Washington’s trade war was intended to revive US manufacturing and weaken China’s industrial base, but has instead sped up financialisation among US firms and damaged productive investment. Research ...

The US war on Iran exposed Southeast Asia’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil, pushing leaders to issue an unprecedented Leaders' Statement, propose a new crisis response protocol and reaffirm ...

Codifying the Six Assurances can constrain unstable executive decision-making only if Congress turns historical commitments ...

China has long held strategic interests in Myanmar, ranging from border stability and resource security to access to the Indian Ocean. Since the 2021 coup, Beijing has adapted its approach, practising ...

The May 2026 Xi–Trump summit produced mixed results and mixed reactions. Those who see the summit as a success point to the two countries' agreement to pursue ‘constructive strategic stability’, ...

Ongoing instability in the Middle East is exposing structural vulnerabilities in energy-dependent economies. South Korea, whose economic engine relies heavily on Persian Gulf hydrocarbons, has ...

For Asia Pacific governments, the US–Israeli war against Iran is a reminder that conflicts in the Middle East do not stay in the Middle East. Since February 2026, oil has surged past US$120 a barrel, ...

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan signals a gradual shift in Beijing’s maritime strategy from participation to pursuing leadership in global ocean governance. While earlier plans focused on developing the ...

Taiwan has entered a constitutional crisis following its 2024 divided election, with opposition lawmakers blocking judicial appointments and paralysing the Constitutional Court. This has escalated ...

Malaysia is heading towards a high-stakes general election in late 2026 or early 2027. Anwar Ibrahim’s government is beset by corruption controversies, ethnic political tensions and unease among both ...