Coverage, analysis, photo and video coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup from Brazil

In December 1963, the People's Liberation Army started work on a book of quotations by the Communist Party leader, Mao Zedong. It was to be used in drill sessions with recruits; short excerpts without context or analysis designed to be memorized and chanted

China is determined to shape the global financial system by establishing the Renminbi as its reserve currency. The problem is that Beijing's disputes are preventing it from fulfilling a necessary first step - establishing a regional sphere of monetary influence

In the 1920s, Japan began to translate its growing economic might into formidable military power. Substitute communist China for imperial Japan, and the same thing is now occurring in the Pacific region

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the largest feat of engineering between the Himalayas and the edge of the East Asian landmass. China's epic construction project is now the template for an even more grandiose water scheme

Penguin India decided to remove from circulation and destroy any remaining copies of 'The Hindus: An Alternate Anthology', by Wendy Doniger. The decision sparked widespread outrage and criticism within literary circles in India and abroad

Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe announced confidently: 'Japan is Back!' To some observers, this seemed like hubris given the tsunami and nuclear disaster. Yet Abe's words now seem particularly well chosen

You may have heard that China just became the third nation to land a spacecraft on the moon, a momentous achievement overshadowed only by the country's other recent accomplishment: Turning a lung-smothering smog problem into a smogpportunity

For decades the critical role played by India's 1.1 million-strong volunteer army in the First World War has been ignored. But that is changing and official remembrance activities lasting until 2019 are planned

Does China's ambivalence toward America's sanctions regime in North Korea imply a challenge to the broader international order? If not, then the supposed rivalry between the United States and China -- at least as far as North Korea is concerned -- may have little significance

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is the persuader-in-chief of Japan, and the world should be aware of his every policy move. Abe has managed to rebrand himself into a second coming of economic might in which the hopes of all the Japanese people must be invested

China's strategic focus on space is less about national pride than about the importance of space for both the military and economic progress of the country. The Chinese space program has developed rapidly over the past decade, illustrating the importance

Most Chinese simply aren't happy with the status quo. Even rich people no longer trust the government. How long can the Communist government survive in this atmosphere of withering public discontent? Is Taiwan growing to be a powerful democratic role model?

Adami Wilson, a Malawi national convicted of drug smuggling, was executed by firing squad, ending a four-year pause in executions in Indonesia. Wilson's death was the result of a backlash against a softening of Indonesia's commitment to capital punishment

Another apparel factory has collapsed in a poor Asian country, killing three workers, and I fear I'm partly to blame. The evidence of my complicity sits idle on the landing, next to a tennis racquet -- Asics shoes

Another shocking sweatshop disaster, this one claiming the lives of 385 people, with many more missing and at least 1,000 injured. Eight people, including the owner of the building, which housed five separate garment operations, were arrested

The significance of the shift from Europe to the Pacific is overrated, since Europe is much richer and more important to the American economy than China or any other Asian nation other than Japan. The US could in fact do well with a movement toward isolationism

Nationalist gestures and recent rhetoric have led to suggestions that Japan may be abandoning its post-War pacifism in favor of a more assertive posture. However, this narrative forgets that the overwhelming majority of the country is opposed to such a change

China's working-age population reached a peak in 2010 at 70 per cent of the total population. The peak moment of enjoying the Chinese demographic dividend -- when the ratio of working-age people to dependents is highest -- has passed

Everybody knows that Japan is ground zero for global ageing. The youngest of the developed countries as recently as the mid-1970s, it is now the oldest -- and its age wave will continue to roll in for decades to come

China has become the world's workshop and Europe has an insatiable appetite for its exports. Most now arrive on giant container ships. But as ports become clogged and delivery times critical, China is once again looking to the old land routes across Asia

A silver and white Bullet train rolled out of Beijing on its maiden journey. It was a proud moment for China, the inauguration of the world's longest high-speed rail line, running from the north to south of China, from Beijing to Guangzhou

The move to ban certain ads is another in a line of efforts by Chinese authorities to root out corruption, something the Chinese Communist Party has publicly acknowledged as a life or death struggle

China’s relations with North Korea have deteriorated, and could further worsen should the North carry out its nuclear test. It is believed China would respond to a third nuclear test with economic, political and military measures

Will Chuck Hagel follow in Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's ideological Pacific 'Pivot' footsteps when it comes to the Air-Sea, Cold War style battle in the Pacific?

