Indo-Pacific Brief — 7 January 2026
Elevated PLA ADIZ tallies to start the year; Dutch lithography licensing scrutiny; Malacca traffic density advisory.
Headlines
- Taiwan MND logged a dense early-year PLA activity window across the median line.
- Netherlands expanded case-by-case review for advanced lithography exports to China.
- Malacca approaches saw longer anchorage waits — operational, not a closure.
What it means for operators
Cross-strait risk remains pattern, not blockade. Chip-equipment compliance friction is the clearer near-term cost driver than shipping lane closure.
Watchlist (72h)
- Next Taiwan MND bulletin
- ASML / Dutch licensing clarifications
- Singapore / Port Klang dwell metrics