Rubio and Wang Meet as Xi’s U.S. Visit Stays on Track

• President Trump softened his tone on alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election ahead of talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, saying the matter occurred long ago and playing down retaliation.
• Rubio said Xi Jinping’s expected September visit to the United States remains on track despite bilateral tensions over trade, technology, critical minerals, and maritime security, and Beijing confirmed the two sides remain in communication about leader-level exchanges later this year.

U.S., Japan, and South Korea Reaffirm Trilateral Deterrence

• The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States, and Japan met Wednesday and reaffirmed close coordination on North Korea policy, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry, convening on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Manila.
• The meeting comes as North Korea continues strengthening its ties with China and Russia, keeping trilateral security cooperation at the center of the allies’ regional agenda.

Seoul Reveals Yearlong Breach of Diplomatic Academy

• South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said a significant amount of data may have been exposed in a cyberattack on the Korea National Diplomatic Academy’s online education system, with attackers exploiting a zero-day vulnerability and controlling a server from as early as April 2025 until February 2026.
• Authorities are examining possible foreign state-backed involvement, including a North Korea link, but say they lack sufficient evidence to assign blame.

Thailand Deepens Tech Ties with Beijing

• China and Thailand pledged deeper technology and innovation cooperation following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s five-day visit to China, framed by both sides as driving a “prosperous shared future.”
• Anutin ordered ministries and agencies to prepare urgent action plans after the visit produced 15 memoranda of understanding covering infrastructure, AI, investment, trade, future industries, education, and space.

Pacific Islands Forum Stalls on China Missile Response

• Australian PM Anthony Albanese called China’s Pacific missile launch a “provocative act,” with New Zealand, Tuvalu, and Fiji also condemning the test, and Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale declaring it was “not the act of a friend.”
• A promised Pacific Islands Forum statement has been delayed by disagreement among members over the wording of the text, with the issue likely to be discussed at a forum foreign ministers’ meeting in August.

U.S. Tariff on Brazil Takes Effect

• A 25% U.S. tariff on various Brazilian products took legal effect on July 22, prompting the federal government to open immediate credit lines for affected export sectors.
• The trade shock hit as the region’s finances diverged, with Moody’s lifting Argentina’s sovereign rating from Caa1 to B3 even as private credit delinquency reached 9.7% of formally financed adults.