For international banks, Asia is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable place.Already facing pressure from regulators in their home countries to conserve capital and stay away from risk, they're now having to cope with a newly sophisticated breed of Asian lender.Due to a boom in domestic and cross-border loans, bank advances in the region outside of Japan reached $26 trillion in June, up from $7.8 trillion a decade ago.

The South China Sea dispute has for the longest time been a thorn in the flesh of relations between claimant Southeast Asian states and China – and for good reason. It is one of the key arteries of global trade, carrying an estimated one third of global shipping amounting to trillions of dollars. It is also rich in hydrocarbon resources.

Environmental issues like climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have come to shape the global agenda for the future. The logic it follows is simple – no environment, no humanity. This concern was most urgently dealt with on a cold winters’ day in December 2015 in Paris when the leaders of 195 countries agreed to adopt the world’s first ever universal global climate deal.

North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un’s first foreign trip saw him take a bulletproof train to neighbouring China where he received a lavish welcome from Chinese president, Xi Jinping. Kim’s trip was kept under wraps until it was announced after Kim and his delegation had returned to Pyongyang.The North Korean leader’s visit comes before the proposed summit between the United States (US) and South Korea which is expected to take place in May.

China owes its economic-growth miracle largely to local governments. But, as the country attempts to build a more modern and sustainable economy, in a context of lower overall growth, local governments need to adapt. What will happen when they do?Despite the occasional inappropriate intervention, local governments have been very successful in preserving the market and fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship over the last three decades or so.

United States (US) president, Donald Trump’s imposition of at least US$60 million worth of tariffs on China’s products has already prompted signs of Chinese retaliation, something that could result in a trade war between the two nations. Trump’s earlier proposals to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminium imports has already sparked a global uproar. Spill-over effects from a likely trade war could impact Southeast Asia too.

The term Indo Pacific gained a lot of traction after the President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, used it repeatedly to highlight his country’s foreign policy posture in this region as opposed to the regularly used term, Asia Pacific.

Brunei's seemingly vulnerable economic position is seen by China as an opportunity. The Asian superpower looks to engage with Brunei and this rejuvenated relationship could be beneficial to both parties in the long-term. How swift Brunei reacts and takes its chances could result in the petroleum rich nation successfully diversifying its economy for a brighter future.

During a free trade forum at the Wilson Centre in 2014, United States (US) Trade Representative, Michael Froman addressed a crowd on America’s commitment to free trade.“By leading on trade, we can carry forward the torch that President Wilson held up a century ago, when he said, ‘The time for provincial thinkers has gone by.

Earlier this month, China’s National People’s Congress voted to abolish the presidential term limit, effectively allowing President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely over the world’s most populous country. Previously, under the Chinese constitution, Xi Jinping would have been required to leave office after two five-year term limits.