Asia & the Pacific

Myths of peacefulness belie a record as expansionist as any other power.

China is likely to pick security over prosperity.

A vote of confidence in the future may be undercut by a lukewarm economy.

Newly arrived Indian workers say abuse is common.

The national security bill gives Biden more leverage to tell Taiwan what weapons to buy.

As vote-buying corrupts the country’s politics, the West African nation could learn from Taipei’s effective crackdown on the practice.

A recent ruling on campaign finance reflected a judicial independence that will be key to checking Modi’s power if he wins a third term.

The Department of Energy’s “temporary pause” opens the door.

Beijing’s bullying tactics have pushed Wellington into Washington’s welcoming arms.

India’s prime minister could win reelection without having fixed his country’s unemployment crisis.

Domestic far-right terrorism has been increasingly internationalized—and requires a coordinated response.

In India, the question is not whether Modi and his party will win but by how much.

Soon likely to win a third term, India’s prime minister has shaped the country in profound ways.

A new federal ruling has Islamists up in arms.

Experts say it’s a question of when, not if, Pyongyang will carry out its seventh nuclear weapons test.

Earthquake or not, building semiconductor factories off the island has become a global imperative.

As the leaders of Japan and the Philippines present a united front with America, China is getting stronger, too.

Allegations that the Modi government orchestrated extrajudicial killings on Pakistani soil will give another boost to the ruling party.

Donald Trump’s threats to cut all spending can spur actual changes.

Conservatives fear extinction, but the opposition is deeply divided.

Three uncomfortable questions still hang over the U.S.-Japan alliance.

Illiberal, democratic, and rising: How a middle power is reshaping the world order.

Is the world’s most populous country booming or broken?

From average incomes to internet usage, New Delhi is still at the point where growth could really take off—or not.

A novelist considers how his sense of national identity has changed.

The people who will shape the country’s next decades came of age during the Modi era.

The case for its economic ascent is strong, but government policies still stand in the way.

Narendra Modi’s reign is producing a less liberal but more assured nation.

Beijing’s promises of equality are a guise for hegemony.

In their 100th column, Matt and Emma revisit clashes over Taiwan, Ukraine, Iran—and how to deter an alien invasion.

How the diplomat-turned-politician S. Jaishankar became the chief executor of India’s assertive foreign policy.

If New Delhi and Washington leave frictions to fester, they could ultimately derail future cooperation.

Colombo has demonstrated its own brand of strategic autonomy on issues from Russia’s war in Ukraine to China’s global footprint.

CNN reporter Jim Sciutto on the return of great-power conflict.

Saber-rattling in the South China Sea comes as Manila builds alliances in Washington and beyond.

Increased geopolitical rivalry is allowing extremist groups to thrive—and threaten everyone.

Germany’s new Supply Chain Act could help curb some of the world’s worst labor injustices.

Violence and war are shaping Moscow’s brutal response.

Washington prepares for a worst-case scenario of attacks on critical infrastructure.

The president’s abrupt resignation suggests uncertainty, but it should not sow doubt about Hanoi’s economy or engagement with the world.

A fight for global values demands a stronger coalition.

“Shogun” is an update of a 44-year-old series perfectly suited to today’s tastes.

Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are battling over the country’s future.

The region’s health care systems and innovations show how solidarity can shape well-being.

In India, recent moves that stymie the political opposition will likely fire up the ruling party’s base.

A political party funding crisis could bring down Fumio Kishida.

The architects of 9/11 are profiting from gold and gem mines in the Taliban-led country.

From Russia to Yemen, gas and oil exports have become prime targets.

Discontent about the country’s poor economic reality is starting to drown out nationalist calls to attack Taiwan.

Islamabad ordered cross-border strikes after a militant attack, dialing up pressure.

The calm in Asian capitals reflects a dangerous misjudgment.

The United States may ban one of the world’s most popular apps.

As Seoul hosts the Summit for Democracy, it can show that the Korean model is one to emulate.

