China
China stations jets-turned-drones at bases near Taiwan Strait, report says. A report by the Mitchell Institute said China has stationed converted J-6 fighter drones at six air bases near the Taiwan Strait, with more than 200 at sites near future conflict zones. Experts said the drones could form part of an opening assault designed to exhaust Taiwan’s air defenses and force costly interceptions. Taiwan plans new counter-drone systems as China expands a broader mix of missiles, aircraft, and unmanned weapons. David Lague, Yimou Lee, Reuters, March 27
China protests U.S. alert over security rules change in Hong Kong. China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong said Commissioner Cui Jianchun met U.S. Consul General Julie Eadeh to protest a U.S. security alert issued after Hong Kong tightened national security enforcement rules. The new rules make refusal to provide passwords or other decryption help an offence in national security cases. Beijing said Washington should stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, while the U.S. consulate declined to discuss diplomatic exchange details. Ju-min Park, Reuters, March 29
China conducts patrol around disputed South China Sea shoal. China said it conducted naval, air, and coast guard patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Sunday, which lies inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by Beijing. The patrols followed high-level talks between Beijing and Manila on disputed waters and possible oil and gas cooperation. China described the operation as a countermeasure against rights violations and provocations. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not comment on request. Ju-min Park, Yukun Zhang, Reuters, March 29
European Parliament heads to China after 8 years and intense lobbying from Beijing. After eight years without an official visit, the European Parliament will send seven members of its internal market committee to Beijing and Shanghai next week with China delegation head Engin Eroglu. They will meet officials, lawmakers, customs and port authorities, and companies including Shein and Temu. Committee chair Anna Cavazzini said the trip will press China on dumped goods, product standards, and e-commerce flows, while reopening parliamentary travel to China. Finbarr Bermingham, South China Morning Post, March 27
China puts Ma Xingrui protege Guo Yonghang under investigation for corruption. China placed Guo Yonghang, a former Guangzhou party secretary and close ally of Ma Xingrui, under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. The case adds pressure around Ma, who was removed as Xinjiang party secretary in July and has not reappeared in public. Guo rose through Guangdong over decades, served as Ma’s aide in Shenzhen, and moved to a CPPCC post in January after losing his Guangzhou role. Xinlu Liang, South China Morning Post, March 28.
Japan
Japan to establish new Defense Ministry office to bolster Pacific defenses. The Defense Ministry will create a Pacific Defense Planning Office next month to review the Self-Defense Forces structure needed for Pacific defense and advance related efforts under one framework. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the move during a visit to Iwoto for a joint U.S.-Japan memorial ceremony. He said adversaries are expanding and intensifying activity in surrounding airspace and waters, making stronger defenses across Japan’s Pacific flank an urgent priority. Jesse Johnson, The Japan Times, March 29
“Decisive” response needed against yen’s fall, Japan senior official says. Japan’s top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, said a decisive step would be needed if speculative moves in crude oil futures and currency markets continue as the yen weakens. The currency fell beyond 160 to the dollar, its lowest level since July 2024, before recovering into the upper 159 range after his warning. Officials held separate hearings with financial institutions while considering possible action tied to surging oil prices this week. Kyodo News, March 30
Japan PM considering top-level talks with Iran if in national interest. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she will consider talks with Iran’s leadership at an appropriate time based on Japan’s national interest as tensions stay high in the Middle East. Tokyo is trying to balance its alliance with Washington and its ties with Tehran while relying on the region for more than 90% of crude oil imports. Japan has condemned Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and regional attacks. Kyodo News, March 30
South Korea
Lee vows to swiftly retake wartime command from U.S., speed up military reform including selective conscription. President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea will move to retake wartime operational control from the United States and accelerate military reform, including selective conscription. Speaking to top commanders, he cited a grave security climate shaped by the Middle East war and North Korea’s new iron fences inside the Demilitarized Zone. Lee urged the armed forces to maintain maximum readiness and preserve a strong combined defense posture under the alliance. Kim Eun-jung, Yonhap News Agency, March 27
S. Korea co-sponsors U.N. resolution on N.K. human rights. South Korea joined as a co-sponsor of this year’s annual U.N. resolution on North Korean human rights after weighing whether to skip the move during efforts to improve ties with Pyongyang. The foreign ministry said the decision reflected cooperation with the international community and a commitment to universal rights. North Korea’s hostile stance toward the South also appeared to shape Seoul’s choice for the Human Rights Council vote in Geneva. Lee Minji, Yonhap News Agency, March 28
