Bond is Asian, so we hear (3)
I believe the answer is:
tie
'bond' is the definition.
(both can mean a connection)
'asian so we hear' is the wordplay.
'asian' becomes 'Thai' (Thailand is in Asia).
'so we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'thai' sounds like 'TIE'.
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for tie that I've seen before include "Lace" , "Join, link" , "Draw - knot" , "Draw; link" , "Knot; link" .)