India, China Thaw Diplomatic Relations After Freeze
8.2.25
India and China are thawing their icy ties after a five-year diplomatic freeze following a deadly Himalayan clash in 2020. The resumption of visa issuance for Chinese citizens by India has been welcomed by Beijing, while late last month, China allowed Indian pilgrims to return to Tibet, ending a pause imposed during the pandemic. Direct flights between the two countries are expected to resume soon, with hopes that Asia's two largest economies can move past years of suspicion and silence, despite a record trade deficit and lingering border row.
India has paused purchases of Russian crude oil due to lower discounts and steady demand, amid ongoing global tensions and US President Donald Trump's threat of 100% tariffs on countries importing Russian oil. India is the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, receiving about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil in January-June this year. The decision not to buy Russian crude is influenced by concerns over sanctions and the potential for Russia to retaliate by closing the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pipeline from Kazakhstan. India's state-owned refiners have stopped buying Russian oil after discounts narrowed, with the country relying heavily on Indian refiners for up to 70% of its Urals exports. The move comes as discounts shrink to their lowest since 2022, when Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow, and is seen as a way to maintain global energy stability by adhering to the $60 per barrel price cap framework.
India is trying to set up a similar network to China's, but its process is more complicated due to sourcing aircraft from multiple exporters. Retired UK Air Marshal Greg Bagwell said the May 7 battle showed the importance of situational awareness, with India deploying around 70 planes that provided Islamabad's PL-15s with a target-rich environment. Pakistan's electronic assault on Indian sensors and communications systems reduced the Rafale pilots' situational awareness, but Indian satellites were not jammed. India's defence attaché in Jakarta attributed losses to political constraints, while General Anil Chauhan said Delhi quickly rectified tactics after initial losses. Lt Gen Rahul Singh accused Pakistan of receiving "live inputs" from China during the battles, which Beijing denied as part of normal cooperation with Pakistan.
Indonesia Allows Pirate Flag as Form of Expression
8.2.25
Indonesia's Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto has clarified that citizens are not prohibited from flying the pirate flag inspired by the Japanese comic and animation series One Piece, as long as it does not contradict the Constitution. He emphasized that Indonesia's Red and White national flag must take precedence, but acknowledged the trend as a form of expression accepted by the government. The flag's symbolism, which originated in the One Piece universe as a symbol of freedom and defiance, has resonated with some Indonesians who have adopted it as a subtle form of protest or political expression.
Indonesia and Japan Strengthen Cultural Ties at Expo
8.2.25
Indonesia and Japan strengthened their cultural ties through the "Friend-Ship: Japan–Indonesia Cultural Dialogue" at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. Moeldoko presented a wayang-themed souvenir to Iehiro Tokugawa, a descendant of the influential Tokugawa clan, while Nanto Deputy Mayor Muneto Saito gifted a traditional Japanese hokora shrine to be placed in Indonesia. The event featured cross-cultural performances, including Japan's Kiyari Dance Group and Indonesia's Sukiyaki Steel Orchestra, as well as collaborations on a performance titled "Kyen" highlighting the arts as a universal language.
Indonesia and the US have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, with the goal of completing Indonesia's accession process to the OECD within three years. The two countries aim to improve trade and investment collaboration, streamline regulations, and address non-tariff barriers. Plans include exempting certain US companies from local content requirements in sectors like telecommunications and medical equipment, and reducing a 19% import tariff on select Indonesian goods to nearly zero percent.
Indonesia's Prabowo Grants Clemency to Lembong and Hasto
8.2.25
Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka stated that President Prabowo Subianto granted clemencies to former trade minister Tom Lembong and PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto after thorough deliberation, as Indonesia approaches its 80th independence anniversary on August 17. The decision aims to strengthen national unity by fostering a sense of brotherhood among all members of the nation, according to Vice President Rakabuming Raka.
Indonesia's Trade Deficit Surges with Chinese Imports
8.2.25
Indonesia's trade deficit widened significantly in the first half of 2025, largely due to increased imports. The country's trade deficit reached its largest size since 2018, with China being a major contributor to this increase.
Israeli Forces Fire Warning Shots in Gaza Border Clash
8.2.25
The UN has released a video showing Israeli forces firing warning shots into the ground as a crowd of people, including children, rushed towards a convoy of vehicles carrying food supplies near the Karam Abu Salem border crossing in southern Gaza. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the shooting took place despite warnings from aid workers and occurred just hours after Israeli forces had given them permission to pass through a checkpoint. The incident is part of growing international concern over Israel's restrictions on aid deliveries to Gaza, where at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food, with many more dying from hunger-related causes.