PPP infighting deepens as ruling party pushes into conservative strongholds. The People Power Party entered the June 3 local election campaign with nomination disputes still unresolved, while the ruling Democratic Party of Korea tried to exploit the turmoil in conservative regions. The fiercest fight centers on the Daegu mayoral race, where rejected candidates have sued or protested. A Gallup Korea survey put PPP support at 19% for the first time, level with the DPK in Daegu and North Gyeongsang. Bahk Eun-ji, The Korea Times, March 29
North Korea
North Korea's Kim inspects solid-fuel engine, new tank as Pyongyang steps up military development. Kim Jong Un attended a ground test of a carbon-fibre solid-fuel rocket engine with 2,500 kilonewtons of thrust and framed it as part of a five-year defence plan to upgrade strike forces. State media also said he inspected special operations training, ordered unit reorganization, and watched tests of a new battle tank. North Korea has highlighted weapons modernization despite sanctions and monitoring by South Korea and the United States. Kyu-seok Shim, Reuters, March 28
Thailand
Thailand will have new government next week, PM says. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand should have a new government next week, with a cabinet list set for royal endorsement on Monday and a policy statement expected around April 7 to 9. He said the government will move on subsidy measures, oil tax cuts, and support as fuel costs rise. Thailand has 107 days of oil reserves and is seeking supplies from abroad while negotiating with several producer states. Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Reuters, March 28
Poll: People's Party marginally more popular than PM and Bhumjaithai. A Nida poll of 2,500 people found the People's Party and leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut held a slim lead over Bhumjaithai and Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul. Natthaphong drew 30.60% support as preferred prime minister against Anutin's 29.40%. On party preference, the People's Party led with 35.80%, followed by Bhumjaithai at 26.60%, with Pheu Thai and the Democrats trailing in the nationwide phone survey conducted over two weeks, released on March 29. Bangkok Post, March 29
Myanmar
Myanmar military signals leadership change ahead of presidential vote. Myanmar’s military signaled a leadership reshuffle after Friday’s Armed Forces Day parade, with deputy chief Soe Win telling retired officers that changes would follow. The move comes before parliament meets Monday to begin choosing a president, a post Min Aung Hlaing has sought for years. Analysts called the rare disclosure a scripted transition that may reflect concern inside the forces over succession and control during civil war in the country. Devjyot Ghoshal, Reuters, March 27
Cambodia
Cambodia maintains a peaceful stance as Thailand resists talks, Prak Sokhonn says. Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said Cambodia remains committed to settling its border dispute with Thailand through diplomacy and legal channels over force. Speaking in Pursat, he accused Thai forces of occupying disputed areas, blocking access with containers and barbed wire, and delaying boundary talks despite Cambodia's requests. He said Phnom Penh is relying on treaties, maps, and international support while urging ASEAN states to uphold sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity. Torn Chanritheara, Cambodianess, March 28
Philippines
Manila, Beijing resume talks on South China Sea, energy security. The Philippines and China resumed high-level talks on the South China Sea for the first time since January 2025, discussing oil and gas cooperation alongside energy and fertilizer supply concerns tied to the Middle East conflict. Manila restated its positions on incidents involving Filipino personnel and fishermen and stressed international law. Both sides discussed renewable energy, trade, visa-free travel, air links, and coast guard communication measures at sea and confidence-building. Mikhail Flores and Phuong Nguyen, Reuters, March 28
Lawyers petition SC to halt Duterte impeachment. Lawyers allied with Vice President Sara Duterte asked the Supreme Court to stop House impeachment proceedings, arguing the justice committee breached constitutional limits by letting the third and fourth complaints proceed. Their petition said the filings were duplicative, lacked sufficient form and substance, and relied on subpoenas to build evidence before threshold review. The move comes as lawmakers weigh whether to send the case to the Senate for a trial. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, March 27
PH, China reopen oil exploration talks. The Philippines and China resumed talks on possible oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea during bilateral meetings in Fujian, their first such engagement since 2022. Manila said both sides also discussed energy and fertilizer access, renewable energy, trade, agriculture, visa-free travel, and direct flights. The Philippines restated its position on maritime disputes while both governments agreed to keep bilateral mechanisms active and hold ministers’ talks this year. Franco Jose C. Baroña, The Manila Times, March 29
Indonesia
Indonesia, China boost security ties amid global tensions. Indonesia said it is ready to deepen cooperation between its State Intelligence Agency and China’s Ministry of State Security as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s national security agenda. Prabowo told Chinese state security minister Chen Yixin that regional stability is essential for sustainable economic growth and welcomed mutually beneficial security cooperation. China said it wants wider cooperation with friendly countries to preserve security and stability in Asia and beyond for all. ANTARA News, March 27.
