Taiwan:

The Ministry of National Defense said Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile batteries have been deployed on the east coast in response to an increased Chinese military presence in the area. – Taipei Times

Malaysia, North Korea:

Malaysia on Wednesday charged two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, with murdering the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader in a bizarre airport assassination using a super-toxic nerve agent that killed in minutes. – Reuters

A regional security analyst with IHS-Jane, Anthony Davis, said North Korean intelligence operatives, either from the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) or other security apparatus, had been active in Malaysia. – Malaysiakini

Hong Kong:

Court asked to disqualify four Hong Kong lawmakers for ‘theatrical’ oaths carrying political messages. South China Morning Post

The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) has condemned the government’s continuous exclusion of digital media outlets from attending official events for reporting purposes. – Hong Kong Free Press

China:

Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee are heading to Beijing for the top advisory body's annual session, which will open Friday. – Xinhua (Chinese State Media)

Singapore:

A youth who attacked blogger Amos Yee at a Jurong West mall in May last year was ordered to undergo nine months of probation on Wednesday (March 1). – Straits Times

India:

India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully carried out a test of an Indian-made interceptor missile, further validating the reliability of the under-development, two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) in shooting down enemy missiles. – The Hindu

Indonesia, Saudi Arabia:

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia held talks with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday (01/03) and signed a range of cooperation agreements at the beginning of a 12-day visit to the world's largest Muslim-majority country. – Reuters via Jakarta Globe

Philippines:

A bill to reinstate the death penalty is good as approved in the lower chamber, as the second reading is the most difficult part of the legislative process. But it's expected to be challenged in the Senate. – Rappler

South Korea:

Both supporters and opponents of President Park Geun-hye staged rallies in downtown Seoul, Wednesday, on the occasion of the nation's Independence Movement Day, to press their demands for upholding or rejecting her impeachment. – Korea Times

Thailand, Myanmar:

A Thai appeal court upheld the death sentence handed down to two Burmese migrant workers for the murder of two British backpackers on a holiday island in 2014, the two men’s lawyer said on Wednesday. – Reuters via The Irrawaddy

Editor: Edward White