Stay informed with Asia-Pacific news, geopolitics, and international affairs, with analysis and context on events shaping the region.
Japan launches deep-sea rare earth mining trial in bid to reduce China dependence
A Japanese research vessel has begun a landmark mission to test domestic extraction of rare earth minerals, as Tokyo moves to reduce strategic dependence on China. The test ship Chikyu is operating near Minamitori Island, around 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo, in what officials say is the world’s first attempt to continuously lift rare-earth seabed…
Polls open in second phase of Myanmar’s junta-run military election
Myanmar has begun the second phase of a tightly controlled national election, with a military-backed party on course for a decisive victory as conflict and political repression continue. The vote follows the 2021 coup, in which Senior General Min Aung Hlaing overthrew the civilian government and detained Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the dissolved…
North Korea accuses South of drone incursion as inter-Korean tensions rise
North Korea has accused South Korea of sending surveillance drones into its airspace, calling the alleged flights a “serious violation of sovereignty” and warning of consequences. The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said it used electronic warfare systems to bring down a drone over a border town, claiming it carried cameras and filmed…
South Korea seeks China’s mediation to curb North Korea’s nuclear programme
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says he has asked China to help limit North Korea’s nuclear programme, seeking Beijing’s mediation amid rising regional tensions. Lee met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, describing the talks as the start of a “new phase” in South Korea–China relations focused on stabilising the Korean Peninsula. Speaking in…
China imposes export controls on Japan amid tensions over Taiwan
China has introduced new export controls on Japan, citing national security concerns linked to rising tensions over Taiwan. China’s Ministry of Commerce said it had banned exports of ‘dual-use’ items that could have military applications, accusing Japan of making “erroneous” and “egregious” statements about Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign…
South Korea and China move to strengthen bilateral ties as leaders meet in Beijing
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to open a “new phase” in bilateral relations, following their summit in Beijing — Lee’s first state visit to China since taking office in June 2025. Lee said the meeting should make 2026 “the first year of full-scale restoration” of South Korea–China relations,…
North Korea fires ballistic missiles towards sea ahead of South Korea–China talks
North Korea has launched multiple ballistic missiles into the sea, regional authorities said, shortly before South Korean President Lee Jae-myung was due to travel to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area and travelled around 900 kilometres. Seoul, Washington,…
Myanmar junta-backed party leads first phase of election amid low turnout and international criticism
Myanmar’s military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is leading after the first phase of the country’s first general election since the 2021 coup, according to partial results released by the Union Election Commission (UEC). The vote, held in three phases, has been presented by the ruling military authorities as a step towards political stability,…
Japan’s military build-up tests post-war pacifist framework
Japan is accelerating a major shift in its defence and security policy, increasing military spending and expanding the role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) amid rising tensions with China and closer alignment with the United States. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says the build-up is defensive and intended to strengthen deterrence, while Beijing argues Japan…
Hainan becomes strategic gateway under China’s free trade port reforms
Beijing has moved to seal Hainan’s customs borders and turn the island into a full-fledged free trade port (FTP), creating a separate trade and regulatory zone under laws effective from December 2025. Hainan is China’s southernmost island province, located in the South China Sea and long promoted by Beijing as a tourism, services, and trade…
Taiwan president pledges to defend country after Chinese military drills
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has vowed to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and strengthen its national defences, following large-scale Chinese military exercises around the island and renewed reunification rhetoric from Beijing. Speaking in a New Year’s address, Lai said Taiwan must build a “democratic defence mechanism” and urged political unity to avoid sending signals that China could…
Xi hails China’s rising ‘national power’, calls Taiwan reunification ‘unstoppable’ in New Year address
Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, has praised China’s rising “national power” and reaffirmed Beijing’s claim over Taiwan, calling reunification “a trend of the times” that is “unstoppable”. In a 2026 New Year address, Xi pointed to economic growth, advances in artificial intelligence and domestic chip production, and China’s expanding cultural influence…
China holds second day of military drills around Taiwan with port blockade simulation
China has conducted a second day of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, simulating a blockade of key ports and strikes on maritime targets. The drills, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025”, were carried out by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command and described by Beijing as a response to “Taiwan independence” and US arms sales.…
Indian government claims it has overtaken Japan as world’s fourth-largest economy, targets Germany by 2030
India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the Indian government’s end-of-year economic review, although final confirmation depends on official 2026 data. The review estimates India’s GDP at US$4.18 trillion, placing it ahead of Japan and on track to surpass Germany within three years. Key developments: • IMF projects India’s GDP…
China stages drills around Taiwan as ‘stern warning’ against separatist forces and external interference
China has launched its most extensive military exercises to date around Taiwan, signalling Beijing’s capacity to isolate the island and deter external involvement in a potential conflict. The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said its “Justice Mission 2025” drills involve troops, warships, aircraft and artillery conducting live-fire, simulated strikes, and port-blockade operations across seven…
