Africa Intelligence Brief — Monday, August 10, 2026

Asia Intelligence Brief for August 10 reports Southeast Asian nations are competing for the same semiconductor capital that Mexico and Brazil are pursuing. Thailand announced a national semiconductor plan, Malaysia allocated over US$45 million to advanced chip packaging, and Vietnam strengthened regional cooperation in the semiconductor sector.

China's artificial intelligence industry reached US$176.7 billion in 2025, with a 40% growth rate, while consumer prices fell by 0.1% in July. Meanwhile, El Niño is tightening the region's food market, with China Daily warning of risks to food security due to El Niño. In Japan, a food tax cut will cost around 10 trillion yen, while the government also aims to cap supplementary budgets.

This shift in fiscal policy is happening simultaneously with a move to shorten the working day due to extreme heat. Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia has suspended nine routes from Bangkok's main airport due to fuel costs, and Laos is subsidizing pump prices. Four governments within Southeast Asia are unveiling semiconductor strategies within a three-week period, while South Korea has also started reducing working hours due to the extreme heat.

Japan's foreign ministry expressed disagreement with Japan's latest defense white paper, leading to a formal protest from South Korea. The situation has led investors to consider production sites outside North Asia.