Japan

Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Myanmar’s junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, continues to exert significant influence over the country’s general election, despite not being a formal candidate or campaign figure. Since leading a 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and triggered a violent civil war, Min Aung Hlaing remains the acting president and leader of Myanmar, maintaining his grip on power through a combination of elite management, political maneuvering, and military control. Opposition parties have been marginalized or banned, and the elections are widely criticized by the United Nations and Western rights groups as neither free nor fair.

Min Aung Hlaing manages his hold on power through strategic elite pacts within the military, rewarding loyalists with lucrative positions and sidelining potential rivals. Diplomatic backing from China has helped the junta maintain some operational stability and enhanced Min Aung Hlaing’s international standing, particularly as he seeks to re-engage with neighboring countries and rebuild relations with the ASEAN bloc. His foreign minister, a trusted retired officer and former U.N. ambassador, has played a key role in coaching him through this diplomatic emergence.

The general’s political ambitions predate the coup, with a history of engagement beyond traditional military roles, reflecting a belief in the military’s role as protector of national unity and majority ethnic and religious interests. Min Aung Hlaing justified the coup by accusing Suu Kyi, now imprisoned and reportedly in poor health, of ignoring his concerns. Efforts by regional leaders to negotiate her release have been firmly rejected by the junta.

While Min Aung Hlaing has signaled intentions to eventually transfer state responsibilities to a new government, he is expected to remain influential behind the scenes, potentially moving into a fully political role rather than maintaining direct military command. Early election results favor military-backed parties, indicating continuity in governance style. Analysts suggest that even new military leadership is unlikely to pursue a fundamentally different approach to opposition forces or the ongoing resistance movement.

Japan Times | English | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedDemographics

A government panel in Japan has proposed establishing a mandatory integration program for foreign residents. The panel also recommends collecting data on real estate ownership by non-citizens. These proposals were detailed in a report submitted to Immigration Minister Kimi Onoda by the panel’s chair, Reiko Hayashi, director-general of the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

The meeting between Minister Onoda, who also oversees societal harmony with foreign nationals, and Hayashi occurred amid Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration’s efforts to reset policies concerning foreign nationals. This includes improving language programs and introducing new restrictions on real estate purchases, citing national and economic security considerations.

過度な為替変動望まず 米財務長官、日米会談で

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

On January 12, 2026, U.S. Treasury Secretary Besent met with Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama in Washington, where Besent emphasized that excessive exchange rate fluctuations between the yen and the dollar are undesirable. Katayama responded on January 14, indicating that Japan is prepared to take appropriate measures, including unspecified options, to address movements in the yen's weakness and the dollar's strength, particularly those driven by speculative activities.

The yen has been weakening amid concerns that Japan's aggressive fiscal policies under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could worsen public finances. The yen was trading in the low 158-yen range against the dollar in the Tokyo foreign exchange market on January 15, 2026.

Additional economic updates include a 3.2% rise in corporate goods prices in 2025, stabilization in rice and food and beverage prices, and a drop of 470 yen in the Nikkei Stock Average as of the morning of January 15. Separately, there are developments in U.S.-China trade tensions regarding AI semiconductors and U.S. directives addressing critical minerals due to national security concerns.