By Kenji Watanabe
Covers the politics of the Indo-Pacific, from Washington DC back to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.
Quad's Rare Earth Strategy Confronts Myanmar's Fragmented Control
The Quad's push to secure critical minerals is complicated by China's near-monopoly on refining and the Kachin Independence Organization's c
US Naval Blockade of Iran Raises Stakes for Asian Energy Security
The Trump administration has enacted a full naval blockade of Iran's ports, aiming to cripple its economy by halting oil exports. Military a
NATO Allies Reject Trump's Hormuz Blockade as Oil Prices Surge Past $100
NATO allies including the UK, Spain, and Turkey have publicly rejected former President Donald Trump's call for a blockade of the Strait of
Iran Accuses Trump Team of Sabotaging Near-Deal in Islamabad Talks
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that US negotiators sabotaged marathon talks in Islamabad with maximalist demands when a dea
Quantum Computing's Cryptographic Threat Accelerates, Prompting Regional Security Rethink
Recent algorithmic advances indicate the quantum computing resources needed to crack widely used encryption may be far lower than prior esti
Hungary's Orban Concedes Defeat, Ending 16-Year Rule Amid Foreign Interference Claims
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat to challenger Peter Magyar, ending 16 years of his party's rule. The election was mark
Five Indo-Pacific Shifts from the Iran Conflict
The Iran conflict is not an Indo-Pacific war, but its effects are reshaping regional security. Five emerging themes include nuclear prolifer
US-Iran Conflict Shifts Regional Power Dynamics, Benefiting China and Russia
The recent US-Iran conflict has damaged Washington's standing in the Middle East, analysts argue. China and Russia have gained strategic adv
Suspected Chinese UUV in Lombok Strait Tests Indonesia's Maritime Sovereignty
A suspected Chinese unmanned underwater vehicle was found in Indonesia's strategic Lombok Strait, a critical maritime corridor. The incident
Multiple Actors and Grievances Undermine Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire
The US-Iran ceasefire, announced after a dramatic shift by President Trump, is already showing signs of strain. Competing interpretations an
KMT Chair's 'Imperialist' Rhetoric Aligns with Beijing, Straining Taiwan's Political Consensus
Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's description of 'imperialist forces' as the cause of Taiwan's separation from China marks a significant
North Korea Adopts Iran and Ukraine War Tactics for New Combat Playbook
North Korea is rapidly incorporating lessons from the Iran and Ukraine wars into its military playbook. Recent tests include cluster-munitio