Stay informed with Asia-Pacific news, geopolitics, and international affairs, with analysis and context on events shaping the region.
Taiwan’s opposition leader calls for reconciliation during China visit as cross-strait tensions persist
Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), has called for renewed cross-strait dialogue during a visit to mainland China, amid heightened tensions in 2026. Speaking in Nanjing, Cheng invoked the legacy of Sun Yat-sen, emphasising “equality, inclusiveness, and unity” as principles for improving relations between Taiwan and Beijing. She described the trip…
Afghanistan-Pakistan peace talks in China show early progress amid ongoing border clashes
Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry described recent peace talks with Pakistan in Urumqi, China as constructive, following weeks of deadly cross-border clashes. The talks, which began on April 1 under Beijing’s invitation, aim to end fighting that erupted in February, displacing tens of thousands. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met China’s ambassador to thank Beijing and other…
Vietnam’s To Lam consolidates power as president and party chief
Vietnam’s Communist Party leader To Lam has been elected president, further consolidating power in one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Elected by the National Assembly to a five-year term, Lam becomes the first modern Vietnamese leader to simultaneously hold the roles of party chief and state president, centralising authority across party and state institutions. Lam said…
South Korea admits drone incursion into North Korea as President Lee Jae Myung issues regret
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has expressed regret over drone incursions into North Korea earlier in 2026, following an official investigation linking state personnel to the operation. “It has been confirmed that a National Intelligence Service official and an active-duty soldier were involved,” Lee told a cabinet meeting. “We express regret to the North…
India approves $25bn military modernisation to boost air defence and drone warfare capabilities
India has approved a $25 billion military modernisation package aimed at strengthening air defence and offensive capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges. The decision, cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, includes expanded procurement of Russian systems and increased investment in unmanned and transport platforms. Analysts link the move to…
Pakistan announces free public transport as Middle East conflict drives fuel price surge
Pakistan has introduced temporary relief measures after sharp fuel price increases linked to global energy disruption following the US/Israel-Iran war. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced free public transport in Islamabad for 30 days from April 4, with the government covering costs. In Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif introduced similar fare waivers and targeted subsidies,…
China confirms Afghanistan–Pakistan peace talks are advancing
China says diplomatic talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government are progressing, following renewed consultations in Urumqi hosted by Beijing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the process as “being steadily implemented and advanced” and confirmed arrangements on how talks and media coverage will operate. Beijing has maintained communication channels with both Islamabad and Kabul…
Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing elected president in military-backed parliamentary vote
Myanmar’s military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has been elected president by the country’s pro-military parliament, consolidating power five years after the 2021 coup. Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of the combined houses, confirmed that Min Aung Hlaing secured 429 of 584 votes. The move follows elections widely criticised by Western governments as lacking credibility.…
New Zealand and Cook Islands sign defence pact after China-related dispute
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a new defence and security declaration, easing tensions after a year-long diplomatic dispute linked to the Cook Islands’ engagement with China. The agreement reaffirms obligations between New Zealand and the Cook Islands to consult on defence and security, following concerns raised in 2025 over transparency surrounding a…
Takaichi and Prabowo deepen Japan–Indonesia ties on energy, security, and technology
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto pledged closer coordination on energy security during a Tokyo summit on Tuesday (31 March), citing rising oil and gas prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Both leaders highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy flows.…
Taiwan opposition leader accepts Xi invitation for China visit
Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has confirmed that its chairperson Cheng Li-wun will visit China in April 2026 following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The KMT said Cheng welcomed the invitation and aims to promote “peaceful development of cross-strait relations” and expand cooperation. The delegation is expected to travel to Beijing,…
Afghanistan–Pakistan border clashes resume as Islamabad eyes US–Iran talks
Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded heavy fire, both sides said, days after they announced a temporary pause in fighting. Officials from both sides reported artillery exchanges on Sunday (29 March) in Kunar province and Pakistan’s Bajur district. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for Kabul’s Taliban administration, said Pakistani fire killed one person and injured 16, mostly…
Japan to deploy combat-capable ground troops to the Philippines for Balikatan 2026, a post-WWII first
Japan will deploy Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to the Philippines for Balikatan 2026, marking its first participation with combat-capable units since World War II. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said up to 1,000 Japanese personnel could join the exercises, which begin on 20 April. The drills…
Philippines declares national energy emergency as Middle East conflict fuels supply risks
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared a national energy emergency, citing “the ongoing conflict in the Middle East” and the resulting “imminent danger” to the availability and stability of the country’s energy supply, the Presidential Communications Office said. The declaration, issued via Executive Order under the Department of Energy Act of 1992, enables…
Kim Jong Un reaffirms North Korea’s ‘irreversible’ nuclear policy, labels South Korea ‘most hostile state’
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reiterated that the country’s nuclear weapons programme is “irreversible”, framing it as central to national security and economic development. Speaking at the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Jong Un said: “The firm establishment of the nuclear shield firmly guarantees and drives the development of all sectors of the country,…