President Prabowo arrives in Tokyo for first official Japan visit. President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Tokyo for his first official visit to Japan as head of state, with meetings planned with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Jakarta said it wants deeper cooperation in trade, technology, education, forestry, and the environment. The trip marks 68 years of diplomatic relations and follows earlier Indonesia-Japan moves to strengthen work in minerals, nuclear energy, and other strategic sectors for future bilateral projects. ANTARA News, March 29.
Russian fleets arrive in Jakarta for joint drills with Indonesian Navy. A detachment from Russia’s Pacific Fleet arrived at Tanjung Priok for meetings and joint drills with the Indonesian Navy. The visiting group includes the corvette Gromky-335, the submarine Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky B-274, and the tugboat Andrey Stepanov. Both sides said the program will include maneuver and communication drills, official engagements, and sports events. They said stronger naval interaction can support peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and wider bilateral ties. ANTARA News, March 29
Taiwan
MND details defense needs in report to legislature. The Ministry of National Defense told lawmakers that Taiwan should fund its proposed eight-year NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget outside the annual budget to preserve fiscal flexibility and speed weapons modernization. The plan covers U.S. purchases, domestic production, research, missile systems, drones, tanks, radar upgrades, and naval base work. The ministry said the package would strengthen defense resilience, support local industry, create 90,000 jobs, and generate NT$400 billion in output growth. William Hetherington, Taipei Times, March 30
Taiwan's opposition leader to visit China next month. Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, said chairwoman Cheng Li-wun will visit China next month from April 7 to 12 after an invitation from Xi Jinping. Chinese state news agency Xinhua said the trip will include Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu over six days. The announcement sets a schedule for Cheng's first disclosed China visit as party leader and marks another channel of contact between Beijing and Taiwan's main opposition force. Ben Blanchard, Reuters, March 30
Nepal
Ex-rapper Shah sworn in as Nepal prime minister after sweeping election win. Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper and Kathmandu mayor, was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister after his Rastriya Swatantra Party won 182 of 275 seats in the March 5 election. He became the country’s youngest prime minister in decades and the first Madhesi to hold the post. Shah named a 14-member cabinet, promised lean government, and faces pressure to create jobs and pursue accountability for the protest killings last year. Gopal Sharma and Sakshi Dayal, Reuters, March 27
Nepal's former prime minister Oli arrested over deaths during Gen Z protests. Police arrested former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli as investigators examine whether he failed to prevent killings during September’s Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests, which forced his resignation. A panel had recommended prosecution for negligence after concluding that he and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak did not stop hours of police gunfire. Supporters protested the arrest and clashed with police, while Oli’s party called the move illegal and demanded his release. Gopal Sharma, Reuters, March 28
Mongolia
Mongolia’s prime minister resigns following tensions within the ruling party. Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav resigned after tensions within the ruling Mongolian People’s Party and an opposition boycott of parliament. The Democratic Party had protested what it called a concentration of power in the ruling party. Zandanshatar warned the infighting would damage the economy and raise prices. Parliament accepted his resignation, and party chairman Nyam-Osoryn Uchral, the speaker, is set to replace him pending parliamentary approval in the coming days if confirmed. Associated Press, March 27
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan expands aviation hub with focus on U.S. and long-haul flights. Kazakhstan is preparing for a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration audit needed for direct flights to the United States while expanding long-haul capacity and maintenance infrastructure. Air Astana plans to buy 15 Boeing 787s, and officials expect Tokyo service in late 2026 and New York no earlier than 2027. A new maintenance center in Shymkent and wider route expansion aim to strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a regional transit hub. Dauren Moldakhmetov, The Times of Central Asia, March 27
