Top Stories
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January 28, 2023
Nomads, Mountains, and Militarization in the Tibetan Plateau
By Scott Ezell
The eastern Tibetan plateau, once largely untouched by industrial development, has been overtaken by dams, mining, and security forces.
January 28, 2023
Japan’s Population Crisis Nears Point of No Return
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s population decline is following the worst-case scenario, prompting the government to devise urgent policies to incentivize more births.
January 27, 2023
The Af-Pak Dollar Cartel
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
The black market flow of U.S. dollars across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is unifying the two countries' economic crises.
January 25, 2023
India is the World’s Most Populous Country: What it Means
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Despite its many massive problems, this is a country that is bursting forth with dynamism, ideas, diversity, and change.
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Research Notes
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offer actionable insight to strategic decision-makers seeking to understand political risk and economic
trends in Asia.
Magazine
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February 01, 2023
Do Pakistan-Russia Ties Have a Future?
By Salman Rafi Sheikh
There are strategic, economic, and geopolitical reasons for Islamabad to prefer ties with Washington over Moscow.
February 01, 2023
The Ebb and Flow of Protest in Thailand
By James Buchanan
With street politics halted and parliamentary politics effectively on hold until the election, Thailand feels in limbo.
February 01, 2023
Islamic State Khorasan: Global Jihad in a Multipolar World
By Lucas Webber
The Islamic State sees great opportunity in the churn of great power competition, with ISKP at the forefront of its vision of international jihad.
February 01, 2023
Beyond the Putin-Xi Relationship: China, Russia, and Great Power Politics
By Alexander Korolev
While the Putin-Xi friendship is important, it mostly oils the wheels of a relationship driven by longer-term structural trends.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
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February 04, 2023
Hong Kong’s Democratic Primary Trials Show a Dark Truth
By Eric Lai
Hong Kong’s legal prosecution of opposition figures puts it in the company of authoritarian regimes worldwide.
February 04, 2023
Amid Reports of Blinken Visit, China Remained Ambivalent
February 02, 2023
Is China a ‘Paper Tiger’?
February 02, 2023
Taiwan Cabinet Reshuffle Sets the Stage for 2024 Presidential Elections
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
February 04, 2023
Singapore Strives to Protect Consumer Data
By Xue Zhang
Like many governments, Singapore has enacted data privacy laws. But can consumers solely rely on the government or businesses for protection?
February 03, 2023
Spy Balloon Incident Roils China-US Relations Ahead of Blinken Trip
February 02, 2023
North Korea Reaffirms ‘Nuke for Nuke’ Stance Against US
January 31, 2023
Perception of Corruption Stagnates Across Asia
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
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February 03, 2023
What’s Behind Proposed Changes to US Marine Deployments in Okinawa?
By Christopher Edward Carroll
Japan and the U.S. are actively taking note of changes in China’s naval and air capabilities in the region and making changes of their own.
February 02, 2023
The Problem With European Militaries’ Indo-Pacific Push
February 02, 2023
NATO Chief Wants More Indo-Pacific ‘Friends’ as Russia, China Move Closer
January 31, 2023
In Defense Minister Talks, US Reaffirms Commitment to South Korea
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
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February 03, 2023
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet Under Shadow of Myanmar Crisis
By Niniek Karmini
Indonesia is setting up an office of an ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar in Jakarta to spearhead how the bloc deals with the crisis.
February 03, 2023
Thai Activists Push Opposition Party on Royal Defamation Law
February 03, 2023
Malaysian Anti-Graft Authorities Freeze Opposition Party Accounts
February 03, 2023
The Long Political Afterlife of Megawati Sukarnoputri
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
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February 04, 2023
Indian Couples Begin Legal Battle for Same-Sex Marraige
By Sheikh Saaliq
Four gay couples have filed petitions to India's Supreme Court seeking the legalization of same-sex marriage amid growing tolerance toward the LGBTQ community.
