The Xi-Trump Meeting: What's on the Agenda

With Xi Jinping and Donald Trump set to meet in Beijing, the stakes extend well beyond the two superpowers. Graeme Acton looks at what’s on the table, from trade and Iran to Taiwan, and why the outcome could matter for New Zealand as much as anyone else.

Is Japan Remilitarizing – and if so what does it mean for New Zealand?

Japan is moving quickly to strengthen its military, marking one of the biggest shifts in its post-war history. Philip Turner unpacks what is driving this change, why Australia is paying close attention, and what it could mean for New Zealand.

Thaksin Is Back, But Thailand Has Changed

Thaksin Shinawatra is out on parole, but his influence over Thailand’s politics is far from over. Purawich Watanasukh looks at what Thaksin’s return means for the Pheu Thai Party and whether the Shinawatra name still carries the weight it once did.

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

EX-PHILIPPINE LEADER DUTERTE'S DRUG WAR ENFORCER ESCAPES ICC ARREST | BBC

A Filipino senator who oversaw former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs has taken refuge inside the country's Senate, hours before the International Criminal Court unsealed a warrant for his arrest.

VITAMINS OVER VACCINES: MISINFORMATION ENTRENCHED AMID INDONESIA MEASLES SURGE | THE STRAIT TIMES

Measles cases in Indonesia has soared, becoming the second-highest in the world behind only war-torn Yemen, according to the Indonesian Paediatric Association. More than 8,000 suspected cases and 10 deaths were recorded in the first three months of 2026, according to official data.

NARENDRA MODI URGES INDIANS TO CONSERVE FUEL AMID WAR ON IRAN | ALJAZEERA

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is urging people to re-adopt the same measures used during COVID-19. He is calling for a reduction in the use of petrol and diesel as fallout from the US-Israeli war on Iran drives steep price increases.

COMMENTARY: SINGAPORE-NEW ZEALAND 'WORLD-FIRST' TRADE PACT IS A BOLD COMMITMENT IN TIMES OF CRISIS | CNA

Amid growing worries about energy and food supplies, the agreement is more than a reaction to the ongoing war in the Middle East, says Hinrich Foundation’s Deborah Elms.

Southeast Asian leaders adopted a contingency plan Friday to cushion their people and economies from the effects of the Iran War, even as they acknowledged that key measures like a regional fuel reserve would be difficult to put in place quickly.

The 48th ASEAN Summit, hosted by the Philippines on the central island province of Cebu, was stripped of its traditional fanfare at the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a reflection of the economic strain gripping the region. Rising fuel costs, disrupted trade routes and the threat of mass evacuations from the Middle East have cast a shadow over Southeast Asia since the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28.

The plan adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations calls for coordinated emergency fuel sharing, the development of a regional power grid and fuel stockpile, and a diversification of crude oil sources away from the Middle East. It also includes measures to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and to study the feasibility of civilian nuclear energy as a long-term alternative.

Marcos cautioned that while some steps would move forward immediately, others, particularly the fuel stockpile and power grid, would take considerably longer to materialise.

"Let's talk about the fuel reserve. Is it going to be in one single place? Is it going to be scattered through the whole of ASEAN?" he said at a press briefing after the summit. A regional power grid connecting member states had been under discussion for years but had only been realised at a limited scale, he noted.

Despite the complexity, he said leaders remained united in their resolve. "They are committed to making this succeed because everyone is suffering and everyone wants to get out of this situation."

The Philippines is among the countries hardest hit by the fuel price spikes triggered by the conflict with 98% of its oil are being imported from the Middle East.

A central concern at the summit was the safety of more than a million Southeast Asian nationals living and working across the Middle East. Domestic workers, construction labourers, healthcare professionals and engineers from across the region form a significant part of the Gulf's workforce, and their remittances are a vital source of income for countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Viet Nam.

Several Southeast Asian citizens have been killed since hostilities began. Sporadic exchanges have continued despite a ceasefire that has now been in place for a month, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil supply passes.

The threat of renewed large-scale conflict and the logistical challenge of evacuating large numbers of workers remained an unresolved issue for leaders at the summit.

A joint declaration issued by the bloc called on member states to share information and strengthen coordination with international organisations to ensure the safety and welfare of their citizens in affected areas. Leaders acknowledged, however, that a rapid large-scale evacuation would stretch the region's capacities.

Marcos told fellow leaders the war had exposed deep vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia's economic architecture and warned that the damage would outlast the conflict itself. "Even if the tensions de-escalate in time, the damage to critical infrastructure, to vital systems and trust in general will continue to be felt for years to come," he said. Southeast Asia would remain in a state of limbo until the fighting stopped entirely, he added. "Until the fighting ends, until the bombing ends, then it is very difficult to put together any kind of solution."

Continue reading on the website.

-Asia Media Centre

Thai Festival 2026: “Sawasdee New Zealand, 70 Years of Friendship” to Celebrate Thailand – New Zealand Relations

Experience a taste of Thailand in the capital as Royal Thai Embassy and the Thai community present "Thai Festival 2026: Sawasdee New Zealand, 70 years of Friendship."

Marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between Thailand and New Zealand, the free public festival promises a lively day of culture, food and celebration. 

Visitors can enjoy traditional performances, authentic Thai cuisine, Muay Thai workshops, meditation sessions, Thai massage, cultural exhibitions, quizzes, giveaways and luck draw prizes. 

📅 Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026

⏰ Time: 10am–4pm (Opening Ceremony at 10.45am)

📍 Venue: Michael Fowler Centre

🎟️ Admission: Free entry

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