Diplomat Risk Intelligence
Insights Today – for Tomorrow
Diplomat Risk Intelligence offers you dedicated access to an exclusive network of subject matter experts on geopolitical, security, economic, and political trends covering the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Research Notes
Published by Diplomat Risk Intelligence, Research Notes
offer actionable insight to strategic decision-makers seeking to understand political risk and economic
trends in Asia.
May 25, 2022
Labor Party Returns to Power in Australia. Social and Economic Changes Explain the Outcome. No Geopolitical Shifts Expected
May 17, 2022
With Decisive Win, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Is the New President of the Philippines. Return of the Marcos Family Happens Amidst Growing Geopolitical and Economic Challenges
May 12, 2022
Sri Lanka Shaken by Protests and Repression. The Economic and Political Emergency May Herald Similar Crises in the Region
May 5, 2022
Faced With Stronger Headwinds, South Korea Looks for a New Strategy. President Yoon Wants a Break With the Past
Magazine
M
May 01, 2022
Far From Home: The Afghans Aiding Afghanistan
By Ezzatullah Mehrdad
Global attention on Afghanistan has largely dried up, but the Afghan diaspora cannot look away.

May 01, 2022
Australia’s Elections: The China Narrative
By Natasha Kassam and Jennifer Hsu
How best to manage ties with China ought to be a central election issue, but the campaign narratives are focused on posturing rather than policy.

May 01, 2022
Japan’s Constitution at 75
By Sheila A. Smith
How does Japan’s post-war constitution hold up in an era of increasing great power competition and unexpected emergencies?

