Hong Kong Tai Po fires spur CCP resentment;
Mongolia seeks economic acceleration through expanded rail links;
China-Japan tensions deepen;
Pakistan and China launch joint counterterrosim exercise;
Taiwain gains U.S. reassurance

Fruits of the recent ASEAN summit;
APEC summit wraps with U.S.-China trade trucel;
Japan's new prime minister hits the ground running;
Australia and U.S. strike critical-minerals deal;
Pakistan-India tensions spike anew after terror attacks

Nepal forms interim cabinet, sets elections;
Beijing considers research lab at Scarborough Shoal;
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia follow diplomacy with dollars;
Japan picks Takaichi as LDP leader, set to become first female PM;
North Korea's new weapon

Japan writes a bigger defense check;
The Philippines plant another flag in the Luzon Strait;
Seoul bids on better relations with Beijing;
India joins Russia & Co. in armed exercise;
Australia-PNG defense pact delayed, but not derailed

Pyongyang deploys to Russia's frontlines;
Pacific power shifts toward Beijing;
Chinese ships collide in Scarborough Shoal;
Tokyo diversifies its defense portfolio;
South Korea's population problem