<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

The main dome of the Malaysian prime minister's office in Putrajaya is seen on June 4, 2024. 

Economics

Politics

A bigger parliamentary majority will enhance the government's staying power, freeing it to more avidly pursue its plans to attract foreign investment, among other policy initiatives.

Political Stability Will Help Malaysia Hit Its Economic and Foreign Policy Goals

Kenya

South Africa

United States

Venezuela

Iran

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

Europe

Ukraine

Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., on July 11, 2024. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Biden's exit from the U.S. presidential race will free him to pursue more aggressive action against Russia over Ukraine and increase pressure on Israel to end its war with Hamas. 

What To Expect from Biden's Foreign Policy Farewell Tour

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

A man in Hanoi, Vietnam, reads a news article on the death of the country’s top leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, on his phone on July 19, 2024.

The death of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will likely see the country's security-minded president permanently take over the role, portending a less effective business climate and strained Vietnam-U.S. trade ties. 

What To Expect Following the Death of Vietnam's Top Leader 

Snapshots

Guinea

A stock photo shows a large, open-pit iron ore mine with various layers of soil.

Environment, Science & Technology

If the project's completion is not derailed by renewed political instability in Guinea, the giant Simandou mine's iron ore exports will help China diversify its supplies and decarbonize its steelmaking industry. 

What Africa's Largest Mining Project Means for Guinea, China and the World

Mexico

Germany

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump on June 22 in Philadelphia. Should Trump return to the White House in 2025, a second term would see him target China, Mexico, Vietnam and the European Union to varying degrees.

Should former President Donald Trump return to the White House in 2025, a second term would see him target China, Mexico, Vietnam and the European Union to varying degrees.

What a Second Trump Term Could Mean for Global Trade: Who Trump Would Tariff, and How They Would Respond

Global Elections

Should former President Donald Trump return to the White House in 2025, a second term would see higher tariffs on imports, new trade wars, greater U.S. inflation and accelerated global supply chain diversification.

What a Second Trump Term Could Mean for Global Trade: Trump's Trade Priorities

The European Commission in Brussels. On July 18, incumbents Roberta Metsola and Ursula von der Leyen are expected to be confirmed for a second term as presidents of the European Parliament and the European Commission, respectively.

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

The Weekly Rundown: A New European Commission President, the Third Plenary Session of the CPC

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a signing ceremony in Beijing, China, on May 31, 2024.

The meeting is unlikely to yield major policy changes amid President Xi's preference for state-planning over market openness, while constraints on China's economic reform plans will perpetuate the steady outflow of foreign business.

China's Third Plenum Will Cater to Xi's Statist Vision of Economic Reform

France

India

A banner reading "public services in danger, let's vote" on July 5 in Paris.

The Weekly Rundown: French Legislative Runoffs, a NATO Summit in Washington

Afghanistan

Pakistan

A man looks at damage from a Balochistan Liberation Army attack Jan. 30 in central Bolan district in Balochistan province, Pakistan. Economic and political constraints will limit the scale and efficacy of Pakistan's latest counterterrorism campaign, sustaining the threat of militant attacks and delays to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor despite likely efforts to bolster foreigners' security and engagement with key foreign stakeholders.

Economic and political constraints will limit the scale and efficacy of Pakistan's latest counterterrorism campaign, sustaining the threat of militant attacks and delays to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor despite likely efforts to bolster foreigners' security and engagement with key foreign stakeholders.

The Implications of Pakistan's Renewed Counterterrorism Campaign

Indonesia is working to curb Chinese investment in new nickel mining and refining projects, the Financial Times reported on July 26.

Indonesia, China: Indonesia Acting to Reduce Chinese Dominance in Nickel Sector

Canada

On July 24, U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercepted Russian and Chinese bomber patrols within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in their first joint Arctic flight operation, The Financial Times reported the next day.

U.S., Canada: Russian and Chinese Warplanes Intercepted Off Alaska

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began their annual meeting on July 25 in Vientiane, Laos, Nikkei Asia has reported.

ASEAN: Foreign Ministers Meet in Laos for Annual Summit

Typhoon Gaemi is due to hit Taiwan and southeast China on July 24-25, while heavy rain is due to hit northeast China, specifically Beijing, prompting the city to issue its second-highest emergency response level, The Washington Post reported on July 24.

Taiwan, China: Region Braces for Rains, Typhoon Gaemi Floods, Logistics Disruptions

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba arrived in Beijing, China, for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine for a three-day trip at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on July 23.

Ukraine, China: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Visits China for First Time Since Start of War

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Palestinian political rivals Fatah and Hamas had agreed to establish a provisional reconciliation government and a plan for post-war governance in Gaza, CNN reported on July 23.

Palestinian Territories: Hamas and Fatah Sign Unity Agreement

Brazil

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru in November and that his administration is working on a proposal related to the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, Reuters reported on July 19.

Brazil, China: Economic Ties Poised To Draw Tighter as Lula Hints at Joining BRI

China and the Philippines reached a provisional agreement to manage the latter's resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, the Financial Times reported on July 21.

China, Philippines: Disputes Endanger Provisional Agreement on Second Thomas Shoal

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

Indonesia, China: Indonesia Acting to Reduce Chinese Dominance in Nickel Sector

U.S., Canada: Russian and Chinese Warplanes Intercepted Off Alaska

ASEAN: Foreign Ministers Meet in Laos for Annual Summit

Taiwan, China: Region Braces for Rains, Typhoon Gaemi Floods, Logistics Disruptions

Ukraine, China: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Visits China for First Time Since Start of War

Palestinian Territories: Hamas and Fatah Sign Unity Agreement

Brazil, China: Economic Ties Poised To Draw Tighter as Lula Hints at Joining BRI

China, Philippines: Disputes Endanger Provisional Agreement on Second Thomas Shoal

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