Dialogue

Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high military budget for fiscal year 2026, topping nine trillion yen, a 9.4-percent increase from the previous year. The spending plan prioritizes enhanced strike capabilities, expanded coastal deployments with new vessels and drones, and broader military modernization. Are these measures purely defensive adjustments or do they signal the early stages of a dee...

After nearly four years of conflict, diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine appear to be intensifying. Over the weekend, parallel meetings were held in Miami, bringing together U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials, while Washington also engaged Russia separately. Can diplomacy gain traction while the war continues on the ground? Is a lasting peace still out of reach?

The United States has intensified pressure on Venezuela through a major naval buildup and interception of crude oil shipments. What is Washington's endgame in Venezuela? What lies behind this intensifying pressure?

On December 18, 1978, China set reform and opening-up in motion at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee. Forty-seven years later, another major milestone is occurring. Hainan Province begins island-wide special customs operations, the final step in activating China's first free trade port. Experts explain why the move is important for China's opening-up drive and what new op...

This week, China pushed back against remarks by the British Foreign Secretary regarding the recent conviction of Jimmy Lai. Lai was found guilty of violating China's National Security Law over his role in the 2019 violent unrest in Hong Kong. Beijing rejected the characterization of the verdict as a "politically motivated prosecution," saying the British side is interfering in China's internal aff...

Hong Kong's High Court has found media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty on multiple charges, including conspiring to collude with external forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials. This marks the first case under Hong Kong's National Security Law involving the crime of collusion with foreign forces, making it a landmark verdict with legal and political implications for the city. What do we know...

The annual Central Economic Work Conference has just concluded in Beijing with Chinese leaders deciding priorities for the economic work in 2026, the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. The message is clear: China is to boost consumption and build a robust domestic market to deal with external challenges. Meanwhile, institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank have raised their growth for...