U.S. and Taiwan Finalize New Trade Agreement

Semiconductor PanelFritzchensFritz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons By Katie Braman On February 12, 2026, the United States and Taiwan finalized a new trade agreement between the two nations. This agreement brings along major tariff reductions, lowering the U.S. tariff rate for imports from Taiwan to 15% from the previous 20,% as well as committing Taiwan to a schedule for lowering or eliminating tariffs on nearly all US goods. Taiwan... Continue Reading →

February 16, 2026 0

Bangladesh’s 2026 Election: a Pivotal Moment for Democracy

Gathering for Tarique Rahman, 2026 Frameofashik, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Noah Eubanks Bangladesh’s 2026 election is a pivotal transition to democracy following the Gen-Z protests that forced leader Sheikh Hasina into exile in 2024. Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won by a landslide on Thursday, positioning Rahman to become the... Continue Reading →

February 16, 2026 0

With No End in Sight, Myanmar’s Junta Extends State of Emergency

By Lauren Ho On January 31, 2025 the Myanmar military, or the junta, extended its state of emergency amidst its continued state of conflict. The conflict began in 2021 when Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar national leader was arrested by his military. A state of emergency was promptly declared and catapulted the nation into... Continue Reading →

February 2, 2025 0

Trans-Caspian Trade: Growth and Development of the Middle Corridor

By John W. Parks As war in Ukraine continues to damage Russia’s credibility and economic security, other Eurasian producers have been forced to utilize alternative avenues of trade. In response, China, along with Turkey, the European Union, and Central Asian states have dedicated increasingly more resources to the development and expansion of a bypass route.... Continue Reading →

February 2, 2025 0

Halfway There: Middle Kingdom’s Road Returns:

By John W. Parks As of November 2024, construction has begun on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railroad (CKU) inside Kyrgyzstan. The railroad will connect the Uzbek terminal of Andijan to the Chinese terminal of Kashgar, passing through several Kyrgyz cities and the Fergana Valley along the way. Leaders of these countries have championed the construction of this... Continue Reading →

December 2, 2024 0

New Maritime Laws Frustrate China

By Lexi Dean The Philippine president signed two laws this past Friday reaffirming the country’s maritime claims and resource extraction rights in the South China Sea. Amidst China’s growing aggression in the regional, especially towards the Philippines this past year, this marks a crucial moment of emphasizing international rules-based order and law. During a nationally... Continue Reading →

November 14, 2024 0

Aiming for the Center: An Emphasis on Central Asia’s Role

By John W. Parks Thinking of Central Asia as a roundabout, or a master key, or a distribution hub of global trade infrastructure, could not be any more correct. China, Iran, and the United States have recently ramped up their initiatives to include the Central Asian states in trade partnerships. Though the Great Powers have... Continue Reading →

November 14, 2024 0

New Sanctions on Myanmar’s Military

By Lexi Dean In 2021 the Myanmar army seized power from the civilian-elected government leading to widespread protests and increasing conflict calling for a return to democracy. This began escalating violence between the military and armed guerilla groups made up from the country’s ethnic minorities. The takeover also sparked the beginning of what is known... Continue Reading →

November 4, 2024 0

Myanmar Town Falls to Resistance Forces

Written by Lexi Dean | April 15, 2024 Town of Myawaddy The Karen, Myanmar’s third largest ethnic group, took control of the border town of Myawaddy last week. Myawaddy, with a population of about 200,000, sits across the Moei River from the Thai city of Mae Sot. This town is a crucial trading outpost and... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2024 0

Escalating Tensions in the South China Sea: Philippines Confronts China’s Aggression

Written by Lexi Dean | April 1, 2024 ASEAN group photo 2023 Clashes in the Indo-Pacific region over disputed territory and sovereignty rights in the South China Sea continue to attract international attention. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, and China have overlapping claims that have led to tensions within the South China Sea, one... Continue Reading →

April 1, 2024 0

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