East Asia Leads the Green Transition - Lessons for New Zealand

East Asia is leading the global green energy and industrial transition. China, South Korea and Japan have scaled renewables, built globally dominant battery and EV supply chains, invested heavily in grid upgrades, and advanced innovation in clean manufacturing and technology development.

Manaakitanga and Renquing (人情): Linking Māori and Chinese Business Models

Raised in rural Yangxin County, China, Xiaoliang Niu is a PhD Candidate at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland who has lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for 15 years. Xiaoliang talked to Dr Anita Perkins about his journey to New Zealand, his research on cultural similarities between the way Māori and Chinese do business, and what New Zealand and China have to learn from one another. He also discusses the centrality of building strong relationships where parallel cultural expressions of aroha are central: manaakitanga (care for others) and Renqing (humaneness).

From Ōtautahi to Seoul: There's A Tuesday's Global Leap

Christchurch indie band There’s A Tuesday has just wrapped up a ten-day residency in Seoul, South Korea — an experience that went beyond performing on stage. Immersed in Hongdae’s vibrant music scene, the band collaborated with Korean artists, wrote and recorded new material, and connected with audiences eager to discover their sound. Joining them on the journey was music journalist Samantha Cheong, who followed their every step.

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

TRUMP SAYS HE HOPES TO MEET KIM JONG UN AND RAISES PROSPECT OF US TAKING OVER SOME SOUTH KOREAN LAND | THE GUARDIAN

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung had his first summit with US President Donald Trump on Monday. Prior to the meeting, Trump took to social media to state that he wouldn't do business with Seoul because of a "Purge or Revolution." However, during the meeting, any hostility evaporated as Lee praised Trump with his efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. Trump expressed his eagerness to meet again with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

DEADLY TROPICAL STORM KAJIKI CAUSES HEAVY FLOODING IN VIETNAM AFTER MAKING LANDFALL AS TYPHOON | CNN

Tropical Storm Kajiki proved deadly in Vietnam after it made landfall as a powerful typhoon on Monday, unleashing dangerous winds and prompting authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of residents as it surged through the country’s central provinces.

THE FIGHT OVER ASIA'S RIVERS: CHINA AND INDIA RUSH TO BUILD MEGA-DAMS | FRANCE 24 

India and China are racing to build mega-dams along major rivers that would massively affect water supplies to both countries. The source of that water is a glacier in Tibet, which supplies millions of people with water downstream - and there are high political and economic stakes. 

THE ASIAN CANDIDATES CONTESTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SEATS IN WELLINGTON | RNZ INDO

Asian communities in New Zealand are watching local body elections in the Wellington region with anticipation, with three individuals of Asian origin eyeing the top job.

Southeast Asia is entering a period of intensifying strategic competition. The region’s governments are increasing military spending and broadening defence partnerships in response to external pressures and internal vulnerabilities.

Findings from the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index and its recent report Southeast Asia’s Evolving Defence Partnerships highlight both the scale of investment in defence and the shifting web of military relationships shaping the region’s security future.

Lowy’s Asia Power Index ranks countries on their ability to generate and sustain military power. While Southeast Asian states remain far below major powers such as the United States, China, and Japan in raw spending, the trajectory in the region shows a clear upward trend.

Defence procurement and research in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam rose by US $2.7 billion between 2022 and 2024. On average, defence expenditure hovers around 1.5 percent of GDP—modest compared with NATO’s 2 percent benchmark, but significant for developing economies facing competing social demands.

What stands out is not just the level of spending but the drivers behind it. Rising tensions in the South China Sea, uncertainty over Taiwan, and global conflicts with ripple effects in Asia have forced governments to modernise their militaries. Budgets increasingly prioritise high-end capabilities such as submarines, drones, and cyber-warfare systems, reflecting recognition that traditional platforms alone cannot meet future threats.

The Strategic Calculus: Balancing Great Powers

Southeast Asia sits at the crossroads of U.S.–China competition. For regional states, defence spending is only part of the response; the other is cultivating a wide range of security partners.

The Lowy Institute’s partnership index ranks the United States as the region’s most important defence partner, followed by Australia and Japan. China, despite its growing military might and active diplomacy, ranks only eighth in terms of formal defence ties. This imbalance underscores how most Southeast Asian states continue to view Washington and its allies as critical for balancing Beijing, even as they engage China economically.

One enduring multilateral mechanism is the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), linking Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK. Established in 1971, the FPDA continues to conduct regular joint exercises and has expanded into newer areas such as counter-terrorism, cyber-defence, and humanitarian assistance. Its longevity shows the value of long-term institutionalised defence cooperation.

At the bilateral level, Singapore’s defence relationship with the United States exemplifies how regional states hedge. Joint exercises, training access, and cooperation on new domains like unmanned systems highlight how smaller states leverage partnerships to build capacity without overcommitting politically.

Continue reading on AMC website

-Asia Media Centre

ZULA

ZULA is a Singaporean digital media platform and YouTube channel launched in early 2017 that creates daily content for millennial and Gen Z women.

Their editorial pillars—Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle, and Perspectives—cover everything from trend-driven beauty tips and fashion guides to candid stories on relationships, social issues, and mental health. ZULA prides itself on embracing unconventional and underrepresented voices, offering honest reviews and alternative perspectives on topics like single motherhood, LGBTQ+ experiences, and sustainability—all while maintaining a trustworthy, feminist-forward brand ethos.