This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
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The Philippines
French ‘intimacy’: Philippines, France near deal for Indo-Pacific strength
The visiting forces deal comes on top of similar pacts with other nations and could help the Philippines attain a ‘muscular defence arsenal’.
2 hours ago
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India
Why India is losing ground over Bangladesh and Myanmar to regional rivals
2 hours ago
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Malaysia
Malaysia’s Umno chief denies he ‘sidelined’ Najib to save himself
2 hours ago
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Pakistan
Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia plan defence deal to counter chaos in Middle East
Iran’s neighbours are worried that the US’ increasingly erratic behaviour may pose a risk to regional power balance and trade, analysts say.
3 hours ago
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A protester waves the Iranian flag outside UN headquarters in New York during a Security Council meeting on Iran on Thursday. Photo: AFP
South Korea
South Korea’s Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison over martial law charges
The ruling comes days after prosecutors in a separate case demanded Yoon Suk-yeol be sentenced to death for masterminding insurrection.
2 hours ago
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Japan
Japan’s next-generation fighter jet project gets boost as European rival stalls
Germany, France and Spain have put their project on hold, prompting speculation that some may turn to the Japan-UK-Italy programme.
16 Jan 2026 - 9:37AM
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Asean
Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule
The bloc should encourage Indonesia’s approach of engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis, observers say.
15 Jan 2026 - 6:36PM
An official of the Union Election Commission displays a ballot for counting during the second phase of the general election at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua
Singapore
Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong removes Pritam Singh as Leader of the Opposition
Wong invites the Workers’ Party to nominate another elected MP to serve as the next Leader of the Opposition.
15 Jan 2026 - 8:04PM
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2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict
Token gesture? Why US is spending US$45 million on Thai-Cambodian border war
Washington is looking to reposition itself as the main peacemaker in Southeast Asia following Beijing’s mediation successes, analysts say.
15 Jan 2026 - 6:26PM
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Japan
Japan’s Takaichi faces uphill task in election as opposition unites
Takaichi’s LDP is expected to lose millions of votes as Komeito allies with the CDP after ending its coalition with the ruling party.
15 Jan 2026 - 5:31PM
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Singapore
Singapore MPs back motion deeming Pritam Singh unfit to be opposition leader
The 11 WP MPs present opposed the motion, while the rest of the House, mainly PAP MPs, voted to deem Singh unsuitable for his role.
15 Jan 2026 - 10:23AM
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Pritam Singh, secretary general of the Singaporean opposition Workers’ Party, leaves the Supreme Court in November during an appeals hearing against his conviction and sentence for lying to a committee. Photo: AFP
South Korea
South Korea-Japan summit exposes ‘strategic’ divide amid great-power tensions
While Seoul urged broader regional cooperation that would include China, Tokyo emphasised closer alignment with Washington.
14 Jan 2026 - 8:17PM
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The Philippines
Philippines ‘comfort women’ demand apology during Japan foreign minister visit
Analysts say Manila is unlikely to back the surviving victims of sex slavery, fearing it could jeopardise billions in infrastructure funding.
14 Jan 2026 - 5:39PM
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Myanmar
Philippine minister’s ‘premature’ Myanmar visit casts doubts over Asean’s role
Critics say the visit may be viewed as the bloc’s new chair endorsing a controversial junta-led election in Myanmar.
14 Jan 2026 - 4:16PM
Iran
Trump vs Iran: Gulf allies fear US ‘help’ may unleash chaos
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are urging against military action, even as the US president teases that ‘help is on its way’.
14 Jan 2026 - 12:11PM
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Iraqis burn an image of US President Donald Trump on Tuesday during a rally held in Basra in solidarity with Iran’s government. Photo: Reuters
South Korea
South Korea’s Yoon could become ‘martyr’ if given death penalty: analysts
While prosecutors have demanded death for the disgraced ex-president over his martial law debacle, a life imprisonment sentence is seen as more likely.
15 Jan 2026 - 1:50PM
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Japan
Japan’s ‘love hotel’ mayor stages comeback, shattering political taboos
Akira Ogawa’s return suggests voters are finally judging women in Japanese politics by the same imperfect standards as men.
14 Jan 2026 - 4:31PM
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Malaysia
‘No oil here’: Malaysians turn US embassy space post into foreign-policy satire
The embassy’s International Space Station image prompted self-deprecating jokes about oil, US power and being strategically uninteresting.
15 Jan 2026 - 8:44PM
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A worker carries a bunch of oil palm fruit at a plantation in Slim River, Malaysia. Malaysians repeatedly referenced palm oil in online jokes responding to a recent US embassy space photo, stressing the country has palm oil rather than crude petroleum. Photo: Reuters
Thailand
Money for babies, combat pay: Thailand’s poll turns into a cash splash contest
From US$2,000 for newborns to debt write-offs, Thai political parties are dangling a raft of handouts in a bid to woo voters on February 8.
13 Jan 2026 - 5:16PM
Japan
Japan PM seeks unity with South Korea’s Lee as China tensions persist
Takaichi aims to bolster ties with Seoul by avoiding ‘divisive’ issues as Tokyo grapples with Beijing’s economic retaliation.
13 Jan 2026 - 2:30PM
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Japan
Japan’s top diplomat heads to Philippines with South China Sea top of mind
The talks are likely to focus on Manila’s push for a South China Sea code with ‘teeth’ as this year’s Asean chair, analysts say.
13 Jan 2026 - 9:21AM
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North Korea
‘Gang of hooligans’: rebuke from North Korea signals icy ties with South
The unusually coarse language from Kim Jong-un’s sister shows that Pyongyang has no intention of reconciling with Seoul, experts say.
13 Jan 2026 - 11:59AM
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Wreckage of a drone that North Korea claims originated from South Korea is shown in this composite photo, released on Saturday. Photo: KCNA/AFP
The Philippines
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Philippine army colonel faces charges after anti-Marcos post goes viral
Audie Mongao will also undergo psychiatric tests after he sparked a political storm by withdrawing support for the president.
12 Jan 2026 - 6:24PM
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Pacific nations
US strips moral framing from foreign aid in ‘America first’ pivot
US funding for the Asia-Pacific now ties aid to business and security wins, a move analysts condemn as a ‘corrosive’ shift.
11 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM
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Iran
‘Something has to give’: Iran on the brink as protest fury mounts
Weakened by conflict with Israel and a plummeting currency, analysts say the regime faces a choice between radical reform or collapse.
10 Jan 2026 - 1:30PM
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