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US Hosts G7 Critical Minerals Meet vs China
 The US has invited India and Australia to participate in a G7 finance ministers’ meeting on critical minerals, reflecting intensifying efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China. The initiative follows reports of Chinese restrictions on rare-earth exports to Japan and on controls over dual-use items.
Given China’s dominance in mineral processing, the meeting underscores growing geopolitical competition over resource security, central to defence, technology, and energy transitions.(Profit. Pakistan Today, 10.01.26)
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India-Japan to Finalise UNICORN Mast Deal Soon
India and Japan are expanding defence cooperation from maritime to multi-domain operations, with jointness across land, sea, air and emerging areas. Ambassador Hiroshi Ono highlighted progress in diplomatic, defence and economic security ties, including the UNICORN mast co-development deal to enhance naval stealth.
Under Sanae Takaichi, Japan is boosting defence spending and strengthening Quad engagement. Both nations are also prioritising resilient supply chains. The partnership is shaped by regional tensions between China and North Korea, which are influencing Tokyo’s evolving security posture and closer coordination with New Delhi.
(The Print, 24.03.26)
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Trade and Economic Affairs
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Tokyo Hosts Indo-Pacific Energy Security Meet
 The Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum, held in Tokyo on March 14-15, 2026, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and energy experts to address regional energy security challenges. The forum emphasised strengthening cooperation on supply chain resilience, infrastructure investment, and reliable energy access amid rising demand.
With participation from key Indo-Pacific economies and strong U.S. engagement, discussions highlighted potential investment commitments of approximately US$30bn, particularly in liquefied natural gas, renewable energy, and grid modernisation.
The meeting occurred against a backdrop of geopolitical instability affecting global energy markets, reinforcing the urgency of diversification. It also advanced dialogue on long-term energy transition, clean technologies, and regional policy coordination frameworks.(LN24,14.01.26)
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China's Export Ban on Japan Escalates Tensions
China has banned exports of dual-use goods to Japan following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan, marking a significant escalation in bilateral tensions. The restrictions cover a wide range of items, including rare earths critical to defence and high-technology industries.
The move risks disrupting established trade flows and impacting Japan’s manufacturing sectors, particularly automobiles and electronics. While Japan has diversified supply chains, prolonged restrictions could affect economic output and intensify strategic and trade uncertainties in the region.
(The Japan Times, 07.01.26)
Australia Invests US$1.2bn in Critical Mineral Reserve
Australia has announced a US$1.2bn Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve to secure supplies of key resources, including antimony, gallium, and rare-earth elements. The initiative aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, support domestic mining, and enhance economic and national security.
The reserve will involve government-backed financing, selective stockpiling, and collaboration with partners such as the United States, Japan and Europe, positioning Australia as a reliable supplier in global critical minerals markets.
(The Japan Times, 07.01.26)
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Asia Pacific Real Estate Shifts East
Capital flows into Asia-Pacific real estate increased significantly in 2025, driven by stronger economic fundamentals, rising private investment, and growing interest in alternative sectors such as data centres. Investors are shifting allocations away from the United States and Europe towards higher-growth regional markets.
This trend highlights the Indo-Pacific’s growing appeal to global capital, driven by resilient demand, improving valuations, and expanding opportunities across core and emerging real estate segments, positioning the region as a key destination for future investment.
((FIDI Focus, 19.01.26)
ASEAN Urges Halt to Middle East War Amid Trade Fears
ASEAN foreign and economic ministers have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, warning that rising oil prices and disrupted trade routes are already impacting Southeast Asian economies. The bloc highlighted vulnerabilities arising from dependence on global energy supply chains, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.
Member states are implementing measures to stabilise markets and protect key sectors, while emphasising the need for regional coordination, supply chain resilience, and accelerated energy transition to mitigate long-term economic risks.
(CNA, 13.03.26)
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US to Deploy More Missiles in the Philippines, Challenges China
The US plans to deploy more advanced missile systems and other weapons in the Philippines to deter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, the State Department affirmed, a policy that has angered Beijing. Senior officials from the U.S. and the Philippines met in Manila for annual talks on their alliance, which rests on a mutual-defence treaty signed in 1951.
(WSJ, 17.02.26)
Japan Seeks Pacific Ties for Free, Open Seas
Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi called for cooperation with Pacific island nations in ensuring maritime security, stressing the need for "free and open" oceans, apparently with China in mind.
In his keynote speech at a Japan-hosted meeting of defence authorities in Tokyo, Koizumi said, "attempts to change the status quo by force must never be tolerated," as he expressed hope to reaffirm their "unwavering commitment to peace."
(JapanWire, 26.02.26)
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Iran’s Gulf Strikes Disrupt Indo-Pacific Energy Security
Iran’s strikes on energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, have generated significant strategic and economic repercussions across the Indo-Pacific.
Given the region’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies, disruptions have intensified concerns over energy security, supply chain stability and inflationary pressures. The crisis underscores the Indo-Pacific’s vulnerability to external geopolitical shocks, highlighting the interdependence between Middle Eastern conflicts and regional economic and strategic stability.
(Indo Pacific Defence Forum, 29.03.26)
Japan to Set up Cell to Boost FDI into India
Japan's Foreign Ministry is launching a new centre to help Japanese companies invest in India. This initiative aims to overcome challenges like complex regulations and tax systems. The centre will also foster cooperation in AI, startups, and critical minerals. This move supports the goal of 10 trillion yen in private-sector investment by 2035.
(The Economic Times, 31.03.26)
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EU-Australia Boost Trade and Defence Ties
 The European Union (EU) and Australia have strengthened bilateral relations through a comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) alongside the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. The SDP establishes institutional mechanisms for cooperation across maritime security, cyber threats, crisis management, and emerging technologies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Concurrently, the FTA enhances economic integration by eliminating tariffs, expanding market access, and securing critical supply chains for raw materials. It also embeds sustainability commitments aligned with climate and labour standards. Collectively, these agreements reinforce strategic convergence, economic resilience, and long-term cooperation between the EU and Australia.
