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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.
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Trendlines
Demography’s Long Shadow
November 2021
A data-driven deep dive into key variables determining the demographics of China, India, and Japan.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 22, 2022
Is China Putting ‘Wolf Warriors’ on a Leash?
By Aidan Powers-Riggs and Eduardo Jaramillo
Recent signs indicate that Beijing wants to moderate – but not abandon – the assertive tone of its diplomats.
January 21, 2022
Observer Now, Beneficiary Later: China and the Unrest in Kazakhstan
January 20, 2022
Did Honduras’ New President Change Her Mind About Dropping Taiwan?
January 19, 2022
How China Intervened in a Maryland Effort to Ban Lead From Children’s Products
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 21, 2022
France’s Total Backs Sanctions on Myanmar Oil and Gas Revenues
By Sebastian Strangio
The shift is a major breakthrough for activists seeking to strangle the military government's main source of revenue.
January 21, 2022
Omicron Threatens to Derail Cambodia’s ASEAN Agenda
January 20, 2022
Royalists Step Up Campaign Against Thai Chapter of Amnesty International
January 20, 2022
The Philippines in 2022: Elections, Omicron, and a Delayed Recovery
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
January 22, 2022
Taliban Storm Kabul Apartment, Arrest Activist and Her Sisters
By Kathy Gannon
The activist, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, was among about 25 women who took part in an anti-Taliban protest on Sunday against the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab, for women.
January 21, 2022
Powerful Bomb Rips Through Market in Lahore
January 21, 2022
India Needs to Get Real About the Instability in Myanmar
January 20, 2022
The Trouble With India’s ‘Twin-Track’ Approach to Myanmar
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
January 20, 2022
North Korea Signals Will to Cross US Red Line Amid Deadlocked Nuclear Talks
By Mitch Shin
In a Politburo meeting held on Wednesday, North Korea implied that its “confidence-building measures” can be withdrawn after the U.S. imposed sanctions over its ballistic missile tests.
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?
January 20, 2022
Disaster Risk Reduction: A Sustainable Path for Inter-Korea Cooperation
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 22, 2022
North Korea’s Escalation Strategy Won’t Work Anymore
By Man-seok Lee and Seung-min Woo
If North Korea conducted the recent missile tests in order to convince the U.S. to return to the negotiation table, Pyongyang should quickly change strategy.
January 21, 2022
How Energy is Aiding ASEAN’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
January 20, 2022
It’s Time for a Japan-US Pandemic Partnership
January 19, 2022
Little Blue Helmets in Kazakhstan
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
January 18, 2022
Nazarbayev Resurfaces, Dismisses Talk of Elite Conflict in Kazakhstan
By Catherine Putz
The statement from the First President came just after evidence of elite conflict began surfacing in earnest, with suggestions of a purge of Nazarbayev elites.
January 18, 2022
Uzbekistan Reacts to the Crisis in Kazakhstan
January 14, 2022
Kazakhstan: Local Politics and the Chaos in Almaty
January 13, 2022
After Kazakhstan Unrest, Relatives Await Detainees’ Release
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 19, 2022
Indonesia’s Railway Renaissance
By James Guild
The Indonesian rail operator KAI remains one of the country’s more well-run and capable state-owned companies.
January 17, 2022
In Numbers: The Changing Composition of Populations in China, India, and Japan
January 14, 2022
Evergrande Still Looms Large Over Asian Markets’ 2022 Outlook
January 12, 2022
Environmental Issues Take Precedence in ASEAN’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
January 20, 2022
First Aid Flights Arrive in Tonga After Big Volcano Eruption
By Nick Perry
More than 80 percent of Tonga's population have been impacted by the volcano's eruption.
January 20, 2022
The Problem With Australia’s Conservatism
January 19, 2022
Volcanic Eruption Devastates Tonga
January 14, 2022
Omicron Overshadows Australia’s Opening Up
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.