
North Korea said it test-fired a new high-speed torpedo in the East Sea on Monday and plans to deploy it with the Navy in early 2027. State media said the Academy of Defense Sciences, the Missile Administration and the Torpedo Weapon Research Bureau verified the combat effectiveness of the system, while South Korea said further analysis is needed because no specifications or images were released.
The North said the test confirmed core propulsion and rocket-propulsion technologies refined through more than 180 trials over the past five years. The launch fits a broader 2026 naval buildup that has included an underwater test of an AI-based precision-guided torpedo, strategic cruise missile launches from a presumed 3,000-ton submarine, and the commissioning of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon and Kang Kon destroyers.
The test adds to Pyongyang's recent emphasis on underwater strike systems and naval modernization. It also indicates continued movement toward field deployment rather than a one-off demonstration.
#NorthKorea #SouthKorea
@asianomics
North Korea said it test-fired a new high-speed torpedo in the East Sea on Monday and plans to deploy it with the Navy in early 2027. State media said the Academy of Defense Sciences, the Missile Administration and the Torpedo Weapon Research Bureau verified the combat effectiveness of the system, while South Korea said further analysis is needed because no specifications or images were released.
The North said the test confirmed core propulsion and rocket-propulsion technologies refined through more than 180 trials over the past five years. The launch fits a broader 2026 naval buildup that has included an underwater test of an AI-based precision-guided torpedo, strategic cruise missile launches from a presumed 3,000-ton submarine, and the commissioning of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon and Kang Kon destroyers.
The test adds to Pyongyang's recent emphasis on underwater strike systems and naval modernization. It also indicates continued movement toward field deployment rather than a one-off demonstration.
#NorthKorea #SouthKorea
@asianomics
🎉7😱1
Yonhap News Agency
Ex-U.S. diplomat says OPCON transfer may not move rapidly, cites 'no consensus' in Washington
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- A former U.S. diplomat said Tuesday that the envisioned transfe...
🇰🇷🇺🇸 OPCON transfer seen as slow
Former U.S. diplomat Joseph Yun said the wartime operational control transfer from Washington to Seoul is unlikely to advance quickly, citing a lack of U.S. consensus on the issue. Speaking at a forum, Yun also said Washington has no consensus on South Korea’s push for uranium enrichment rights and nuclear submarines, according to a Yonhap report.
South Korea and the United States are pursuing a conditions-based OPCON transfer with no target date, though Seoul wants the handover completed before President Lee Jae Myung’s term ends in 2030. The issue remains divisive in South Korea, where supporters frame it as restoring military sovereignty, while opponents argue it could weaken the alliance as North Korea’s nuclear threat evolves; Yun said Seoul treats OPCON as a political issue, while Washington sees it as a technical one.
The remarks point to continued friction over alliance roles and strategic autonomy even as both sides maintain cooperation on broader security and nuclear-related agenda items.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
Former U.S. diplomat Joseph Yun said the wartime operational control transfer from Washington to Seoul is unlikely to advance quickly, citing a lack of U.S. consensus on the issue. Speaking at a forum, Yun also said Washington has no consensus on South Korea’s push for uranium enrichment rights and nuclear submarines, according to a Yonhap report.
South Korea and the United States are pursuing a conditions-based OPCON transfer with no target date, though Seoul wants the handover completed before President Lee Jae Myung’s term ends in 2030. The issue remains divisive in South Korea, where supporters frame it as restoring military sovereignty, while opponents argue it could weaken the alliance as North Korea’s nuclear threat evolves; Yun said Seoul treats OPCON as a political issue, while Washington sees it as a technical one.
The remarks point to continued friction over alliance roles and strategic autonomy even as both sides maintain cooperation on broader security and nuclear-related agenda items.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
❤5
Yonhap News Agency
Army temporarily grounds Apache helicopters amid U.S. inspection for possible defect
By Kim Seung-yeon SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Army has temporarily groun...
🇰🇷🇺🇸 South Korea Grounds Apache Fleet
The South Korean Army has temporarily grounded its 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters since early October as U.S. authorities began inspections over a possible transmission system defect. An Army official said routine training flights are paused, while the aircraft remain available for immediate operational launch in a contingency.
The move followed a U.S. military safety advisory on the transmission component. The Apache, manufactured by Boeing, is a key air-to-ground asset for South Korea, and the U.S. Army also paused Apache flight operations last month during technical assessments after an August crash in Texas killed two U.S. soldiers.
Other operators appear to be taking similar steps, with Taiwan also reported to have grounded its Apache helicopters last month. Seoul said the fleet will return to operations sequentially based on inspection results.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
The South Korean Army has temporarily grounded its 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters since early October as U.S. authorities began inspections over a possible transmission system defect. An Army official said routine training flights are paused, while the aircraft remain available for immediate operational launch in a contingency.
The move followed a U.S. military safety advisory on the transmission component. The Apache, manufactured by Boeing, is a key air-to-ground asset for South Korea, and the U.S. Army also paused Apache flight operations last month during technical assessments after an August crash in Texas killed two U.S. soldiers.
Other operators appear to be taking similar steps, with Taiwan also reported to have grounded its Apache helicopters last month. Seoul said the fleet will return to operations sequentially based on inspection results.
#SouthKorea #UnitedStates
@asianomics
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South China Morning Post
‘Just personal matters’: Chinese GPU traders shrug off impact of Nvidia scandal
Prices for Nvidia graphics cards are falling in China’s biggest electronics market despite all the talk of tightening US export controls.
