Latest news for 20 August 2025

CHINA

We’re not interfering.

China’s embassy in Tonga has rejected claims it’s interfering in local Pacific Island affairs, amid reports Beijing was pressuring 2026 host Solomon Islands not to invite Taiwan to a regional summit. In the end, the Solomons famously just uninvited all external partners this year (including China and the US). (Facebook)

Comment: China’s very same statement rejecting claims of interference also calls on the Pacific Islands (three of whom recognise Taiwan) to “correct” a 1992 regional statement that paved the way for Taiwan’s ongoing participation.

INDIA

Can’t play that.

The Indian government is moving to ban online games where users can potentially win real money prizes, citing addiction concerns. Real-money games generated $3.8B in revenue in India’s 2023–24 financial year. (TechCrunch)

SYRIA

Rebuilding trust.

Syria and Israel have continued US-mediated talks in Paris this week, aimed at de-escalating things in southern Syria (where sectarian clashes have left at least 1,400 dead). It’s also billed as addressing security concerns Israel has cited in justifying its airstrikes. (France24)

Comment: The other big US-brokered dance is happening next-door in Lebanon, where the cabinet recently made a historic commitment to disarm Hezbollah. Trump’s envoy (Tom Barrack), attending the Syria talks in Paris, has just cited this Lebanese step in his calls for Israel to withdraw its final units from Lebanon’s south, though Israel wants to see the disarming in action first.

POLAND

Piece of the pie.

Poland is pushing ahead with plans to levy a 3% tax on (predominantly American) tech giants, following through on its announcement from March. Warsaw is flagging this could generate $550M in its first year (as early as 2027). (Euractiv)

Comment: It’ll remain an irritant with NATO ally the United States, though that 3% rate might keep the issue relatively low on any DC priority list for now.

THAILAND

Legal action.

Bangkok says it’s preparing to sue Cambodia’s ruling father/son duo for directing the kingdom’s military to infringe Thailand’s borders last month. The government is pursuing the case in Thailand’s own courts rather than via the International Court of Justice, which Bangkok says has no jurisdiction in the matter. (The Independent)

Comment: The Cambodians obviously won’t participate in a domestic Thai case, so this looks more like red meat for an angry home electorate. Border negotiations between the two neighbours are due to continue from 27 August.

VENEZUELA

Ahoy!

The US is describing its deployment of three destroyers off Venezuela as an effort to combat drug cartels. (AP)

Comment: In Caracas, of course, it’ll be seen as a broader flex of US power, right as DC upgrades its bounty on dictator Maduro to $50M.

AFGHANISTAN

Welcome back.

China’s top envoy Wang Yi has arrived in Afghanistan for a little-publicised trilateral meeting with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts. (Al Monitor)

Comment: China has yet to officially recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government, though in practice they’ve exchanged ambassadors since 2023.