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December 01, 2021
Which Asia-Pacific Countries Were (and Weren’t) Invited to the US Summit for Democracy?
By Shannon Tiezzi
The guest list underscores the region’s ambivalent relationship with democracy and political freedom.
November 26, 2021
Japan Approves Record Extra Defense Budget
By Kosuke Takahashi
Amid growing threats in East Asia, the Japanese cabinet approved a record extra budget for defense appropriations.
November 26, 2021
Sri Lanka Bows to Chinese Pressure Again
By Sudha Ramachandran
Colombo has agreed to pay millions of dollars to a Chinese company that has reportedly supplied it with contaminated organic fertilizer.
November 25, 2021
Japan’s New Pandemic Border Restrictions Disappoint Residents Stranded Abroad
By Thisanka Siripala
Many foreign residents have had their hopes to enter Japan dashed as new border controls make little impact.
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
Here Be Dragons?
October 2021
A data-driven deep dive into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, situating it within the overall context of Pakistan’s economy.
Access Trendlines
Asia Review
Unrest in the Solomon Islands
December 3, 2021
Probing the causes of the Solomon Islands violence—and where geopolitics fits in the story.
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
Chinese Nuclear Weapons: A View From Beijing
November 25, 2021
Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy's Tong Zhao discusses drivers behind China's nuclear weapons expansion, how Beijing perceives the international strategic environment, and much more.
Listen to Podcast
Magazine
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December 01, 2021
‘Patriots Only’: Hong Kong’s New Election System in Action
By Jessie Lau and Shui-yin Sharon Yam
Changes to Hong Kong’s election system, as well as the overarching national security law, have all but killed any formal political opposition.
December 01, 2021
Kazakhstan: What Happened in Zhanaozen?
By Zholdas Orisbayev
Ten years after the Zhanaozen massacre, has justice been served?
December 01, 2021
Bangladesh’s Evolving Relations With India and Pakistan
By Delwar Hossain
Bangladesh’s relations with India and Pakistan have gone through inverse cycles of friendship and hostility.
December 01, 2021
Asia After the Soviet Union
Five experts explore the legacy of the USSR and the impact of its collapse on China, India, Japan, the Koreas, and Vietnam.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
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December 04, 2021
Behind Legislators’ Push to Make PRC National Day a New York State Holiday
By Flora Yan
Even amid sky-high China-U.S. tensions, there is an ongoing bid to make October 1 a public holiday -- "China Day" -- in New York state.
December 03, 2021
What Chinese Dams in Laos Tell Us About the Belt and Road Initiative
December 03, 2021
WTA Pulls Its Tournaments From China Over Concerns for Peng Shuai
December 02, 2021
Domestic Abuse Incident Highlights Taiwan’s Struggles With Misogyny
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
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December 03, 2021
Afghanistan’s Taliban, Myanmar’s Tatmadaw Denied UN Seats, For Now
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban and the junta in Myanmar will remain outside the halls of the United Nations for now.
December 02, 2021
Is China Stacking the Technology Deck by Setting International Standards?
December 01, 2021
Even Duterte Can’t Get Around the Thorn in China-Philippine Relations
November 26, 2021
Nuclear Proliferation Concerns in East Asia: Beyond North Korea
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
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December 03, 2021
How to Jumpstart a Dialogue With China on Arms Control
By Samuel M. Hickey
Engaging China in talks for its accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime could open the way for broader arms control talks.
December 02, 2021
US Global Posture Review Calls for Stationing More Units in South Korea
November 29, 2021
Time to Revise the Japan Coast Guard Act?
November 25, 2021
S-400s, CAATSA Complicate India-US Ties
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
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December 03, 2021
Laos-China Railway Inaugurated Amid Mounting Debt Concerns
By Sebastian Strangio
The $5.9 billion railway, an impressive feat of Chinese engineering, is set to tie Laos ever closer to its northern neighbor.
December 03, 2021
Why the Fight for the Philippines Vice Presidency Matters
December 03, 2021
Cambodian PM Backs His Son Hun Manet to Succeed Him
December 02, 2021
China Demanded Halt to Indonesian Drilling Near Natuna Islands: Report
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
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December 03, 2021
Pakistan Police: Mob Kills Sri Lankan Over Alleged Blasphemy
By Babar Dogar
Mob attacks on people accused of blasphemy are common in Pakistan.