Xi urges efforts to build Xiong’an New Area into innovation hub and model for high-quality development
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for Xiong’an New Area in North China’s Hebei Province to become a leading innovation hub and model for high-quality development. During his fourth inspection since 2017, Xi reviewed construction, visited key institutions, and chaired a symposium on the area’s future. The project remains central to efforts to shift non-essential…
Vietnam’s National Assembly election confirms Communist Party dominance
Vietnam’s Communist Party has secured 482 of 500 seats in the National Assembly, according to official results released on March 22. The outcome maintains the party’s near-total control, consistent with previous parliaments. Authorities reported voter turnout exceeding 99%, reflecting the highly managed nature of Vietnam’s five-yearly elections for both national and local councils. The unicameral…
Anutin re-elected as Thailand prime minister with strong parliamentary backing
Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has been re-elected as Thailand’s prime minister after a decisive parliamentary vote, marking the first renewed mandate for a premier in two decades. He secured 293 of 499 votes, defeating Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, who received 119. Anutin pledged to form a cabinet swiftly and…
Pakistan and Afghanistan announce temporary pause in fighting
Pakistan and Afghanistan declared a temporary suspension of cross-border hostilities on Wednesday (18 March), following a deadly airstrike in Kabul that Afghan authorities said killed hundreds at the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital. The pause coincides with Eid al-Fitr and comes at the request of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, which have mediated ceasefires between the…
Thailand to build border fences following clashes with Cambodia
Thailand will start building fences along a portion of its border with Cambodia in April 2026, following deadly clashes in 2025 that heightened long-standing tensions along the frontier. Mr Vithai Laithomya, spokesman for the Royal Thai Armed Forces, said the first phase will cover 1.31km in Chanthaburi province. He stressed the project is not linked…
Myanmar parliament convenes for the first time in five years following 2021 coup
Myanmar’s parliament convened on Monday (16 March) for the first time since the 2021 military coup, marking a formal step in the country’s political transition while the armed forces retain significant influence. Khin Yi, chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and a retired brigadier-general, was elected speaker of the lower house. Analysts…
Kazakhstan referendum backs constitutional reforms expanding President Tokayev’s powers
Voters in Kazakhstan have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution strengthening the authority of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission. More than 87% backed the reforms in Sunday’s referendum, with turnout exceeding 73%. The changes introduce major political and legal reforms in the Central Asian country. Key areas the referendum…
North Korea tests multiple rocket launchers amid US–South Korea drills
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-launch of 12 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers on Saturday (14 March), according to state media KCNA, following annual military exercises by the United States and South Korea. Kim said the drills were intended to show “enemies within the 420-km striking range… the destructive power of tactical nuclear…
Pakistan warns Taliban ‘crossed a red line’ as Afghanistan border conflict escalates
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has warned Afghanistan’s Taliban government it has “crossed a red line” after alleged drone attacks on civilian areas in Pakistan, escalating the deadliest fighting between the two neighbours in years. The warning follows a surge in Pakistan–Afghanistan border clashes, with both sides accusing each other of airstrikes and military escalation…
Youth-driven political shift delivers landslide win for RSP in Nepal election
Nepal’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has secured a landslide victory in the country’s latest parliamentary election, the first since youth-led protests toppled the previous government in 2025. The party won 182 seats in the House of Representatives, narrowly missing a two-thirds supermajority by two seats. The result places Balendra Shah, the RSP leader and mayor…
Indonesia and Australia explore expanded security cooperation with Japan and Papua New Guinea
Indonesia and Australia are exploring expanded security cooperation that could include Japan and Papua New Guinea, following talks between Indonesia’s Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles. Speaking after the meeting, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the countries are considering new trilateral security arrangements and enhanced collaboration across the Indo-Pacific. The discussions follow a…
China’s exports surge 21.8% in first two months of 2026
China’s exports rose sharply at the start of 2026, reinforcing the country’s status as the world’s largest trading nation ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Customs data shows exports grew far faster than expected, highlighting the resilience of China’s manufacturing sector and its expanding…
US and South Korea launch Freedom Shield 2026 military exercise
The United States and South Korea began their annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise on Monday (9 March), a key component of allied defence cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. The drills will run until 19 March 2026 and involve around 18,000 troops. According to reports, the exercise focuses on evaluating conditions for the eventual transfer…
Xi Jinping demands military loyalty as China expands anti-corruption purge in PLA
China’s President Xi Jinping has called for stricter political loyalty within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as Beijing expands a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting senior military officials. Speaking at a plenary meeting of the PLA and People’s Armed Police Force delegation during China’s annual “Two Sessions” political gatherings, Xi said the armed forces must remain…
China outlines details of five year plan as economic targets fall
China has set its lowest annual growth target since 1991, aiming for 4.5%-5% in 2026 amid domestic and global challenges. The announcement came during the country’s annual “two sessions” political meetings, alongside preliminary details of the 15th Five Year Plan. Premier Li Qiang highlighted investments in innovation, high-tech industries, AI, green energy, and household consumption…
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