Ten flashpoints, one register. Each row is a development the desk reported as fact in a filed take, kept only when the take's vetted sources carry it, dated by the event when the take states a date and by the filing otherwise. Nothing here is inferred, forecast or ranked by feel; a flashpoint that has not moved says so.
The MapThe desk →
Numbered in the order the flashpoints last moved. Filled dots moved in the last seven days, outlined dots within thirty, grey dots are quiet. Cross-cutting tracks without a place on the map are listed below. Land outline: Natural Earth 1:110m. Register updated Sep 9.
1. Red Sea
Moved
Houthis, shipping lines, US and allied navies
filed Sep 9
Iran threatens economic warfare against US and new Gulf exclusion zone, says it will target US warships
2. Korean Peninsula
Moved
North Korea, South Korea, United States, Japan
filed Sep 9
China and Russia sent anniversary messages to Kim Jong Un reaffirming strategic ties with North Korea.
filed Sep 9
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer, Kang Kon, with 104 missile cells, timed to US-Japan-South Korea joint drills.
Sep 6
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer, timed to start of joint US-Japan-South Korea drill
Sep 6
North Korea commissioned its second nuclear-capable destroyer as US, Japan and South Korea began a joint drill.
3. Taiwan Strait
Moved
PLA, Taiwan, United States
filed Sep 9
Taiwan navy tracked a dozen PLA warships in surrounding waters this week
filed Sep 9
Taiwan expanded a cyber unit to hunt hackers with United States backing this week
Sep 8
Taiwan expanded its cyber defense unit with United States support amid Beijing's pressure campaign.
filed Sep 8
Taiwan defense ministry counted 17 PLA vessels in the strait before a 21 aircraft sortie count shifted toward the Pacific coast
filed Sep 7
Taiwan tracked 17 Chinese ships in the strait itself the day before the 21-aircraft count
filed Sep 7
Taiwan tracked 21 PLA aircraft and 15 vessels around the island over the Sunday reporting window
Sep 7
PLA shifted sortie activity toward Taiwan's Pacific coast, paired with broader pressure campaign
Sep 7
Taiwan counted 17 PLA vessels and 21 aircraft sorties, shifting toward Pacific coast rather than the strait median line.
Sep 7
China concentrated naval patrols and a 21-aircraft sortie east of Taiwan's Pacific-facing coast.
Sep 7
Taiwan counted 17 PLA vessels around the island in 24 hours, with aircraft crossing the median line.
filed Sep 7
US and Chinese military commanders met to discuss Taiwan the same week
filed Sep 7
Taiwan reported 21 PLA aircraft and 15 naval vessels near the island in its Sunday tally
filed Sep 6
China Joint Staff Department chief Liu Zhenli met the US Indo-Pacific commander, first such meeting since drills paused
filed Sep 6
Taiwan tracked 21 Chinese aircraft and 15 ships around the island in 24 hours after Beijing resumed air drills
Sep 6
Taiwan tracked 17 Chinese vessels operating in the Taiwan Strait.
filed Sep 6
PLA and US generals spoke directly about Taiwan for the first time this cycle
filed Sep 6
PLA flew 20 warplanes into the Taiwan Strait this week
filed Sep 6
PLA flew 20 warplanes across the Taiwan Strait median line this week, first such sortie in six months
filed Sep 5
China resumed Taiwan air drills after a pause
filed Sep 5
PLA Southern Theater commander Xu Xisheng met US Pacific counterpart in Canada this week, restoring military talks after a break since 2024
filed Sep 5
20 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line this week
filed Sep 5
PLA Eastern Theater Command chief Yang Zhibin met US INDOPACOM chief Samuel Paparo, first contact since Beijing cut the channel two years ago
4. Israel and Iran
Moved
Israel, Iran, United States
filed Sep 7
US, UK, France and Germany moved to refer Iran to UN Security Council over blocked nuclear inspections
5. Ukraine
Moved
Russia, Ukraine, NATO, United States
filed Sep 6
Envoys dispatched to Kyiv this week following talks with Vladimir Putin.
filed Sep 6
Russia and Ukraine agree mutual halt on strikes against each other's capital cities.
filed Sep 5
Ukraine ordered a truce ahead of the arrival of US envoys Witkoff and Kushner
filed Sep 5
Russia struck a Ukrainian intelligence headquarters in Kyiv hours before US envoys arrived
6. South China Sea
Moved
China Coast Guard, Philippines, Vietnam, United States
filed Sep 6
Chinese fighters intercepted a Philippine aircraft over contested South China Sea waters
filed Sep 6
Chinese fighters intercepted a Philippine aircraft over contested waters this week
Sep 5
Chinese fighter jet intercepted a Philippine patrol aircraft over contested South China Sea waters
7. East China Sea
Quiet
China, Japan
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
8. Gaza and Lebanon
Quiet
Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
9. India and Pakistan
Quiet
India, Pakistan, China
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
10. US and China: trade and technology
Quiet
United States, China
Quiet
No sourced move on the register yet.
The rows on this page are drawn from the sources named in the footer and may be reused with attribution to The Wang Report and to that source; the curation, the series and the annotations are The Wang Report's own. Data on this site. Named parties have a right of reply.