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This Week in Asia /
Politics
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Asean
South China Sea
the Asian angle
Japan
Japan woos Indonesia with stealth frigates ahead of Prabowo-Takaichi talks
Defence and minerals to dominate the agenda as Tokyo offers hi-tech warships and energy pacts to secure Indonesia as a ‘trusted partner’.
37 minutes ago
India
Why India faces dilemma over Iran war while seeking ‘diplomatic flexibility’
22 Mar 2026 - 4:08PM
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The Philippines
Philippine military uncovers alleged new China spy tactics in sea row
22 Mar 2026 - 1:15PM
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US, Israel war on Iran
Iran war nears 3-front tipping point as Gulf energy hubs burn
Israeli strikes on the world’s largest gas field and Iranian attacks on Saudi and Qatari hubs threaten a global energy crisis.
21 Mar 2026 - 12:30PM
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Smoke and fire rise near the South Pars gas field following an attack amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
South Korea
South Korea’s cut-price interceptor outshines US Patriot in Iran war debut
The Cheongung-II hit 96 per cent of targets at a third of the cost of its US rival, triggering a scramble for the technology.
21 Mar 2026 - 11:01AM
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Japan
Trump’s Pearl Harbour joke falls flat in Japan over his ‘disrespectful remarks’
As Japan faces pressure over the Iran war, some observers commend Takaichi for steering her meeting with Trump towards trade deals.
20 Mar 2026 - 9:03PM
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Pakistan
Is Pakistan building ICBMs? Non-proliferation experts dispute US warning
US fears of Pakistani ICBMs targeting America are overstated as Islamabad’s missile programme remains regional, observers say.
20 Mar 2026 - 4:58PM
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Pakistan’s Shaheen-3 missile on display during a military parade in Islamabad in 2018. Photo: AP
The Philippines
Support for Duterte’s ICC trial has halved in a year. Here’s why
Only 30 per cent of Gen Z Filipinos now back the ICC drugs war case, as AI-generated disinformation floods TikTok.
19 Mar 2026 - 7:12PM
The Philippines
Beyond ‘lip service’: Philippines urged to act on air defence gaps
The Iran war has underscored the need for robust air systems and Manila should look to build a layered defence architecture, experts say.
19 Mar 2026 - 5:35PM
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Thailand
Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy
Facing economic challenges and border tensions with Cambodia, the prime minister has pledged swift responses to public needs.
19 Mar 2026 - 5:06PM
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North Korea
Nuclear or nothing: why North Korea’s Kim expects the US to come ‘cap in hand’
With Washington tied up in Iran, Kim Jong-un’s message is clear: if the US wants a summit, it must pay his nuclear price.
19 Mar 2026 - 9:30AM
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a shooting competition to mark the army’s “Snipers’ Day” at a training base on March 3. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Japan
Russian hypersonic jets buzz Japan’s coast in ‘thinly veiled threat’
The exercises send a message that Tokyo should avoid antagonising Moscow or risk ‘repercussions’, observers say.
19 Mar 2026 - 5:23PM
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Nepal
Nepal voted for change. Can its rapper-engineer PM deliver?
Balendra Shah has promised to transform Nepal, but success hinges on him becoming the first elected leader to finish a full five-year term.
18 Mar 2026 - 2:10PM
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Malaysia
Why US warships’ pit stop in Malaysia is raising eyebrows
The USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara were seen in Penang on Sunday, despite Malaysia’s criticism of Washington over the Iran war.
17 Mar 2026 - 11:45PM
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Singapore
Singapore’s Lawrence Wong seeks stronger ties with Japan amid global tensions
Wong and Takaichi are expected to discuss economic stability and AI, and tread cautiously amid superpower rivalries, analysts say.
17 Mar 2026 - 11:15PM
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Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong catches up with Singaporeans in Japan as he kicks off his visit to Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook / Lawrence Wong
US, Israel war on Iran
US military’s Iran war pivot forces security rethink in Asia-Pacific
As assets are diverted to the Gulf, the Iran war’s high ‘burn rate’ risks creating a ‘thin spot’ in the US security umbrella.
17 Mar 2026 - 5:01PM
Malaysia
Malaysia charges 2 men and seeks extradition over religious posts
Two men have been hauled up in court and a third is being tracked amid a crackdown on inflammatory social media posts.
17 Mar 2026 - 6:04PM
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Malaysia
Fate of US-Malaysia trade pact rests on Washington’s next move
The US$240 billion deal isn’t ‘null and void’ yet, says the trade minister, as Malaysia waits for Washington to submit updated terms.
17 Mar 2026 - 12:40PM
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Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Johari Abdul Ghani. Photo: Facebook/joharighaniofficial
Japan
Japan identifies 1,500 new missile shelters as ‘front line’ fears grow
Underground car parks and subways are being repurposed as Tokyo warns of the most severe security threat since the second world war.
17 Mar 2026 - 3:13PM
South Korea
‘Catch-22 situation’: South Korea walks tightrope over Trump’s Hormuz call
Seoul is expected to seek national consensus and wait for the outcome of the Takaichi-Trump summit before deciding, observers say.
17 Mar 2026 - 7:07PM
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Malaysia
Deal or no deal? Malaysia-US trade pact in turmoil after minister ‘misspeaks’
First, a minister called the deal dead. Then his ministry backtracked. Now the opposition is demanding answers.
16 Mar 2026 - 9:53PM
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Myanmar
Myanmar’s junta-proxy parliament meets for first time since 2021 coup
Stacked with military allies and ex-generals, the new assembly aims to legitimise a regime the United Nations and EU have branded a sham.
16 Mar 2026 - 2:51PM
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Military representatives (in green) and other members of Myanmar’s parliament attend a session in Naypyidaw on Monday. Photo: AFP
Malaysia
Malaysia’s government accused of using law to silence critics
Civil society groups say an investigation into an alleged plot to topple the government risks shrinking civic space.
16 Mar 2026 - 12:52PM
Japan
Trump wants Japanese warships in Hormuz. Can Takaichi ‘dodge the bullet’?
The Iran war complicates Trump-Takaichi talks, putting her in a bind between US demands and constitutional limits on military action.
16 Mar 2026 - 8:00AM
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Iran
Why the Iran war marks a turning point for Gulf-Asia trade
The closure of the Middle East’s important straits – Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb – is forcing Gulf and Asian nations to explore other options.
15 Mar 2026 - 2:00PM
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