Top Stories
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September 18, 2021
AUKUS and Submarines: The Fallout for France
By Valerie Niquet and Marianne Peron-Doise
The less-than-strategic decision will discourage one of Europe’s most forward-leaning actors in the Indo-Pacific.
September 17, 2021
Pakistan’s Shameful Glee at the Taliban’s Rise
By Mohsin Dawar
An elected representative of North Waziristan urges the Pakistani government to confront the reality of what the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan will mean for Pakistan.
September 17, 2021
What Does the New AUKUS Alliance Mean for Southeast Asia?
By Sebastian Strangio
The new partnership is likely to be greeted with ambivalence in a region that has little appetite for a new Cold War.
September 16, 2021
Is China’s Evergrande Group Too Big to Fail?
By Nathan Handwerker
In a year marked by defaults, the potential collapse of China’s second largest property developer offers insight into Beijing’s changing attitude on bailouts and financial risk.
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 5
Dense Grey Webs
Cyber Risks and Trends in the Asia-Pacific
COVID-19 in Asia
September 24, 2021
China Courts Vietnam With More COVID-19 Vaccines, Mistrust Remains
By Hai Hong Nguyen
China’s actual donation of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam has already been outmatched by the United States.
September 24, 2021
China Aiding Myanmar Armed Groups in Their COVID-19 Fight
By Sebastian Strangio
Beijing has long maintained close relations to the ethnic armed groups lying along its borders with Myanmar.
September 22, 2021
Low Vaccination Rates are Hurting Southeast Asia’s Economy: ADB
By Sebastian Strangio
According to the bank, the uneven progress of vaccinations is "contributing to the divergence of growth paths in developing Asia."
September 22, 2021
Laos Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions as Infections Reach New Peak
By Sebastian Strangio
Like many of its neighbors, the nation has struggled to contain recent outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Magazine
M
September 01, 2021
The Soviet Water Legacy in Central Asia
By Asel Murzakulova
The Soviet legacy in Central Asia’s water and energy infrastructure is complex, weaving together conflict and cooperation.
September 01, 2021
The Philippines-US Alliance at 70
By Renato Cruz De Castro
The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty became the most important element in the Philippine-U.S. alliance. How can it remain relevant in a changing Indo-Pacific?
September 01, 2021
Imran Khan and the Generals
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Imran Khan is unlikely to lose the army’s support anytime soon.
September 01, 2021
Asia and the ‘Global War on Terror’
By Mariya Y. Omelicheva, Abdul Basit, Bilveer Singh, and Sean R. Roberts
Launched in the wake of 9/11, the GWOT has had far-reaching consequences across Asia.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
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September 27, 2021
Eric Chu Wins KMT Chair Election
By Brian Hioe
KMT stalwart Chu won handily in the end, but the challenge posed by deep-Blue candidate Chang Ya-chung is notable.
September 28, 2021
China: 2 Canadians in Prisoner Swap Freed for Health Reasons
September 25, 2021
Huawei Executive Resolves Criminal Charges in Deal With US
September 24, 2021
China Aiding Myanmar Armed Groups in Their COVID-19 Fight
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
September 28, 2021
US Citizen Helped North Korea Evade Sanctions Through Blockchain
By Jason Bartlett
Virgil Griffith pled guilty to providing technical advice to North Korea on using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade sanctions.
September 28, 2021
Historic Quad Leaders’ Summit Reinforces Its Action Mandate
September 27, 2021
Why the Quad Is Crucial
September 24, 2021
What to Expect From the First In-Person Quad Summit
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
September 27, 2021
How Should South Korea’s Next President Approach Cybersecurity?
By Sukjoon Yoon
North Korean cyberattacks are not a future threat, but already a fact of life.
September 24, 2021
How Should South Korea’s Next President Approach OPCON Transfer?
September 24, 2021
Star General Chang Dingqiu Takes Command of China’s Air Force
September 22, 2021
Why Provide Nuclear Submarines to Australia, But Not South Korea or Japan?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
September 27, 2021
Thailand’s Constitutional Dictatorship Weathers the Storm
By Zachary Abuza
Despite rumors of dissent within Prayut Chan-o-cha's coalition, the military is poised to retain its privileged position in Thai politics.
September 27, 2021
Southeast Asia Faces Narrow Window to Tackle Endangered Wildlife Trade
September 27, 2021
Cambodia Hires Beltway Lobby Group to Boost Ailing International Reputation
September 27, 2021
How Does Jokowi See Indonesia in the Post-Pandemic World?
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
September 28, 2021
India’s Farmers Renew Protests, Challenging Modi Government
By Rishi Lekhi
The farmers have renewed their protests with calls for a nationwide strike on the anniversary of last year’s controversial legislation's passage.
