Top Stories
TOP
May 18, 2022
Sri Lanka’s Meltdown Puts China’s Strategic Influence in Jeopardy
By Mohamed Zeeshan
The decline of the Rajapaksas has adversely hit Chinese fortunes in the Indian Ocean island and sullied its image among other Belt and Road partners.
May 17, 2022
The Economic Outlook for the Philippines Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
By James Guild
The new president will take the reins at a time of high inflation and monetary tightening in the global financial system.
May 17, 2022
Why Taiwan Can’t Copy Ukraine’s Civil Defense Blueprint
By James Baron
Replicating Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Force is not legally or politically feasible in Taiwan – at least for now.
May 14, 2022
Chinese Views of the US and Russia After the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
By Richard Q. Turcsanyi
A new survey taken after the Russian invasion of Ukraine finds that the Chinese are very negative about the U.S., very positive about Russia – and very confident about China.
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 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
April 29, 2022
Indian FinTech Gains Escape Velocity. The Sector Is a Bright Spot in India’s Race for Global Economic Influence
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 20, 2022
Warning Signs in China’s Economic Outlook as COVID-19 Spreads
By He Jun
Signs of economic downturns in Shanghai and Guangdong are especially troubling, considering the outsized role they play in China’s overall economy.
May 18, 2022
Taiwan’s Quest to Attend the World Health Assembly
May 18, 2022
China’s Censors Aim to Contain Dissent During Harsh COVID-19 Lockdowns
May 17, 2022
Understanding the Extent (and Limits) of Chinese Public Support for Russia
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
May 21, 2022
Philippines Establishes 3 New Coast Guard Outposts in South China Sea
By Associated Press
The new outposts reinforce the presence of Filipino troops in the hotly contested Spratly archipelago.
May 19, 2022
India vs. China in Latin America: Competing Actors or in Separate Leagues?
May 17, 2022
Beware the Himalayan Heat: China, India, and Pakistan on the Brink
May 12, 2022
North Korea Launches 3 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Shortly After Confirming 1st COVID Case
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
May 21, 2022
Looking Back at the 1999 India-Pakistan Lahore Declaration
By Bashir Ali Abbas
The confidence-building and conflict-management MoU continues to be held up as a positive example. Where does it stand today?
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
May 11, 2022
Will Australia and Japan Move Beyond the ‘Quasi-Alliance’?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 20, 2022
Timor-Leste Celebrates Independence Anniversary, New Leader
By Gantry Meilana
Former independence fighter Jose Ramos-Horta has pledged to fight poverty and bridge long-standing political divides.
May 20, 2022
Philippine Election Marred by Violence, Vote-Buying: Monitoring Mission
May 20, 2022
Indonesia to Scrap Controversial Palm Oil Export Ban
May 19, 2022
Thailand’s Evolving Defense Relations With Japan
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 21, 2022
India’s Hindutva Groups Have the Gyanvapi Mosque in Their Crosshairs
By Tarushi Aswani
Hindutva groups are laying claim to a growing number of sites where Muslim monuments and mosques stand, arguing that temples once stood on the same land.
May 20, 2022
China Becomes Wild Card in Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis
May 20, 2022
Rains Submerge Infrastructure in India’s Northeast
May 19, 2022
Pakistan’s Relations With Taliban Regime Worsen
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 19, 2022
What Comes Next in North Korea’s Battle With Omicron?
By Justin Fendos
How bad might North Korea’s first COVID-19 outbreak get, and what options does the international community have in responding?
May 17, 2022
Which Yoon Should Biden Expect at the Upcoming South Korea-US Summit?
May 16, 2022
North Korea’s COVID-19 Crisis
May 13, 2022
North Korea Reports 6 Deaths After Admitting COVID-19 Outbreak
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 20, 2022
How LGBT+ Communities Overcame Japan’s 2011 Triple Disaster
By Natasha Fox
LGBT+ people found themselves marginalized from Japan’s state-run disaster relief – so they created their own alternatives. That can serve as a model for other efforts around the world.
May 19, 2022
The US Should Ban China’s State Media From Social Platforms
May 18, 2022
US-ASEAN Summit a Missed Opportunity to Tackle Shrinking Civic Space Across the Region
May 17, 2022
Marcos’ Victory Offers Washington the Chance for a Diplomatic Reset with the Philippines
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 20, 2022
Can Digital Governance Strengthen Mongolia’s Democratic Institutions?
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolia sees e-government as essential to eliminating red tape and fighting corruption. How are its efforts faring thus far?
May 13, 2022
China and Uzbekistan: An Emerging Development Partnership?
May 13, 2022
The Richest Get Richer in Kazakhstan
May 12, 2022
The Trans-Caspian Corridor: Kazakhstan’s Silk Road?
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 18, 2022
Taiwan’s President Condemns California Church Shooting
By Associated Press
The shooter, who killed one and injured five at a Taiwanese church, was reportedly part of a pro-unification group.
May 17, 2022
Assessing the Outcomes of the US-ASEAN Special Summit
May 10, 2022
What to Expect From the US-ASEAN Special Summit
May 09, 2022
In the China-US Competition, Xi Jinping’s Loss Is Biden’s Gain
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 18, 2022
COVID-19 Lockdowns Bring Economic Woes for China
By Dmytro Spilka
China’s stock market woes added to a broader economic downturn in recent weeks, amid tough lockdowns in major cities.
May 17, 2022
The Economic Outlook for the Philippines Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
May 16, 2022
What’s Behind China’s Ban on NFTs?
May 12, 2022
Economic Stimulus Has Become Inevitable for China
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 19, 2022
Australia’s Election Complicates Attendance at Quad Summit
By Rod McGuirk
Australia’s general election is on May 21, just three days before the summit in Tokyo. It’s unclear who would represent Canberra if the polls usher in a change of government.
May 17, 2022
Do Australian Politicians Know the Difference Between Hinduism and Hindutva?
May 16, 2022
Macho Election Tactics Miss the Point in Australia
May 13, 2022
Chinese Ambassador Says China’s Rise Is No Threat to Australia
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 18, 2022
Sizing-up the US-ASEAN Summit and Vietnam’s Place in the World
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with veteran academic Carl Thayer.
May 18, 2022
The Geopolitical Consequences of China’s Solomon Islands Pact
April 29, 2022
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Lessons for Taiwan
April 28, 2022
Troubled Waters in the Mekong Region
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.