China: Abbot of Shaolin Temple sentenced to 24 years in prison

Today’s news: Israel launches electronic land registry in the West Bank, another step towards annexation. To Lam at the Shangri-La security summit: the Asia-Pacific region must be a bastion of stability. First monsoons in Southeast Asia, but India fears this year’s rains will be less intense than in recent years due to El Niño. An Indian woman underwent robotic telesurgery in Hyderabad performed by a surgeon based in Wuhan.

CHINA

The former abbot of the famous Shaolin Temple, considered the birthplace of kung fu, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for offences including embezzlement and corruption. According to a court in the Chinese province of Henan, Shi Yongxin is alleged to have embezzled temple assets worth over 282 million yuan (approximately 42 million dollars) between 2003 and 2025. Furthermore, he is alleged to have exploited his position to illegally obtain millions of yuan from construction projects linked to the temple and to pay substantial bribes to Chinese officials. Shi has stated that he will not appeal the verdict. His case has sparked debate because – despite allegations against him having circulated for years – they only came to light after he reportedly lost the Party’s protection for having made an ‘unauthorised’ visit to the Vatican in January 2025.

ISRAEL-PALESTINE

Israel has launched a new electronic system called Land Registry and Settlement of Rights in the Palestinian territories, seen by many observers as a further step towards the administrative annexation of the West Bank. The project follows a decision by the Israeli government in May 2025 and involves the registration of approximately 58% of the land in Area C, equivalent to around 35% of the West Bank, as part of a process defined by Israel as the “regularisation of property rights”. The fear is that bureaucratic requirements impossible to meet in a territory where pre-1967 property rights were based on customary agreements will serve to further strip many Palestinian families of their rights.

SINGAPORE

Any solution to the numerous crises threatening global stability should originate in the Asia-Pacific region, as this is where such challenges converge most clearly. This was stated by Vietnamese President To Lam in his opening address at the region’s security summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue. To Lam repeatedly emphasised the importance of upholding an international order based on shared rules, exercising restraint in disputes and strengthening mutual trust between states. In another highly anticipated speech today, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth praised Indo-Pacific partners for responding positively to the Trump administration’s call to allocate 3.5% of GDP to defence. Among these, he mentioned Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, but omitted Taiwan. He also stated that relations between the United States and China are better than in previous years, but warned against the Asian power’s rapid military growth.

INDIA-CHINA

In Hyderabad, India, a 57-year-old woman suffering from a ureteral obstruction underwent robot-assisted surgeryperformed by Dr Syed Mohammad Ghouse, who was located some 3,900 kilometres away in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The doctor, a specialist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, was in China for a conference but was able to perform the operation thanks to robotic telesurgery technology. An assistant was present alongside the patient to provide support and manage any emergencies. The procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes and was successfully completed.

ASIA

The Philippine Meteorological Office PAGASA announced on Saturday 30 May the arrival of the south-west monsoon, known as habagat. Recent analyses show south-westerly winds in the western part of the country, strengthened by the presence of Typhoon Domeng (Jangmi) within the Philippine area of responsibility. The onset of the monsoon could mark the start of the rainy season, which usually runs from late May or early June until October or November. Meanwhile, India forecasts that in 2026 the monsoon affecting its territory this season will be weakened by the El Niño phenomenon, reducing rainfall to its lowest level in the last 11 years. This is fuelling fears for agricultural harvests: the monsoon provides around 70% of the annual rainfall needed to replenish water resources.

RUSSIA-KAZAKHSTAN

Russian President Vladimir Putin, visiting Astana for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) forum, congratulated Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the establishment in the country of the International Organisation for the Russian Language, implementing an agreement reached in October 2023 by the leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to develop relations and strengthen cooperation in promoting Russian as a language of inter-state communication.

TURKMENISTAN

In the context of the development of relations between the European Union and Turkmenistan, the International Partnership for Human Rights and the Turkmen Human Rights Initiative highlight the key issues that the EU is urged to raise during the upcoming Dialogue scheduled for 22 June in Ashgabat, such as restrictions on press freedom and internet censorship, the lack of space for civic activism, the forced mobilisation of citizens to participate in state-sponsored public events, and other sensitive issues.