<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

A decorative plate featuring an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen behind a statue of late communist leader Mao Zedong at a souvenir store next to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on Feb. 27, 2018. 

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Politics

China will remain a geopolitical enigma to the West as Beijing turns inward to insulate the CCP from the influence of external powers, an exercise that history suggests will threaten national prosperity and regime stability.

The Modern Geopolitics of China

U.S.-China Relations

Snapshots

United States

A large container ship is seen docked at a port. 

Though interim measures or narrower agreements are plausible, Vietnam's dependence on Chinese inputs will likely prevent a comprehensive agreement, potentially exposing it to stricter U.S. scrutiny and new tariffs.

Vietnam's Reliance on Chinese Imports Complicates U.S. Trade Talks

Iran

United Kingdom

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head during funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leade, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 5 in Tehran, Iran.

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates, ASEAN and Major Power Foreign Ministers Meet

U.S.-Iran Relations

Israel

Lebanon

Europe

France

Ukraine

Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and Fiji Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau (right) shake hands during the opening of the Vuvale Skills hub in Suva on July 6, 2026.

Australia's new pacts with Fiji and Vanuatu will strengthen barriers to Chinese military access, but persistent regional development needs and China's ability to project power without local basing will still provide space for Beijing to build influence.

Australia's Pacific Pacts Strengthen, but Don't Secure, Its Strategic Position Against China

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

South Asia

A thermometer reading a high temperature is shown over an image of Earth.

The compounding effects of the weather event and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are set to drive global inflation and strain agricultural output well into next year.


How the 2026 El Nino Climate Event Will Affect the Global Economy and Security

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

Columns

On Geopolitics

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and Premier Li Qiang attend a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People on March 9, 2026, in Beijing, China.

Beijing will prioritize employment and social stability over rapid economic growth in the coming years, pressuring businesses to boost hiring and expand benefits amid demographic pressures, rising youth unemployment and AI-related job disruptions.

China Plans To Stabilize Employment in an Age of Change

Computer chips are seen on top of the U.S. and Chinese flags.

The Trump administration's recent shift to a more restrictive, ad-hoc licensing regime for frontier AI models risks slowing U.S. innovation and giving Chinese rivals a competitive advantage.

From Laissez-Faire to Licensing: Understanding Trump's Evolving AI Strategy

Middle East and North Africa

Eurasia

Cyber

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and minor coalition partner Japan Innovation Party passed a bill to designate Osaka, the political powerbase of JIP, as a secondary capital in a 123-121 upper house vote late on July 24 with the help of three independent lawmakers, Jiji Press reported.

Japan: Takaichi Passes Key Coalition Bill, Gaining Reprieve From Diet Troubles

Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine government fisheries vessels near the Scarborough Shoal, marking the second consecutive day of such actions there and third China-Philippines South China Sea confrontation in five days, Reuters reported on July 24.

China, Philippines, U.S.: Maritime Escalation Pushes South China Sea Dispute Onto Trump-Xi Agenda

China's Maritime Safety Administration announced on July 23 that the military would conduct live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait from July 23-24, lasting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

China, Taiwan: Coastal Live-Fire Drills Suggest Calculated Restraint 

New Zealand and Papua New Guinea signed a 2026-29 framework to expand defense planning, training, exercises and personnel exchanges, Reuters reported on July 23.

New Zealand, Papua New Guinea: Defense Agreement Reinforces Western Security Alignment

Unidentified gunmen killed five Thai paramilitary rangers and wounded six civilians, including two young children, with assault rifles and pipe bombs at a checkpoint in Narathiwat province in Thailand's deep south, the Nation Thailand reported on July 23.

Thailand: Five Security Personnel Killed, Six Civilians Wounded in Deep South Attack

A Chinese coast guard vessel fired its water cannon for more than two minutes at a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel near the Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, scoring only an indirect hit, during a resupply mission of the latter vessel, Reuters reported on July 23.

China, Philippines: Water Cannon Incident Marks Second South China Sea Confrontation in Four Days

Indonesia is provisionally reducing the budget for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free school meals program to $12.8 billion, marking the second budget cut since the program's initial $18.7 billion allocation, with further cuts still possible, Reuters reported on July 21. 

Indonesia: Free Meals Cut Highlights Fiscal Tightness, Limits of Spending Agenda

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the ministry had convened a meeting to discuss Taiwan's response options to Papua New Guinea's potential closure of a Taiwan trade office, the Taipei Times reported on July 19.

Taiwan, Papua New Guinea: Taipei Threatens To Stop LNG Purchases Over Trade Office Dispute

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

Japan: Takaichi Passes Key Coalition Bill, Gaining Reprieve From Diet Troubles

China, Philippines, U.S.: Maritime Escalation Pushes South China Sea Dispute Onto Trump-Xi Agenda

China, Taiwan: Coastal Live-Fire Drills Suggest Calculated Restraint

New Zealand, Papua New Guinea: Defense Agreement Reinforces Western Security Alignment

Thailand: Five Security Personnel Killed, Six Civilians Wounded in Deep South Attack

China, Philippines: Water Cannon Incident Marks Second South China Sea Confrontation in Four Days

Indonesia: Free Meals Cut Highlights Fiscal Tightness, Limits of Spending Agenda

Taiwan, Papua New Guinea: Taipei Threatens To Stop LNG Purchases Over Trade Office Dispute

Forecasts

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