Asia

9 reports

Chinese PLA Navy Type 052D destroyer, representing China's growing naval capabilities near Taiwan

China Conducts Largest Military Exercises Near Taiwan Since 2022

China's renewed military pressure on Taiwan raises fears of conflict. The latest drills are part of a pattern of intimidation and a test of international resolve.

Wei-Lin Chen6 min read2026-03-17

Commuters wait in long lines at a gas station in Asia amid fuel shortages

Iran War's Economic Shockwave: Asia Faces Energy Crisis as Oil Tops $106

The economic fallout from the US-Iran war is battering the global economy, with Brent crude surging past $106 a barrel. Asia, highly dependent on Middle Eastern energy, is facing the brunt of the crisis, forcing nations to implement drastic measures from four-day work weeks to fuel rationing.

Sarah Blackwood9 min read2026-03-18

Military officials in uniform attend the opening session of Myanmar's newly convened parliament

Myanmar's Sham Parliament Convenes: Military Tightens Grip Five Years After Coup

Five years after seizing power in a brutal coup, Myanmar's military junta convened a new parliament on Monday following elections widely condemned as a sham. The move attempts to legitimize military rule even as armed resistance forces continue to control large swaths of the country.

Grace Akello6 min read2026-03-18

The Taiwan Strait at dawn — a narrow waterway that separates two competing visions of China's future.

Why China Wants Taiwan: History, Politics, and Military Strategy

China views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, driven by historical grievances dating to the 1949 Chinese Civil War, ideological opposition to Taiwan's democracy, and strategic impera

Sarah Mitchell12 min read2026-03-16

The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Pakistan's 'Open War' with Afghanistan Escalates as China Steps In to Mediate

Cross-border clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban have intensified, resulting in civilian casualties and displacement as China steps in to mediate the conflict.

Grace Akello5 min read2026-03-13

Venezuelan security forces, once instruments of Maduro's control, continue to operate amid calls for institutional reform.

Venezuela's Repressive Apparatus Endures Post-Maduro: A Warning for Intervention

The removal of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has not dismantled Venezuela's deeply entrenched state machinery of repression, with new politically motivated detentions signaling a persistent threat to civil liberties.

Viktor Petrov6 min read2026-03-13

North Korea ballistic missile displayed during a military parade in Pyongyang

North Korea Issues Dire Threats Over US-South Korea Military Drills, Conducts Missile Tests

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated in March 2026 after Kim Yo-jong issued a stark warning against the ongoing US-South Korea Freedom Shield joint military exercises.

Min-jun Park6 min read2026-03-09

China-Taiwan Tensions: Defense Budgets Rise as US Stockpile Depletion Raises Alarm

China-Taiwan military tensions remain a critical global concern in March 2026. PLA flights near Taiwan have unexpectedly decreased, while defense budgets on both sides continue to rise.

Wei-Lin Chen8 min read2026-03-06

Protesters in Hledan, Myanmar during the 2021 anti-coup demonstrations

Myanmar Civil War: Sham Elections, Fuel Crisis, and Resistance Forces Rescue Hostages

The Myanmar civil war continues to escalate in March 2026. The military junta held internationally condemned elections while a severe fuel crisis grips the country.

Thiri Aung7 min read2026-03-03