November 23 - November 29
China
The Supreme People’s Court released eight guiding cases on domestic violence, placing particular emphasis on psychological domestic abuse as a legally actionable offense. Two cases exclusively involve psychological abuse, with the remaining six involving physical violence. The cases emphasize that patterns of humiliation and threats of self-harm by spouses constitute domestic violence under Chinese law, and that violent discipline of children is legally recognized as abuse.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) expelled a former top anti-graft official at the China Securities Regulatory Commission from the Communist Party for bribery and other serious violations. The CCDI said in a statement that Wang Huimin took advantage of his position to help others with company listings, job promotions, and other matters in exchange for huge bribes. It referred his case to prosecutors for review.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate issued work guidelines for handling public interest litigation cases related to the protection of minors. The 29 articles address the scope of public interest litigation, sources of case leads, key focus areas (including personal information protection and online safety), case-handling quality and efficiency, and the use of big data.
More than 7,000 online sales platforms including Amazon and TikTok have begun submitting merchant and worker income data to the State Taxation Administration in compliance with a new reporting requirement intended to boost tax payments by the internet sector. Caixin reported that authorities have found some merchants are conducting business without registration or fail to declare income earned from online operations.
The seventh China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum was held in Chongqing. The forums are held to promote the alignment of laws, rules, and standards in the fields of transport, digital economy, and green economy, as well as to optimize law enforcement cooperation in combating cross-border crimes and resolving cross-border disputes.
Hong Kong
The Independent Commission Against Corruption arrested eight persons and police arrested three others in connection with the fire that tore through seven residential high rises in Tai Po district, killing at least 128 persons. The death toll was expected to rise. Attention focused on the likely role played by bamboo scaffolding and plastic netting that surrounded the 31-story towers and polystyrene foam panels that were placed over many windows due to exterior renovations that began in 2024.
The government Labor Department confirmed that residents contacted it months ago to express concerns that materials used in the renovation were flammable. It said it had inspected the site repeatedly and warned the contractor about problems but did not provide details.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang said the netting met safety requirements. Critics pressed the government to make the use of fire-proof materials compulsory on construction sites.
Fire services chief Andy Yeung said alarm systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
Local media reported that a Hong Kong University student was arrested and accused of sedition after he initiated a petition urging the government to respond to four demands related to the fire. Miles Kwan distributed flyers for with a link to the Change.org petition calling for the government to ensure accommodation for displaced residents, launch an independent investigation, review the construction supervision system, and probe regulatory neglect.
The central government’s Hong Kong-based Office for Safeguarding National Security said those who those who use disasters to destabilize Hong Kong should be punished.
Japan
The Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan’s refusal to legalize same-sex marriage is constitutional in the last of six cases that are expected to be brought to the Supreme Court for a final and definitive ruling, possibly next year. The decision reverses a lower court ruling last year and was the first loss at the high court level among the six cases brought by those seeking equal marriage rights. More than 30 plaintiffs have joined the marriage equality lawsuits.
A government-appointed expert panel convened its first meeting to consider making it harder for foreigners to obtain work-eligible residency status and purchase real estate. The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called for a tougher immigration policy and other measures to alleviate what Takaichi calls “public anxieties.” The minority party Sanseito gained seats in the Upper House of parliament in July after campaigning on a “Japan First” platform that blamed foreign nationals for inflation and other problems.
The man standing trial for the 2022 fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the court that he was motivated by “despair and a sense of crisis” after Abe sent a supportive video message to the Unification Church. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, has acknowledged that he shot Abe with a homemade gun. Over the course of several days since his trial began on Oct. 28, Yamagami has testified that his mother bankrupted the family by making donations to the church.
The Hiroshima High Court ruled that the July election for the upper house of parliament was held in an unconstitutional state. It was the last in a series of sixteen similar lawsuits filed by two groups of lawyers across the country, and the eleventh to end in finding that the election - in which some votes had three times more value than others, largely because rural districts have smaller populations than urban ones - was conducted under unconstitutional conditions. The courts stopped short of nullifying the poll. The other five rulings concluded that the election was constitutional. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a unified judgment.
Koreas
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party submitted legislation to create a strategic investment fund to direct US$350 billion in investments into the United States in exchange for reducing US tariffs on Korean exports. The fund will be financed by income from the country’s foreign assets and government-backed bonds issued in offshore markets. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump agreed in October that Seoul will invest US $200 billion (capped at $20 billion annually) in various strategic US industries plus $150 billion earmarked for bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding.
