Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-raises-concerns-with-china-over-letters-targeting-hong-kong-dissident-2025-03-18/ On March 18, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has raised concerns with China after an incident where anonymous letters were sent to Australian citizens offering a reward in return for information on the location of Australian-based Hong Kong dissident Kevin Yam. Late last week, some residents in Melbourne received letters offering $1 million in Hong Kong… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-vast-distances-will-drive-shift-uncrewed-defence-systems-officials-2025-03-26/ Australian officials announced on March 26 that their military will rely more on autonomous systems without crews due to its vast geography. Its air force is working with Boeing to develop a new autonomous aircraft called the “Ghost Bat”. Chief of Air Force Stephen Chappell said they will test the Ghost Bat this year to see… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-china-south-korea-meet-geopolitical-turning-point-history-2025-03-22/ On March 22, foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea all met up in Tokyo to talk about security and economic issues amid global uncertainty. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya started off the meeting by saying we very well might be at a turning point in history and agreed to accelerate preparations for their trilateral… Read more »
Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/australia-tariffs-steel-aluminum-exemption-fe8ad2239a20c65d42c9249c05ae9303 Australia is one of many countries that have been impacted by U.S. tariffs – in their case, on steel and aluminum. However, Australia is not implementing retaliatory tariffs and is instead seeking an exemption from the tariffs – one they had been granted during the past Trump administration. Australia’s current Prime Minister has said that they… Read more »
Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/china-congress-economy-private-jinping-tariffs-aac0a8931a14c0d2f17087351914a068 This month, China held their annual National People’s Congress. The meeting primarily focused on how to improve their slowing economy, especially in the wake of the trade war between the U.S. and China. They’ve set the goal of around 5% growth in the economy – the same goal they had in 2024. To achieve this goal,… Read more »
Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-constitutional-court-yoon-martial-law-9e13145c7be4667369be437a9ff23e6a South Korea’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached several months ago following his attempt to enact martial law. Now, the Constitutional Court is expected to deliver a verdict on whether Yoon will be removed from office or will be allowed to return to his presidential duties. Yoon has also been indicted for attempted rebellion, a charge… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2rreg04dpo This article covers North Korea recently sending additional soldiers to Russia and repositioning others to frontlines in the Kursk region, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported. Their number is not clear, but they are suspected to be at least 1,000 troops. North Korea has suffered heavy losses since it first sent troops to defend Russia in its… Read more »
Link To Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czj31l4p7vzo This article discusses how the current trade war between the US and China intensified as China reacted to higher US tariffs with retaliatory economic actions. Beijing slapped tariffs of 15% on US agricultural products and 10% on aquatic products, beef, and other commodities. It also cut back exports of rare earth metals and added US companies… Read more »
Link To Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89ypkq72d0o This article covers Japan’s biggest forest fire in decades. The forest fire is now sweeping across northern Iwate Prefecture, near the city of Ofunato. More than 5,200 acres of territory have been incinerated, killing at least one person and burning over 80 structures. This region captured a mere 2.5 millimeters of rainfall in February, far below… Read more »
Link to Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/vietnam-chases-us-deals-as-top-official-flies-to-meet-trump-team/ar-AA1ANI4y?ocid=AARDHP “Vietnam’s top trade official is heading to the United States in a bid to persuade President Donald Trump’s team that Hanoi is serious about resetting trade ties.” This is to avoid the imposition of tariffs which would hurt their heavily export driven economy. Trade minister Nguyen Hong Dien is to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick… Read more »
