Top Stories
TOP
January 18, 2022
After Kazakhstan Crisis, China Will Reassess Its Influence in Central Asia
By Igor Denisov
Despite its economic clout in Kazakhstan, Beijing has had far less political leverage than Moscow.
January 17, 2022
China and Iran Since the 25-Year Agreement: The Limits of Cooperation
By William Figueroa
Iran may be forced to “Look East” in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, but the Chinese government continues to look in many directions at once.
January 14, 2022
Philippines Confirms Purchase of BrahMos Supersonic Missile System
By Sebastian Strangio
The long-expected acquisition marks the latest evolution of Southeast Asia's naval arms competition.
January 11, 2022
Japan’s COVID-19 Surge Spreads at Alarming Speed
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan is showing signs of a “sixth wave” of coronavirus infections as the highly contagious Omicron variant tears through the community.
Diplomat Risk Intelligence Analyses That Help You Act Today – For Tomorrow
Report
Afghanistan and Taliban 2.0
August 2021
A DRI report on Afghanistan following the return of the Taliban regime to Kabul looks at the international security and geopolitical implications of the development.
Access the Report
Trendlines
Demography’s Long Shadow
November 2021
A data-driven deep dive into key variables determining the demographics of China, India, and Japan.
Access Trendlines
Asia Review
Year of Tiger, Eye of Storm?
January 11, 2022
China's new land border law comes into effect just as the country's neighborhood travails deepen.
Read Newsletter
Majlis
Australia and an Indo-Pacific in Flux
October 2021
Australia is making headlines. Let three leading experts from the country tell you about the forces shaping how Canberra is looking at world.
Watch Webinar
Future Tense
Global Arms Trends: What’s New?
January 3, 2022
In conversation with Lucie Béraud-Sudreau, Director of SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Listen to Podcast
Magazine
M
January 01, 2022
The Limits of Vietnam’s Labor Reforms
By Joe Buckley
Contrary to much reporting, Vietnam has not authorized independent workers’ unions.
January 01, 2022
America’s Militarist Drift in the Indo-Pacific
By Van Jackson
The Biden administration has returned a sense of normalcy to Asia policy. Unfortunately, that includes continuing a military-first approach to Asia.
January 01, 2022
North Korea: A Decade Under Kim Jong Un
By Rachel Minyoung Lee
What has the past decade revealed about Kim’s leadership style and goals for North Korea?
January 01, 2022
2022: What to Expect in the Asia-Pacific
Writers from across the region highlight the trends and event to watch in the new year.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
January 25, 2022
The Dilemma of Hong Kong’s Fixation on Zero COVID
By Charles Mok
Hong Kong's obsession with zero COVID is leading it down unproductive rabbit holes -- like hamster culling -- rather than finding long-term solutions.
January 25, 2022
Behind China’s Intervention in Vermont’s Electronic Waste Recycling Bill
January 23, 2022
China’s Espionage Plans for the 2022 Winter Olympics: What Athletes Should Expect
January 22, 2022
Is China Putting ‘Wolf Warriors’ on a Leash?
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
January 21, 2022
North Korea’s Missile Tests: Biden’s Options
By Eric Gomez
Since the collapse of the U.S.-North Korea summit at Hanoi in February 2019, North Korea and the United States have been locked in a diplomatic impasse.
January 21, 2022
How North Korea Might Exploit New Video Games for Crypto
January 19, 2022
The China-US Space Race Is a Myth
January 14, 2022
After Denouncing New US Sanctions, North Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
January 21, 2022
Can Bakamla Be at the Forefront of Indonesia’s Natuna Sea Strategy?
By Dedi Dinarto
Scarce resources and inter-agency disputes have hamstrung the development of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency.
January 21, 2022
The Strategic Logic Behind India’s Sale of BrahMos Missiles to the Philippines
January 14, 2022
Philippines Confirms Purchase of BrahMos Supersonic Missile System
January 13, 2022
Mongolia’s Female Peacekeepers: A Case Study for Gender Parity
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
January 26, 2022
Thai Prime Minister Arrives in Saudi Arabia, Easing Diamond Heist Row
By Isabel Debre
The official visit by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to Riyadh signals the nations are seeking to thaw ties, long chilled by 1989 Blue Diamond affair.
January 25, 2022
China Appeals to Myanmar Opposition to Safeguard its Investments
January 25, 2022
Myanmar Refugee Numbers Swell in India’s Mizoram State
January 24, 2022
Twitter Removes Hundreds of Accounts Linked to Philippines’ Marcos Jr.
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
January 25, 2022
Skeletons Are Tumbling Out of India’s COVID-19 Closet
By Sudha Ramachandran
Not only did the Modi government refuse to admit that the pandemic had entered the community transmission stage in March 2020 but it also grossly under-reported COVID deaths.
