East Asia and the Pacific sit at the centre of some of the defining geopolitical and economic stories of the 21st century. This collection draws on cases from China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Island nations — examining trade and interdependence, territorial disputes, democratic governance, and the acute environmental vulnerabilities facing low-lying Pacific communities. Lessons bring genuinely non-Western perspectives into the classroom without reducing complex societies to stereotypes.
East Asia and Pacific Current Events Lessons:
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High Seas Treaty Lesson Plan
The High Seas Treaty is now law, but who’s actually responsible for enforcing it? A three-level lesson exploring ocean governance, sovereignty, and what international agreements…
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2026 Global Energy Crisis Lesson Plan
The Philippines: +72.6%. Japan: +8.2%. Same crisis, same global oil market, but very different consequences. This no-prep lesson uses the 2026 Hormuz crisis to explore…
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Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban Lesson Plan
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from major social media platforms — putting the legal burden on tech companies, not…
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Thailand Election and Constitutional Referendum Lesson Plan
Thailand voted yes to a new constitution — but does a yes vote mean the people are truly in charge? A differentiated lesson on sovereignty…