Category: Asia-Pacific
Coverage of geopolitics, international relations, and current affairs from across Asia-Pacific, including China, India, Southeast Asia, and Pacific nations, with a focus on security, trade, and regional diplomacy.
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a new strategic partnership on Sunday (Nov. 2), aimed at strengthening cooperation across defence, trade, and technology. Speaking in Seoul, President Lee said both nations had achieved rapid growth “based on human capital and an open free trade order” despite limited resources…
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At a dialogue hosted by Chatham House on 27 October 2025, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the complex balance Singapore faces in managing its large foreign workforce. He stressed that migrant workers and foreign professionals remain vital to Singapore’s economy and social fabric. • About one-third of Singapore’s workforce—over a million people—are non-citizens, spanning…
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The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 summit concluded in Gyeongju, South Korea on Saturday (Nov. 1), with leaders adopting a joint declaration and launching new frameworks on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and population structure changes. • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed hopes that US President Donald Trump could act as a “peacemaker” on the…
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Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday (Oct. 31), pledging to build “strategic and mutually beneficial” ties — signalling a potentially more pragmatic tone toward Beijing despite her conservative stance. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, took office last week amid concern she might harden policy toward China, given…
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Malaysia’s Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has called on ASEAN members to strengthen security cooperation beyond maritime domains to include cyberspace, citing “invisible yet dangerous” threats to regional stability. Opening the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Kuala Lumpur, Khaled warned that peace in Southeast Asia faces “growing pressure” from both South China Sea tensions…
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Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend their ceasefire following peace talks in Istanbul, mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, after the deadliest border clashes between the two nations in years. Both sides are scheduled to meet again on 6 November to establish a monitoring mechanism to maintain peace and determine penalties for any violations, Türkiye’s…
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first summit in Seoul on Thursday (Oct. 30), pledging to strengthen bilateral ties. Both leaders highlighted the need for “future-oriented cooperation” in response to rapidly evolving trade and security challenges. Takaichi emphasised the importance of trilateral cooperation with the United States,…
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Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have sharply escalated after peace talks in Istanbul collapsed without agreement, ending efforts to prevent renewed border violence. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned on X that his country could “completely obliterate the Taliban regime” following the breakdown of negotiations. The talks, mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, aimed…
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At a Chatham House Dialogue in London on 27 October 2025, Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong drew a sharp contrast between how Europe and Asia perceive their strategic challenges, arguing that China is viewed more as a regional partner than an existential threat. Lee noted that while Europe’s focus remains on Russia and collective…
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Indian authorities have conducted a cloud-seeding experiment over New Delhi in an effort to clear the city’s persistent smog. A plane sprayed chemicals into clouds over some areas of the Indian capital to encourage rain and wash pollutants from the air, which remained in the “very poor” category, according to air quality monitors. Cloud seeding…
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