<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

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Nauru

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Palau

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Philippines

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South Korea

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Thailand

Tonga

Tuvalu

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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

Argentina

Egypt

Europe

Ukraine

Russia

A campaign poster for incoming Argentine President Javier Milei on Nov. 30, 2023, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Milei plans to immediately send a package of economic reforms to the Argentine legislature.

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: Xi's Vietnam Visit, Egypt's Presidential Election

Media

Podcasts

Economics

Military & Security

How are EU member states reevaluating their strategies with China?

Essential Geopolitics: Europe's Shifting Relationship With China

Snapshots

Children receive a drip at a children's hospital in Beijing, China, on Nov. 23, 2023, the same day the World Health Organization asked China for more data on a respiratory illness spreading in the north of the country. 

Environment, Science & Technology

While the wave of winter illnesses is unlikely to retrigger mass lockdowns and travel restrictions, the mere prospect could hurt Chinese consumption and harm the business environment.

Is 'Zero Covid' Returning to China?

While the amount of foreign investment entering China has slowed sharply, a cyclical downturn of the U.S. economy and falling U.S. interest rates should help support a rebound in 2024.

What to Make of China's Falling Foreign Investment Flows

Brazil

Guyana

Venezuela

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Hong Kong SAR, China

A photo taken from southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows a rocket being fired from inside Gaza toward Israel, as fighting resumed between the Israeli forces and Hamas militants after a temporary cease-fire expired on Dec. 1, 2023.

The Weekly Rundown: The Gaza War Resumes, Venezuela Votes on Guyana Dispute

United States

United Arab Emirates

COP28 President-Designate and the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sultan al-Jaber (front row, fourth from left) -- poses for a group photo along with U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other participants in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue on May 3, 2023, in Berlin, Germany.

Energy

This year's U.N. conference will highlight disparities between the developed and developing world on climate ambitions, as well as individual countries' differing priorities.

What To Watch For at the COP28 Climate Summit

Chinese and Hong Kong flags are strung between buildings to mark the 26th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China on June 27, 2023, in Hong Kong.

The territory will continue down the path of political and economic integration into China, complicating business operations in the region.

Hong Kong District Elections Herald Political and Economic Changes to Come

U.S.-China Relations

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Netherlands

The presidential candidate for the Union por la Patria party, Sergio Massa (R), speaks next to the presidential candidate for the La Libertad Avanza party, Javier Milei, on Nov. 12, 2023, during a presidential debate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentina will hold the second round of its presidential election Nov. 19.

The Weekly Rundown: Argentina's Presidential Runoff, the Registration Deadline for the Taiwanese Presidential Race

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 13, 2023.

The U.S. and Indonesia are bolstering critical mineral trade and defense cooperation, but this will run up against U.S. concerns about the Indonesian nickel sector's ESG standards, as well as Jakarta's desire to maintain ties with China.

The Promise of, and Limits to, Upgraded U.S.-Indonesia Ties

U.S. President Joe Biden walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Woodside, California, on Nov. 15, 2023.

The two presidents reached modest deals during their Nov. 15 meeting, but conflicting strategic visions will impede not only the implementation of these agreements but also long-term efforts to ease U.S.-China competition.

Pageantry vs. Progress: Reviewing the Biden-Xi Meeting 

Apple is working with Chinese company BYD, a major iPad assembler, to move new product introduction, or NPI, resources to Vietnam, marking the first time Apple will shift NPI for one of its main product lines to the country, Nikkei Asia reported on Dec. 8.

Vietnam: Apple to Move Part of iPad Engineering Supply Chain From China

At China's December Politburo meeting on the economy, President Xi Jinping urged the government to guard against systemic risks, promote "reasonable growth,"  "moderately strengthen" fiscal policies, and "ensure that migrant workers' wages are paid in full," Xinhua News Agency reported on Dec. 8.

China: Economic Meeting Reveals Debt, Unrest and Loyalty Worries

Germany

France

Belgium

Spain

Italy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang for the 24th EU-China Summit in Beijing, Reuters reported Dec. 7. 

EU, China: EU-China Summit Highlights Lingering Divisions on Trade and Russia-Ukraine War 

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that France would open a permanent defense mission in Fiji, and he detailed plans to grow France's training capacity for Pacific island countries' soldiers six-fold by opening a Pacific Academy in France's New Caledonia territory, Tahiti Info reported on Dec. 6.

France: Paris Strengthens Defense Cooperation With Pacific Island Countries

The CEO of UAE artificial intelligence company Group 42, or G42, said his company will cut ties with Chinese suppliers in favor of U.S. suppliers to ensure access to cutting-edge AI chips designed by American firms like Nvidia, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 7.

UAE: Emirati AI Company to Cut Ties With Chinese Suppliers to Appease U.S.

China released a plan to build a coal production reserve system by 2027 and have 300 million tons (or 7% of China's 2022 coal consumption) in reserve coal production capacity by 2030, Reuters reported on Dec. 6.

China: Coal Reserves Illustrate Beijing's Priorities for Energy Transition

The Italian government formally notified China of its intention to pull out from the Belt and Road Initiative, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying that the pact "has not produced the desired effects," ANSA reported on Dec. 6.

Italy, China: Rome Formally Exits China's Belt and Road Initiative

The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is debating a set of draft recommendations, including the repeal of permanent normal trade relations with China, Politico reported on Dec. 4.

U.S., China: House Committee Debates Repeal of Permanent Normal Trade Relations With China

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

Vietnam: Apple to Move Part of iPad Engineering Supply Chain From China

China: Economic Meeting Reveals Debt, Unrest and Loyalty Worries

EU, China: EU-China Summit Highlights Lingering Divisions on Trade and Russia-Ukraine War

France: Paris Strengthens Defense Cooperation With Pacific Island Countries

UAE: Emirati AI Company to Cut Ties With Chinese Suppliers to Appease U.S.

China: Coal Reserves Illustrate Beijing's Priorities for Energy Transition

Italy, China: Rome Formally Exits China's Belt and Road Initiative

U.S., China: House Committee Debates Repeal of Permanent Normal Trade Relations With China

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