Power
The world’s next decade is being decided in rooms most Western readers never see. These are the elections, alliances, and military standoffs across Asia-Pacific — and what each one costs the West.
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Sep- 2026 -23 September
Anwar’s coalition faces its first real test in Melaka
A snap election within 60 days will reveal whether Malaysia's unity government is a voting alliance or merely parliamentary convenience after back-to-back state losses.
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21 September
Anwar’s coalition fractures as Najib pardon signals UMNO’s rising power
Transport Minister Anthony Loke resigned September 19 in protest after Malaysia's King granted former PM Najib Razak house arrest until August 2028, exposing deep tensions between reformist allies and UMNO…
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19 September
Trump arms tariff weapon against China’s Russian energy imports days before Xi arrives
A new US law signed September 18 lets Trump impose up to 100 percent tariffs on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas—China and India absorb 85 percent…
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13 September
The Hague ruled against India. India rejected the court.
A unanimous tribunal found India's suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty has no legal basis, but New Delhi rejected the award's legitimacy, leaving enforcement to politics alone.
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9 September
Taiwan’s record defence budget arrives as Xi prepares to meet Trump
With Taipei crossing NT$1.12 trillion in military spending for the first time, the US de facto ambassador warns a Taiwan Strait conflict would cause economic damage exceeding World War II.
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7 September
UAE builds Hormuz bypass as Gulf trust fractures over Iran
Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash warned that restoring regional confidence could take decades, while the Emirates expands eastern ports and rail to shield energy exports from strait disruption.
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6 September
Thailand’s peace talks face hardline veto as 78 coordinated attacks erupt
Over a weekend in August 2026, suspected separatists struck across Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani with arson, bombs, and sabotage, injuring three and forcing curfews just as Bangkok prepared to restart…
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5 September
Taiwan’s drone budget stalls as legislature blocks its own defense plan
A record NT$63.4 billion in drone funding survived a 266-day budget delay, but the NT$210 billion special appropriation needed to build 200,000 unmanned systems remains blocked by opposition lawmakers wary…
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2 September
Indonesia hosts record military drills while building a weapons factory with China
Super Garuda Shield 2026 opened August 31 with 21 countries as Jakarta pursues parallel defense tracks with Washington and Beijing under its doctrine of non-alignment.
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Aug- 2026 -22 August
Anwar’s coalition fractures as UMNO builds leverage before Melaka
Malaysia's ruling parties are using the August 28 UMNO decision on Melaka to renegotiate power, with three state-level losses already signaling that electoral discipline is breaking down.
