This July, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting took place in the Philippines at a time when the bloc is simultaneously facing pressure from the growing rivalry between the United States and China, Russia's increasing engagement with the region, the economic repercussions of the war involving Iran, and rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Data published by the World Health Organization shows that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over the age of 60 will rise from 12% to 22%. In absolute terms, this corresponds to an increase from nearly 1 billion to more than 2.1 billion individuals. Even more significant is the fact that, since 2020, people over 60 have outnumbered children under five, marking a historic inversion of the age pyramid.

Since 2025, Japan and South Korea have been reshaping their bilateral relations by prioritizing a strategic cooperation agenda despite the persistence of historical and territorial disputes. Unlike previous periods, the current governments have sought to compartmentalize sensitive issues, including Japan’s colonial legacy, wartime compensation, and the Dokdo/Takeshima islands dispute, preventing these disagreements from overshadowing cooperation in areas of shared interest.

In recent weeks, a meeting took place between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT), one of Taiwan’s main opposition political parties.The meeting was held in Beijing and involved Chinese President Xi Jinping and the KMT’s leading figure, Cheng Li-Wun. Its focus was the resumption of dialogue between Taiwan and China. In Taiwan, the KMT positions itself as a party favorable to rapprochement with China.