<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

Brazil

Chinese President Xi Jinping (third from left) and Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (third from right) hold a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 7, 2024. 

Economics

Politics

Despite China's declining investment volumes in Brazil, strengthening cooperation remains of interest to both countries, which will likely see Brasilia join the BRI -- potentially as soon as November.

The Implications of Brazil Joining China's Belt and Road Initiative

The candidates for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election sit on stage during a debate in Tokyo on Sept. 14, 2024.

Military & Security

Whoever the ruling LDP picks as its new leader will remain focused on improving Japan's military ties, but if he or she is replaced quickly, the turnover could harm Tokyo's preparedness for regional conflicts.

Previewing Japan's LDP Leadership Election

Members of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army ethnic armed organization train March 8, 2023, in Myanmar's northern Shan state. The resistance's push into the country's interior will further destabilize the business environment and threaten the military government's long-term survival, but the military's ability to hold out in well-defended positions means its collapse remains unlikely for the foreseeable future. 

In Myanmar, the resistance's push into the country's interior will further destabilize the business environment and threaten the military government's long-term survival, but the military's ability to hold out in well-defended positions means its collapse remains unlikely for the foreseeable future.

Myanmar Rebels Put the Junta on the Defensive in Its Heartland

Kenya

Mexico

Israel

Palestinian Territories

A special session of the U.N. General Assembly is held on the Palestinian bid for full membership to the United Nations at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on May 10, 2024.

Israel-Hamas 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: Mexico Ratifies a Controversial Judicial Reform, the U.N. Votes on a Palestinian Resolution

Snapshots

Sub-Saharan Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and leaders from African nations assemble for a group photo at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China, on Sept. 5, 2024.

In a recent speech, Chinese President Xi laid out a $51 billion funding pledge for Africa, but fiscal and security constraints make a return to the heavy Chinese engagement of the mid-2010s highly unlikely.

China Commits to Long-Term Africa Ties, Even if Belt and Road Remains Muted

United States

Netherlands

Environment, Science & Technology

The United States and the West are likely to continue tightening export controls on China's semiconductor and other high-tech industries to close loopholes exploited by Chinese companies.

Tightened Western Tech Export Controls on China Signal More to Come

U.S.-China Relations

The flags of ASEAN members are displayed at a naval base during the ASEAN Solidarity Exercise in Batam, Natuna regency, Riau Islands province, Indonesia, on Sept. 20, 2023. 

ASEAN's economic and geopolitical diversity will impede significant progress toward deeper integration, despite members' intention to collaborate more closely.

Economic and Geopolitical Diversity Hinders ASEAN's Path to Deeper Integration

Germany

Russia

Supporters attend a campaign event for the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in Erfurt, eastern Germany, on Aug. 29, 2024, ahead of upcoming regional elections.

The Weekly Rundown: An Africa-China Summit, State Elections in Eastern Germany

Turkey

France

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Afghanistan

The Geopolitics of Water

Energy

The escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity will inflame tensions between Central Asian countries, raising the risk of violent state conflict in the coming decades. 

The Looming Threat of Central Asian 'Water Wars'

People gather in front of the East Java Provincial Parliament in Surabaya, Indonesia, on Aug. 23, 2024, as they protest against a move to overturn a Constitutional Court decision on election rules. 

The backlash against a proposed measure that would let the outgoing president's son run for Jakarta's deputy governorship highlights a growing power struggle between various branches of Indonesia's government.

Jokowi's Dynastic Ambitions Risk Plunging Indonesia Into Crisis

India

The United States and India will hold their first dialogue on the Indian Ocean, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell informed Congress on Sept. 18, Nikkei Asia reported on Sept. 19.

India: U.S. and India To Hold First Dialogue on Indian Ocean

Canada

United Kingdom

Leaders of the AUKUS grouping (the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia) issued a joint statement on Sept. 18 revealing ongoing consultations with Canada, New Zealand and South Korea to collaborate on Pillar II of the agreement.

AUKUS: Joint Statement Hints at Expansion

A 44-year-old Chinese man surnamed Zhong used a knife to attack a Japanese student 200 meters from a Japanese elementary school in the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen, The Asahi Shimbun reported on Sept. 18.

China: Third Knife Attack Against a Foreigner in as Many Months

United Arab Emirates

Australia and the United Arab Emirates reached a trade deal that will remove a wide range of tariffs and encourage Emirati investment in Australia's critical minerals and clean energy sectors, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported on Sept. 17.

Australia, UAE: Countries Strike Free Trade Agreement

Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai pledged to speed up the review process by examining two recent incidents of boats with Chinese nationals sailing to Taiwan's shore without the military's notice, Taipei Times reported on Sept. 17. 

Taiwan, China: Second Coastal Breach Highlights Security Issues

Japan and the United States are close to reaching a deal under which Tokyo will place more restrictions on the export of chipmaking technology to China, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 16.

U.S., Japan: Negotiators Near Deal on Restricting Chipmaking Technology to China

Japan's nine candidates for president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and prime minister of Japan debated policy issues on television, Nikkei Asia reported on Sept. 14.

Japan: Nine LDP Candidates Debate China, Nuclear Power, Defense, Industry Regulations

Venezuela

Iran

Czech Republic

Spain

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced that the government arrested three U.S. citizens, two Spaniards and a Czech national for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to destabilize the administration, El Pais reported on Sept. 14. 

Venezuela: Alleged Anti-Government Plot Portends Crackdown on Opposition

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

India: U.S. and India To Hold First Dialogue on Indian Ocean

AUKUS: Joint Statement Hints at Expansion

China: Third Knife Attack Against a Foreigner in as Many Months

Australia, UAE: Countries Strike Free Trade Agreement

Taiwan, China: Second Coastal Breach Highlights Security Issues

U.S., Japan: Negotiators Near Deal on Restricting Chipmaking Technology to China

Japan: Nine LDP Candidates Debate China, Nuclear Power, Defense, Industry Regulations

Venezuela: Alleged Anti-Government Plot Portends Crackdown on Opposition

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support