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan launch 10 joint projects during Rahmon’s state visit. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Tashkent for talks that launched a new Supreme Interstate Council and 10 joint economic projects. The leaders reviewed trade, transport, water, energy and industrial cooperation, and aim to double bilateral trade to $2 billion by 2030. They also backed border upgrades, new cultural exchanges, tighter security coordination, and a roadmap to carry out the agreements. Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia, March 27
Mirziyoyev, Saudi crown prince discuss Middle East situation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on March 29, with both leaders warning against further escalation in the Middle East and calling for a broad settlement. Mirziyoyev expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia during the crisis, backed the kingdom’s measured approach, and thanked King Salman and the crown prince for helping create favorable conditions for Uzbek citizens performing Umrah this year. Uzbekistan Daily, March 29
East Asia
The Xi Doctrine Zeros in on “High-Quality Development” for China’s Economic Future. China’s fifteenth Five-Year Plan makes high-quality development the core economic principle and ties Xi Jinping’s authority to a transition away from GDP growth as the chief measure of official performance. The new standard favors total factor productivity, efficient use of capital, and value creation over the quantity-driven expansion that produced excess capacity, waste, local debt, and thin margins. Lower growth targets may become normal as China moves past a long deployment cycle in infrastructure and manufacturing. The aim is to curb involution, protect profits for research and development, and support technological self-reliance through new innovation. Execution remains the main test because political incentives and local practice may resist the transformation. Damien Ma, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 27
Beyond trade: Issues in a Trump-Xi summit. Beijing sees a Trump visit to China and a Xi return trip to the United States as a chance to set a steadier framework for relations through the rest of Trump’s term. Taiwan stands at the top of the agenda, with China seeking restraint on arms sales and firmer opposition to Taiwan independence. Trade will matter, but Beijing wants wider talks on tech controls, Entity List sanctions, investment limits, and pressure on Chinese interests in third countries. Cultural and educational exchanges have weakened, with fewer visas and fewer active dialogue channels. Success would mean more working mechanisms, less policy reversal, and a basis for cooperation and crisis management. Wu Xinbo, Brookings, March 27
China’s leadership is about to be shaken up. China has begun a vast five-year turnover of party and state posts that will peak at the 21st party congress in 2027 and heighten tension among political and military elites. Xi Jinping’s positions look secure, but the reshuffle may show whether he plans any path to succession or intends to keep power past 2032. Purges since the 20th congress have hit ranks tied to Xi, leaving fewer clean candidates for the Central Committee and top military posts. The leadership is getting older, with few younger officials in line for promotion. More purges and factional strain could mark Xi’s next term. The Economist, March 29
Two Sessions: can the PRC close the space commercialisation gap? China’s 2026 to 2030 plan makes aerospace a pillar industry and sets a goal of becoming a space power by 2030, with focus on reusable rockets, satellite constellations, and commercial uses of space. Launch volume is rising, Beidou has broad reach in China, and the crewed moon program appears on track. But no launch firm has reached profit, reusable recovery remains unproven, pad capacity limits flight rates, and mega constellations trail Starlink by a wide margin. State capital carries the sector, while SpaceX could cut costs with Starship. The core test is whether China can pair scale with low cost launches before that gap widens. CHINA POLICY, March 28
