West Philippine Sea Diplomacy: Philippines lodged a strong protest with China’s Wang Yi over Ayungin Shoal actions, while both sides reaffirmed efforts to conclude the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct this year and keep dialogue open. Pacific Climate Push: Pacific climate ministers met in Sydney to coordinate “one voice” ahead of COP31, calling unity a strategic necessity as talks enter a crucial run. China Tourism Experiences: Guilin’s rural areas are drawing visitors for cycling, hiking, bamboo rafting and via ferrata, while Sanya (Hainan) is speeding event approvals to boost tourism momentum. Sabah Tourism Integrity: Malaysia’s Sabah flagged “Ali Baba” nominee arrangements in Semporna as a threat to jobs and reputation, warning foreign operators may control the tourism value chain. India EV Charging Rollout: India allocated Rs 2,912.50 crore to expand EV public charging stations via FAME-II and PM E-DRIVE, including along national highways. India Travel & Work Services: India’s instant home-services platforms are formalizing domestic work for millions, shifting bookings and pay toward app-based systems. ASEAN Payments Upgrade: UOB and Visa relaunched premium Visa Infinite tiers across ASEAN, upgrading 300,000+ cardholders with expanded benefits. Taiwan Tourism Institute: Taiwan launched a tourism think tank in Taipei, targeting 10 million international visitors annually and pushing transport upgrades to cut travel times. Hotel Pricing Trend: A new hospitality market study says returns are increasingly driven by room rates rather than occupancy across multiple markets, including Asia.