Asia Pacific

This paper provides details and links for ministerial statements and parliamentary debates (from both Houses of Parliament) that cover international affairs and defence.

In recent months the largely cordial relationship between the UK and China has deteriorated sharply. This has happened after over two decades when, regardless of the political complexion of successive UK governments, the trend was towards closer engagement and cooperation. This briefing looks at why and how this has happened.

This landing page features Commons Library briefings on international elections .

Belarus held a presidential election on Sunday 9 August 2020. In the weeks leading up to the election there were large rallies against the incumbent president. In the weeks since the election took place, protests have continued amid allegations of widespread vote-rigging as President Lukashenko secured a sixth term in office.

The Government has created a new visa for people from Hong Kong with British National (Overseas) status. The five year visa will enable BN(O)s and their dependent family members to live, work and study in the UK, and give them a route to permanent settlement and British citizenship. It will launch in January 2021.

With a peace deal signed between the Taliban and the US, what are the prospects for Afghanistan?

The Library has published a series of briefings on international dimensions of the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020, ranging from general surveys of its impact on developing countries to assessments of its effects in specific situations. Links to these briefings can be found here.

What is aid? What is the UN 0.7% aid target and why has the UK adopted it? Which government departments spend UK aid? What impact does UK aid have? What will be the impact of Brexit on UK aid? These and other questions are answered in an accessible way in this briefing paper.

A debate on ‘Human rights in Kashmir’ has been scheduled for Thursday 23 April 2020 in the Main Chamber. The debate has been nominated by the Backbench Business Committee after a representation from Debbie Abrahams MP and Yasmin Qureshi MP

Refugees camps are especially vulnerable to serious outbreaks of Covid-19. Here we look at the conditions in the world’s largest refugee settlement, Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled.

The FCO has advised against all non-essential global travel and has urged Britons travelling abroad to return to the UK as soon as possible. MPs have questioned the government's response. Here we look at what the FCO has done to help British travellers return home and reaction from MPs and the media. The paper provides information on how to access FCO travel advice.

What economic support have governments given to businesses and individuals to tackle the impact of the coronavirus? This paper looks at the policies put in place by the EU, governments in Europe, the US and other developed countries.

A Westminster Hall debate on ‘Freedom of religion or belief’ has been scheduled for Thursday 12 March 2020 from 1.30pm to 3.00pm. The debate has been initiated by Jim Shannon MP.