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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
P
September 25, 2021
Huawei Executive Resolves Criminal Charges in Deal With US
By Eric Tucker and Jim Mustian
The deferred prosecution agreement paves the way for Meng Wanzhou to be released in a case that has roiled China’s relationships with both Canada and the U.S.
September 24, 2021
China Aiding Myanmar Armed Groups in Their COVID-19 Fight
September 23, 2021
Taiwan Applies for CPTPP Membership
September 23, 2021
China’s Xi, Like Biden Hours Earlier, Turns to Calm Language in UN Remarks
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
September 24, 2021
What to Expect From the First In-Person Quad Summit
By Rupakjyoti Borah
A preview of the Australia-India-Japan-U.S. summit, and what it will mean for the Indo-Pacific region.
September 23, 2021
Does AUKUS Augment or Diminish the Quad?
September 22, 2021
South Korea Commits to Combatting Increased Ransomware Attacks
September 21, 2021
Taiwanese Presidents Will Not and Can Not Unilaterally Change Taiwan’s Status
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
September 24, 2021
How Should South Korea’s Next President Approach OPCON Transfer?
By Sukjoon Yoon
Let's hope that the next president does not paint themselves into a corner on OPCON transfer, as President Moon Jae-in unfortunately did.
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?
September 17, 2021
The Strategic Symbolism of Australia’s Nuclear Subs
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
September 24, 2021
Malaysia to Seek Chinese ‘Views’ on New AUKUS Security Pact
By Sebastian Strangio
The announcement came after the Malaysian PM said the new security pact could be a “catalyst for a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.”
September 24, 2021
China Courts Vietnam With More COVID-19 Vaccines, Mistrust Remains
September 23, 2021
Protecting Indonesia’s Sovereignty in the North Natuna Sea
September 23, 2021
US Court Orders Facebook to Hand Over Deleted Anti-Rohingya Content
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
September 24, 2021
Does Sri Lanka Really Have a Food Crisis?
By Kalani Kumarasinghe
The problem isn’t the availability of food items or essential goods, but skyrocketing prices of essentials due to stockpiling.
September 24, 2021
The Taliban’s False Amnesty
September 23, 2021
Top Pakistan Diplomat Details Taliban Plan
September 23, 2021
Under Taliban, Thriving Afghan Music Scene Heads to Silence
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
September 24, 2021
South Korea Takes First Step to Regulate Virtual Asset Service Providers
By Euihyun Bae
The tight deadline to register may lead to a monopolization of the South Korean virtual asset industry.
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
September 20, 2021
South Korea Leads the Fight Against Google and Apple’s App Market
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 24, 2021
Did Mongolia Give up on Winning a UN Security Council Seat?
By Ulrika Möller and Julian Dierkes
Any mention of Mongolia's candidacy was notably absent from President Khurelsukh’s U.N. speech. Does that pave the way for Japan to win a nonpermanent seat in the U.N. Security Council?
September 24, 2021
The Price of Gold: Kyrgyzstan’s Showdown With Western Investors
September 24, 2021
Kyrgyz Officials Meet With Taliban Acting Foreign Minister in Kabul
September 22, 2021
A Look at Punitive Psychiatric Detention in Uzbekistan
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 23, 2021
Can ‘Good’ Economics Coexist with ‘Bad’ Politics?
By Simon Commander
Across the former Soviet Union, improved rankings for selective governance indicators tend to give a misleading view of governments' ability to reform themselves.
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
September 20, 2021
Revisiting RCEP’s Trade Implications
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 16, 2021
How Washington Sees Southeast Asia and ASEAN
By Luke Hunt
A conversation about why the Quad matters
September 09, 2021
The Biden Administration and US-China Relations in 2021
August 26, 2021
The Taliban, 9/11 and An American Evacuation
August 06, 2021
After 15 Years, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge Tribunal Nears Its End
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.