<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

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Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

Modernizing China’s Military

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

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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

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A digital screen displaying news of U.S.-Iran peace talks April 10 in Islamabad. The United States and Iran are set to begin contentious talks April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, with disputes over the 10-point proposal as a framework for discussions and major gaps between U.S. and Iranian demands.

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: U.S.-Iran Talks, Hungarians Vote

U.S.-Iran Relations

Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary To Lam speaks during the opening session of the National Assembly in Hanoi on April 6, 2026.

The leadership consolidation points to a governing model focused on speed, discipline and execution, albeit with increased risks stemming from reduced internal debate and fewer institutional checks.

Vietnam's Lam Makes History by Assuming Dual Role of Party Leader and President

Media

Cuba

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Forecast Webcast

Energy

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi answers questions at a legislative budget committee session in Tokyo on April 7, 2026, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) looks on. 

Economics

Japan's ability to sustain increased spending on defense and other strategic investments in the coming years will be constrained by sluggish economic growth, high government debt and a challenging geopolitical landscape.

Reviewing Japan's New Budget: Balancing Spending Hikes and Fiscal Reality

Columns

On Geopolitics

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Europe

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South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Geopolitics of Demographics

Demographic decline, driven by falling fertility rates worldwide, is likely irreversible but will also increasingly differentiate countries based on their ability to adapt through sound immigration, labor, technological and fiscal policies.

Adapting to Demographic Decline: Policy Tradeoffs and Global Divergences

Snapshots

Afghanistan

India

Nepal

Pakistan

A freight train carrying cargo containers rides along a railway track in Ajmer, India, on Aug. 26, 2025.

Global Trade

New Delhi's decisions to permit specific imports and fast-track minority investments highlight its strategy of addressing critical manufacturing shortages, though relations are unlikely to extend beyond low-level confidence-building measures.

India Cautiously Opens up to Chinese Investment

Djibouti

Damage at the Azadi Sport Complex in the Iranian capital of Tehran on April 3.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Taiwan's KMT Restarts China Talks

Myanmar's then-military chief Min Aung Hlaing prepares to deliver a speech during a memorial event at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2026, to mark the first anniversary since a 7.7-magnitude tremor killed more than 3,800 people in Myanmar.

Myanmar's transition from military to civilian governance will not lead to a meaningful transfer of power, nor will it impact the country's civil war.

Myanmar's Government Transitions to Civilian Rule in Name Only

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) answers questions during a plenary session of the House of Representatives at Parliament on March 26 in Tokyo. Poor ties with China under Japan's new premier portend industrial disruptions in Japan, and supply chain and defense cooperation with regional partners like South Korea and the United States.

Poor ties with China under Japan's new premier portend industrial disruptions in Japan, and supply chain and defense cooperation with regional partners like South Korea and the United States.

A New Leader in Japan and an Old Feud With China

Newly elected opposition Kuomintang (KMT) leader Cheng Li-wun delivers a speech in Taipei on Nov. 1, 2025. 

The KMT's diplomatic outreach to Beijing may yield modest economic gains, but it will also hurt the party's electoral prospects, which could paradoxically raise the risk of military conflict in the coming years.

The Taiwanese Opposition's Plan To Revive Talks With China Will Likely Backfire

The chair of Taiwan's opposition party Kuomintang, or KMT, Cheng Li-wun, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Xi pushed for the party to uphold its Chinese identity and support the "One China" principle, but he also welcomed Taiwanese agricultural and fishery imports, Xinhua reported on April 10.

China, Taiwan: Taiwan's Opposition Leader and China's President Meet

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to accelerate a legally binding protocol under the two countries' free trade agreement, with Australia reaffirming liquefied natural gas supplies to Singapore and Singapore pledging continued refined fuel exports to Australia, according to a joint statement released by the two leaders on April 10.

Australia, Singapore: Countries To Undertake Treaty-Backed Energy Crisis Coordination

Chinese Foreign Minister and Politburo member Wang Yi met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang, where Wang noted China is willing to work with North Korea to strengthen high-level exchanges and contribute to each other's economic development, Xinhua News Agency reported on April 9.

China, North Korea: Officials Pledge Greater Diplomacy, Economic Ties

The Philippines said a Chinese military aircraft fired flares near a Philippine patrol aircraft operating over disputed areas of the South China Sea, calling the action dangerous and provocative but reporting no damage or injuries, Bloomberg reported on April 9. 

China, Philippines: Flare Incident and New Base Highlight Managed but Persistent South China Sea Tensions

China's foreign ministry announced on April 8 that Foreign Minister Wang Yi would visit Pyongyang from April 9-10, his first such visit since 2019. Meanwhile, North Korea's first vice foreign minister Jang Kum Chol on April 7 ridiculed the government in Seoul as "world-startling fools" for thinking inter-Korean relations would improve, stating South Korea would always be the "most hostile enemy state."

North Korea: Beijing Boosts Ties With Pyongyang as Seoul Struggles to Follow Suit

China's foreign affairs spokesperson confirmed Afghanistan and Pakistan had met from April 1-7 in northern China, where they agreed to "refrain from actions that may escalate or complicate" their conflict and "discuss a comprehensive plan" to resolve bilateral issues, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on April 8.

Afghanistan, Pakistan: Negotiators To Discuss 'Comprehensive Plan' To Resolve Bilateral Issues

Kazakhstan

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted an invitation to visit Seoul in September for the inaugural South Korea-Central Asia summit after meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy Kang Hoon Shik, Qazinform reported April 8. 

Kazakhstan: Tokayev Accepts Invite to Visit Seoul for First South Korea-Central Asia Summit

Russia

Kazakhstan's Samruk-Energy said it had signed engineering, procurement and construction contracts on Jan. 30 with a Kazakh-Singapore consortium to build combined heat and power plants in Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk, Vlast reported on April 7.

Kazakhstan, Russia: Astana Replaces Russia in Delayed Combined Heat and Power Projects

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

China, Taiwan: Taiwan's Opposition Leader and China's President Meet

Australia, Singapore: Countries To Undertake Treaty-Backed Energy Crisis Coordination

China, North Korea: Officials Pledge Greater Diplomacy, Economic Ties

China, Philippines: Flare Incident and New Base Highlight Managed but Persistent South China Sea Tensions

North Korea: Beijing Boosts Ties With Pyongyang as Seoul Struggles to Follow Suit

Afghanistan, Pakistan: Negotiators To Discuss 'Comprehensive Plan' To Resolve Bilateral Issues

Kazakhstan: Tokayev Accepts Invite to Visit Seoul for First South Korea-Central Asia Summit

Kazakhstan, Russia: Astana Replaces Russia in Delayed Combined Heat and Power Projects

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