🇨🇳🇺🇸 Nvidia GPU Prices Ease in Shenzhen
Prices for Nvidia GPUs in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei market are falling despite speculation over tighter US export controls and scrutiny around CEO Jensen Huang. According to a South China Morning Post report, the GeForce RTX 5090 dropped from above 60,000 yuan to about 50,000 yuan, with some quotes at 48,500 yuan, while the RTX 5060 fell from around 4,000 yuan to 3,400-3,700 yuan.
Traders said last month’s spike was driven mainly by rumours that Nvidia would halt production of the RTX 5090 to prioritise enterprise GPUs, a claim the company denied. The pullback indicates that, despite US restrictions on advanced chip access and recent reports of stricter tracking in Southeast Asia to curb diversion into China, market participants still see GPU supply as adequate due to earlier stockpiling and weak domestic retail demand.
Merchants are divided on the next move: some expect further declines because end-demand remains soft, while others see potential upside tied to crypto-mining demand. Traders also said the controversy around Huang has not materially affected spot pricing.
#China #UnitedStates
@asianomics
Prices for Nvidia GPUs in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei market are falling despite speculation over tighter US export controls and scrutiny around CEO Jensen Huang. According to a South China Morning Post report, the GeForce RTX 5090 dropped from above 60,000 yuan to about 50,000 yuan, with some quotes at 48,500 yuan, while the RTX 5060 fell from around 4,000 yuan to 3,400-3,700 yuan.
Traders said last month’s spike was driven mainly by rumours that Nvidia would halt production of the RTX 5090 to prioritise enterprise GPUs, a claim the company denied. The pullback indicates that, despite US restrictions on advanced chip access and recent reports of stricter tracking in Southeast Asia to curb diversion into China, market participants still see GPU supply as adequate due to earlier stockpiling and weak domestic retail demand.
Merchants are divided on the next move: some expect further declines because end-demand remains soft, while others see potential upside tied to crypto-mining demand. Traders also said the controversy around Huang has not materially affected spot pricing.
#China #UnitedStates
@asianomics
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Yonhap News Agency
LG Energy, Samsung SDI sign battery supply deal with BMW
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- LG Energy Solution Ltd. (LGES) and Samsung SDI Co. have signed ...
🇰🇷🇩🇪 BMW Secures Korean Battery Supply
LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI have signed deals with BMW Group to supply sixth-generation high-voltage battery cells for its vehicles from the late 2020s, according to a BMW statement released Tuesday. The cells will be produced at the companies’ facilities in the United States and Europe, though BMW did not specify delivery timelines.
The agreements align with BMW’s “local for local” sourcing model, which places procurement near vehicle production sites across its global supplier network. For BMW, battery cells are a core EV component affecting range and charging speed; for the two South Korean suppliers, the contracts reinforce their role in regionalized EV supply chains serving Western markets.
The deal adds procurement diversification for BMW while extending Korean battery manufacturing integration into U.S. and European automotive production.
#SouthKorea #Germany
@asianomics
LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI have signed deals with BMW Group to supply sixth-generation high-voltage battery cells for its vehicles from the late 2020s, according to a BMW statement released Tuesday. The cells will be produced at the companies’ facilities in the United States and Europe, though BMW did not specify delivery timelines.
The agreements align with BMW’s “local for local” sourcing model, which places procurement near vehicle production sites across its global supplier network. For BMW, battery cells are a core EV component affecting range and charging speed; for the two South Korean suppliers, the contracts reinforce their role in regionalized EV supply chains serving Western markets.
The deal adds procurement diversification for BMW while extending Korean battery manufacturing integration into U.S. and European automotive production.
#SouthKorea #Germany
@asianomics
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Japan Wire by Kyodo News
SoftBank Group to jointly build AI infrastructure in Malaysia with Grab
SoftBank Group Corp. said Monday it will jointly build one of Asia's largest artificial intelligence infrastructures in Malaysia with companies including Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab Holdings Ltd.
🇯🇵🇲🇾 SoftBank, Grab launch AI project
SoftBank Group said it will jointly build one of Asia’s largest AI infrastructure projects in Malaysia with Grab Holdings and other companies. The project carries an initial investment of $1.85 billion, including $1 billion from SoftBank, and will include an AI data center.
SoftBank said development will proceed in partnership with major global tech firms, with funding to come from cash on hand rather than bond issuance. The project aligns with Malaysia’s push to attract AI-driven data centers and strengthen its position as a Southeast Asian digital hub, while expanding regional compute capacity.
The buildout adds to SoftBank’s broader AI investment drive and deepens cross-border digital infrastructure links between Japan and Southeast Asia.
#Japan #Malaysia
@asianomics
SoftBank Group said it will jointly build one of Asia’s largest AI infrastructure projects in Malaysia with Grab Holdings and other companies. The project carries an initial investment of $1.85 billion, including $1 billion from SoftBank, and will include an AI data center.
SoftBank said development will proceed in partnership with major global tech firms, with funding to come from cash on hand rather than bond issuance. The project aligns with Malaysia’s push to attract AI-driven data centers and strengthen its position as a Southeast Asian digital hub, while expanding regional compute capacity.
The buildout adds to SoftBank’s broader AI investment drive and deepens cross-border digital infrastructure links between Japan and Southeast Asia.
#Japan #Malaysia
@asianomics
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