<p>The Asia-Pacific is home to more people than any other region. Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, this region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. Several of these countries, most notably China, experienced rapid economic growth in the second half of the 20th century, giving the region a new sense of global economic relevance that continues today. That relevance, however, depends largely on China, a power in transition whose rise is testing the network of U.S. alliances that have long dominated the region. How effectively Beijing manages its transition will shape the regional balance of power in the decades to come.</p>

Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Asia-Pacific region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. 

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Samoa

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

China

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

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Indonesia

Japan

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Laos

Malaysia

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Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

Modernizing China’s Military

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Globalization

Social Issues

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

Moscow Looks to the East

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

Assessments

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Middle East and North Africa

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South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

While far from deterministic, demographics plays a key role in influencing a country's domestic and international politics, as well as its economic and financial development.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: Politics and Economics

A man fills up his truck at a Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) station in Kuching, Malaysia, on June 20, 2025.

Energy

While fuel subsidies have so far cushioned the impact, if the Iran-related energy disruptions persist, the government may have to sacrifice economic reforms to preserve political support before the next election.

Malaysia's Ballooning Fuel Subsidy Costs Will Test the Government's Reform Agenda

United States

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a news conference at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 18.

Global Trade

The Japanese prime minister may offer economic and security concessions during her upcoming summit with the U.S. president to avoid direct entanglement in the Iran conflict while preserving the relationship with Washington.

Iran War Heightens Stakes of Key Takaichi-Trump Summit

U.S.-Iran Relations

Environment, Science & Technology

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

Iran

Israel

Ukraine

A large plume of smoke rises March 7 over Tehran after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital during the night.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Takaichi Meets With Trump

Canada

India

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney walks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, Australia, on March 5, 2026. 

Canada's push to deepen economic and security ties with India, Australia and Japan faces constraints and may inadvertently strengthen the U.S.-led regional structure Ottawa is trying to hedge against.

The Promise and Limitations of Canada's Push to Diversify Strategic Partnerships

Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Feb. 22, 2026. 

Kim Jong Un's latest directives suggest a willingness to pursue high-level negotiations with the United States and China in pursuit of critical economic concessions.

North Korea's Party Congress Points to Diplomatic Window of Opportunity

Media

Podcasts

How will election results impact Vietnam's economic growth in the near term?

The Decision Advantage: What To Expect From Vietnam's Leadership Election Results

Chile

Colombia

Lebanon

Germany

Greece

France

United Kingdom

Cyprus

Netherlands

Spain

Italy

Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran on March 2, 2026, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top military leaders, prompting a new wave of Iranian retaliatory missile attacks across the region. 

The Weekly Rundown: War in the Middle East, U.S.-China Trade Talks

The U.S. Supreme Court in October 2024 in Washington.

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against the Trump administration's tariffs imposed under the IEEPA still leaves Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam vulnerable to other trade escalation mechanisms.

Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam Assess Their U.S. Trade Deals After IEEPA Tariffs

The CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean -- two container ships linked to China's state-owned COSCO Shipping Corp. -- attempted to exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz before making abrupt U-turns and heading back into the Gulf, Bloomberg reported on March 27.

MENA: Chinese Container Ships Abort Attempted Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz

The European Parliament will send a delegation to Beijing and Shanghai on March 31-April 2, including members of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the head of its China delegation, the parliament confirmed in a March 26 press release.

EU, China: European Parliament To Send First Delegation to China in Eight Years

Ko Wen-je, founder and former chair of the Taiwan People's Party, or TPP, was sentenced to 17 years in prison and deprived of his civil rights for six years for bribery charges related to his time as Taipei mayor from 2018 to 2022, Focus Taiwan reported on March 26.

Taiwan: Third Party Founder's Prison Sentence Could Boost President Lai, Incense China

On March 25, Australia's Lynas Rare Earths and South Korea's LS Eco Energy signed a framework agreement to build a rare earth metallization facility in Vietnam, with output to feed downstream magnet production in the United States, Nikkei Asia reported the next day.

Asia-Pacific, U.S.: Newly Announced Metalization Plant Forwards Non-China Rare Earth Supply Chain

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on March 25 that U.S. President Donald Trump's summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, had been rescheduled to May 14-15.

U.S., China: Trump-Xi Summit Rescheduled for May, Reciprocal U.S. Visit Pitched

U.S.-China Relations

Mexico

China announced that it had the right to retaliate against Mexico's barriers to Chinese goods and investments, although it has not announced any countermeasures, El Economista reported on March 25.

Mexico, China: Beijing Says It Has the Right To Retaliate Against Mexico Over Tariffs

Samsung Group, SK Group and HD Hyundai Group have each implemented five- or 10-day rotational vehicle-use systems to reduce fuel consumption, according to Yonhap News Agency on March 25, which comes after the government implemented a similar system for public sector vehicles. 

South Korea: Businesses Ration Fuel as Seoul Considers Work-From-Home Measures

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency on March 24 due to the impact of the Iran war on global oil supply and prices, The Straits Times reported the next day.

Philippines: National Emergency Declared Amid Energy Crisis

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

MENA: Chinese Container Ships Abort Attempted Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz

EU, China: European Parliament To Send First Delegation to China in Eight Years

Taiwan: Third Party Founder's Prison Sentence Could Boost President Lai, Incense China

Asia-Pacific, U.S.: Newly Announced Metalization Plant Forwards Non-China Rare Earth Supply Chain

U.S., China: Trump-Xi Summit Rescheduled for May, Reciprocal U.S. Visit Pitched

Mexico, China: Beijing Says It Has the Right To Retaliate Against Mexico Over Tariffs

South Korea: Businesses Ration Fuel as Seoul Considers Work-From-Home Measures

Philippines: National Emergency Declared Amid Energy Crisis

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