The island nations are unified in support of a UN investigation into human rights abuses in the province, putting pressure on Jakarta, as growing Chinese influence in the region provides them an alternative source of financial support.

East Timor is looking for international partners to finance its Greater Sunrise gas project, tapping some of the country’s last remaining resources

Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares tells sceptics of Dili’s ties with Beijing that it is not a ‘new, fragile country’ that would be swayed by the largesse of others.

Since August 4, parts of Indian-held Jammu & Kashmir have been under lockdown, with communications cut and freedom of movement restricted.

Many of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies will join world leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum this week.

An estimated 1 million people living in a conflict zone in the western part of the country have been without internet access since June 21.

Analysts say Beijing considers the island nations a critical part of its belt and road strategy, and views economic support for infrastructure projects as a stepping stone towards increased military presence.

The US Secretary of State on Monday met leaders of Pacific island nations where the US maintains exclusive defence access.

International energy firms have left the country in the lurch by pulling out of a critical offshore project near Darwin, which has left Dili with only one place to turn.

Southeast Asia’s youngest nation faces a Catch-22 in ties with China. To join Asean, it needs to improve its economy, but accepting China’s help may jeopardise its chances.

Admiral Karl Schultz says there are ‘clear indicators’ of Beijing’s increased presence in the Pacific. The Coast Guard plans to offer themselves as a ‘partner of choice’ to nations in the region and help protect their sovereign interests.

The US is turning its attention to countries used by Chinese firms as a pit stop to avoid tariffs, but experts say a crackdown could see Southeast Asian economies benefit.

The Pacific nation’s government has defended the actions as routine law enforcement, but critics fear its rule of law is being undermined as the case takes place against a backdrop of global misgivings about China’s legal system.

Clooney also defended two Reuters journalists who were jailed for more than 16 months in Myanmar before being freed in May.

The trade pact, if it goes ahead, would create the world’s largest trade bloc, encompassing a quarter of global GDP

Ambassador Vikram Misri also says India will not take sides over its use of US-blacklisted Huawei, as ‘any decision taken over this will only be taken in our national interest’.

Asia’s major economies have become increasingly important at the multilateral forum, which experts say is an opportunity for the likes of China and Japan to step into leadership roles formerly dominated by the West.

Those promoting the expansion of halal certification hope that, like kosher, it will be recognised as a symbol of quality, even by consumers not buying for religious reasons.

Hoping to become a global halal hub, Malaysia has tapped into the potential of extending the definition of halal to cover transport, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health care and even banking.

Top US and British universities are losing favour with ambitious young Iranians as Washington’s increasingly hostile ties with Tehran push them towards Asia.

Washington has blamed Tehran for an attack on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, putting pressure on Iran’s allies like China. Beijing usually backs its trade partner, but its trade war with the US may have changed the equation.

To hedge against future disruptions, the 11-nation trade bloc known as CPTPP could join forces with the EU, suggest regional experts in an Asia Society paper.

The presidents of Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia are making the historic visit as the US tries to shore up its power base in the Indo-Pacific. Experts say Beijing’s growing economic ties with those states have Washington worried.

Even though Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stayed in power, experts say US-China tensions mean Canberra will soon have to decide between its strategic ally and its largest economic partner.

The move has sent suppliers scrambling to see how they will be affected, particularly those who rely on Huawei as their main customer. More than half of its core suppliers are from Asia, and many see their shares tumble.

Tiger economies like Hong Kong will feel the bite from Trump’s trade war with China, but Asia’s low-cost manufacturers stand to gain. Still, it’s a fleeting victory – in the long term, everyone’s a loser.

The growing number of ethnic Chinese voters means Australia’s Labor and Liberal parties are courting them actively but cautiously, for fear of being labelled as pro-Beijing.

As Australia goes to the polls and the two main political parties woo the growing group of ethnic Chinese voters, concerns are growing over Beijing’s influence on local Chinese-language media.

The US state took 40 years to become one of the world’s great wine regions. China wants to do it in 10.

International development bank’s US$2.5 billion inaugural bond helps secure place among global financial institutions, but critics remain sceptical AIIB can achieve real results.