When Sri Lanka announced in July 2017 that the underperforming Chinese-built Hambantota port was to be leased for 99 years to a Chinese government-linked company, Western and Indian media outlets went into overdrive by labelling the deal a classic ex

An across-the-board pay hike for Malaysia's civil servants has stirred worries over inflation and grumbles from the public over alleged preferential treatment for a key vote bank represented by a mainly Malay bureaucracy infamous for its inefficiency

Pakistan's acquisition of the first of eight advanced Hangor-class Chinese submarines marks a strategic edge for Islamabad in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, with analysts and former Indian military officials noting New Delhi is lagging in the unde

China frequently calls upon other countries to be "rational", but it is worth asking whether it is applying the same standard to its own actions. Beijing's requests for rationality are usually made of countries that China deems to be acting against i

Comments made by US President Joe Biden in which he described Japan as "xenophobic" have caused an uproar among the Japanese, with some saying he was "wrong" to use the term, while others argued that accepting more foreigners might mean ending up lik

A proposed deal to allow troops from France and the Philippines to hold joint drills in each other's territory underscores the commitment by Paris to ensure the security of maritime trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region and support Manila's positio

An overhaul of Australia's foreign investment policies, which has resurfaced scrutiny of Chinese interests in the country, and news of an expulsion of suspected Indian spies have cast the spotlight on Canberra's national security. Analysts say Austra

A rare terrorism alert for South Korea's diplomats this week is fuelling tensions with Pyongyang while allowing a welcome respite for the South's ruling conservatives, who are still in shock from an election loss, observers say. Five overseas mission

The Solomon Islands has "locked in" ties with China after lawmakers chose another pro-Beijing prime minister, even though its government is expected to face greater scrutiny and demand for transparency in its engagement with Chinese officials, analys

Microsoft will invest US$2.2 billion in Malaysia to develop cloud technology and artificial intelligence, in the company's biggest investment in the country unveiled on Thursday by the chief executive of the world's largest company during his whirlwi

The Philippine ambassador to the United States has reassured that bilateral relations between the two countries would remain strong should Donald Trump win the US presidential election in November, a view supported by many analysts who see it alignin

Seoul's reluctance to commit itself in the event of a Taiwan crisis, despite being an American ally, stems from its need to remain prudent amid uncertainty over ongoing global conflicts, the coming US presidential election and a potentially emboldene

A recent visit by US Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass to Pakistan could mark a seismic shift in regional dynamics, with implications that could resonate as far as the Middle East, according to analysts. The visit by the former U

United States and Philippine forces fired a dozen rockets in the direction of the South China Sea as part of this year's ongoing Balikatan joint military exercises, an act military officials insisted was not meant to provoke any particular country at

The Philippines' House of Representatives has said it will formally investigate Rodrigo Duterte over an unwritten pact he allegedly made secretly with China, a move some observers say is aimed at dampening the former president's political clout ahead

A massive scandal surrounding a former Indian prime minister's grandson who is accused of raping and sexually assaulting hundreds of women has tainted a regional party allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with analysts saying it could cost the r

Singapore must have the "right politics" or risk ending up "worse than other countries" if it allows issues such as populism to take root in society, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned in his final key speech before he cedes power on May 15. "

South Korea is investigating a pastor for allegedly stalking first lady Kim Keon-hee and gifting her a Dior handbag that later snowballed into a scandal and roiled President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration. National Office of Investigation chief Woo J

A decision by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to attend a rally in Toronto supporting a separatist Sikh movement has aggravated already strained relations between his country and India. India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned Trudeau's

Nepal has drawn considerable foreign investment in recent years as it aims to become a middle-income country but its "dysfunctional" politics may curb its ambition amid strategic jostling between India and China, according to economists. During a two

Indonesia's national under-23 football team unleashed patriotic fervour across the sports-mad nation with a string of impressive performances in the U-23 Asian Cup, raising hopes for a shot at Olympic glory despite a recent heartbreaking defeat. The

The Japanese public appears to have come around to the conclusion that more foreign workers are needed to keep the country functioning, with a new poll indicating 62 per cent of respondents support the government's policy of granting more visas for s

An ongoing strike by public transport drivers and operators in the Philippines against a government policy to phase out traditional jeepneys has drawn unexpected support from business leaders. The latest voices comprised commerce and labour groups, w

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi made a one-day visit to Sri Lanka last week for the opening of a major Iranian-assisted hydropower and irrigation project, which both he and Sri Lankan media portrayed as a victory over the West. "The Western countries

A disastrous showing by Japan's ruling party in three special elections at the weekend has reignited doubts over Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's tenuous grip on power, with the country's leader expected to need a political miracle to remain in office.

In Malaysia, the franchise holder for American fast-food giant KFC says it has been forced to temporarily close numerous outlets, citing "challenging economic conditions", as consumers in the Muslim-majority nation persist with a months-long boycott

The first formal meeting between South Korea's conservative president Yoon Suk-yeol and the country's top opposition leader has been seen as a significant step towards more stable ties amid an often tumultuous political landscape. While the talks on

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is facing criticism for leading calls to shut down a contentious report on casino plans for a flatlining urban project, as the Forest City fallout unfolds and questions mount over the hold of Islamists on public

The announcement during a recent meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that the first non-American to walk on the moon is set to be a Japanese signals that Tokyo aims to surpass China's space ambition. However, analysts

In Singapore, the growth of Chinese family offices has been slowing amid the fallout from last year's multibillion-dollar money-laundering scandal and tighter checks on new applicants. More than S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in assets have been seized