May 01, 2022
Can the US Deter a Taiwan Invasion?
By David Gitter
Rethinking “strategic ambiguity” is important, but in the meantime Washington must compensate for its dwindling military advantage over China with more costly signals of political resolve.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
May 26, 2022
There’s a Narrow Window to Improve Australia-China Relations
By Mu Chunshan
A change in Australia's government won't magically make all the problems go away, but Beijing and Canberra have a chance to bring the relationship back under control.
May 26, 2022
China Wants 10 Pacific Nations to Sign a Major Cooperation Agreement
May 25, 2022
Xinjiang Police Files Show Xi Jinping’s Personal Involvement in Uyghur Persecution
May 25, 2022
China Claims Sabotage as UN Rights Official Visits Xinjiang
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
May 26, 2022
Quad Summit Indicates Growing Strength
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The latest Quad meeting underscored continued growth, but when will the four countries seriously confront the matter of direct security cooperation?
May 25, 2022
Where Does Central Asia Fit in the Quad’s Indo-Pacific Plans?
May 25, 2022
North Korea Launches 3 Ballistic Missiles
May 21, 2022
Evaluating China’s ‘Space-Ground Integrated Information Network’ Project
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
May 25, 2022
China, Russia Fly 6 Bombers Near Japan Amid Quad Summit
By Kosuke Takahashi
The first such joint flight since November 2021 coincided with Japan's hosting of the Quad summit.
May 21, 2022
Looking Back at the 1999 India-Pakistan Lahore Declaration
May 19, 2022
Will the Philippines’ President-Elect Continue the Country’s Defense Modernization?
May 13, 2022
The Changing Pattern of China’s Aircraft Incursions Into Taiwan’s ADIZ
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 27, 2022
In the Philippines, Civil Society Grows Amid Democratic Backsliding
By Ronald Castillo
At this month's election, the vibrant campaign of Vice President Leni Robredo offered some glimmers of hope for the country's democracy.
May 27, 2022
Philippines’ Marcos Pledges to Uphold Landmark South China Sea Ruling
May 26, 2022
Thai Mekong Campaigner Awarded Prominent Environmental Prize
May 26, 2022
Malaysia’s Domestic Political Turbulence Threatens to Derail its Foreign Policy
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 27, 2022
Can IPEF Reduce India’s Economic Dependence on China?
By Niranjan Marjani
IPEF will have to contend with the same worries that led India to walk out of RCEP.
May 27, 2022
Modi Visits the Buddha’s Birthplace in Nepal
May 26, 2022
Indian Court Sentences Kashmiri Leader to Life in Prison
May 25, 2022
Indian Assistance to Sri Lanka: Lifeline or Chokehold?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 26, 2022
How Do North Korea’s COVID Quarantines Work?
By Mun Dong Hui
A glimpse at how North Korea is managing home and centralized quarantines – and the penalties for escaping.
May 23, 2022
Yoon and Biden Hold 1st Summit Meeting in Seoul
May 19, 2022
What Comes Next in North Korea’s Battle With Omicron?
May 17, 2022
Which Yoon Should Biden Expect at the Upcoming South Korea-US Summit?
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
May 18, 2022
Japan to Co-develop Future Fighter F-X With UK
By Kosuke Takahashi
Japan may choose BAE Systems, not Lockheed Martin, to support Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in developing next-generation fighter aircraft.
May 17, 2022
Okinawa Marks 50 Years of End to US Rule Amid Protests
May 13, 2022
Japan’s Food Self-Sufficiency Debate Overlooks the Core Problem
May 12, 2022
Japan’s Weak Yen Hampers Its Post-COVID Recovery
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 26, 2022
It Is in ASEAN’s Strategic Interest to Admit Timor-Leste Now
By Truston Yu
If the nation is not admitted soon, it will fall further behind the 10 members of the Southeast Asian bloc.
May 25, 2022
Unwelcome Refugees: Afghans Continue to Face Pushback and Deportation
May 24, 2022
Vanuatu Shows How to Reduce Emissions Through Trade Facilitation
May 20, 2022
How LGBT+ Communities Overcame Japan’s 2011 Triple Disaster
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 26, 2022
The Language of the China-Russia Soft Power Rivalry in Uzbekistan
By Niginakhon Uralova
The China-Russia soft power rivalry in Uzbekistan plays out most clearly via language and education programs.
May 26, 2022
Can the Eurasian Economic Union Survive Putin?
May 25, 2022
Hearings Begin in Case Against Kyrgyz Journalist Temirov and Singer Nazarov
May 25, 2022
Internet Severed Again in Tajikistan’s GBAO
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 27, 2022
Blinken Emphasizes Cooperation, Including With Beijing, in China Policy Speech
By Shannon Tiezzi
Blinken emphasized cooperation with allies and partners, and even with China itself, in his long-awaited speech.
May 25, 2022
Why Was Taiwan Left Out of the US-Led IPEF?
May 25, 2022
US-ASEAN Special Summit Spotlights Coming Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
May 24, 2022
Southeast Asian Nations Roll the Dice on Biden’s Indo-Pacific Framework
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 26, 2022
China’s Real Estate Slump: Underlying Issues
By Sara Hsu
Although the current approach will ease some major indicators, such as property sales and prices, they will not necessarily resolve the core issues.
May 24, 2022
‘KKN di Desa Penari’ Becomes Indonesia’s Biggest Ever Homegrown Blockbuster
May 18, 2022
COVID-19 Lockdowns Bring Economic Woes for China
May 17, 2022
The Economic Outlook for the Philippines Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 24, 2022
As Biden Wraps First Asia Trip, Ardern Heads to the US
By Geoffrey Miller
Biden’s meetings in South Korea and Japan – along with a change of government in nearby Australia – will set the scene for the New Zealand PM’s trip to the United States.
May 23, 2022
Australian Voters Demand Change, Oust Morrison’s Coalition Government
May 23, 2022
What Labor’s Victory Means for Australia’s Engagement With Southeast Asia
May 23, 2022
Australia Has a New Government. What Should Quad Leaders Expect?
Videos
Asia on Video
V
May 12, 2022
Russia-Ukraine War: The Economic Impact for the Asia-Pacific
Dingding Chen, Biswajit Dhar, and Bruno Maçães discuss how Asia-Pacific governments and companies are responding to the economic turmoil.
April 21, 2022
What’s Driving Pakistan’s Political Crisis?
March 16, 2022
What Does Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Mean for Central Asia?
February 18, 2022
South Korea’s Presidential Election: The Big Picture
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
May 23, 2022
The Path to Militancy and Terrorism
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with author Charlotte McDonald-Gibson.
May 18, 2022
Sizing-up the US-ASEAN Summit and Vietnam’s Place in the World
May 18, 2022
The Geopolitical Consequences of China’s Solomon Islands Pact
April 29, 2022
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Lessons for Taiwan
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
April 16, 2022
Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges are Headed for Global Recognition
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The bridges have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites.