<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

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Myanmar

Nauru

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Philippines

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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

Snapshots

Russia

India

Participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 pose for photos in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1, 2025.

Economics

Energy

Global Trade

U.S. trade uncertainty will help China deepen trade ties with its Central Asian neighbors and infrastructure ties with Russia, but its relations with India will remain inhibited by border disputes and differing defense priorities.

China Positions Itself as Growth Catalyst for Central Asia at SCO Summit

Assessments

A protest in front of police headquarters Aug. 31 in in Surabaya, Indonesia. Mass protests are poised to continue absent unlikely and large government concessions, but President Prabowo Subianto's position will remain secure.

Politics

While mass protests are poised to continue absent unlikely and large government concessions, President Prabowo Subianto's position will remain secure. 

Unrest in Indonesia Will Continue, but Not Dislodge the Government

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Europe

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Trade

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Geopolitical, security and environmental risks threaten to disrupt trade through crucial waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Suez Canal, the Danish and Turkish straits, and the Panama Canal.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 2

Ecuador

Mexico

United States

Ukraine

Helicopters fly in the sky during a rehearsal for a military parade Aug. 24 in Beijing.

Russia-Ukraine 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: An SCO Summit, Rubio Closes Security Deals With Mexico and Ecuador

Diverse security risks threaten maritime chokepoints around the world, presenting unique challenges to international trade.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 1

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a meeting on May 14, 2015, in Xian, China. 

While Trump-era tariff pressures offer a new economic incentive for cooperation, Beijing and New Delhi are unlikely to fully normalize ties due to enduring strategic and security concerns.

Despite Modest Improvement, India-China Relations Face Enduring Challenges

A photo taken on Jan. 11, 2022, shows soldiers from the Taaung National Liberation Army (TNLA), a Palaung ethnic armed group, gathering in Myanmar's northern Shan state.

The junta's recent announcements portend intensified violence ahead of what will be highly controlled elections, which will further fragment the war-torn nation but may also help ease its international isolation.

Myanmar's Elections and the Military's Quest for Legitimacy

Iran

Germany

France

United Kingdom

The Maanshan nuclear power plant is seen next to a beach in Pingtung, in southern Taiwan, on April 29, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Iran Meets With European Powers, Taiwan Holds a Nuclear Referendum

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Paraguay

Uruguay

Venezuela

Lebanon

United Arab Emirates

Mercosur is increasingly opening its markets in pursuit of free trade agreements with partners around the world, particularly as U.S. protectionism shifts global trade dynamics.

The Geopolitics of Trade: What Changing Trade Dynamics Mean for Mercosur

Israel

Palestinian Territories

An aerial view shows a campaign poster of Bolivian presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina and his supporters marching during a rally in La Paz, Bolivia, on Aug. 12, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Bolivian Elections, a Controversial Israeli Settlement Plan 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stood beside Chinese President Xi Jinping at China's Sept. 3 military parade, which was also attended by dozens of other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters has reported.

North Korea, China: Kim Attends China's Military Parade Alongside Xi

Former Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of Thailand's center-right Bhumjaithai Party has secured support from 289 of 492 lawmakers, positioning him to become Thailand's next prime minister in a Sept. 5 lower house vote, Bloomberg reported Sep. 3.

Thailand: New Prime Minister Incoming With Snap Elections on the Horizon

Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech to dozens of world leaders at a military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Xinhua reported the same day.

China: Xi Poses China as Antidote to Western Trade Chaos, Showcases Taiwan Deterrence During Military Parade 

Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding to build the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline following recent talks between the two countries' presidents, Reuters reported Sept. 2. However, the CEO of the Russian state energy company Gazprom, Alexei Miller, confirmed that the price of Russian gas exported via the pipeline has not yet been agreed upon.

Russia, China: Countries Sign Deal to Advance New Pipeline, but Pricing Gap Shows Beijing's Leverage

Thailand's caretaker government is moving to dissolve the House of Representatives, though the formal request has not yet been submitted amid legal uncertainty over whether a caretaker government has the authority to do so, Reuters reported Sept. 2.

Thailand: Caretaker Government Moves to Dissolve House of Representatives

During the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held on Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to support regional tech development through artificial intelligence and the Beidou navigation system. He also pledged to help each SCO nation install 10 gigawatts of new green energy in the next five years, and proposed an SCO development bank.

China: Beijing Decries Trade Protectionism at SCO, Pushes Regional Trade

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced on Sept. 2 that the U.S. Commerce Department had revoked a waiver for its plant in Nanjing, allowing it to import advanced chipmaking gear and technology from the United States.

U.S., China: U.S. to Stop Letting Asian Chipmakers Ship Equipment to Plants in China

U.S.-China Relations

In a Truth Social post on Sept. 1, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that India had agreed to reduce its tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, though he did not specify when the offer was made, Bloomberg reported the same day.

U.S., India, China, Russia: Modi Meets Putin and Xi at SCO Summit

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

North Korea, China: Kim Attends China's Military Parade Alongside Xi

Thailand: New Prime Minister Incoming With Snap Elections on the Horizon

China: Xi Poses China as Antidote to Western Trade Chaos, Showcases Taiwan Deterrence During Military Parade

Russia, China: Countries Sign Deal to Advance New Pipeline, but Pricing Gap Shows Beijing's Leverage

Thailand: Caretaker Government Moves to Dissolve House of Representatives

China: Beijing Decries Trade Protectionism at SCO, Pushes Regional Trade

U.S., China: U.S. to Stop Letting Asian Chipmakers Ship Equipment to Plants in China

U.S., India, China, Russia: Modi Meets Putin and Xi at SCO Summit

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