Real wages fell 1.8% in January, marking the first decline in three months amid intensifying global tariff wars. China implemented a second round of retaliatory tariffs against US agricultural products, particularly impacting American cotton farmers who face four-year low prices despite Trump's calls for patience.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles into the Yellow Sea, coinciding with the start of US-South Korea joint military exercises. The security situation in East Asia further destabilized as reports emerged questioning Trump's team's commitment to Taiwan's defense.
Honda announced halving engine production capacity at its Guangzhou plant as Chinese consumers rapidly shift to electric vehicles. Tokyo marked the 80th anniversary of the 1945 US air raids which killed 100,000 people in a single night, continuing the commemorative thread preceding the March 11 earthquake anniversary observed in previous days' coverage.