Thousands of angry citizens have stood up to challenge their governments. But in Asia, home to some of the world's most authoritarian nations, we've seen none of that. Vietnam, however, may be setting a path for other Asian states

You don't have to spend much time in Vietnam before you notice something unusual. You hear no birds, see no squirrels or rats scurrying. No dogs out for a walk. In fact, you see almost no wild or domesticated animals at all. Where'd they all go?

Any book that purports to tell the story of the 'real North Korea' runs the risk of serious overhype. North Korea, after all, is perhaps the least understood, least accessible, and least research-friendly country in the world

China is earnestly striving to become a respected world power, one that finally surpasses the United States. The day could conceivably come. But its biggest problem right now is the nation's 'soft power.' China appears to have very few true friends in the world

Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States will defend itself and its allies amid what he calls 'provocative, dangerous and reckless' threats by North Korean leader Kim Jung Un

The Philippines has shrugged off decades of financial woes to earn its first investment-grade credit rating from one of the world's leading ratings agencies. Economists say it was only a matter of time before the Philippines would be given an investment-grade rating

The end of the decades-old civil war in Sri Lanka enabled the world to shift its focus to events in Africa and the Middle East. Not smart, argue numerous observers. Colombo now appears unwilling to integrate meaningful reconciliation and reintegration processes into its official policies

It is a time of tension in East Asia with growing nationalism, territorial claims between Japan and its neighbours and the persistent challenge of a nuclear North Korea

Foreigners living in and visiting North Korea can now access Twitter, Facebook, and other social media on their mobile phones, providing what could be an unprecedented, real-time view of the notoriously isolated country

A middle class has emerged, several hundred million Indians have seen lifestyles improve immeasurably and wealth is displayed more conspicuously than ever before. Western attention is often fixated on India's economic growth

President Obama's immigration plan calling for a huge increase in visas for foreign science and engineering graduates will pose a huge challenge for China, India and Latin America

North Korea has been using the threat of tests and the tests themselves as weapons against its neighbors and the United States for years. And doing it successfully. So what appears absurd on the surface quite obviously isn't. On the contrary, it has proved to be a very effective maneuver

South Korea confirmed it would implement expanded United Nations sanctions on North Korea, despite dire warnings from Pyongyang about the consequences

Defying United Nations calls to accept Myanmar's Rohingyas as Muslim minority amid sectarian bloodshed in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation, Thailand sent dozens of Rohingyas back to their homeland

A fire swept through a sweatshop in Bangladesh, killing at least 112 people. The sweatshop, which produced brand-name garments for major retail outlets such as Walmart and Sears, has been described as a deathtrap

China's troubles at home are daunting -- economic, political, social. And as the government transition approaches, all of it seems to be coming to a head

The slowdown of the Chinese economy is pushing the world towards a new crisis. A hard landing in China could expose a large number of countries to unforeseen consequences and dash hopes of a global recovery

The publication of this book in Chinese in Hong Kong was a major event with a political and historical significance that should increase with the appearance of the English-language version

Political meritocracy has been largely eclipsed from political theorizing, but there are important reasons for reviving and reinterpreting this political ideal, particularly in a Chinese context

The new North Korean leader likes Disney. But that's not necessarily a sign that he's leaning westward

The gestation period of 3-5 years to implement this tourism project gives China sufficient time to complete several projects linked to Tibet that improve connectivity, trade and commerce

Realizing the dangers of Chinese monopoly, countries have started collaborating in Rare Earth Elements, while North America countries plan to increase investments

In the light of the US rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific, the Indian dilemma is how to boost its relationship with the US that can provide an impetus to its economy and defence capability building without antagonising China

Despite the unifying power of the monarchy, Thailand remains bedeviled by political tensions and ethnic unrest. These may eventually determine the country's relations with the United States and China

China is preparing to usher in a new generation of leaders. Just don't expect too much in the way of change

China's dominance of the global rare earths market continues to impact on the economic and strategic calculations of a host of Western consumers

The way the Chinese government is behaving right now, you'd almost think it had converted to democracy. Half a dozen times in recent weeks, government officials have backed down in the face of angry citizen protests

Predictions about the collapse of China's political system have been constantly repeated since the suppression of the pro-democracy uprisings in 1989. But the system didn't collapse then, and it won't collapse now

Control over the South China Sea is more than just a practical matter and goes to the center of China's foreign policy dilemma: how to assert its maritime claims while maintaining a non-confrontational foreign policy

