Philippines-China Security Ties: Manila’s defense chief Gilberto Teodoro said any warmer relationship with Beijing hinges on whether China builds a government “other countries can trust,” stressing no issue with the Chinese people but criticism of China’s regional behavior. Shangri-La Dialogue Messaging: A Chinese PLA scholar at the Singapore forum questioned Japan’s “qualification” to discuss defense cooperation, pointing to Tokyo Trials history and warning against any return of militarism. U.S.-China Military Posture: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged “drama-free” ties and called for a “stable equilibrium,” while China’s absence at the top level drew criticism from Australia as a missed chance for direct reassurance. Defense Hardware & Escalation Risks: Reports say a Chinese-made MANPADS may have been behind an April U.S. F-15E shootdown over Iran, while Japan-linked monitoring says China deployed a Type 054B frigate with the Liaoning carrier in the Western Pacific. EV Battery Recycling Crackdown: China plans tighter rules for recycling retired EV batteries, targeting illegal disposal and tracking battery flows with digital tools. Tech & Society: China’s universities vowed zero-tolerance for academic misconduct; meanwhile, Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” fraud case in Beijing begins with 10 owners seeking damages. Space & Culture: Shenzhou-21 astronauts returned to Beijing after a record 210 days; China also promoted International Children’s Day events abroad, including in Zimbabwe.