A New Milestone in China’s Military Transformation. China’s latest anti-corruption purge has removed General Zhang Youxia, the top uniformed officer under Xi Jinping, and cleared the way for Xi to recast the People’s Liberation Army. Zhang’s fall signals that rank, pedigree, and past service no longer shield senior commanders. More than 200 senior officers have been implicated since Xi launched the campaign, leaving the military’s top body with one uniformed member. The removals also weaken the army’s standing and support Xi’s push for greater jointness, with the air force and navy gaining ground in key posts. Loyalty may tighten political control, but a crisis could expose the cost of favoring loyalty over military skill. James Char, RSIS, March 27
A Changing America and China Relations. The United States is in a period of transition rooted in domestic strain, not simple decline. Immigration, public safety, economic pressure, industrial erosion, energy costs, and social tension have pushed Washington to shift attention from broad strategic projects to immediate problems. Under Trump, policy-making has moved toward a small circle of decision makers, with less weight on formal strategy papers, bureaucratic process, and wide consultation. The result is a focus on tariffs, sanctions, deterrence, and transactional diplomacy, along with less patience for older forms of global leadership. China remains important, but its place in U.S. politics and foreign policy narratives has lost ground. Sun Chenghao and Li Yijie, CHINA US Focus, March 29
China Is Planning Decades Ahead on Clean Energy. The U.S. Has Other Priorities. China’s Fifteenth Five-Year Plan shows a state that uses long-range planning to expand clean energy, grid capacity, aluminum decarbonization, and green hydrogen, while the United States has cut climate commitments, renewable support, and research funding. China also gives climate adaptation a larger role, with goals tied to flood control, disaster response, insurance, and warning systems. The contrast does not make Beijing a climate leader. The plan eases emissions accounting and keeps coal central to energy supply, and China has resisted stronger fossil fuel limits in global talks. Clean energy strength and climate diplomacy serve economic freedom and state priorities, not a push for deeper collective emissions cuts. David M. Hart, Alice C. Hill, and Lindsay Iversen, Council on Foreign Relations, March 27
Constraint and uncertainty ahead for Japanese politics. Japan’s political system faces weaker Liberal Democratic Party dominance, a fragmented Diet, and a voter split between older supporters of existing protections and younger voters open to alternatives. Sanae Takaichi has kept support through ideological clarity and symbolic reassurance even as policy delivery stalls, which can preserve her standing while delaying reform. Demographic decline, labour shortages, energy constraints, critical mineral dependence, and rising defence costs narrow the room for action. Stable government depends less on institutional overhaul than on turning fragile parliamentary deals into a disciplined coalition that can address fiscal, social, and strategic pressures. Yasuo Takao, East Asia Forum, March 27
Japan’s Security Policy Is Still Caught Between the Alliance and Domestic Reality. Japan’s response to the Strait of Hormuz crisis showed the limits on its security policy despite higher defense spending and looser constitutional practice. Public opinion opposes military action against Iran and Tokyo’s defense buildup rests on threats from China and North Korea, not combat in the Middle East. Takaichi’s government used alliance hugging with Washington, a multilateral statement on Hormuz, and a $550 billion investment framework to preserve room to reject military participation while easing U.S. pressure. Japan holds a stronger place with Trump than many allies, but that advantage may not last if fighting drags on, U.S. demands grow, and strain in the alliance forces Tokyo to trade more economic or military concessions. Ryo Sahashi, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 27
The 6,000-Meter Mirage: Is Japan Extracting Rare Earths or Political Capital? China’s 2026 export controls on rare earths exposed Japan’s remaining dependence on Chinese refining after years of diversification. Tokyo has promoted deep-sea mining near Minamitorishima as a path to self-sufficiency, but the project rests on unproven mineral quality, high extraction costs, missing refining capacity, and political timing tied to elections. Estimates place domestic production above past Chinese processed prices by a large margin. Inflated promises could steer industry away from urban mining, new magnet designs, and partnerships with Australia and Vietnam. Failure in planned tests could damage Japan’s credibility and leave China’s leverage intact. Ren Xinyuan, CHINA US Focus, March 29
