Philippines-China Ties: Manila’s defense chief Gilberto Teodoro said any future improvement with Beijing hinges on whether China builds a government “other countries can trust,” stressing no issue with the Chinese people but concern over China’s regional behavior. Shangri-La Diplomacy: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Asia Washington seeks “stable equilibrium” and a “drama-free” relationship with China, while critics say he avoided the region’s biggest flashpoints, including Taiwan and South China Sea tensions. Defense Forum Absence: Australia called China’s low-profile presence at Shangri-La a missed chance for strategic reassurance after Beijing sent mainly experts and scholars instead of its defense minister. Tesla FSD Lawsuit: A Beijing court held the first hearing in a consumer fraud case over Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving,” with 10 owners seeking refunds and triple damages, arguing marketing outpaced what older hardware could do. EV Battery Recycling: China is tightening rules on recycling retired EV batteries, aiming to curb illegal disposal and improve recovery of valuable metals. China-Russia Parliament: China’s top legislator Zhao Leji met Russian leaders in Moscow, pushing deeper parliamentary cooperation and implementing leaders’ consensus. China Tech & AI: A World Intelligence Expo in Tianjin showcased embodied AI and robotics, with international visitors saying China is moving fast in AI-driven industrial transformation. Macau Tourism: Macau hotels logged 4.86 million guests in Jan-April, up 1.9% year-on-year, led by mainland visitors.