Brunei Business & Trade Links: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new office in Brunei, aiming to boost support for offshore, naval and logistics operations, including ship-to-ship agency services and added local partnerships for storage, transport and offshore fabrication. Regional Security & Infrastructure: Seventeen countries including Brunei launched the GUIDE framework at the Shangri-La Dialogue to strengthen defence cooperation and norms for protecting critical underwater infrastructure like subsea cables and energy links. South China Sea Watch: China’s coast guard said it carried out “law enforcement” patrols east of Taiwan amid Japan-Philippines maritime boundary talks, while China also stepped up patrols near Scarborough Shoal as Manila dismissed claims of coordinated drills. Defence Procurement Signals: India’s defence chief said a BrahMos deal with Vietnam is already signed (not yet publicly announced) and Indonesia’s is in final stages—potentially reshaping regional defence supply chains. ASEAN Business Climate: Vietnam and the Philippines issued a joint statement upgrading their strategic partnership to an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership,” with leaders also witnessing bilateral agreements and a business forum. Energy & Markets: Japan’s April crude imports showed Saudi dominance but a sharp drop, while Brunei appears among smaller suppliers.