The domestic roots of Takaichi's North Korea abduction overtures. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pushed for a summit with Kim Jong-un on Japanese abductions to strengthen her image, claim Shinzo Abe’s mantle, and use a resonant issue to support her government. The Liberal Democratic Party has long used the case to build backing for tougher security policy, and abductee families can give Tokyo cover for policy shifts tied to talks. Outreach also seeks to restore Japan’s place in regional diplomacy after past U.S.-North Korea and inter-Korean meetings left Tokyo outside the room. Prospects remain weak because Pyongyang has stayed silent, deepened ties with Russia, and shown no change after the ninth Party Congress. Nguyen Thanh Long and Cao Nguyen Khanh Huyen, East Asia Forum, March 28
‘Eternal enemy’: North Korea's new description of Seoul is nonsense. Kim Jong Un has recast South Korea as North Korea’s eternal enemy, ending the older line of reconciliation and reunification despite a government in Seoul that has offered talks and reduced cross-border friction. The change cuts off economic openings, clashes with a family legacy built on reunification, and demands a broad rewrite of ideology that many North Koreans may not accept. The policy also narrows Pyongyang’s diplomacy by tying it to Russia and China even though both keep stronger economic interests in South Korea. When the Ukraine war ends and Russian support falls, Pyongyang may face the cost of refusing cooperation with Seoul. Aidan Foster-Carter, Nikkei Asia, March 28
Southeast Asia
US–Indonesia trade deal reinforces case for RCEP centrality. Indonesia’s trade deal with the United States cuts tariff exposure for many exports and gives sectors such as apparel, footwear, and furniture short-term relief. But the pact is a fragile stabilization arrangement shaped by US domestic politics, deficit concerns, and discretionary tariff powers, not a rules-based trade framework. That uncertainty strengthens the case for RCEP, whose common rules of origin, regional scale, and dispute channels support supply chains and long-term investment. Indonesia should keep bilateral deals aligned with wider regional integration and expand RCEP use, with a focus on smaller firms. Arianto A Patunru, East Asia Forum, March 26
Vietnam and China lay the tracks for deeper trade connectivity. Vietnam’s Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway will link Yunnan to Hai Phong port, move to standard gauge, cut border transfers, and deepen trade and supply chain links with China. For China, the line supports southwest access to the sea and wider regional transport plans. For Vietnam, it serves industrialization, export production, and the needs of manufacturers that rely on Chinese inputs. The project also signals stronger political trust, backed by joint rail cooperation and Chinese support. At the same time, Hanoi is limiting dependence in other rail projects through state financing and talks with other partners, pairing economic gains from China with a broader balancing strategy. Duan Haosheng, East Asia Forum, March 27
South Asia
Is Bollywood’s latest megahit propaganda for Narendra Modi? The “Dhurandhar” films have become major box office hits by pairing extreme violence with a story of Indian revenge against Pakistan and other forces cast as enemies of the nation. The sequel celebrates retaliation for past attacks and expands the list of foes to include opposition parties, Muslim butchers, Sikh separatists, NGOs, and leftists. Bollywood’s shift toward this politics followed pressure and intimidation after 2020, which weakened the industry’s older liberal streak. The films serve less as persuasion than as confirmation of a political worldview shaped by years of pro-Modi messaging across television news and social media. The Economist, March 29
Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan Turns Toward Illiberalism Under Japarov. President Sadyr Japarov has tightened control over Kyrgyzstan through a stronger presidency, restrictive laws, pressure on the media, and prosecutions of critics and opposition figures. Freedom House has moved the country from partly free to not free, and courts have shut outlets such as Kloop while journalists and activists face prison or probation. Japarov’s removal of security chief Kamchybek Tashiev, once his main ally, has opened a struggle inside the ruling camp ahead of the next presidential election. Economic growth, higher state revenue, and infrastructure spending have strengthened public backing, but the country’s remaining pluralism and democratic gains have narrowed. Alexander M. Thompson, Foreign Policy, March 27