Asup news 2018
Here are some of the top news stories from 2018 related to the Asia-Pacific region:
Politics and Governance
- Malaysia's 14th General Election: The election saw a change in government, with the Pakatan Harapan coalition led by Mahathir Mohamad defeating the Barisan Nasional coalition led by Najib Razak.
- Philippines' Rodrigo Duterte: The President of the Philippines continued to face criticism for his war on drugs, which has resulted in thousands of deaths.
- Thailand's Military Junta: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) continued to hold power, with a general election held in March 2019 to transfer power to a civilian government.
Economy and Trade
- US-China Trade War: The trade war between the United States and China escalated, with both countries imposing tariffs on each other's goods.
- ASEAN Economic Integration: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continued to work towards economic integration, with the signing of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.
- Japan's Economy: Japan's economy experienced a period of slow growth, with the country's GDP growth rate slowing to 0.6% in the third quarter of 2018.
Security and Conflict
- North Korea's Nuclear Program: North Korea continued to develop its nuclear program, with the country conducting several missile tests throughout the year.
- South China Sea Disputes: Tensions remained high in the South China Sea, with the United States and other countries criticizing China's territorial claims.
- Indonesia's Papua Conflict: The conflict in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province, continued, with reports of human rights abuses and violence.
Natural Disasters and Climate Change
- Indonesia's Lombok Earthquake: A powerful earthquake struck Lombok, Indonesia, killing over 500 people and displacing thousands.
- Philippines' Typhoon Mangkhut: Typhoon Mangkhut made landfall in the Philippines, killing over 100 people and causing widespread damage.
- Climate Change: The Asia-Pacific region continued to experience the impacts of climate change, with rising sea levels, more frequent natural disasters, and increased risk of water scarcity.
Other News
- Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew: The former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away in March 2018, marking the end of an era for the country.
- Hong Kong's Extradition Bill: The Hong Kong government's proposal to introduce an extradition bill sparked widespread protests and concerns about the erosion of the city's autonomy.
- India's General Election: The Indian general election was held in April-May 2019, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi winning a second term in office.
These are just a few of the many news stories that took place in the Asia-Pacific region in 2018.