Asia Symposium 2026: Why the Middle-Power Moment Matters

At Asia Symposium 2026 in Wellington, Professor Cheng-Chwee Kuik argued that countries like New Zealand may have a bigger role to play than their size suggests. In a world increasingly defined by uncertainty, he said the “Middle-Power Moment” is creating new partnerships and fresh opportunities for countries to shape global diplomacy. Farheen Hussain reports. 

RELOS: The India-Russia Pact Reshaping Strategic Power

As tensions in the Middle East disrupt shipping lanes and energy routes, one overlooked word is back at the centre of global strategy: logistics. Dr Divya Malhotra and former Indian diplomat Ambassador Anil Trigunayat take a closer look at the India-Russia RELOS agreement and explain why access to ports, fuel, and supply chains may matter just as much as firepower in the conflicts of the future.

Singapore and New Zealand Deepen a Strategic Partnership

For many New Zealanders, Singapore is best known as a stopover city or a global business hub. But in a world where supply chains are under strain and geopolitical shocks are becoming more frequent, the relationship is taking on much greater significance. Drawing on his own experience studying in Singapore, Leonard Hong explains why this small city-state has become one of New Zealand’s most important and trusted partners in Asia.

What interesting stories about our region are being reported? Here's a roundup from the past week:

TRUMP-XI : SUMMIT IN BEIJING | ASIA MEDIA CENTRE

As the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing rolls into its second day, here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting media coverage so far.

INDONESIA HEIGHTENS EBOLA SURVEILLANCE AT BORDER CHECKPOINTS AFTER WHO’S GLOBAL EMERGENCY ALERT | THE STRAIT TIMES

Indonesia has stepped up monitoring at its international entry points after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Africa an international health emergency. The government is also coordinating with hospitals and public health agencies to improve early detection and response capacities, he added.

Related story - Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks sign of our ‘dangerous’ times: WHO

BUCKINGHAM PALACE HOSTS HISTORIC MEETING BETWEEN KING CHARLES AND NEW ZELAND’S MĀORI QUEEN

Buckingham Palace witnessed an extraordinary royal moment this week as New Zealand’s Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, met King Charles III during a landmark visit to London that is now drawing attention across the Commonwealth.

PAKISTAN’S FATIMA SANA BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR FASTEST 50 IN WOMEN’S T20I | ALJAZEERA

Pakistan’s Fatima Sana has broken the world record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20 international cricket with a 15-ball 50 against Zimbabwe. Playing at home at the National Stadium in Karachi, the all-rounder top-scored with 62 runs off 19 balls as Pakistan beat the visitors by 133 runs and sealed the series 3-0.

Authorities have arrested more than 1,000 suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka so far this year, fuelling concerns that the island nation is emerging as a new hub for criminal enterprises displaced from elsewhere in the region.

Sri Lanka is facing a sharp rise in cybercrime activity, with police detaining more than a thousand foreign nationals on suspicion of operating online fraud schemes since January, a significant increase from the 430 arrests recorded across the whole of 2024.

Investigators believe the surge reflects the relocation of criminal networks from Cambodia and Myanmar, where intensified law enforcement operations have made it increasingly difficult for scam compounds to continue operating openly.

Sri Lanka’s attractiveness to these groups lies in a combination of accessible visa policies, stable internet infrastructure, and relatively low operating costs. Nationals from more than 40 countries, including China and India, can enter the country on a 30-day tourist visa, while others face only a straightforward online application process. Coastal resort areas, with plentiful rental villas and commercial properties, have also provided convenient locations for operations to be established discreetly.

Last month, customs officers intercepted nine Chinese nationals attempting to enter the country with hundreds of used mobile phones and laptops, equipment authorities suspect was intended for large-scale fraud activity. In one overnight operation across the southern districts of Galle and Matara, police arrested 192 Indian nationals and 29 Nepali citizens. Another raid near Colombo led to the arrest of 280 suspects, while authorities detained 135 Chinese nationals at a single scam centre in March. Police say tip-offs from the public have increased noticeably in recent weeks.

