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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The Taliban marked five years since returning to power with military parades and celebrations in Kabul on Saturday (15 Aug), presenting their administration as stable and firmly in control. The main ceremony took place outside the former US embassy, where officials described their return in 2021 as a victory over Western intervention. Interior Minister Sirajuddin…
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Taiwan has concluded the 42nd Han Kuang military exercise, a 10-day programme designed to test the island’s readiness for a range of potential People’s Liberation Army (PLA) contingencies. Running from 5–14 August 2026, the drills combined military operations with civil defence and resilience exercises. This year’s exercise placed greater emphasis on realistic, unscripted scenarios, including…
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North Korea has criticised the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) military exercises between South Korea and the United States, describing them as more provocative than last year’s drills. According to state media KCNA, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea had evolved into a…
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Australia and Vietnam have announced a series of agreements to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, following talks in Canberra between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Tô Lâm. The joint statements outline expanded cooperation across defence, economic resilience, science and technology, and regional security. Both countries also reaffirmed support for an open, stable and rules-based…
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Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for a “conducive environment” to strengthen Bangladesh-India relations during his first meeting with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh also urged India to expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since leaving office in…
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Nagasaki has marked the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing with a memorial ceremony and renewed calls for international efforts towards nuclear disarmament. At 11.02am local time, a moment of silence was observed to remember the victims of the 9 August 1945 bombing, when the US dropped the plutonium bomb codenamed “Fat Man”. Nagasaki Mayor…
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One year after the 2025 Washington Peace Summit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process during separate calls marking the anniversary. Both leaders highlighted progress in normalising bilateral relations, including expanding trade, transport links and regional economic cooperation. They also recognised the role…
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Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing with calls for renewed efforts towards nuclear disarmament, as global leaders and representatives gathered at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. In his peace declaration, Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticised reliance on nuclear deterrence, warning that accepting force and nuclear weapons risks future conflict. Prime Minister Sanae…
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Thailand and Myanmar have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation following the official visit of President U Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand, where he met Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The joint statement outlined plans to strengthen political, security, economic and regional cooperation, while advancing trade, border management, infrastructure, labour mobility and environmental initiatives. Key…
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Japan has published the digest edition of its 2026 Defence of Japan white paper, outlining its assessment of the regional security environment and the government’s plans to strengthen national defence capabilities. In a foreword, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since the Second World War, highlighting the…