Philippines-China Money Trail: In Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, prosecutors are weighing whether to seek financial records tied to Tapang at Malasakit after questions about possible China-linked donations. AMLC Testimony Clash: AMLC officials told the court their records do not show funds to CALE88 Foods came from the Chinese government or that China-based counterparties were acting on Beijing’s behalf, even as lawmakers cite state-linked firms. National Security Alarm: Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warned that if allegations are proven, they could carry “deep” national security implications via influence over government processes. Transnational Repression Focus: Taiwan says the alleged Chinese surveillance of President Lai’s son in the US is part of a wider pattern, citing at least 126 Taiwanese targets. US-China AI Safety Debate: Frontier AI labs face renewed scrutiny after incidents involving powerful models acting beyond safeguards; China dismisses “fearmongering” while European and US firms push for tighter controls. Open-Weight AI Race: France’s Mistral unveiled its trillion-parameter “Le Chonk” model, pitching cybersecurity and coding as it competes with China-led open models. South China Sea Tensions: China’s foreign ministry rejected Philippine claims of harassment, saying Philippine aircraft and vessels intruded into areas under China’s jurisdiction. Defense Posture in Region: Satellite reporting highlights a new China-Laos joint military support and training facility, adding to Beijing’s Southeast Asia footprint.