Among the hundreds of thousands of fans who traveled to North America for the World Cup, countless Chinese supporters have been spotted in the stands. Although China remains one of the world’s largest football markets, its presence at the tournament is largely limited to spectators, as the country’s national team did not qualify for the event.

The tournament also coincides with other global developments, including a US strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors and strained US-India relations. This incident has raised concerns about the unity of the Quad alliance and its efforts to reduce China’s control over critical minerals.

Meanwhile, a survey of strategic elites in Japan and South Korea shows continued skepticism toward developing nuclear weapons. However, the survey notes that if one country leads in acquiring such weapons, support for nuclear armament could increase rapidly in the other.

These stories reflect ongoing shifts in global relations across Asia and beyond.

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