In Asian media this week: Trump says he spoke to Modi but India denies call took place. Plus: Japan’s new coalition a shift to the right; Timor Leste finally gets seat at regional table; Life worse than death on Myanmar scam farm; Prabowo – control, populism and diminished accountability; Sri Lanka suffers from world’s worst plastics spill.

A repost from 25 October 2025

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled a trip to the imminent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, avoiding any possibility of a meeting with Donald Trump.

The Hindu newspaper reported Modi was expected to attend the summit, being held from 26 to 28 October, along with Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The summit presented an opportunity to meet all his counterparts from the Quad nations — the US, Japan and Australia — as well as key leaders from the BRICS countries, the paper said.

But the Financial Express later reported that Modi would skip the summit, in person, and would only take part virtually, meaning he would not meet Trump.

Modi had called Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and said he could not attend in person because the event coincided with Diwali (the Hindu festival of lights). Anwar posted on Facebook: “He informed me he will be attending virtually.”

Relations between India and the US have been strained since Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports to America as punishment for India’s purchase of Russian oil.

Asian media outlets reported in late August that Modi was refusing to take calls from Trump.

Modi’s withdrawal from personal attendance at the summit followed a statement by Trump that India would reduce Russian oil imports to almost nothing by the end of the year. The Statesman newspaper said he cited an assurance from Modi.

“India told me they would stop,” Trump said. “It’s a process; you can’t just stop it. But by the end of the year, they will be down to almost nothing.

“India has been great. Spoke to Prime Minister Modi yesterday and they have been absolutely great.”

But India’s Ministry of External Affairs said there has been no phone call between Modi and Trump the previous day.

A spokesman said the two leaders had spoken on 9 October, and Modi had congratulated Trump on the Gaza peace plan.

“On the question of whether there was a conversation or a telephone call between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, I am not aware of any conversation yesterday,” the spokesman said.

The Hindu later said the Indian delegation to the ASEAN summit would be led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The ministry did not give any reason for cancellation of Modi’s trip, the paper said.

Takaichi to tell Trump of higher defence spending

Sanae Takaichi was elected as Japan’s new prime minister this week, after forging a fresh ruling coalition.

Her Liberal Democratic Party linked with the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin), after Komeito, its partner for 26 years, ended the old alliance.

A commentary in Nikkei Asia, the politics and business news service, said the new coalition represented an ideological shift to the right.

Komeito, it said, was a politically moderating force within the old coalition. Japan Innovation........

© Pearls and Irritations