US–China Election Row: Trump softened his tone on alleged Chinese election meddling, saying Washington would “talk to them” and hinting the US does similar things, even as Rubio prepares to raise concerns. US–China AI Diplomacy: Reuters reports high-level AI talks are set for September ahead of Xi’s planned late-September visit, while US officials warn China’s “open-weight” models could trigger sanctions over IP theft. ASEAN Front: Rubio arrives in Manila for ASEAN and East Asia Summit meetings, with a likely Rubio–Wang Yi meeting focused on preparing a possible Trump–Xi follow-up. South China Sea Flashpoint: China and the Philippines trade accusations after a Second Thomas Shoal clash involving sticks and oars; China says it allowed transfer of an injured Filipino, while Washington condemns Beijing’s “dangerous and aggressive” conduct. Japan–China–Russia Military Signaling: Japan protested China–Russia live-fire drills in Japan’s EEZ near Okinotori; China rejects Tokyo’s EEZ claims. China–Europe Trade Politics: Wang Yi tells EU lawmakers to keep ties as a partnership and avoid politicizing trade, while Hungary’s BYD deal faces scrutiny after a leadership shift. Domestic China Watch: China’s property slump persists into a fourth year, and a trial-run phase begins for a major heavy-ion accelerator; regulators also fast-track a flexible implantable BCI device.