All Asia Pacific
Chinese leaders face slowing economy and rising citizen discontentThe faltering Chinese economy is creating too few jobs, which is feeding social discontent. The government is taking steps to assuage rising anger.
China eyes opportunities as US scales back humanitarian aidThe freeze on U.S. foreign aid has hurt Chinese rights defenders, but encouraged China to fill the void left by USAID鈥檚 evisceration, preparing to replace Washington in the soft power landscape.
China-Japan distrust has been tough to shake. Tourism might be the best chance.The recent surge of Chinese travelers into Japan may聽be creating much-needed ambassadors.
RedNote is bringing Chinese and Americans face-to-face. What have they learned?Americans鈥� rush to the popular Chinese app RedNote opened a window between two starkly different worlds 鈥� at least for a time 鈥� allowing for unexpected discoveries.
First LookAs China鈥檚 population continues to plummet, demographic alarms are ringingOnce known for its efforts to curtail population growth, China is now facing a demographic crisis that threatens聽its economy and聽already-frail social security system.
Free trade, openness, and democracy: Why China鈥檚 rhetoric mirrors America鈥檚As Donald Trump takes office in the U.S., China pitches itself as the new global leader 鈥� and for all the countries鈥� ideological differences, Beijing seem to be taking notes from Washington.
South Korea鈥檚 president is arrested over a martial law declarationSouth Korea's impeached President聽Yoon Suk Yeol聽was arrested Sunday, just days after being聽apprehended at his home in Seoul. He faces possible imprisonment for declaring martial law last month.
First LookDon鈥檛 know what ASEAN is? Neither did Pete Hegseth. Why this Asian bloc is important.The 10-nation bloc, known as ASEAN, has been useful for the United States in countering China鈥檚 influence in the Indo-Pacific. Many member nations have territorial disputes with China, which has become increasingly assertive in pressing those claims.
鈥榃e cannot rest yet鈥�: South Koreans react to deepening political crisisMore than a month after President Yoon Suk Yeol鈥檚 botched martial law attempt infuriated a nation, South Koreans are still in the street, demanding he step down. The Monitor caught up with some people we spoke with in December about their views on the evolving political crisis.
First LookSouth Korean police failed to arrest President Yoon. Now, he鈥檚 fortified his villa.With a warrant out for his arrest, South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol has hunkered down in his hillside villa for weeks. Investigators failed to detain him Jan. 3. As they prepare a new attempt, presidential guards are fortifying the residence.
First LookWill South Korea's President face detention? Unpacking the martial law allegations.A South Korean court issued warrants Tuesday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office and residence over allegations of rebellion in connection with his short-lived declaration of martial law.
What South Korea鈥檚 impeachment battle means for US security allianceAs the Pacific heats up, South Korea is heading into what may be a divisive and drawn-out impeachment battle, casting uncertainty over its relationships with critical security allies.
First LookSouth Korean parliament votes to impeach president over his martial law orderThe Constitutional Court now has up to 180 days to determine whether to dismiss Yoon Suk Yeol as president or restore his powers.
First LookSouth Korean President Yoon鈥檚 impeachment inches closer. But Mr. Yoon won鈥檛 quit.The leader of Asia鈥檚 fourth-largest economy claims 鈥渃riminal groups鈥� have paralyzed state affairs as he fights to remain in power. President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment motion brought after he declared martial law on Dec. 3, but a new vote looms.
In 鈥榥ew crisis era,鈥� Tokyo needs help from Seoul and DC. Can it count on them?As security threats mount in the Asia-Pacific, the hard-won defense alliance between Japan and South Korea is the linchpin to regional safety. Now, political upheaval in Seoul threatens to test the partnership鈥檚 resilience.
First LookWhy is the Chinese military deployment around Taiwan the largest in years?The size and scale of a recent Chinese military deployment is 鈥渦nheard of,鈥� says a diplomat in the region. Beijing, which views Taiwan as its own territory, says it is defending its sovereignty.
They thwarted martial law. But South Koreans say the fight for democracy is not over.South Korea鈥檚 relatively young democracy proved its resilience last week when lawmakers shut down the president鈥檚 attempt to impose martial law. But he remains in power.
First LookSouth Korean President Avoids Impeachment: What鈥檚 Next?Most lawmakers in President Yoon's ruling party boycotted a vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. With growing protests, polls show most South Koreans support his removal.
First LookSouth Korea鈥檚 president imposed martial law. Now comes a push to impeach him.After South Korea鈥檚 President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law this week, the National Assembly nullified the decree only six hours later. As the opposition pushes for an impeachment vote, the chief of Mr. Yoon鈥檚 party stressed the need to suspend him.
Martial law for a moment: What just happened in South KoreaSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol鈥檚 surprise declaration of emergency martial law lasted only six hours. But it has plunged South Korea 鈥� a key Asian economy and U.S. ally 鈥� into a political crisis that could last much longer.
