标签： Asia

Deep within an industrial wasteland on the eastern bank of the Nile, three inconspicuous, half-finished buildings stand surrounded by a minefield. For months, residents were warned by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters to avoid this walled compound. Inside, authorities discovered machinery and chemical products allegedly used to produce approximately 1,000 captagon pills per hour. This cheap, addictive amphetamine, popular among fighters and partygoers in the Middle East, has become a significant concern for Arab governments. The RSF reportedly distributes the drug to its fighters to enhance alertness and suppress hunger, while also selling it to civilians for profit. Until recently, Syria was the primary hub for captagon production. However, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government disrupted the industry, leading to the shutdown of numerous laboratories and smuggling routes. Despite this, Sudan’s ongoing conflict has provided fresh opportunities for captagon production. Earlier this year, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) forced the RSF out of Khartoum and its surrounding areas, uncovering a captagon factory near the al-Jaili oil refinery in February. The facility contained five machines, two of which were operational at the time of discovery. Authorities also found pills bearing the double crescent symbol, a hallmark of illegal captagon production. The other machines were still in their packaging, suggesting the facility was in its early stages of operation. Shipping labels on the equipment indicated it was imported via a Dubai-based company, Amass Middle East Shipping Services, though the company did not respond to inquiries. The UAE has been accused of supplying arms to the RSF, though it denies these allegations. Experts noted the equipment’s similarity to that found in Syrian laboratories, raising concerns about a potential connection between Sudanese and Syrian criminal networks. The compound also contained hundreds of packets of white powder, labeled as veterinary supplements and electrolytes, though their contents remain under investigation. Sudanese police suspect the powder could be precursor materials for captagon production. The discovery of this factory follows earlier findings of captagon labs in Sudan, indicating a growing trend. Authorities are investigating whether the drug was being manufactured for export, given the lucrative Gulf market just across the Red Sea. The collapse of the Syrian captagon market has left a void, and Sudan appears to be filling it. Experts warn that the technical knowledge to produce captagon remains intact and could be redeployed elsewhere, posing a continued threat to regional security.

In July 2025, the southern Syrian province of Sweida became the epicenter of a deadly sectarian conflict between the Druze religious minority and Sunni Arabs, backed by government-affiliated forces. The clashes resulted in hundreds of casualties, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes in support of the Druze. This violence echoed the March 2025 massacres, where supporters of the former Assad regime targeted security units, leading to retaliatory killings of Alawites by militias aligned with the new Damascus government. Over 1,300 individuals, predominantly Alawites, were killed, with reports of entire families being executed. Despite government promises of investigations, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, and home invasions persist, particularly against Alawites. The conflict underscores the deep-seated sectarian divisions in post-Assad Syria, where religious minorities like the Alawites and Druze face systemic marginalization and violence. While the new government seeks to project unity, its fractured control and the historical stigmatization of these groups continue to fuel instability. International efforts, including U.S.-brokered ceasefires and Israeli military support for the Druze, add further complexity to the region’s fragile political landscape.

The 21st century has witnessed a seismic shift in global power dynamics, with China’s rapid ascent challenging traditional notions of military and economic dominance. The Thucydides Trap, a theory predicting inevitable conflict between a rising power and an established one, may have been averted due to China’s strategic maneuvers and the obsolescence of expeditionary navies. Recent events in the South China Sea, the Black Sea, and the Red Sea have demonstrated that traditional naval power is no longer the ultimate arbiter of global influence. China’s focus on building airstrips, missile sites, and naval bases in the South China Sea has extended its maritime security perimeter, while its anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) have rendered US carrier strike groups (CSGs) ineffective. The US Navy’s inability to respond decisively to challenges in the Red Sea and the South China Sea has exposed its limitations, leading to a reevaluation of alliances and strategies. Japan, South Korea, and other nations are increasingly realigning with China, recognizing its economic and technological prowess. China’s manufacturing sector, scientific output, and human capital pipeline have surpassed those of the US, solidifying its position as the established power. As nations adapt to this new reality, the speed of realignment will be astonishing, potentially benefiting all involved and allowing the US to focus on domestic recovery after decades of global hegemony.

China has announced the conditional resumption of seafood imports from select regions of Japan, effective immediately. The decision, disclosed by the Foreign Ministry on Monday, comes with stringent safeguards to ensure public health and food safety. Mao Ning, the ministry’s spokesperson, emphasized that the move aligns with Chinese laws, international trade regulations, and scientific assessments. However, China retains the authority to impose immediate restrictions should any risks emerge. The announcement follows the General Administration of Customs’ Sunday declaration, which outlined the resumption of imports from certain Japanese areas while maintaining a ban on products from 10 prefectures, including Fukushima. These regions remain excluded due to ongoing concerns over radioactive wastewater discharges from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which began in August 2023. China, previously the largest overseas market for Japanese seafood, had imposed a comprehensive ban following the wastewater release. Mao highlighted that Japan has agreed to international monitoring and independent sampling by China, pledging to ensure the safety of exported aquatic products. Despite the conditional resumption, China reiterated its opposition to Japan’s ocean discharge practices, underscoring the need for long-term risk management and international collaboration.

On June 28, 2025, four giant pandas from Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, embarked on their journey back to China. The pandas, 24-year-old Rauhin and her three daughters—Yuihin (8), Saihin (6), and Fuhin (4)—were transported to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province. The departure marked the end of their stay in Japan, where they had been part of a joint breeding program initiated in 1994. Early in the morning, park staff and fans gathered to bid farewell, waving flags and wearing T-shirts adorned with images of the pandas. The zoo’s director, Koji Imazu, expressed his hopes for the pandas’ healthy and long lives in China, emphasizing their role in fostering goodwill between the two nations. The transfer was scheduled for June to avoid the physical strain of summer heat, especially for Rauhin, who is now in her senior years. The younger pandas are expected to contribute to future breeding efforts in China. The zoo’s panda breeding team ensured a smooth transition by sharing detailed information about each panda’s traits with their Chinese counterparts.