South Korea is cutting-edge in so many ways, except its foreign policy

The possible repercussions on Japan's bilateral relations with China and Taiwan might still create serious hurdles in proceeding with the nationalization plan for the Senkakus

China's growing regional presence â€" not to mention its territorial claims â€" is prompting many Southeast Asian states to reinvigorate their ties with the United States

As part of its efforts to boost its presence within Southeast Asia, the United States has decided to reaffirm its military support for the Philippines. Yet this will not come at the price of heightening tensions with China

A steady improvement in India's economy, together with politico-economic changes in its neighborhood, are prompting a re-examination of the national interest in New Delhi

Want to know what it's like to be a Chinese leader today? They spend their days arrayed before a dyke, desperately sticking fingers in leaks that keep springing

The era of the Fourth Generation of Chinese Communist Party leadership is coming to an end

Asia is spending more on the military and selling more weapons to the world

Access for international aid workers in Myanmar shows signs of improving, but aid workers say huge challenges remain

With its export-dependent economy faltering, and with limited military options, China must pursue a strategy of neutralizing the United States politically

The number one priority in U.S. policy toward China should be working to address the trust deficit while ensuring that we remain deeply engaged with our allies

Why should anyone believe that catering to the interests of U.S. corporations located in or returning from China will make American workers any better off?

How to deal with North Korean refugees is currently one of the hottest issues in China and South Korea's bilateral relationship

Will Asia's growing economic power be accompanied by a similar rise in its military power? This is a key question for today's policy-makers searching for signs of a shift in the world's military balance

Burma has been one of the world's basket cases for half a century, ever since the military seized control in 1962 and began marching it down the Burmese Path to Socialism. But suddenly things are changing

China's increasing maritime assertiveness is bringing Manila and Washington closer

Southeast Asian militant groups will continue to be relegated to grassroots tactics

China has announced an ambitious five-year plan that includes the launch of space laboratories, a manned spaceship to the moon and the creation of its own global satellite navigation system that will almost certainly be used for military purposes

The United States' central challenge over the next several decades is to revitalize itself, while promoting a larger West and buttressing a complex balance in the East that can accommodate China's rising global status

More than ever, North Korea will likely turn to China as its primary provider of food, money and material resources

The Obama administration has a chance to use the death of Kim Jong Il to open a new chapter in its relationship with North Korea

Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever, according to recent observations by a prestigious climate watchdog body

High up in the Himalayas in Nepal is a glacial lake that has been growing in length by 60 metres a year, threatening to burst its banks as rising temperatures in the region cause the glacier that feeds it to melt more quickly

China's commerce ministry says its exports face 'severe challenges' because of economic problems in its key Western markets

Disgruntled former Maoist combatants are blocking roads in major cities and towns along Nepal's main east-west highway, as part of an ongoing effort to highlight their plight

Indonesia needs to cut fuel subsidies in order to attract foreign investment, but this could threaten social stability

As global politics and economic development pivot to Asia, Australia is itself becoming a pivotal country in regional and global affairs

When the Seychelles announced the invitation for China to set up a military presence, Indian, American and Taiwanese policy analysts wrote that this was further evidence of a 'string of pearls' strategy to encircle India with naval bases leased by China

Diminished nuclear power-generation capability poses serious vulnerabilities to Japan's energy security

The capture of Chinese construction workers by rebels in Sudan has presented China with an opportunity to flex its muscles and show it not so shy to use military force to protect its citizens abroad

North Korea's stability is in question as the country tries to smoothly transition from the leadership of the late Kim Jong Il to that of his youngest son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong-un may be modeling himself afer North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung

At present, it's unclear whether or not Kim Jong-un is the military's leader of choice

South Korean parliamentarian Kim Geun-Tae was a soft-spoken man dedicated to reunification of the Koreas

The only safe prediction about Burma's future is that any prediction will probably be incorrect

Is detente with Burma just around the corner?

