Friend describing Asian country's plot (9)
I believe the answer is:
machinate
'plot' is the definition.
(I know this)
'friend describing asian country's' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'mate' (mate is a kind of friend).
'describing' indicates putting letters inside (describe can mean to form the outline of).
'asian country' becomes 'China' (country in Asia).
'mate' going around 'china' is 'MACHINATE'.
(Other definitions for machinate that I've seen before include "Plot to do harm" , "scheme" , "concoct a plot" , "Plan" .)