All Asia Pacific
First LookWhy plans for Abe's state funeral are dividing JapanFormer Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's successor is organizing a state funeral for him. Here's why that unusual honor is prompting widespread protest.
United front: Understanding China and Russia鈥檚 deepening allianceChina鈥檚 deepening ties with Russia are likely to grow even stronger in coming years as each country reaps key benefits from the other. Yet historical mistrust and differing global aspirations remain potential weaknesses.
First LookXi Jinping to meet Putin in first trip abroad since pandemicChina鈥檚 President聽Xi Jinping will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization聽summit later this month, a bloc of nations the Communist leader sees as a counterweight to NATO聽and U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific.
UN鈥檚 Xinjiang report: A stand against China, and chance for justiceThe release of the U.N.鈥檚 long-awaited report on human rights abuses in Xinjiang聽not only offers victims a chance for justice, but also reveals聽the limits of China鈥檚 increased influence.
First LookUN report questions China's treatment of Uyghurs and other groupsThe U.N. has released a long-awaited report examining a crackdown on Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups. Beijing on Thursday denounced the assessment as a fabrication cooked up by Western nations.聽
What China is 鈥� and isn鈥檛 鈥� learning from military drills near TaiwanAs the Taiwan Strait heats up, experts say preserving peace sometimes means having cleareyed assessments of the potential for war.聽
How women are banding together to change Japanese politicsCooperation is helping some Japanese women break into politics. For many others, it鈥檚 a way to cope with election losses and incremental progress.
The ExplainerPort politics: How China fits into Sri Lanka鈥檚 economic crisisChina may not have caused Sri Lanka鈥檚 debt crisis, but recent moves in the Indian Ocean show how it benefits from lopsided lending.
First LookIs job-hunting a dead end? Many Chinese students think so.In China, there are fewer companies with job openings, but a steady number of young people looking for work. As the nation鈥檚 economy continues to shrink, there were almost two graduates competing for every job opening this spring, according to a job-hunting website.
First LookAfter Pelosi's visit, China tests missiles in Taiwan watersChina launched military drills in the Strait this week as a reminder to Taiwan of Beijing鈥檚 might and its intention to retain control over the island. The U.S. and its allies have become increasingly vocal in support of Taiwan鈥檚 independence from the mainland.
Frozen bank accounts and unfinished homes: China鈥檚 鈥榙esperate situation鈥�Social contracts between governments and people must evolve, and China could be reaching such a juncture as its economic boom wanes.
First LookJapanese minister asks government to stop underestimating womenJapan鈥檚 Gender Equality Minister Noda Seiko calls out聽 Japanese government for superficial gender equality, 鈥渋t鈥檚 just talk,鈥� she says. Ms. Noda points out that the Japanese government is currently 90% male, and says women aren鈥檛 being sufficiently represented.
In the Philippines, free press won鈥檛 go down without a fightIt鈥檚 one thing to enshrine a freedom in the constitution 鈥� it鈥檚 another to ensure that freedom in practice.聽
First LookSri Lanka installs PM as president as protesters voice discontentSri Lankan politicians managed to overcome their differences and find consensus on a new president for the troubled nation. One problem: Their pick is the unpopular current prime minister, frustrating many Sri Lankans who are desperate for new leadership.
Will Abe Shinzo鈥檚 death give his agenda new life?Abe Shinzo was driven by ideology as well as pragmatism, determined to move Japan out of the shadow of World War II and onto the world stage.
First LookHow Shinzo Abe's assassination shapes Japan's election resultsThe preliminary vote counts showed Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party on track to secure a coalition for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who could rule until 2025.
鈥楢 huge loss to Japan鈥�: Abe assassination shakes famously safe countryJapan is grappling not only with the loss of a larger-than-life statesman, but also with a shocking moment of violence that could have ripple effects for Japanese politics and society.
First LookU.S.-Taiwan partnership? China has had enough.China demands that the U.S. and Taiwan cease plotting and stop with military 鈥渃ollusion.鈥� Gen. Li Zuocheng, from Mainland China鈥檚 People鈥檚 Liberation Army, said in a virtual meeting that national sovereignty needed to be protected, and that the U.S. was meddling in Asian affairs.
First LookAbe Shinzo: A legacy Japan 'should be proud of'Abe Shinzo, who was assassinated Friday, angered many across Asia during his years as prime minister with his revisionist views and a push to revamp the Japanese military. Yet he also revitalized Japan鈥檚 economy and served as a rare beacon of political stability in the region.
China鈥檚 anniversary deal for Hong Kong: Conform and prosperXi Jinping鈥檚 recent visit to Hong Kong reveals how聽China is increasingly sacrificing diversity for ideological conformity.