December 03, 2021
Mamata Banerjee Shakes up the Status Quo
December 03, 2021
Sino-Indian Competition in South Asia: Another Round
December 02, 2021
How India’s Opposition Parties Are Strengthening the BJP
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
December 01, 2021
Why South Korea Fell Behind Japan in Southeast Asia
By Adam Gadd
Ironically, South Korea and ASEAN's shared desire to avoid confronting China may be limiting Seoul's attractiveness as a strategic partner for the region.
November 25, 2021
Why Has North Korea Struggled to Normalize Trade With China?
November 24, 2021
Ex-South Korean Strongman Chun Doo-hwan Dies at Age 90
November 23, 2021
Moon’s Inter-Korea Peace Process Deadlocked in China-US Tensions
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
December 02, 2021
Can Kishida Become Japan’s First Human Rights Prime Minister?
By Mieczysław P. Boduszyński and Christopher K. Lamont
Japan has rarely been keen to promote human rights and democracy overseas. That may change under Kishida and his new special adviser on human rights.
December 02, 2021
China Lashes Out at Japan’s Former PM Abe Over Taiwan Warning
November 25, 2021
Japan’s New Pandemic Border Restrictions Disappoint Residents Stranded Abroad
November 25, 2021
Will Japan-South Korea Relations Ever Get Back on Track?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
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December 01, 2021
AI Strategic Competition, Norms, and the Ethics of Global Empire
By Joseph Bouchard
Western democracies should play an active role in shaping the norms governing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
November 24, 2021
The Indo-Pacific Exposes the Regionalisms of ‘Global’ Britain
November 25, 2021
Australia’s Relationship With India Is Concerning
November 23, 2021
Where Are ‘New’ Uzbekistan’s Promised Reforms?
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
December 03, 2021
Mongolia-Russia Diplomatic Relations at 100
By Bolor Lkhaajav
The past, present, and future of a close and complex relationship.
December 02, 2021
Mob Accosts Kyrgyz Opposition Politician Tekebayev
December 02, 2021
Nazarbayev to Step Down From Nur Otan Party Leadership
December 01, 2021
Has Labor Migration to Russia Improved for Kyrgyz?
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
December 02, 2021
Democracy Promotion in the Indo-Pacific: Prelude to a ‘Biden Doctrine’?
By Mark S. Cogan and Paul D. Scott
Despite its limits, the Biden administration should anchor its foreign policy in support of democratic principles and self-determination.
December 02, 2021
Taiwan’s Pragmatic Approach to Biden’s Democracy Summit
December 01, 2021
Which Asia-Pacific Countries Were (and Weren’t) Invited to the US Summit for Democracy?
November 30, 2021
Europe and the US: From Divergence to Convergence on China?
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
December 03, 2021
How Indonesia and Singapore Can Deepen Their Renewable Energy Cooperation
By Dedi Dinarto and Gerardus Yosari
In many ways, the two nations are natural partners in the development of green energy sources.
November 30, 2021
Thai Telcos Dtac and True Are Planning a Merger
November 25, 2021
The Idiosyncrasies of China’s Bond Market
November 23, 2021
Thailand’s PTT Makes Its Electric Vehicle Play
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
November 30, 2021
Strong Showing for the Pacific at Biden’s Summit for Democracy
By Grant Wyeth
The Pacific Islands have not been overlooked by the White House, although the region’s democracies face challenges, too.
November 26, 2021
Violent Protests Unsettle Solomon Islands
November 26, 2021
Is China to Blame for Solomon Islands Unrest?
November 25, 2021
Australia Sending Troops to Solomon Islands as Unrest Grows
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
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November 20, 2021
Biden, Xi, and the Importance of Guardrails in the US-China Relationship
By Ankit Panda, Catherine Putz, and Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
The United States and China aren’t satisfied with their relationship, but both sides appear to be interested in managing their differences.
November 13, 2021
Afghanistan, Then and Now
November 04, 2021
Continuity and Flux in Central Asia: Elections in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
November 01, 2021
The Shifting Nature of India-China Relations
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
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November 01, 2021
On the Eve of Reopening, Thai Protesters Take to the Streets Again
By Cory Wright
Protesters’ demands remain the same: a constitutional overhaul, new elections and a reform of the monarchy.