January 13: Myanmar
The United States says it will reestablish its diplomatic relations with Myanmar after the country released over 650 prisoners, including its most prominent political dissidents. Releasing political prisoners has been one of the main conditions of the western countries to lift sanctions imposed on Myanmar.
January 14: Taiwan
Taiwanese incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou defeats his opponent Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), winning a second term in office. Unlike the DPP, which favors a formal independence from China, President Ma promises to continue his policies of cooperation with China. During his four years in office, Taiwan resumed direct flights with China and signed a key trade agreement that scrapped tariffs on hundreds of Taiwanese exports to China.
January 16: China
Chinese authorities sack two party leaders in the southern fishing village of Wukan in Guangdong province after the villagers revolted against their corruption and land grabs. Villagers also win their demand to make the protest leader , Liu Zullian, the new head of Wukan’s Communist Party Committee and organize elections for a new village committee, a rare event in China.
February 15: China
China’s Vice President Xi Jinping pays an official visit to the United States, meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, the Senate and House of Representatives leaders, as well as business leaders. Xi, who is expected to become China’s next president, says China is ready to cooperate on Iran, North Korea, and counter-terrorism, but is also calling on the U.S. to recognize Taiwan and Tibet as part of China.
March 28: North Korea
The United States suspends food aid to North Korea. The U.S. says that North Korea has broken an agreement by announcing its plans to launch a new rocket.
April 1: Myanmar
Myanmar’s opposition candidates from the National League for Democracy (NLD) win all but one contested seats for the parliament, including its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Although only 45 out of 664 parliamentary seats are open of the opposition parties, with most of the parliament still dominated by the military, the election is seen as a test of Myanmar’s regime’s pledge to reform the country. In response to the election, the European Union (EU) decides to suspend non-military sanctions against Myanmar for a year.
February 29: North Korea
Following the negotiations between North Korea and the United States, North Korea agrees to suspend its work on enriching uranium and tests of nuclear and long-range missiles. In exchange, the country expects to receive 240,000 tons of food aid.
April 28: China
A blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng finds refuge in the United States Embassy in Beijing after an escape from house arrest in the eastern province of Shandong. The U.S. and China are conducting negotiations over Cheng’s fate. Cheng is known for criticizing the Chinese government’s abuses under the One Child Policy, revealing thousands of cases of forced abortions and sterilizations.
May 19: China
Blind Chinese civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng and his family arrive in the United States to start their new lives. After escaping from house arrest and hiding in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing for a couple of days, Chen caused a brief diplomatic row between China and the United States. The self-taught lawyer, Chen worked on human rights issues in rural China, speaking especially against the one-child policy and forced abortions. In the U.S., he has been offered a special fellowship to study law at New York University.
May 28: Myanmar
For the first time since 1987, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pays a two-day official visit in Myanmar to strengthen the ties between the two countries. Both sides sign 12 agreements, including those on investment, trade, bank cooperation, development around the common border area, airline services, and cultural exchanges. Prime Minister Singh also meets with Myanmar’s President Thein Sein as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. India is interested in gaining access to Myanmar’s gas fields and counterbalancing China’s influence in the region.
June 10: Myanmar
Myanmar’s president, Thein Sein, imposes a state of emergency in the western state of Rakhine after communal clashes between Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim Rohingya minorities became violent and left several people dead. The attacks also destroy 2,500 homes by fire and make 30,000 people homeless.
June 25: China
China’s three-astronaut crew completes the country’s first ever manual docking of their spacecraft Shenzhou-9 with another spacecraft, the Tiangong-1 lab module. The mission is part of China’s plan to build a space station by 2020. The crew included China’s first female astronaut, Liu Yank.
June 18: China/Philippines
The Philippines withdraw its ships from a disputed Scarborough Shoal reef in the South China Sea, citing stormy weather rather that giving up the claim to the territory. Since April, the Philippines and China have been embroiled in the standoff over the disputed reef, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.
July 12: Myanmar
The United States lifts some restrictions for U.S. companies to do business in Myanmar. The move is in support of the recent democratic changes in the country and the release of political prisoners. The U.S. is also sending its ambassador to Myanmar, the first after 22 years. Other countries, including the European Union, have already lifted some economic restrictions on the country.
August 19: China/Japan
A group of Japanese nationalists lands on the Senkaku Islands, a cluster of islands in the East China Sea administrated by Japan, and raise the Japanese flag. The event angers China, which also claims the islands, calling them the Diaoyu Islands, and sparks widespread anti-Japanese demonstrations. The islands are located on an important shipping path and are surrounded by rich resources. Taiwan also claims the islands.
August 28: Myanmar
As part of its recent reforms, Myanmar removes more than 2,000 names from its black list, which contained critics of the government and political activists, both Myanmar’s citizens and foreigners. The move will allow many dissidents to come back home to Myanmar.
August 29: China
China’s local party secretary in Liaoning province flees the country with an estimated $31 million of embezzled funds. He is yet another case of thousands of corrupt government officials and managers from state-owned companies who siphon millions of dollars out of China and then flee the country. According to China’s estimates, in the last 15 years, the country lost more than $120 billion through these corrupt practices.
September 4: China
China’s Defense Minister, General Liang Guanglie, comes to India on an official visit, the first one in eight years. During the visit both sides agree on an exchange of high-level officials, maritime security, and cooperation between their two navies. They also agree to resume joint military exercises, which were suspended in 2007.
October 15: Philippines
The Philippine government signs a sketch of a peace plan with the Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which would end the 40-year old conflict that claimed 120,000 lives. According to the plan, an autonomous region named Bangsamoro would be set up in the south of the country, where Muslims constitute the majority.
November 14: China
China’s Communist Party concludes a week-long congress that takes place once every ten years and marks the leadership change. Vice President Xi Jinping replaces Hu Jintao as party chief. He is also expected to become president in March 2013. Under his leadership, China faces such pressing issues as environmental challenges, social inequality, and rampant corruption.
November 18: Myanmar/Thailand
U.S. President Barack Obama pays an official visit to South East Asian countries. In Thailand, he meets with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and King Bhumibol. In Myanmar, he meets with President Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He also gives a speech at Rangoon University. This first visit to Myanmar by a U.S. president is meant to show support for the country’s reforms.
December 5: Myanmar
The United Nations reports that several thousand of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority live in deplorable conditions in camps for displaced people in Rakhine state. It also calls for the country’s authorities to help reconcile the different minorities. During the communal violence between Rakhine Budhists and Rohingya Muslims last month, many have died and thousands have been displaced.
December 12: North Korea
In defiance of international sanctions, North Korea successfully launches a rocket and puts a satellite into orbit. The move brings condemnation from the United Nations, including China, as it violates a ban on North Korean ballistic missile tests. The launch is seen as a disguised test on ballistic missile technology.