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This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
Japan
Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers
From drones for Ukraine to warships for Australia, ‘peace-loving’ Japan is fast pivoting towards arming the world.
18 Apr 2026 - 9:00AM
US, Israel war on Iran
Turkey’s Erdogan urges Iran, US to use ceasefire to push for lasting peace
17 Apr 2026 - 11:20PM
US, Israel war on Iran
Lebanon becomes key to Iran-US peace talks amid fears of Israel’s ‘hegemony’
17 Apr 2026 - 9:00PM
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The Philippines
Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co’s arrest revives long-stalled corruption probe
Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume.
17 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM
Former lawmaker Zaldy Co (left) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran
‘Everybody’s suffering’: Kazakhstan seeks UN reforms amid fragile Iran truce
President Tokayev told the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that multilateralism is being undermined as major decisions move outside the UN framework.
17 Apr 2026 - 7:49PM
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North Korea
Nuclear defiance: North Korea’s Kim signals he won’t be the next Iran
Kim Jong-un’s increased appearances at military drills show his confidence in Pyongyang’s nuclear deterrence, analysts say.
17 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM
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Indonesia
Chinese drone exposes Indonesia’s ‘insufficient’ undersea capabilities
Indonesia is likely to resolve the drone issue through ‘quiet diplomacy’ and not escalate it into a major row, analysts say.
16 Apr 2026 - 7:24PM
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A torpedo-like object, discovered by a fisherman near the Lombok Strait, is towed ashore onto a beach on Gili Trawangan, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, on April 6. Photo: AFP
Japan
Why Japan will remain the most trusted power in Asean despite military push
A survey by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute shows respondents trusted Japan more as a power than the EU, the US, China and India.
16 Apr 2026 - 6:27PM
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Japan
Japan backs a female emperor while Takaichi pushes conservative succession plan
A new poll shows most Japanese support a woman taking the throne, even as the prime minister moves to preserve male-line succession.
17 Apr 2026 - 8:28PM
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The Philippines
Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills
Given the rivalry between Washington and Beijing, joining the annual military exercise may risk being seen as picking the US, analysts say.
17 Apr 2026 - 1:11PM
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Indonesia
Prabowo’s overseas trips draw scrutiny as Indonesia urges fuel restraint
Since his inauguration in October 2024, Prabowo has gone on 51 official visits, travelling to 28 countries and chalking up 99 days overseas.
15 Apr 2026 - 7:09PM
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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto inspects the French Republican Guard upon arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Pakistan
Pakistan seeks to shield Gulf states as US-Iran talks set to resume
A senior official involved in Islamabad’s diplomacy says it is trying to defuse the crisis ‘in any way we can’.
15 Apr 2026 - 10:50PM
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Singapore
Singapore balances national interest with rising anti-US sentiment
Negative public sentiment does not immediately translate to worsening bilateral ties as the US remains an important partner, experts say.
15 Apr 2026 - 5:54PM
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Indonesia
Leaked plan for US military overflights triggers sovereignty row in Indonesia
Internal warnings reveal a government split over risks that blanket access for US warplanes could drag Indonesia into foreign conflicts.
15 Apr 2026 - 8:52PM
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South Korea
South Korea’s former first couple endure a frosty courtroom reunion
The hearing lasted all of half an hour. Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, appearing as a witness, made eye contact only once.
15 Apr 2026 - 12:24PM
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A combination photo shows South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk-yeol (left) exiting court in January and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon-hee, arriving at the special prosecutor’s office in Seoul in August last year. Photos: EPA/AFP
The Philippines
Jailed witness reveals Duterte plotted to oust Philippines’ Marcos
Ramil Madriaga claims Duterte had considered ‘assassinations or armed hits of several government officials’ to cause unrest and stage a coup.
15 Apr 2026 - 2:09PM
The Philippines
Philippines rejects China’s claim it ‘staged’ cyanide evidence at disputed shoal
Manila said tests found cyanide in bottles seized near the Second Thomas Shoal, rejecting Beijing’s claim that the evidence was manufactured.
14 Apr 2026 - 9:16PM
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The Philippines
US-Philippines ties enter ‘more mature’ phase with planned fuel depot
The facility in Davao signals that defence ties are now focusing on sustainment, endurance and operational continuity, analysts say.
14 Apr 2026 - 8:14PM
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Soldiers fire a howitzer during the annual joint “Balikatan” military exercises between the US and Philippine troops in Aparri, Cagayan province, in May 2025. Photo: Reuters
Japan
Israel envoy protests Japanese TV pundit’s remarks on Kushner’s Jewish identity
Critics said his comments suggested that Trump’s son-in-law should not be involved in negotiations with Iran because he is Jewish.
14 Apr 2026 - 4:56PM
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Indonesia
Why Indonesia’s Prabowo is in Russia – and what he needs from Putin
The visit aims to secure discounted crude as global prices soar, even as Jakarta holds high-level defence talks with Washington.
14 Apr 2026 - 2:54PM
South Korea
What is really behind South Korea’s diplomatic row with Israel?
Lee Jae Myung’s clash was about more than human rights, analysts say – it was about energy security and sending a message to Donald Trump.
14 Apr 2026 - 2:07PM
Pakistan
What Pakistani jets in Saudi Arabia mean for Gulf security in Iran war
Analysts say the Pakistani air force’s presence ‘will complicate Iran’s targeting calculus’ and force it to reconsider its attack strategy.
13 Apr 2026 - 8:22PM
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Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 fighter jets fly past during a multinational naval exercise near Karachi in February 2025. Photo: AFP
Japan
‘Not a reliable ally’: Japan eyes Nato as Trump erodes faith in US guarantees
Tokyo and the transatlantic security alliance have a shared problem: what happens if the US walks away?
13 Apr 2026 - 9:16AM
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Nepal
Nepal’s school fee crackdown upends South Asian private education norms
Nepal wants private schools to charge less and be more transparent. It could backfire, industry insiders say.
14 Apr 2026 - 9:15AM
Pakistan
UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation
As Abu Dhabi signals its displeasure with Islamabad, analysts say other indebted partners will be watching closely.
11 Apr 2026 - 12:18PM
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