Data compiled by the US research firm Descartes Datamyne shows that in September, the number of container ships shipped from Asia to the US was 1,696,044 (converted to 20-foot equivalent units), a 10% decrease year-on-year. This is the first time in three months that shipments have fallen below the previous year’s levels, with the decline in shipments originating from China widening.

Container shipments originating from mainland China to the US decreased by 18% year-on-year, a significant increase from the 6% decline in August. The US-China tariff conflict has brought cargo transportation to a standstill.

Normally, July to September is a period when businesses stock up for the year-end trade war in the US, leading to a surge in goods shipments. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding tariff negotiations, some businesses have shipped Chinese goods ahead of schedule or shifted their sourcing to countries outside of China, resulting in a significant decrease in shipments originating from China.

Cargo shipments originating from Southeast Asia and South Asia, however, continued to grow. Vietnam, which ranks second only to China in container shipments to the US after China, saw a 19% year-on-year increase in September. Shipments from India increased by 2%, and those from Malaysia increased by 86%. Shipments from Thailand decreased by only 1%, a relatively small drop.

On the other hand, container shipments from South Korea to the US decreased by 18%, from Taiwan by 19%, and from Japan by 11%.

By commodity category, furniture, the largest category in terms of shipment volume, decreased by 9%. Shipments of consumer-related goods such as toys and sporting goods (down 20%) also declined. Electronic and electrical products (down 18%) and automotive-related products (down 16%) also performed poorly.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its container import forecast on October 8th, showing that US container imports are expected to decrease by 12% year-on-year in October and by 19% in November. Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s head of supply chain and tariff policy, pointed out, “Because retailers had already stocked up on imports before the tariffs took effect, the peak season for this year is effectively over.”

Following the Myanmar government’s large-scale crackdown on KK rings, locals reported that many KK ring workers moved to nearby rings, which continue to operate normally.

According to Thai media reports, another 100-acre (40-hectare) ring near Mae Thao Talai Village, not far from the KK ring, is still operating normally. Locals say at least a dozen rings between Myawaddy and Mae Thao Talai are operating normally, and that scammers who fled the KK rings have relocated to these rings.

With the ASEAN summit expected to discuss the crackdown on scams, Myanmar is under pressure to take a tougher stance against the rings. From October 24th to 27th, the Myanmar military carried out daily demolitions at the KK rings. The explosions were so powerful that they could be heard in Mae Sot, Thailand, and thick smoke filled the air for several minutes. Thailand stated that Myanmar had informed the Thai side of the crackdown in advance, and Thai officials used loudspeakers to warn residents near the border to exercise caution. The explosions reportedly did not affect Thai territory.

Reports indicate that while the KK campus was subjected to continuous blasting, operations at other nearby campuses were not affected. A staff member at a scam campus in Myawaddy stated that operations remained normal and employees were still able to access the company-provided internet. SpaceX previously announced it had cut service to over 2,500 Starlink devices at the KK campus, but the campus still had access to Mytel Telecom in Myanmar and fiber optic lines from Thailand.

Currently, due to the Myanmar government’s crackdown on scam campuses, the number of people leaving Myanmar and entering Thailand has risen to 1,525. Thai authorities expect the number of foreigners entering the country to increase further in the coming days. Authorities will discuss the issue with the National Security Council to determine the management protocols, legal procedures, and funding needed to handle the influx.

On October 28, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun hosted a regular press conference.

A Japanese TV reporter asked: US President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first meeting, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the US-Japan alliance. What is China’s comment?

Guo Jiakun emphasized that due to Japan’s history of modern militarist aggression, Japan’s military and security developments have always drawn close attention from its Asian neighbors and the international community. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. We urge Japan to earnestly respect the security concerns of its neighbors, deeply reflect on its history of aggression, adhere to the path of peaceful development, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions.

On the 15th local time, international gold prices (金価格)continued their upward trend, supported by rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut and increased safe-haven demand driven by global trade tensions. London spot gold prices hit a new intraday high of $4,200.23 per ounce. New York gold futures were trading above $4,200 per ounce. As of 3:10 PM Beijing time on the 15th, London spot gold prices were at $4,200.14 per ounce, a 1.4% increase on the day.

December gold futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange were at $4,218.21 per ounce, a 1.32% increase on the day. So far this year, geopolitical and economic uncertainties, expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, a surge in gold purchases by major central banks worldwide, and increased holdings of gold ETFs have contributed to a surge in international gold prices exceeding 55%. Analysts at Bank of America and Societe Generale recently predicted that gold prices will reach $5,000 per ounce by 2026, while Standard Chartered Bank has raised its average gold price forecast for next year to $4,488 per ounce.

Driven by the surge in gold prices, silver prices have risen rapidly this year. As of Monday’s close, London spot silver closed at $52.27 per ounce, a year-to-date increase of 76.53%, surpassing gold’s cumulative gains.