The scam operations mirror patterns seen across Southeast Asia over recent years. Fraudsters typically cultivate online romantic relationships before directing victims toward fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes or gambling platforms. While many of these scams initially targeted Mandarin-speaking users, they have increasingly expanded into multiple languages and markets. Victims have been identified across Asia, including in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with concerns growing that Sri Lankans themselves may also become targets.

Authorities and international organisations are also closely watching the trafficking dimension of the scam industry. A United Nations report released this year estimated that at least 300,000 people have been trafficked into scam compounds across Southeast Asia and forced to carry out online fraud under threats of violence. Sri Lankan officials say there is no evidence so far of foreign nationals being trafficked into operations on the island, although the country has had to repatriate dozens of Sri Lankans rescued from scam centres overseas in the past year.

Investigators are additionally examining whether foreign criminal groups may have been linked to a recent cyberattack on Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance, which reportedly resulted in losses of around US$2.5 million, underscoring the growing scale and sophistication of cyber threats facing the country.

China has acknowledged the issue and pledged support to Sri Lankan authorities. The Chinese embassy in Colombo said illegal activities involving Chinese nationals had increased following crackdowns in Cambodia, Myanmar, and the United Arab Emirates, adding that Beijing was committed to working closely with local law enforcement agencies. China has expanded regional cooperation efforts in recent years as both perpetrators and victims of transnational scam operations have disproportionately involved Chinese nationals.

Sri Lankan authorities have meanwhile stepped up enforcement measures. Police have warned landlords that renting properties to suspected scam operators could result in criminal liability, while immigration authorities are taking a more active role alongside police in investigations and deportation efforts targeting visa overstayers.

-Asia Media Centre

60 Years New Zealand - Philippines Business Forum

Sixty years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines. And arguably the best time yet to turn that into business.

The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's most compelling growth stories. Young population, rising middle class, and one of Asia's fastest growing economies. Yet it remains underleveraged by New Zealand businesses.

That's what we're here to change.

The Auckland Business Chamber is partnering with the New Zealand Philippines Business Council to host a business forum on 25 May.

This milestone event will feature senior government officials, trade representatives, and business leaders from both countries. A delegation from the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IBPAP) will be in attendance, bringing opportunities not only in technology and digital services, but across a broad range of sectors.

📅 Monday, 25 May
📍 Level 18, Bank of New Zealand Building, 80 Queen St

For RSVP click here.

ACICIS Journalism Professional Practicum in Jakarta, Indonesia

Looking to take your journalism beyond the classroom? Each year, the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Asia Media Centre supports New Zealand journalism students and recent graduates to join the ACICIS Journalism Professional Practicum in Jakarta 🇮🇩

The programme is designed to deepen New Zealand’s coverage of Asia, with two weeks of intensive Indonesian language training and seminars, followed by a four-week supervised placement with a media or communications organisation on the ground.

It’s a fantastic chance to gain real-world experience, build networks, and immerse yourself in the region 🌏

📅 Applications close: Friday, 29 May 2026

Click here to find out more about eligibility, requirements, and how to apply.

Media Travel Grants

The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Media Travel Grants provide New Zealand-based journalists with funding to travel independently to Asia to research and prepare stories - to help demystify sia for New Zealand audiences.

Media Travel Grants are competitively awarded to journalists with strong, well-defined story proposals through the Foundation’s Asia Media Centre.

Applications with clear story plans, interview targets, publishing outlets, editor support letters, budgets, and itineraries are more likely to succeed.

However, for this round of funding, story pitches that focus on bilateral trade and economic relations between New Zealand and India will be strongly considered, particularly in light of the recent signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

We are especially interested in proposals that explore the agreement’s broader implications for trade, investment, industry, people-to-people links, and regional cooperation.

Applications are only open for a fortnight - click here to apply.

📅 Applications close: Wednesday, 27 May 2026