Taiwan – The People’s Liberation Army said on Monday that China’s military forces conducted another round of drills near Taiwan last week to boost collaborative combat operations, after the Chinese-controlled island reported an increase in activity. For the last two years, Taiwan has complained about regular Chinese military activity near it, which is largely centered in the island’s air defense …

Philippines – Now that Duterte’s successor is being elected, observers believe there is a chance for a reset of the Philippines’ ties with both big countries, and the election’s result might upset Asia‘s power balance. How it plays out may depend on the goals of current presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the Philippines’ late ousted …

ASEAN – Hong Kong will reduce the required hotel quarantine for passenger flight crews from seven to three days, while cargo crews will be excused, in a small step toward easing the city’s coronavirus restrictions, which have transformed it into one of the world’s most secluded locations. The measures, which take effect in May, would provide “much-needed survival space” for …

ASEAN – Officials said a group of foreign policy advisers to South Korea’s president-elect met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday in an effort to restore long-strained relations between the two US allies. At a time when both countries confront dangers from North Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, who took over as South Korea’s president on May 10, has announced …

ASEAN – According to the host country, US President Joe Biden will meet with leaders of Southeast Asian countries in mid-May, with a probable focus on China’s expanding strength. The meeting, which was previously set for March, “will show the United States‘ continuing commitment to Asean,” according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “Serving as a strong, trusted partner …

ASEAN – The Asian Games venues have been finished six months before participants from around the region descend on Hangzhou in eastern China, according to organizers. Despite China’s largest Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began, the tournament, the 19th edition of the intensely competitive regional athletic event, is still on. Organizers say an infection control strategy will be released in …

ASEAN – Issues such as the South China Sea conflicts, regional power competition between China and the Western-led Quad alliance, Myanmar‘s military persecution of its Rohingya community, and this year’s coup d’etat have all put ASEAN unity to the test in recent years. Too frequently, bureaucrats fail to present a cohesive front, instead issuing feeble, formulaic pronouncements in reaction to …

Taiwan – The administration said that comparing Taiwan’s position to Ukraine’s is wrong since the two are fundamentally different, and that individuals should not attempt to manipulate the situation by stating “today’s Ukraine is tomorrow’s Taiwan.” The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is being keenly watched in Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and has been subjected to …

ASEAN – According to a UN rights expert, UN Security Council members China and Russia, as well as Serbia, have continued to provide Myanmar’s military with weapons used to attack people since last year’s coup. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, has called for an emergency session of the Security Council to …

China – As the territory confronts an expanding outbreak, China’s administration overseeing issues in the city said it will fully back Hong Kong’s “dynamic zero” coronavirus approach. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), which falls under China’s State Council or Cabinet, said the central government was “extremely worried” about residents’ safety and …