September 28, 2021
No One to Speak for Afghanistan at UN General Debate
September 27, 2021
Will Bangladesh Recognize the Taliban Regime?
September 26, 2021
Has China Encroached into Nepali Territory in Humla District?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
September 27, 2021
North Korea Reiterates Preconditions for Inter-Korean Thaw
By Mitch Shin
Kim Yo Jong welcomed Moon’s outreach in his U.N. speech, but made clear that Seoul will have to end its “hostile policies” first.
September 24, 2021
South Korea Takes First Step to Regulate Virtual Asset Service Providers
September 23, 2021
At UN, Moon Again Calls for Declaration to End the Korean War
September 22, 2021
Despite Afghanistan Withdrawal, Americans Continue to Support US Presence in South Korea
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
September 25, 2021
Ghosts of the Past in the LDP Presidential Election
By Taro Tsuda
The backgrounds and formative influences of the candidates are a particularly rich trove of information, given the powerful role of factional lineages and dynastic politics in Japan.
September 22, 2021
Where Are Japan’s Policy Entrepreneurs?
September 10, 2021
What If Kono Taro Becomes Japan’s Next Prime Minister?
September 09, 2021
Japan’s Prime Minister Hopefuls Outline Different Visions
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
September 24, 2021
Revitalizing US Diplomatic Engagement With Central Asia
By Richard E. Hoagland and Michael S. Repass
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan underscores the need for an enhanced diplomatic approach to the region.
September 24, 2021
Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy Needs to Focus More on India
September 23, 2021
Bringing Clean Air to 4 Billion People in Asia
September 23, 2021
UK-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership Paves Way to Potential Future Trade Accord
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
September 28, 2021
Report: Putin Suggested US Use Russian Bases in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
A new Wall Street Journal report suggests that Putin offered Russian bases for the U.S. to use to monitor Afghanistan. It’s not at all clear if the offer was genuine.
September 27, 2021
Open Secrets: Expose Reveals a Kazakh Top Manager’s Business Network
September 24, 2021
Did Mongolia Give up on Winning a UN Security Council Seat?
September 24, 2021
The Price of Gold: Kyrgyzstan’s Showdown With Western Investors
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
September 24, 2021
Diplomacy Under Different Rules: How an NGO Dictates American Diplomacy in Taiwan
By Rachel Bernstein and Scott Singer
A primer on the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and how it influences the delicate China-Taiwan-U.S. triangle.
September 21, 2021
What AUKUS and Afghanistan Tell Us About the US Asia Strategy
September 21, 2021
‘We Were Them:’ Vietnamese Americans Help Afghan Refugees
September 20, 2021
US-Vietnam Relations: From Reconciliation to a Relationship of Substance
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
September 27, 2021
The SEC’s New Auditing Policies Spell Trouble for Chinese Firms
By Blair Wang
The new rule will probably accelerate delisting from U.S. exchanges and constitute a substantial obstacle to IPOs of Chinese offshore companies.
September 23, 2021
Can ‘Good’ Economics Coexist with ‘Bad’ Politics?
September 21, 2021
Carbon Capture is the Key to Indonesia’s Net-Zero Emissions Future
September 21, 2021
Why Vietnam Is Pushing Ahead With the Phu Quoc Tourism Sandbox
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
September 25, 2021
The Northern Mariana Islands: US Territory, China-Dependent
By Yuan Zhi (Owen) Ou
The United States’ Pacific territories, like all the Pacific Islands, face a challenge to diversify their economies away from reliance on China.
September 24, 2021
Australia’s Reluctant Climate Change Diplomacy
September 22, 2021
The AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Deal: Unanswered Questions for Australia
September 21, 2021
Australia Soured a Valuable Naval Partner in France
Videos
Asia on Video
V
September 08, 2021
Where Does the China-India Border Dispute Stand?
Alka Acharya, M. Taylor Fravel, Lin Minwang, Lu Yang, and Sushant Singh discuss the state of the border today and the future of China-India relations.
August 10, 2021
Myanmar, Six Months After the Coup
July 17, 2021
Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
July 07, 2021
Webinar Alert: Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
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September 27, 2021
Indonesia: Dividing the Spoils
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with Keith Loveard about inequity and his latest book.
September 16, 2021
How Washington Sees Southeast Asia and ASEAN
September 09, 2021
The Biden Administration and US-China Relations in 2021
August 26, 2021
The Taliban, 9/11 and An American Evacuation
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
September 23, 2021
Vaccination in an Indian Border District: Against All Odds
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
Treacherous terrain, poor connectivity, and low population density makes the vaccination drive in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley extremely challenging.