ASIA & OCEANIA.

PositionIN THE NEWS 2019 - Table - Geographic overview

CHINA

Relations between the U.S. and China have become more tense in the past year, as the two nations struggle for global influence and a trade war heats up. President Trump has accused China of unfair trade practices and imposed tariffs on many Chinese products; the Chinese have responded by imposing tariffs on goods imported from the U.S. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been consolidating his authority at home, and a recent end to term limits means he could potentially remain in power for life.

Caption: President Xi reviews Chinese troops in 2017.

AFGHANISTAN

U.S. troops have been fighting a war in Afghanistan since 2001, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. But after 17 years, Afghanistan remains unstable. The Taliban, a radical Islamist group ousted from power early in the war, continue to battle American and Afghan forces. The Trump administration is now seeking to negotiate directly with the Taliban to end the longest war in U.S. history.

Caption: U.S. troops in Afghanistan

NORTH KOREA

The June 2018 summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un raised hopes for improved relations with this isolated Communist regime. North Korea has nuclear weapons, and long-range missiles capable of reaching the U.S., and the talks were aimed at ultimately removing the threat of a nuclear showdown. It's far from clear, however, that North Korea will agree to dismantle its weapons. Diplomats also hope to negotiate a formal end to the Korean War (1950-53), which halted in a cease-fire but without a peace treaty.

Caption: Trump and Kim at their summit meeting in June 2018

Asia AREA (SQ MI) URBAN POP. % CAPITAL COUNTRY POPULATION POP. RISE %/YEAR Afghanistan 252,072 25 Kabul 36,472,000 2.8 Armenia 11,484 64 Yerevan 2,966,000 0.4 Azerbaijan 33,436 53 Baku 9,942,000 0.9 Bangladesh 56,977 37 Dhaka 166,368,000 1.0 Bhutan 14,824 39 Thimphu 817,000 1.2 Brunei 2,226 78 Bandar Seri 434,000 1.2 Begawan Cambodia 69,898 23 Phnom Penh 16,005,000 1.7 China 3,696,100 59 Beijing 1,401,850,000 0.4 Georgia 26,911 58 Tbilisi 3,907,000 0.2 India 1,222,550 34 New Delhi 1,371,345,000 1.4 Indonesia 737,815 54 Jakarta 265,221,000 1.2 Japan 145,898 92 Tokyo 126,520,000 -0.3 Kazakhstan 1,052,089 57 Astana 18,391,000 1.5 Korea, North 47,399 62 Pyongyang 25,611,000 0.5 Korea, South 38,486 82 Seoul 51,804,000 0.1 Kyrgyzstan 77,199 34 Bishkek 6,133,000 2.1 Laos 91,429 35 Vientiane 6,961,000 1.7 Malaysia 127,526 75 Kuala Lumpur 32,470,000...

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