For countries dependent on imported oil, America’s war with Iran and its disruptions on global oil supplies have made China’s renewable energy strategy more attractive. While the Trump administration is doubling down on global oil dominance, China has an opportunity to strengthen its position as the renewable powerhouse while managing concerns of over dependence on Chinese renewable technologies and supply chains.

A global energy crisis has created an opportunity for the Philippines and China to improve relations through increased diplomatic engagement, expanded economic cooperation, and renewed focus on energy security despite ongoing maritime disputes. China’s ability to supply fuel, invest in infrastructure, and support renewable energy development positions it as a key partner in strengthening the Philippines’ energy resilience and economic stability.

South Korea has recently proven atypically successful in straddling regional tensions involving China, but Beijing’s strained relations with Washington and its allies will sorely test Seoul’s pragmatic diplomacy in 2026.

For China-U.S. relations today, the realistic question is not how to construct a G2 but how the two countries can find a workable mode of coexistence under conditions in which cooperation and competition can coexist.

For decades, Western multinationals and tech firms built Malaysia’s export base while China financed its railways, ports, and industrial zones -- a balance Kuala Lumpur managed with unusual ease. Now, rare-earth ambitions are pulling that equilibrium in new directions, intensifying debates at home over control, national interest, and how far neutrality can stretch.

When Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi took office, she pledged to focus on economic improvement. After her Taiwan comments, new missteps could prove costly to Japan, the region, even the world.

Bangladesh’s deepening energy crisis has made it the center of a regional contest, with China expanding investments and India seeking to use geography to retain influence. Dhaka’s post-election energy choices will determine whether Delhi can convert that leverage into lasting power or yield ground to Beijing’s faster-moving ambitions.

Chinese tourists dominate temple-centered travel in Asia, with Thailand seeing a sharp drop due to safety and infrastructure issues, while Japan faces overcrowded destinations like Kyoto and Nara. Visitor patterns reveal regional tourism, commerce, and cultural trends, leading into Part Two’s focus on China’s domestic travel.

China and India are cautiously rebuilding ties after years of mistrust, with renewed border talks, restored flights, and revived trade, a shift accelerated by Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods. Instead of isolating Moscow’s partners, Washington’s selective approach appears to be driving the two Asian rivals closer together.

America’s tariffs have remained a centerpiece of discussion in global trade since the White House announced them, with a clear, coherent path forward yet to emerge. In these first few historic months, how has the aggressive trade policy affected U.S. positions in Asia?