China’s real estate collapse is sinking projects beyond its borders.

Beijing’s unwillingness to let go of certain claims suggests there’s more at stake than reversing past losses.

The island’s resistance to a dependable—and desperately needed—source of energy has been shaped by a covert history.

The agreement with four European states is part of a subtle shift in policy from New Delhi.

Deflation and lack of consumption are big problems for Beijing.

A new book provides a detailed account of the colonial bureaucrats who made up the first generation of the Indian Foreign Service.

Retroactively applied laws are used to prosecute Muslim community leaders.

New Delhi aims to project its power with a new facility near the Maldives.

To some, Modi’s new temple embodies the revival of a Hindu golden age. To others, it symbolizes the waning of a pluralist nation.

From Europe to India, agricultural workers have taken to the streets.

A U.S. delegation to Dhaka reflects a fresh approach to bilateral ties after a criticized Jan. 7 vote.

The election winner sought to bury the past in his presidential campaign. To succeed as leader, he will count on history not repeating itself.

Expect China to double down on political warfare.

Investing in weapons manufacturers has long been taboo. Now, ESG policies are hurting the bottom line in Ukraine.

In the state of Kayah, a patchwork of anti-regime forces has cooperated to seize territory with surprising success.

Compared to Western politicians, these leaders are doing something right.

Journalists flocking to cover life inside a geopolitical flash point often distort the reality on the ground.

Afghanistan’s government doesn’t recognize a 130-year-old border—and its local affiliates are causing havoc in the Pakistani borderlands.

This week’s presidential election put the country’s modernization program under a spotlight.

The country needs reconciliation. The next government will bring more political conflict.

An Indian state approved a bill that religious minorities say amounts to interference. National implementation could be next.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won’t take power, but it capitalized on public discontent to deliver a rebuke to the establishment.

Prabowo Subianto’s record doesn’t bode well for democracy.

The Indian Navy has suddenly become the go-to security provider in the Indian Ocean—with big implications for both the U.S. and China.

New airport plans are a test of openness to foreign business.

As the country heads to the polls this week, the future of Jakarta’s bid is set to come into sharper focus.

The jailed politician still stirs national pride.

Ukraine, the Middle East, and Taiwan are part of an unstable frontier—and require a more principled U.S. strategy.

After more than a decade at Apple, Doug Beck is in charge of making sure the Pentagon doesn’t lose a tech race with China. 

In its quest for cash, the tiny island nation of Nauru has tried it all. Its latest scheme may be its riskiest bet yet.

Bashir Noorzai was once serving a life sentence in the United States. Now he’s the key conduit for growing ties between China and the Taliban.

How the world is future-proofing (and China-proofing) its semiconductor supply chains.

The military has already shaped the outcome of the vote, which comes as the country’s challenges converge.

The disgraced prime minister’s sentence has been halved as the government seeks allies.

Two years in, IR experts are divided on whether the U.S. response to Russia’s war will deter a Chinese invasion.

Three years on, the administration’s policy has bright spots—but still lacks a clear strategy for the region.

With opposition leader Imran Khan behind bars, the Feb. 8 vote offers little hope for near-term stability.

Washington’s favorite prescription for Israeli-Palestinian peace risks unleashing a wave of interethnic violence unseen since the partition of India and Pakistan.

The U.S.-South Korea alliance perfectly illustrates the limits of independent action in an unstable world.

As the world worries about an invasion of Taiwan, Beijing is methodically continuing its seizure of territory in Bhutan.

Security threats along the frontiers with Iran and Afghanistan loom large ahead of elections next week.

Politicians celebrate Lai Ching-te’s victory but fear an upset Beijing.

A Hong Kong judge ordered the property giant to liquidate, but courts in mainland China will set the timeline.

Beijing has done very little to help—but it could.

Will it reshape cross-strait relations?

Hosting the French president as an honorary guest on Republic Day offers an opportunity to showcase the successful bilateral relationship.

A new president means another round of reaction from Beijing.