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This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
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.
5 hours ago
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The Philippines
Why Southeast Asian nations are skipping major US-Philippine Balikatan drills
15 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM
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Indonesia
Prabowo’s overseas trips draw scrutiny as Indonesia urges fuel restraint
15 Apr 2026 - 7:09PM
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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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US Vice-President J.D. Vance (centre) walks with Pakistan’s Field Marshall Asim Munir (left) and Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
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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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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US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff (R) look on as Vice President JD Vance speaks at a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad on Sunday. Photo: AFP
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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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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Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte stands in front of Japanese and Nato flags during a visit to Tokyo in April last year. Photo: AFP
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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Malaysia
Was Penang ‘robbed’ from Kedah? Malaysian states face off in sovereignty row
A grievance dating back hundreds of years resurfaces as Kedah state lays claim to the country’s richest island.
13 Apr 2026 - 1:27PM
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George Town on Penang Island, Malaysia. The city won won Unesco World Heritage status in 2008. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan
Japan’s Middle East oil habit gets an Iran war reality check
Almost all of Japan’s oil comes from the Middle East. A closed strait turned that dependence into a trap.
11 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM
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US, Israel war on Iran
US-Iran talks leave Gulf states on edge about the price of peace
The six GCC nations worry that the US will prioritise Tehran’s needs and leave the Gulf monarchies vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.
10 Apr 2026 - 7:01PM
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The Philippines
Sara Duterte faces impeachment, but leads Philippine presidential survey. Why?
New polling shows the vice-president with a clear lead, even as impeachment proceedings against her are ongoing.
10 Apr 2026 - 5:27PM
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Japan
Why Japanese firm’s tie-up with Ukrainian drone maker sparks concerns in Russia
The two firms plan to develop drones that can be ‘deployed quickly and at low cost in the real combat conditions of Ukraine’.
10 Apr 2026 - 9:12PM
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A drone of a Ukrainian regiment flies with an attached air bomb over a training ground in Zaporizhzhia last month, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
South Korea
Trump lashed out at Seoul over Hormuz. Will it affect US-South Korea ties?
Strong security ties and other allies’ reluctance to support Washington’s ‘war of choice’ will help Seoul withstand the blow, analysts say.
10 Apr 2026 - 10:37AM
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Japan
Japan seeks to take back control of the world’s shipbuilding sector. Here’s how
Analysts warn higher costs, labour shortages and lost capacity will affect Japan’s bid for control in a sector now dominated by China.
10 Apr 2026 - 8:45AM
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Indonesia
Indonesian activists target Myanmar’s president in genocide case against him
The complaint seeks to hold Min Aung Hlaing accountable for international crimes in an Indonesian court, following recent legal changes.
9 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM
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