The National Assembly approved a motion to arrest Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, former floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law bid last December. A special counsel team earlier filed for an arrest warrant for Choo for allegedly obstructing PPP lawmakers from participating in a National Assembly vote to lift Yoon's martial law decree. Sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while the legislature is in session and can be arrested only with the legislature’s consent. PPP lawmakers boycotted the vote.
The Seoul Central District Court heard closing arguments in the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on allegations that he aided ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol in imposing martial law. The court said it would issue its decision on Jan. 21, 2026. Prosecutors asked for a 15-year prison term for Han, who is accused of aiding and abetting Yoon in an insurrection. Han told the court that he tried to change Yoon’s mind, and never agreed to or assisted in imposing martial law.
A court reversed the regulator’s approval of the privatization of all-news TV channel YTN. The Korea Communications Commission (later reorganized and renamed the Korea Media and Communications Commission) in 2024 allowed the Eugene Group, a conglomerate without prior media sector holdings, to acquire a controlling 30.95 percent stake in YTN from two state-run companies. YTN’s employee stock ownership association challenged the transaction and the Seoul Administrative Court held that the regulator's approval was illegitimate because it was made by only two members of the commission's decision-making body.
The Jeonju District Court overturned the criminal conviction of a security guard who was prosecuted for taking a Choco Pie and custard cake from a workplace refrigerator. The total value of the snacks was 1,050 won (US$0.74). The original conviction and punishment (a $34 fine) had triggered nationwide outrage. The guard insisted he was innocent because he was told he could take the snacks and other workers did so; however, the company said he should not have because he was only a subcontractor. Under South Korea’s Security Services Act, a confirmed theft conviction would have barred the guard from working in the industry.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) called on the South Korean government to engage with civil servant unions to protect legitimate labor activities, including the right to voice opinions on economic and social policies affecting their workforce. ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association urged talks to clarify which union activities should be permitted.
The US State Department said it has increased the capacity of the US Embassy in Seoul to process more business visas for South Koreans, as the Trump administration tries to repair the damage from an immigration raid on a South Korean factory construction site in Georgia in September. ICE agents detained and deported 317 Koreans for alleged visa violations. Images of the shackled Koreans caused anger at home.
Taiwan
President Lai Ching-te said he plans to introduce a 1.25 trillion Taiwanese dollars (US$40 billion) special military budget to acquire more drones and unmanned boats and build an air defense system called the Taiwan Dome. The additional spending, which must be approved by the legislature, would bring Taiwan’s military outlays in 2026 to 3.3 percent of GDP. Legislators from the opposition Kuomintang Party (Nationalist or KMT), which, together with the Taiwan People’s Party controls the legislature, accused Lai of stirring domestic unrest and demanded that he address the legislature about his proposal. The recently elected chairwoman of the Nationalist Party, Cheng Li-wun, has called for dialogue with Beijing rather than increased military spending.
The Mainland Affairs Council said satellite photos show China is expanding air force and naval installations along its eastern coast facing Taiwan.
A group of civil society groups said they were forming a “Taiwan dome alliance” to support President Lai’s defense efforts and promote civilian defense awareness.
An official said the government will take measures to protect Taiwanese who are identified by China as separatists punishable under Chinese law.
Prosecutors raided the Taipei and Hsinchu homes of a former senior vice president at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) who is alleged to have leaked trade secrets to rival Intel. Lo Wei-jen (羅唯仁) left TSMC after more than two decades there. TSMC has sued Lo in Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court, alleging that he violated non-compete and confidentiality agreements and “likely transferred” sensitive technology to Intel. Prosecutors obtained court approval to freeze Lo’s real estate and stock holdings. Both Lo and Intel have denied the allegations.
The Kuomintang (Nationalist or KMT) Party proposed amending the Nationality Act and the 1992 Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area to allow mainland Chinese-born spouses who have lived in Taiwan long enough to obtain local ID cards to become civil servants or run for office. Mainland Chinese currently are classified as “foreigners” who require proof that they have renounced their original citizenship. Chinese authorities will not provide such proof for persons resident in Taiwan because they regard Taiwan as part of China. President Lai’s administration has been revoking the residency status of mainlanders who retain their original Chinese citizenship or household registration.