January 25, 2022
Without Vaccine Equity, the World Could Remain Stuck in Pandemic Limbo
January 25, 2022
China Fertilizer Spat Underlines Sri Lanka’s Struggles With International Trade Deals
January 25, 2022
Taliban Hold First Talks in Europe Since Afghan Takeover
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
January 26, 2022
South Korea’s Constant Struggle With Digital Sex Crimes
By Jason Bartlett
Weak legal mechanisms to punish sex offenders who use digital means, like cameras, contributes to the repetition of familiar and troubling crimes.
January 20, 2022
North Korea Signals Will to Cross US Red Line Amid Deadlocked Nuclear Talks
January 20, 2022
Kim Jong Un: A Decade of Trial and Error
January 20, 2022
Why Is South Korea Hesitant to Boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics?
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
January 19, 2022
Official: Japan Hopes to Lead Asian Zero-emissions Push
By Mari Yamaguchi
Environmental groups and critics are urging Japan to focus more on promoting renewable energy.
January 16, 2022
Japan’s North Korea Missile Woes
January 14, 2022
In Memory of ‘Kaifu Diplomacy’ During the Gulf War Turmoil
January 11, 2022
Japan’s COVID-19 Surge Spreads at Alarming Speed
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
January 25, 2022
Myanmar Has Moved Beyond Aung San Suu Kyi vs. the Generals
By Philipp Annawitt
One year on from Myanmar's coup, things on the ground have moved on. It's time the international community does as well.
January 22, 2022
North Korea’s Escalation Strategy Won’t Work Anymore
January 21, 2022
How Energy is Aiding ASEAN’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
January 20, 2022
It’s Time for a Japan-US Pandemic Partnership
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
January 25, 2022
Blackouts Strike Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan
By Catherine Putz
The widespread blackout highlights a series of interconnected and concerning problems relating to reliable energy supplies in the region
January 25, 2022
After Kazakhstan, the CSTO Isn’t Finished With Central Asia
January 25, 2022
Kyrgyz Journalist and Poet Detained on Suspicious Drugs Charges
January 24, 2022
How the Central Asian States Can Protect Themselves From Russia
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
January 10, 2022
Washington Needs to Sort Out Its Ambassadors to Southeast Asia
By David Hutt
A focus on high-profile state visits conceals the vacuum of diplomatic representation at the regional and national level.
December 31, 2021
What the National Defense Authorization Act Means for US Policy Toward Myanmar
December 23, 2021
Can the G-7’s B3W Initiative Compete With China in Latin America?
December 21, 2021
Blinken in Southeast Asia: Is This the Real ‘Pivot’?
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
January 25, 2022
The Message Behind Indonesia’s Coal Export Ban
By James Guild
The move was less about coal shortages than about reminding Indonesia's private sector who is in charge.
January 23, 2022
China’s Transportation Plan Will Boost Post-Pandemic Logistics
January 19, 2022
Indonesia’s Railway Renaissance
January 17, 2022
In Numbers: The Changing Composition of Populations in China, India, and Japan
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
January 26, 2022
Lockdowns in Pacific States Facing First Serious COVID Waves
By Joshua Mcdonald
The Pacific nations of Kiribati, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands are facing their first significant outbreaks of COVID-19.
January 25, 2022
23 Australians on Ship Delivering Aid to Tonga Have COVID-19
January 20, 2022
First Aid Flights Arrive in Tonga After Big Volcano Eruption
January 20, 2022
The Problem With Australia’s Conservatism
Videos
Asia on Video
V
November 24, 2021
AUKUS’ Reception in the Indo-Pacific
Shihoko Goto, Manjari Chatterjee Miller, and Susannah Patton discuss the implications of AUKUS for countries in the region.
October 29, 2021
Can China and the US Cooperate on Climate Change?
September 08, 2021
Where Does the China-India Border Dispute Stand?
August 10, 2021
Myanmar, Six Months After the Coup
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
January 11, 2022
Causes and Consequences of Kazakhstan’s January 2022 Unrest
By Ankit Panda, Catherine Putz, and Ankit Panda
Protests over gas prices have quickly spiraled into nationwide unrest, resulting in the first-ever intervention by the CSTO in one of its member states.
January 10, 2022
Making Wine in Asia
December 31, 2021
Surviving Saigon in 1945 and a Dog Named Mephisto
December 18, 2021
2021 in Asian Geopolitics: A Retrospective
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
December 10, 2021
Laos Unlocked
By Nicholas Bosoni
A trip on the maiden journey of the $5.9 billion Laos-China Railway.