February 04, 2023
Why Even in a Crisis India May Not Block Maritime Trade With China
February 03, 2023
Bangladesh Reels Under Economic Crisis and Political Unrest
February 03, 2023
Why Has India Missed Deadlines For Fencing the India-Bangladesh Border?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
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February 03, 2023
North Korean Defectors in China Can’t Get COVID-19 Vaccines, Treatments
By Lee Chae Un
As China’s COVID-19 case counts soar, “North Korean defectors in China can’t receive treatment even if they are infected,” one source said.
February 01, 2023
Opposition Leader Lee Jae-myung at the Center of Criminal Probes
February 01, 2023
Russian Embassy Says North Korea Lifted Lockdown in Pyongyang
January 28, 2023
The Korean Wave’s Rocky Road in China
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
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February 01, 2023
Will Suga Yoshihide Make a Comeback?
By Jio F. Kamata
As Prime Minister Kishida fights flagging approval ratings, his predecessor is testing the political waters.
January 28, 2023
Japan’s Population Crisis Nears Point of No Return
January 21, 2023
Doubling the Defense Budget Won’t be Easy for Japan
January 19, 2023
Japan’s Largest Opposition Party Seeks Moderation, But the Base Disagrees
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
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February 03, 2023
Hindu Nationalism on Display in India’s G20 Presidency
By Ritumbra Manuvie and Alena Kahle
The G-20 must avoid giving legitimacy to an exclusionary nation-branding project in which minorities are banished to the sidelines.
February 02, 2023
The United States Risks Being Complicit in the Myanmar Junta’s Atrocities
February 01, 2023
Two Years On, Women Remain at the Forefront of Myanmar’s Resistance Movement
January 31, 2023
Myanmar: Last Chance Before the Final Curtain Drops
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
February 02, 2023
Cold Snap and Electricity Shortages Slam Central Asia, Afghanistan
By Catherine Putz
The repercussions of the apparent vulnerabilities in Uzbekistan’s energy system have wide implications, none more serious than for Afghanistan.
February 02, 2023
A Gender Perspective on HIV Prevalence in Uzbekistan
February 01, 2023
Is the Aral Sea a Lost Cause?
February 01, 2023
Karakalpakstan Trial Ends With 16-Year Sentence for Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
February 04, 2023
iCET: Strengthening the India-US Tech Agenda
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The U.S.-India strategic relationship looks to be set on firm footing, with both sides keen to materialize deeper collaboration across defense and critical and emerging technologies.
February 03, 2023
Europe’s Misgivings About Sanctions Don’t Bode Well for US Export Controls
February 01, 2023
US Burma Act Uplifts the Resistance Movement in Myanmar
January 31, 2023
Source: Dutch, Japanese Join US Limits on Chip Tech to China
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
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February 02, 2023
Sun Cable’s Collapse and the Australian Role in Southeast Asia’s Energy Transition
By Nicholas Basan
Rather than focusing on exporting renewable energy to the region, Australian firms should invest directly in Southeast Asia's green transition.
February 02, 2023
Western Investors Are Losing the Ability to Shape the Future of Cambodian Microfinance
February 01, 2023
Indonesian Steel Exports Have Plummeted Due to EU Tariffs, Official Says
February 01, 2023
Can Indonesia Achieve Its Electric Vehicle Ambitions?
Oceania
The South Pacific
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February 02, 2023
History’s Shadow Looms Over Fiji
By Patricia O’Brien
As Fiji enters a new political era following 16 years under the rule of Bainimarama, history’s shadow looms large.
January 31, 2023
Australia’s Nauru Conundrum
January 27, 2023
Australia Day, Invasion Day: Evolving the Idea of Australia
January 27, 2023
Australia Day Focuses Attention on Indigenous Recognition in Constitution
Videos
Asia on Video
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Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
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January 27, 2023
The Drivers and Consequences of Vietnam’s January 2023 Political Shake-Up
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
Will Vietnam's political tumult have any geopolitical ramifications?
January 09, 2023
Locking Horns With the Khmer Rouge
January 06, 2023
A New Defense Era: Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy
December 28, 2022
Asian Geopolitics in 2022: A Retrospective
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
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January 31, 2023
Kashmir Welcomes Rahul Gandhi and His Bharat Jodo Yatra
By Numan Bhat and Mehroob Mushtaq
The politician's Unite India March ended on January 30 in Srinagar, where he was welcomed by local politicians.