China
U.S. assesses mainland China not planning to attack Taiwan in 2027, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle and David Brunnstrom, Reuters, March 18
Chinese experts assess military decapitation in Iran, Venezuela for lessons closer to home, Alcott Wei, South China Morning Post, March 18
J-20 fighter jet designer scrubbed from Chinese Academy of Sciences website, Alcott Wei, South China Morning Post, March 18
China firmly rejects reported large US arms sales to Taiwan; expert accuses separatists of disregarding livelihoods and stoking hype to disrupt regional security, Shen Sheng, Global Times, March 18
China makes energy security ‘reunification’ offer to Taiwan amid Middle East war, Ben Blanchard, Reuters, March 18
Japan
Japan rejects US assessment of its shift on Taiwan ahead of leaders’ meeting, Reuters, March 19
Japan’s leader heads to Washington for a visit complicated by the Iran war fallout, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press, March 18
Japan records trade surplus as export growth balances out weak China demand, Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press, March 18
South Korea
S. Korea secures extra supply of crude oil from UAE: presidential aide, Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, March 18
Ruling party, gov’t agree on support measures for SMEs hit by rising oil prices, Yi Wonju, Yonhap News Agency, March 19
North Korea
N. Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses ‘significant’ threats to S. Korea, Japan: U.S. report, Song Sang-ho, Yonhap News Agency, March 19
North Korea mobilizes emergency funds to hold fuel prices amid global oil spike, Daily NK, March 19
Thailand
Thailand’s Anutin nominated to contest PM vote in parliament, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, March 18
Constitutional Court accepts petition over barcodes, QR codes on ballots, Bangkok Post, March 18
EC urged to respect due process in Senate collusion case, Bangkok Post, March 18
Vietnam
Ministry approves revised national energy plan to boost energy security, Vietnam News, March 18
Party chief urges intensified crackdown on corruption, wastefulness and misconduct, Vietnam News, March 18
Indonesia
Indonesia puts off ratifying ART as U.S. opens trade probes, Ruth Dea Juwita, The Jakarta Post, March 18
A new U.S. trade deal with Indonesia secures fossil fuels and access to critical minerals, Aniruddha Ghosal, Anton L. Delgado, Associated Press, March 18
Malaysia
U.S. Navy vessels’ Penang stop was routine, approved by govt, says Khaled Nordin, Malay Mail, March 18
Singapore
President Tharman warns of ‘long storm of global political instability’ as he approves Budget 2026, Samuel Devaraj, The Straits Times, March 18
Taiwan
KMT, TPP approve cooperation pact for local elections, Sean Lin, Liu Kuan-ting and Chen Chun-hua, Focus Taiwan, March 18
Special defense proposals to be reviewed next week, Lin Tse-yuan and Jason Pan, Taipei Times, March 19
Pushback on Taiwan defense budget sends wrong message: Ex-MSC chair, Taipei Times, March 19
Mongolia
Government Approves 2026–2030 Plan to Develop Traditional Mongolian Medicine, Montsame News Agency, March 18
Middle East Conflict and Potential Risks to Mongolia Presented to Cabinet, Montsame News Agency, March 18
Kazakhstan
Government to Overhaul Legal Framework Following New Constitution, Fatima Kemelova, Astana Times, March 18
Joint session of Kazakh Parliament houses set for March 20, Kazinform, March 18
Uzbekistan
President Mirziyoyev inaugurates $7 billion investment projects in Samarkand region, Kun Uz, March 18
Turkmenistan
Iran Warns of Military Action Over Iran International Broadcasts via Turkmenistan Satellite, Vagit Ismailov, The Times of Central Asia, March 18
China
Xi Just Can’t Shake GDP Worship Lizzi C. Lee, Shengyu Wang, Foreign Policy, March 18
China’s confidence campaign: Can slogans solve economic woes? Yang Danxu, ThinkChina, March 18
Why America fights alongside Israel as China holds back in Iran Jing Lin, ThinkChina, March 18
China-Belarus Economic Cooperation: Governing Alignment without Liberalization Kateryna Zelenska, China Observers, March 18
Europe’s research dilemma – balancing security and scientific cooperation with China MERICS, March 18
Japan
Japan Should Help Sink China’s Invasion Fleet Jeffrey W. Hornung, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Foreign Policy, March 18
Japanese investment in China keeps rising, despite political tensions The Interpreter, March 19
Taiwan
China’s Political Warfare: Challenges to Taiwan and the United States in Latin America FPRI Asia, March 18
North Korea
The Big Expansion of North Korea’s Cellular Sector 38 North, March 18
Malaysia
LGBTQ Issues in Malaysia and the Politics of Conservative Modernity Fulcrum, March 18
General
Critical minerals buyers’ clubs test Asia Pacific governance East Asia Forum, March 18
Global financial tightening makes South and Southeast Asia’s food security fragile East Asia Forum, March 18
The Iran War is Causing Energy Chaos in Asia Annabel Richter, Joshua Kurlantzick, Council on Foreign Relations Asia, March 18