(European Commission, 24.03.26)
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Defence Vision 2047: A meta strategy
The Economic Times, March 13, 2026
From Handshakes to Hard Power
Australian Army Research Centre, March 05, 2026
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Hinrich Foundation
 On March 17, 2026, the Hinrich Foundation released a white paper entitled "Super and Special: The singular power of US Section 301." It emphasises the impending expansion of Section 301, underscoring the need to revisit its history and better understand the power of this US trade policy tool. A singular weapon for expansive, aggressive executive unilateralism, Section 301 lies at the centre of Trump’s plan to rebuild the US tariff wall swiftly. Trade partners and businesses should consider themselves warned.https://www.hinrichfoundation.com/
Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE)
 On January 30, 2026, the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement organised a discussion titled “US–South Asia Policy Outlook in 2026” featuring Keethi Martin from the Centre for a New American Security.
During this quarter, NIICE also published two articles. The first, “The Silent Takeover: How Industrial Fishing Fleets are Redrawing Maritime Borders” (February 06, 2026), examines how presence-based geopolitics in the South China Sea is reshaping traditional maritime sovereignty. It highlights the use of grey zone tactics and lawfare by state-backed fishing fleets to establish de facto control, undermining the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The second article, “Small State, Big Influence: The Geopolitical Importance of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region” (February 27, 2026), underscores Sri Lanka's strategic importance in the Indian Ocean. It discusses how Sri Lanka leverages its geographic position and adopts a multi-alignment strategy to balance the competing interests of major powers, positioning itself as a key factor in regional security and diplomacy.
Himalayan Future Forum
 The Himalayan Future Forum 2026 hosted a two-day event centred on the theme “Climate, Community, and Connectivity,” bringing together experts, experiences, and diverse perspectives from across the Himalayan region.
The first day featured a formal conference with panel discussions, while the second day hosted a curated fair showcasing regional products, cuisine, and art. The opening session included remarks from Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal; Mahendra P. Lama, Advisory Board Member, HFF; and Mahendra Krishna Shrestha, Chair of Himalayan Everest Insurance and Advisory Board Member at the Nepal Economic Forum.
The forum featured eight sessions with 34 speakers, including 11 international participants. The event was well-received, and its momentum continues through ongoing publications and initiatives by the Nepal Economic Forum.
https://www.himalayanfutureforum.org/
SIGNAL Group
 In this quarter, Carice Witte, Founder and Executive Director of SIGNAL Group, published an op-ed titled “Viewing Operation Epic Fury from the Other Side of the World.” In her analysis, Witte highlights that China is paying close attention to the conflict. Chinese strategists interpret the war through the lens of great-power competition. From Beijing’s perspective, the conflict offers valuable insights into the operational reach of the US military, the effectiveness of American alliances, and the resilience of global energy networks. Analysts in China are closely examining how rapidly the US can project power into the region, the extent of partner contributions to military operations, and the broader impact of the conflict on global markets. The Iran war is being watched across the Indo-Pacific not as a distant regional conflict, but as a signal about the resilience of global energy systems, the reach of American military power, and the durability of alliance networks that increasingly connect the world’s major strategic theatres.
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Australian Risk Policy Institute (ARPI)
 ARPI® has published Strait of Hormuz -A New Global Perspective and a Solution, which recommended to the United Nations that a new approach be taken to not only the Strait of Hormuz but indeed all sea choke points around the world, that is, for the UN to declare and enforce ‘navigation free passage’ - because the world has changed. Ancient rights and more recent geopolitical claims constitute a global threat to trade, travel, security, progress, and peace.
ARPI®’s Centre for Advanced Resilience and Risk Policy Studies (CARRPS™) hosted a workshop in Canberra with the UK Risk Policy Network on resilience of critical global infrastructure. CARRPS™ agenda includes water, electricity, gas, bushfires and floods, transport, fuels, communications, including cyber, medicines, finance, and supply chains. ARPI® promoted the need for Intelligence Equilibrium® - achieving a balance between machine knowledge (AI) and human-centric intelligence (IA – Intelligence Augmentation). ARPI® has identified over 90 areas of IA critical for fully informed and pre-emptive decision-making by leaders.
www.arpi.org.au
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER)
 This quarter, CIER hosted the 2026 Economic Outlook Forum on January 19, 2026. The event convened experts from government, industry and academia to discuss: (1) key economic issues and policy outlook concerning developments in exchange rates, interest rates, stablecoins, and the global AI industry’s impact on Taiwan’s economy; and (2) Taiwan’s 2026 economic forecast featuring the macroeconomic and financial outlooks and discussing growth prospects for the island.
In parallel, CIER published its 2026 Global Economic Outlook report, themed “The Economic Landscape under Tariff Restructuring and America First.” The report reviews global and regional economic developments in 2025, along with forward-looking analyses and research findings for 2026 across key regions and topics, covering the global economy, Mainland China, Taiwan, and the region's longer-term key prospects.
CIER also continues to publish its bimonthly economic outlook series, providing in-depth analysis and commentary on major economic trends and current affairs. The January 2026 issue focused on “Taiwan’s Industrial Development, Security and Competitiveness under Geopolitics,” with articles examining topics such as AI-driven industrial transformation and energy security.
The March 2026 issue, titled “From Quantitative Change to Qualitative Transformation: An Analysis of China’s New Economic Path under the 15th Five-Year Plan,” explored China’s macroeconomic policy direction, structural challenges, and the evolution of its modernisation strategy. It can be accessed here.
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