Central Asia & Caucasus Data

The New START treaty, the last remaining agreement constraining Russian and US nuclear weapons, lapsed on February 4. There are no negotiations to extend the terms of the treaty, either. As US President Donald Trump said dismissively in a recent interview, “if it expires, it expires.” The importance of the New START treaty is hard The post New START’s expiration invites new nuclear arms race appeared first on Asia Times.

China’s latest high-power microwave (HPM) breakthrough, a powerful truck-mountable system described by Chinese researchers and Chinese media as a potential counter to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations such as Starlink, signals a shift toward non-kinetic weapons designed to paralyze satellites, command networks, and modern warfare itself. This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that The post China’s ‘Starlink killer’ new cutting edge of microwave weapons appeared first on Asia Times.

Subscribe now with a one-month trial for only $1, then enjoy the first year at an exclusive rate of just $99. Japan’s political equilibrium is on the ballotScott Foster reports that Japan’s February 8 election will decide whether the LDP regains one-party dominance or remains constrained by opposition bargaining. Economic pressures, yen weakness, and voter unease The post Japan’s election tests its ability to navigate the Trump era appeared first on Asia Times.

TOKYO — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party looks set to strengthen its hold on parliament in Sunday’s election, which, if so, will free her to pump new waves of stimulus into Japan’s underperforming economy. Voters appear jazzed by the prospect of reopening those fiscal floodgates. Yet bond investors couldn’t be more worried about what’s to The post Takaichi seeks voter blessing for a new fiscal blowout appeared first on Asia Times.