The United States has failed in its policies to punish, isolate, and otherwise push North Korea toward collapse. Perhaps it should try engagement instead

The Chinese economy continues to grow at a fast pace. But signs of distress lurk just below the surface

As they continue to seek a designated graveyard, minority Christians in Nepal now fear for their security after a recent bomb attack

Nepal has started a key move to seal the fate of 19,000 former Maoist fighters who fought a decade-long war to remove the monarchy and the century-old Hindu identity from the tiny Himalayan country

Thousands of ethnic Bengalis living near the Bangladesh-India border have for decades found themselves citizens of one nation but bound within the sovereign territory of another. In recent months they have escalated their campaign for a land swap that will align their citizenship with cartography

Some 40 years after the end of Bangladesh's war of independence, trials began of those suspected of committing war crimes during the conflict. Most of those charged are Islamist suspected of acting as henchmen of Pakistani army

Right now, China is obsessed with the Occupy Wall Street movement, deathly afraid that it will spread there

To throw off the repression of its military regime, the people of Burma need a two-pronged approach

All eyes are on North Korea after Kim Jong Il's death. But the real changes are taking place in the South

While India's ability to handle the challenges may be constrained by a slowing economy, it would need to manage them through requisite diplomatic skill and finesse

Australia is rapidly re-posturing in the face of a militarized East Asia

Workers at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear facility plant have discovered a leak of 45 metric tons of contaminated, radioactive water. It is not yet clear if the contaminated water reached the Pacific Ocean

Remember his name. Park Won Soon is perhaps the first politician to win with an Occupy Wall Street platform

Why is the Obama Administration creating obstacles and throwing cold water on talks with North Korea, and why is it binding itself to right-wing South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose politics just took a shellacking

In seemingly yet another attempt to emphasise the benign nature of China's rise, the Information Office of the State Council released a white paper entitled 'China's Peaceful Development'

Imagine that there's a country exactly like the United States. Exactly the same size. It's got the same cities. It's got the same number of rich people and poor people. It's just like us. And now add 1 billion peasants. That's China

An unidentified Tibetan monk set himself on fire at the Boudhanath stupa, a religious site on the outskirts of Kathmandu that is heavily populated by Tibetan immigrants

Energy-starved Bangladesh signed a landmark deal with Russia to finalize arrangements for installing two nuclear power plants in the north of the country

Bangladesh has built its first disaster-resilient settlement, designed to minimize damage during natural disasters. Known locally as a disaster-resilient habitat, the residences in the southern city of Shymnagar near the Bay of Bengal comprise 50 houses that can accommodate up to 300 people

While the Burmese government has re-opened a key border checkpoint between Thailand and Myanmar to accommodate thousands of migrants fleeing Thailand's flooded factories, undocumented -- and now unemployed -- migrants face extortion and abuse as they try to return home

Today, Indonesia is hailed as a model democracy and is a darling of the international financial community. The Jakarta Stock Exchange has been among the world's top performers in recent years, and some analysts have even called for adding Indonesia to the ranks of the BRIC countries. Yet despite all the fanfare, the Indonesian score contains some decidedly discordant notes

Although China has made remarkable economic progress over the past few decades, its citizens' health has not improved as much. A look at China's disease burden also reveals a worrisome picture

China's interference in markets to limit its currency appreciation is under increasing fire from US politicians who claim that the policy is costing American jobs. But several recent studies indicate that changing China's currency policies alone would not necessarily benefit the US economy or its workers

North Korea believes that by giving up its nuclear arms, Libya fatally compromised its national security

The generals of Burma's ruling junta have set aside their uniforms, but they still resemble a military dictatorship

A human rights organization asked the Bangladesh high court to probe the government's role in the beheading of eight Bangladeshi immigrants in Saudi Arabia

Bangladesh has been named one of the top countries in the world most vulnerable to a climate change-induced food crisis and hunger

Bangladesh's high-growth mobile phone sector is buying into disaster risk reduction, and the cyclone-affected costal region stands to gain most, say government officials, aid workers and private sector sources

Over the last few years, use of China's currency for international trade has been growing steadily. Some argue this is the start of a journey that will see the renminbi displace the dollar and become the international reserve currency within a decade. This column asks whether such prophecies are realistic by looking at how other international currencies established themselves

The United States, which has focused for years on North Korea's small but developing nuclear arsenal, has barely been paying attention to the larger developments in Asia

South Korea hopes that the new base will help strengthen its territorial rights on Dokdo as the base would enable its ships to reach the islands quickly

Islamists ran amok in the Bangladesh capital demanding release of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders detained to stand trial for war crimes

Bangladesh has accepted an offer from the United States to combat the bird flu virus by developing 'seed virus,' a key ingredient to make a vaccine in an emergency

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 18 September in northeastern India which also caused deaths in parts of Nepal and China, serves as a stark warning to the earthquake-prone region, experts say

China has been taking the code of Western corporations -- 'ye who enter the marketplace, abandon all ethics' -- to the next level

Suicide rates in South Korea more than doubled in a decade, according to figures from the government