East Asia
Currency Regime: The Flows Behind the Chinese Yuan’s Strength
Strong exports and corporate currency conversions are supporting the yuan, even as China’s domestic recovery remains uneven.
China’s Property Market Reforms Face Challenge As Home Sales Slowdown Deepens
China introduces stricter presale rules and housing market support measures to reduce risks and restore buyer confidence.
Japan Tightens Rules for Foreign Residents
Japan toughened the requirements for foreigners wanting to obtain permanent residency. This includes a 20-fold increase in the permanent residency fee, along with stricter assessment guidelines.
South Korea Recalls Ambassador to Ukraine Over Disclosure of North Korean POW Transfer
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea announced on October 8th that it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv’s public disclosure that it had transferred two captured North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
Press Freedom Under Scrutiny After Hong Kong Journalist Tang Ho-wing’s Arrest
The Hong Kong Journalists Association raised concerns after the arrest of the founder of Boom News, calling authorities to clarify if the arrest was linked to his journalistic work.
US-China Macro Outlook: A Post-Summit Review
The US-China summit made progress on trade, but the macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain for both markets.
Hanwha Aerospace Invests $2.2B in Munitions Manufacturing Campus in Arkansas
A major contract between Hanwha Aerospace and the US Army as they invest $2.2 billion in Arkansas munitions campus and K9 production signalling a deepening push into American defense.
Suspected Nuclear Expansion in North Korea and its Strategic Implications
New evidence suggests the development of additional nuclear facilities, raising concerns over North Korea’s growing capabilities.
China and Spain Strengthen Ties Midst War in the Middle East
A look into how Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s visit to China represents a larger trend of international unification against the war in Iran.
Kim Jong Un’s Teenage Daughter Joins Military Drill Amid Succession Conversations
South Korean intelligence agency receives insider information about Kim Jong Un’s Succession.
Energy Shocks and Economic Vulnerability in East Asia
Rising oil prices driven by Middle East tensions are exposing structural vulnerabilities across East Asian economies
China Sanctions Japanese Lawmaker Over Taiwan Ties, Deepening Tensions With Tokyo
Beijing’s sanctions on Keiji Furuya highlight how Taiwan is becoming an even more sensitive flashpoint in China-Japan relations and regional security politics.
Protests in South Korea Over Trump’s Request For Aid in the Middle East
South Korean protesters crowd the US Embassy in Seoul to push back against possible deployment of Korean naval soldiers to the Middle East.
Japan Seeks US Backing Ahead of Trump’s China Talks
In their March White House summit, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged US President Donald Trump to publicly commend Japan amid tense relations with China, a request that Trump agreed to honor during his upcoming talks with Xi Jinping.
North Korea’s Missile Tests and Escalating Security Tensions in East Asia
Missile tests and military exercises are reinforcing a cycle of tension in East Asia
Strait of Hormuz Closure and the Resulting Effects on Japan’s Energy Supply
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel attacks have had disastrous repercussions for Japan’s supply of oil.
Rising Tensions Between China and Japan: Taiwan, Security, and Economic Fallout
Political tensions over Taiwan are beginning to reshape diplomatic relations and economic exchanges between China and Japan.
After Trump’s ‘Dry in the U.S.’ remark, South Korea’s nuclear submarine debate reignites entirely
South Korea’s options are becoming more complex as variables from the United States emerge in the discussions that were conducted on the premise of low-enriched uranium.
Japan PM Takaichi: "Defense Spending to Reach 2% of GDP Two Years Ahead of Schedule"
The new Prime Minister of Japan signals a sharp turn in security policy in the midst of rising security tensions with China and North Korea.
Op-Ed: Will the US Stand by Taiwan? Probably Not.
Tensions between China and Taiwan have reached alarming heights as a surge in military activity from Beijing heightens the possibility of warfare. A key instigator is the 2024 election of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who describes himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence.” Lai’s election coincides with an exacerbation in Chinese aggression, including a 300 percent increase in military flights around Taiwan since May and a major October drill involving Chinese army, navy, air, and rocket forces that encircled the island. Most recently, in early November, over 35 Chinese military aircraft, including nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and drones, were detected flying to the south of Taiwan for two consecutive days.