<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

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nauru

New Zealand

North Korea

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Vietnam

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

United States

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

Economics

Politics

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

Canada

Iran

Germany

India

The Tehran skyline on Dec. 30, 2025. On March 2, U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet in Vienna, Austria, to begin technical talks on a nuclear deal.

Military & Security

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 Conflict in the Middle East, Merz meets Trump 

U.S.-Iran Relations

A video interview of Taiwanese President William Lai plays onstage during The New York Times DealBook Summit 2025 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Dec. 3, 2025, in New York City.

President Lai's political disputes with the legislature are unlikely to ease anytime soon, which could disrupt U.S. trade and arms deals and/or jeopardize future opportunities for diplomatic engagement with China.

Taiwan's Political Dysfunction Goes Global

Snapshots

Europe

European Union and Australian flags together.

Global Trade

European and Australian negotiators aim to strengthen supply chain resilience and hedge against growing global trade volatility.


The Strategic Logic Behind Revived Australia-EU Free Trade Talks 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press Feb. 2 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Threatens Iran, Pledges To Reimpose Tariffs on Different Grounds

U.S.-China Relations

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on Feb. 20, 2026, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs.

The Trump administration will use other trade authorities to replace many of the IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, meaning U.S. trading partners will remain incentivized to engage on trade matters.

What the Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Means for Trump and U.S. Trading Partners

Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro speaks at a press conference during a Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Cebu City, the Philippines, on Jan. 29, 2026.

The coming year will test ASEAN's ability to maintain unity, manage crises and remain a credible regional forum amid rising internal security risks and a more fractured world order, particularly as the Philippines butts heads with China in the South China Sea.

Previewing the Philippines 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Slovakia

Hungary

Ukraine

Russia

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at the Government House in Bangkok on Feb. 9, 2026.

The incumbent conservative party's victory will improve short-term political stability, but governance will remain constrained by coalition dynamics, entrenched institutions and uncertain constitutional reform.

Thailand Approves Constitutional Reform, Re-Elects Conservative Party

Japanese Prime Minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sanae Takaichi reacts as she speaks with media on the day of lower house elections at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 8, 2026. 

The LDP's decisive lower house victory will enable Prime Minister Takaichi to boost social and defense spending and strengthen ties with the U.S., though at the expense of Japan’s relations with China and South Korea.

Election Landslide Stabilizes Japanese Politics, Cements Defense Modernization

China's Premier Li Qiang delivered the 2026 Government Work Report on March 5, with most economic goals for 2026 largely consistent with 2025, including the scale of special treasury bonds for infrastructure and consumer subsidies as well as unemployment and inflation targets, though the GDP growth goal dropped to 4.5%-5.0%.

China: Beijing's 2026 Economic Plans Remain Unambitious

Environment, Science & Technology

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signed new agreements on critical minerals cooperation and broader collaboration in defense, trade and artificial intelligence during the latter's visit to Canberra, The New York Times reported on March 5.

Australia, Canada: Middle Powers Align on Critical Minerals and Broader Strategic Cooperation

Indonesia's foreign minister said discussions related to the U.S.-led Board of Peace overseeing post-war stabilization in Gaza are on hold amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war and as domestic criticism of Jakarta's participation grows, Channel News Asia reported on March 5.

Indonesia: Jakarta Reconsidering Board of Peace Role Amid Iran Conflict

Thailand's Election Commission certified nearly all results from the Feb. 8 general election, confirming the Bhumjaithai Party as the largest party with 192 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives, the Bangkok Post reported on March 4.

Thailand: February Vote Certified Amid Ongoing Probes

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is in the Philippines and, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., oversaw the signing of multiple agreements expanding defense industrial cooperation, including provisions easing procurement rules and broadening eligibility for South Korean companies in ongoing Philippine military modernization projects, Nikkei Asia reported on March 4. 

South Korea, Philippines: Seoul Further Expands Defense Ties With Manila 

U.S. land-based reconnaissance aircraft conducted 72 sorties over the South China Sea in February, marking a 30% drop from the 102 conducted in both January and December, The South China Morning Post reported March 3.

Asia Pacific: U.S. Reconnaissance Flights in the South China Sea Drop 30% in February 

Around 40% of U.S. naval vessels ready for operations are currently in the Middle East, including one carrier and six destroyers that are normally based in the Pacific, according to a March 3 Reuters report.

Indo-Pacific: Regional Armament Concerns Grow Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on March 1 that the United States' "blatant killing of a sovereign leader" in Iran and attempts at regime change were unacceptable, according to Xinhua, but Beijing has yet to threaten retaliation.

China, North Korea: Nations React Calmly to U.S. Strikes on Iran

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

China: Beijing's 2026 Economic Plans Remain Unambitious

Australia, Canada: Middle Powers Align on Critical Minerals and Broader Strategic Cooperation

Indonesia: Jakarta Reconsidering Board of Peace Role Amid Iran Conflict

Thailand: February Vote Certified Amid Ongoing Probes

South Korea, Philippines: Seoul Further Expands Defense Ties With Manila

Asia Pacific: U.S. Reconnaissance Flights in the South China Sea Drop 30% in February

Indo-Pacific: Regional Armament Concerns Grow Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict

China, North Korea: Nations React Calmly to U.S. Strikes on Iran

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