Asia Communique: A Look at the Shifting Dynamic of Power in Asia
From Taiwan's $500 billion U.S. chip deal to Japan-Philippines defense pacts and Canada's energy reset with Beijing, the region is recalibrating its strategic alliances
What You Need to Know
Over the past two days (January 14–16, 2026), several big developments have reshaped Asia’s military, economic and geopolitical landscape. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made his first official visit to China since 2017, signing eight memorandums of understanding with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on January 15–16. The agreements focus heavily on energy cooperation, positioning Canada as a key supplier of oil and LNG to China, but failed to resolve ongoing tariff disputes over Canadian canola exports.
The U.S.-Taiwan trade deal grabbed most of the headlines, but there’s also been notable action on defense agreements in Southeast Asia, monetary policy shifts in China, and fresh moves in the semiconductor industry. Here’s what happened.