China launches “Justice Mission 2025” drills around Taiwan
China has launched a new round of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, describing them as a warning to pro-independence forces and “external interference”. The drills — named “Justice Mission 2025” — are being conducted by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command, involving ground, naval, air and rocket forces operating in the Taiwan Strait…
Myanmar holds election amid war, repression, and international rejection
Myanmar has begun voting in a military-run general election that Western governments and the United Nations have rejected as illegitimate, amid ongoing civil war, political repression, and widespread insecurity. The ballot comes nearly five years after the Tatmadaw’s 2021 coup, which removed the elected government and triggered a nationwide conflict. Key developments: • Senior General…
Professor Da Wei on how Beijing views its long-term relationship with Taiwan and reunification
Da Wei, Professor and Director of the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, has outlined how Beijing views its long-term relationship with Taiwan and the future of Chinese political identity. Speaking with David Rennie, Geopolitics Editor at The Economist, Da argues that expectations around cross-Strait relations have shifted over decades, shaped by…
Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire to halt deadly border clashes
Thailand and Cambodia have signed a new ceasefire agreement to halt weeks of cross-border fighting over disputed territory, following a breakdown of earlier de-escalation efforts. The deal was signed by Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand’s Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit at a border checkpoint, after military-level talks. Key points: • Commitment to no further…
Pakistan seeks record defence export through $4bn arms sale to Libya
Pakistan has reached a agreement worth over $4 billion to supply conventional weapons to military authorities controlling eastern Libya, potentially marking Islamabad’s largest defence export deal to date. The agreement was reportedly finalised during an official visit to Benghazi by Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff. The deal, however, may face…
Japan approves record defence budget as China warns of ‘fuelling a space arms race’
Japan’s cabinet has approved a record ¥9 trillion (around $58bn / £44bn) defence budget for the next fiscal year, marking a 9.4% annual increase and the fourth year of its plan to lift military spending to 2% of GDP. The decision comes amid deteriorating relations with China and rising tensions over Taiwan. The budget prioritises…
India accelerates economic reforms under geopolitical pressure and slowing investment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a renewed “reform express” as India seeks to strengthen growth, attract investment and navigate rising geopolitical and trade pressures. After recent state-level election wins, the government moved quickly to revive long-delayed economic reforms. Key developments: • Parliament approved reforms to open nuclear power to private firms and relax foreign…
North Korea signals progress on nuclear-powered submarine programme
North Korea has released new state media images suggesting significant progress on a nuclear-powered submarine, a platform intended to strengthen its nuclear deterrent and maritime strike capability. Photos published by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim Jong Un, Supreme Leader of North Korea, inspecting what Pyongyang describes as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine at a…
New Zealand and India conclude free trade agreement talks
New Zealand and India have concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), announced on 22 December 2025, marking a significant expansion of their economic partnership. India is a strategic priority for New Zealand due to its economic scale, regional influence, and growing middle class. Despite this, India is currently only New Zealand’s 12th-largest export…
Japan prepares to restart world’s largest nuclear power plant
Japan has taken a decisive step towards restarting the world’s largest nuclear power plant after a regional assembly vote in Niigata backed the local governor’s approval. The decision clears a major hurdle for the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), nearly 15 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Key developments • A…
Renewed clashes test ASEAN mediation between Thailand and Cambodia
Fresh fighting has erupted along the Thailand–Cambodia border as Southeast Asian foreign ministers convened in Kuala Lumpur for ASEAN-led talks aimed at restoring a ceasefire. Clashes early on Monday (Dec. 22) threatened diplomatic efforts to revive a truce first brokered in July by Malaysia, with support from the United States. The conflict, which resumed on…
Japan and New Zealand deepen defence ties with security and logistics pacts
Japan and New Zealand have signed two defence agreements aimed at deepening military cooperation and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific. New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi formalised an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and an Information Security Agreement (ISA) in Tokyo. Key developments • The ACSA enables the sharing of…
North Korea warns against alleged Japanese nuclear debate
North Korea has condemned comments attributed to a senior Japanese government official suggesting Tokyo may need nuclear weapons, warning such a move would pose a global threat. In a statement carried by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the director of the Institute for Japan Studies under Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry said Japan’s alleged “nuclear ambitions” must…
Australia announces major gun buyback after Bondi Beach terror attack
Australia’s federal government will launch a national gun buyback scheme following the Bondi attack, with Anthony Albanese saying it will be the largest weapons collection since the Port Arthur massacre. Costs will be shared between the Commonwealth and states, with firearms collected locally and destroyed under Australian Federal Police oversight. The move coincides with tougher…
Inaugural Tokyo summit elevates Central Asia–Japan cooperation
Central Asian leaders and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met in Tokyo for the first-ever leaders’ level C5+Japan summit, agreeing a framework to deepen political, economic and sectoral cooperation. A joint declaration identified shared priorities amid regional and global pressures, elevating a dialogue launched more than two decades ago. Key outcomes • Three priority areas:…
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