<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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Tonga

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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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United States

Iran

Israel

Russia

People on March 15 in Tehran, Iran, clean up rubble from a missile attack. The Iran war will almost certainly continue through the next week amid Israeli threats to escalate and expand strikes due to Iranian attacks targeting Israeli civilians and the U.S. deployment of additional military assets to the region.

Military & Security

Politics

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, a European Parliament Delegation Visits China

U.S.-Iran Relations

Media

Podcasts

Economics

Energy

How will the trajectory of China-U.S. trade conversations change in light of conflict in the Middle East?

The Decision Advantage: The Impact of the Iran War on the Asia-Pacific Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

China's commerce ministry on March 27 initiated two probes, one into U.S. actions affecting global trade and another into U.S. actions impacting trade in "green products," including curbs on imports and technology cooperation.

China, U.S.: Beijing Prepares Retaliation for U.S. Section 301 Investigations

U.S.-China Relations

Panama

China has intensified inspections on Panamanian ships and detained at least 70 vessels from the country as of March 8, according to a U.S. Federal Maritime Commission estimate, Reuters reported on March 26.

Panama, China: Beijing Detains Panamanian Ships Amid Port Dispute

France

On March 26, the Philippines and France signed a status of visiting forces agreement, allowing their militaries to deploy personnel in each other's territories for joint training, exercises and operations, The Philippine Star reported the next day.

Philippines, France: Paris Latest To Sign Visiting Forces Agreement With Manila

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

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

China, U.S.: Beijing Prepares Retaliation for U.S. Section 301 Investigations

Panama, China: Beijing Detains Panamanian Ships Amid Port Dispute

Philippines, France: Paris Latest To Sign Visiting Forces Agreement With Manila

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

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