<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

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Indonesia

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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

Kenya

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Palestinian Territories

Saudi Arabia

Europe

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Taiwanese President-elect William Lai (C) on Jan. 13 in Taipei, Taiwan. Lai will officially begin his four-year presidency May 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

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: Kenya's President Visits Washington, Lai Inaugurated in Taiwan

The Mekong River and Tonle Sap River meet at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Economics

The project will substantially reduce Cambodia's trade dependence on Vietnam, while contributing to China's broader geopolitical goal of constructing a global network of friendly ports.

Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal Marks a Loss for Vietnam and a Win for China

Media

Podcasts

How might recent resignations affect Vietnam's 2026 elections?

Essential Geopolitics: Political Instability in Vietnam

The Solomon Islands' newly elected prime minister Jeremiah Manele speaks during a press conference in Honiara on May 2, 2024.

The leadership change will maintain the strategic Pacific Island nation's new pro-Beijing bent, driving the U.S. and Australia to scale up their own influence campaigns.

The Solomon Islands Elects Another Pro-China Prime Minister

Brazil

Chile

Russia

The Weekly Rundown: Putin Goes to China, New U.S. Tariffs on China

U.S.-China Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), surrounded by their respective delegations, hold a meeting in Beijing, China, on Oct. 18, 2023. 

Energy

The Russian president will likely push for greater trade, military and energy cooperation, but a breakthrough is unlikely unless it happens on China's terms.

What To Expect During Putin's Trip to China

Natsumi Sakai (C) of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan poses with others after receiving news that she won the by-election for the Tokyo No. 15 district seat for the lower house, in Tokyo, Japan, on April 28, 2024.

Recent by-elections reveal that a slush fund scandal is continuing to take its toll on Japan's ruling party, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to remain in power, for now.

By-Election Losses Shake Japan's Ruling Party, but Kishida Stays the Course

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Dec. 15, 2023, in in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Democratic backsliding will likely complicate government efforts to attract Western investment, but could portend improved relations with neighbors and Russia and China.

Gauging the Implications of Kyrgyzstan's Democratic Backsliding

An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2022, shows solar panels at the Sao Mai solar energy plant in Vietnam’s An Giang province. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Several ASEAN countries are on track to develop substantial renewable power capacities in the short term, but technical, political and financial constraints, coupled with incentives to keep burning fossil fuels, will impede long-term decarbonization goals.

The Challenges Facing Southeast Asia's Decarbonization

Chad

Panama

France

Serbia

Hungary

Panamanian presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino on May 1, 2024, in Panama City. Panamanians will vote May 5 to select their next president and all 71 members of the National Assembly.

The Weekly Rundown: Panama Holds General Elections, Xi Visits Europe

The secretariat of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) -- the fifth-highest ranking office in Vietnam's political system -- Truong Thi Mai resigned in light of unspecified "violations and shortcomings" likely related to the corruption of her subordinates, state-run VietnamPlus reported on May 17.

Vietnam: Another Top Leader on Shortlist for VCP Chief Forced To Resign

Indonesia will reform its Constitutional Court to reduce the maximum term of justices from 15 years to 10, require justices to undergo presidential and parliamentary reviews every five years, and add the president and members of the House of Representatives and Supreme Court to the ethics council, BenarNews reported on May 15.

Indonesia: Constitutional Court Reform To Limit Judicial Independence

China's State Council revealed it was considering having local governments and state-owned enterprises help buy millions of unsold homes at large discounts to provide housing to low-income families and offer badly needed funding for debt-ridden real estate developers, Reuters reported on May 15. 

China: Housing Support Could Rekindle Demand, But Scale and Funding are Constraints

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, in multiple formats, and they signed 11 cooperation documents, the Financial Times reported on May 16. 

Russia, China: Xi and Putin Pledge Deepened Cooperation, But Major Breakthroughs Prove Illusive

U.S. officials said the United States would immediately start applying a 14.25% tariff on imported double-sided solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, E&E News reported on May 16.

U.S.: Washington To Raise Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Panels

Cyber

Microsoft offered to relocate 700-800 employees at its China cloud-computing and artificial intelligence arm outside of China, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 16.

China, U.S.: Microsoft Looks To Relocate Some Chinese AI and Cloud Computing Staff Outside of China

Benin

Niger

Benin announced that it would "punctually and provisionally" authorize the loading of Nigerien crude oil at the terminal of Seme following a demand from Nigerien customs to participate in loading operations, Radio France Internationale reported on May 15.

Benin, Niger: Benin Temporarily Authorizes Nigerien Oil Exports Amid Chinese Mediation

Opposition politicians are pressuring South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to defend South Korean company Naver after Japanese regulatory authorities issued administrative guidance for Japanese company SoftBank to reduce dependence on Naver in the companies' joint venture LY Corp., Nikkei Asia reported on May 15.

Japan, South Korea: Corporate Dispute Risks Undermining Rapprochement

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

Vietnam: Another Top Leader on Shortlist for VCP Chief Forced To Resign

Indonesia: Constitutional Court Reform To Limit Judicial Independence

China: Housing Support Could Rekindle Demand, But Scale and Funding are Constraints

Russia, China: Xi and Putin Pledge Deepened Cooperation, But Major Breakthroughs Prove Illusive

U.S.: Washington To Raise Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Panels

China, U.S.: Microsoft Looks To Relocate Some Chinese AI and Cloud Computing Staff Outside of China

Benin, Niger: Benin Temporarily Authorizes Nigerien Oil Exports Amid Chinese Mediation

Japan, South Korea: Corporate Dispute Risks Undermining Rapprochement

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