Asia Intelligence Brief — Tuesday, August 11, 2026

August 11, 2026 - China is rebuilding its soybean relationship with the United States, pledging to buy a minimum of 25 million tonnes a year in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Brazil holds 73.6% of China's soybean import market, up from 71% the previous year, with a record 111.82 million tonnes imported that year. American soybeans carry a 13% duty into China, compared to 3% for Brazilian beans.

India has standardized the names of 27 locations and features in Arunachal Pradesh, in response to alleged Chinese incursions, which the Indian government publicly rejected. Bhutan completed its first nationwide airborne geophysical survey, indicating potential copper, tungsten, rare earth elements and geothermal resources, though ground verification is now underway.

Mongolia announced the cancellation of all regional and sectoral conferences and meetings, as well as international travel without government approval, due to global geopolitical uncertainty. Thai consumers lost about 272 million dollars to online fraud in the first half of 2026, with Facebook being the leading channel for these cases.