Latest Stories
Japanese Markets Look Poised to Prosper With New Government, China-US Trade Truce
With Takaichi's government investing more in emerging tech, private equity markets could see further increases.
Behind the Marble Walls: A Glimpse Into Turkmenistan
A rare trip to one of the world’s most secretive and authoritarian states.
The Future of Japan’s Official Development Assistance Under Takaichi
Takaichi is recasting Japan’s relationship with ASEAN from one of development partnership to one of security cooperation.
Takaichi Government Moves to Expand Japan’s Defense Exports After Komeito’s Exit
With a willing partner in Nippon Ishin, the ruling LDP is advancing its defense export ambitions.
27th Amendment to Pakistan’s Constitution on the Anvil
The amendment is likely to pass as the ruling coalition has the necessary two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.
China’s Exit Bans Are Breaking a Decades-Long Social Contract
The widening use of exit bans marks a decisive shift in China’s governance model under Xi Jinping.
Most Read
US & Central Asia: What Is the C5+1?
On November 6, 2025, the Central Asian presidents will gather in Washington DC. The summit will be the crowning achievement for a decade-old format.
With Fourth Plenum, Xi Jinping Dares the US to Fight
Just ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, a high-level CCP meeting set the tone by emphasizing China’s push for tech supremacy.
The Remaking of the Indian Army Since Operation Sindoor
India has been rapidly restructuring its military, taking advantage of the fact that it is still technically on a war footing.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
China’s Exit Bans Are Breaking a Decades-Long Social Contract
The widening use of exit bans marks a decisive shift in China’s governance model under Xi Jinping.
US Tech Firms Are Bound by China’s Rising Techno-Nationalism
How the Trump-Xi Meeting Was Read in Taiwan
Europe’s Blind Spot: China’s Transnational Repression
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
China: Blue Porcelain and Rare Earths
China’s mineral-rich clays are the raw material for world-renowned porcelain – and super-strong magnets.
Nuclear Tests and Their Legacy of Harms in Asia-Pacific
Beyond Fiber-Optic Cables: Securing Seabed Before the Next Crisis
Pakistan’s Generals Are Marching Toward Another Disaster
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
Takaichi Government Moves to Expand Japan’s Defense Exports After Komeito’s Exit
With a willing partner in Nippon Ishin, the ruling LDP is advancing its defense export ambitions.
Why the New Hangor-Class Submarines Are Crucial for the Pakistan Navy
Through the Tempest: The Philippines’ Defense Posture in Troubled Waters
Nuclear Subs and Bounded Autonomy: The Evolving Logic of the South Korea-US Alliance
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
Thailand Announces Plans to Trace ‘Gray Money’ Transactions Linked to Scams, Crime
The government suspects that suspicious financial flows may be contributing to the unusual strength of the baht, which is weighing on the Thai economy.
In the Philippines, Corruption Protests Continue to Hound the Marcos Administration
Singapore Introduces Mandatory Caning For Scamming Offenses
Philippines, Canada Sign Visiting Forces Agreement Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
27th Amendment to Pakistan’s Constitution on the Anvil
The amendment is likely to pass as the ruling coalition has the necessary two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.
Migration From Kashmir: Between Hope and Heartache
India’s Rare Earth Opportunity After the Trump-Xi Summit
India, US Seek to Stabilize Relations By Renewing Defense Pact
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
Lee Jae-myung’s North Korea Policy Is Built on Outdated Assumptions
Every South Korean liberal president, including Lee, has built their North Korea policy on three assumptions. None of them still holds true.
What the 2025 APEC Summit Means for South Korea’s AI Ambitions
Lee and Xi Agree to Strengthen China-South Korea Relations
How North Korea Uses Vietnam to Avoid UN Sanctions
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
The Future of Japan’s Official Development Assistance Under Takaichi
Takaichi is recasting Japan’s relationship with ASEAN from one of development partnership to one of security cooperation.
Japan’s New Government Boasts High Approval Ratings
‘Golden Age’ of the Japan-US Alliance in the Shadow of Abe
Japan-South Korea Relations Under a Takaichi Sanae Government
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
Behind the Marble Walls: A Glimpse Into Turkmenistan
A rare trip to one of the world’s most secretive and authoritarian states.
Renewables, Sustainable Growth and Competition in the East Asian Market
Turning Off Starlink Coverage Won’t Destroy Myanmar’s Scam Centers
The World May Have Forgotten About Afghanistan, But the Afghan Diaspora Hasn’t
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
Uzbekistan to Introduce Visa-Free Entry for US Citizens From January 1
Meanwhile, Uzbek citizens face one of the highest visa-refusal rates in the United States.
Mongolia’s Defector Dilemma: Navigating the Korea Divide
A Mini-Detente Between Trump and Xi: What It Means for Central Asia
C5+1 at a Crossroads: Charting the Next Decade of US-Central Asia Engagement
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
The Strategic Costs of US Exchange Program Cuts in Southeast Asia
Such programs are a cost-effective and proven form of partnership-building. Their loss will undermine U.S. influence in a crucial region of the Indo-Pacific.
Why Trump Should Have Raised China’s Transnational Repression With Xi Jinping
The Trump-Xi Summits, Then and Now: Trade, Taiwan, and Russia
Pakistan Offers US a Port Near Gwadar
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
Japanese Markets Look Poised to Prosper With New Government, China-US Trade Truce
With Takaichi's government investing more in emerging tech, private equity markets could see further increases.
India’s Tryst With Strategic Experimentation
Philippine, UAE Have Applied for CPTPP Membership, Report Claims
Debt Relief as Currency Strategy: China’s Renminbi Push in Africa
Oceania
The South Pacific
New Zealand’s Recalibrated Foreign Policy at Play in Southeast Asia
Part of Wellington’s foreign policy reset seeks to reinforce ASEAN’s role in anchoring the wider region.
A Conundrum for Australia’s Liberal Party
The China Factor in Australia-US Relations
France’s Political Dramas Threaten More Instability in Violence-Wracked New Caledonia
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Asia on Video
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
Inside China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia
For Beijing, Central Asia is a testing ground for its foreign policy innovations – and a challenge.