DRI | COVID-19 IN ASIA
Presented by Diplomat Risk Intelligence
January 23, 2021
Taiwan Tightens COVID-19 Regulations Amid String of Hospital Infections
By Nick Aspinwall
Taiwan is working to contain a domestic outbreak and maintain its remarkable success in containing the coronavirus.
January 22, 2021
In Hong Kong, COVID-19 and Racism Make an Ugly Mix
By Jessie Lau
In Hong Kong, the pandemic has fanned the flames of a more silent epidemic: systematic racism.
January 14, 2021
Japan’s Olympic Dreams Remain Hostage to COVID-19 Uncertainty
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s hopes for the postponed Tokyo Olympics are shrouded in doubt as the coronavirus outbreak in the country heads for a worst case scenario.
DRI | APAC Risks, Analyzed
DRI
January 21, 2021
The Global Reach of China’s Venture Capital
By Sophie Zinser
Chinese VC investment has been excluded from India but is growing in South and Southeast Asia. How is that remaking foreign startup ecosystems?
January 14, 2021
Elections in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: What Next?
By Ankit Panda
A presidential election in Kyrgyzstan and a parliamentary election in Kazakhstan kick off 2021 in Central Asia.
January 13, 2021
China-EU Investment Deal Sparks Backlash Over Rights Concerns
By Shannon Tiezzi
Civil society organizations and members of the European Parliament alike are objecting to the deal amid China's continuing crackdowns in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
Magazine
M
January 01, 2021
North Korea Without Nukes: How Does It Measure Up?
By Joost Oliemans
Evaluating North Korea’s conventional military strength.
January 01, 2021
Vietnam’s Coming Leadership Change
By Huong Le Thu
Amid a pandemic and shifting geopolitical winds, Vietnam’s next leaders will be of crucial importance for the country’s future.
January 01, 2021
The Future of US-India Digital Relations
By Justin Sherman
Beneath the surface, the Trump and Modi administrations had more tensions than common ground on digital issues.
January 01, 2021
The Asia-Pacific in 2021: What to Expect
By The Diplomat
The Diplomat looks at the trends to watch across the region in the coming year.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
January 26, 2021
Bitcoin Mining and Blackouts Add to Anti-Chinese Sentiments in Iran
By Reza Khaasteh
Amid energy shortages in Iran, Iranians are pointing the finger at Chinese-run bitcoin mining operations.
January 25, 2021
Hong Kong’s Present Echoes Tibet’s Past
January 22, 2021
What’s Ahead for China’s Space Program in 2021?
January 23, 2021
Taiwan Tightens COVID-19 Regulations Amid String of Hospital Infections
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
January 22, 2021
Artificial Intelligence Collaboration in Asia’s Security Landscape
By Prashanth Parameswaran
AI represents an emerging area of regional security collaboration in spite of its inherent challenges.
January 23, 2021
Faith in Fakes: What a ‘Khamenei Tweet’ About Trump Actually Tells Us
January 22, 2021
Sea Vigil: India’s Coastal Security Exercise
January 22, 2021
Report Repudiates Trump Officials’ Claims About US and Ladakh
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
January 26, 2021
An Inoffensive Quest: Can Japan’s Defense Exports Take Off?
By John Wright
Japan’s quest for an arms manufacturing industry is intimately linked with its self-perception as a “normal” power. How has it fared so far?
January 22, 2021
Quad Plus Canada Participate in Anti-Sub War Exercise
January 19, 2021
Are Hypersonic Weapons All Hype?
January 14, 2021
India Develops Indigenous 9 MM Machine Pistol
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
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January 22, 2021
China’s ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’ Leaves its Mark on ASEAN
By Luke Hunt
Most Southeast Asian governments are looking to China for help in combating COVID-19.
January 22, 2021
Leading Thai Opposition Politician Charged With Royal Defamation
January 22, 2021
Indonesia Urges Myanmar to Create Safe Conditions for Rohingya Repatriation
January 22, 2021
Post-Pandemic Southeast Asia Faces a Crisis of Authoritarianism
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
January 26, 2021
India’s Vaccine Diplomacy: A Potent Card?
By Sudha Ramachandran
While China has faltered in delivering COVID-19 vaccines to South Asian countries, India has stepped in.
January 22, 2021
Déjà Vu All Over Again in Pakistan
January 21, 2021
‘Timber Mafia’ From India Running Amok in Bhutan
January 18, 2021
Indian Journalist’s WhatsApp Transcript Causes Storm in Teacup
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
January 19, 2021
President Moon Is Still Hopeful for North Korea Talks
By Mitch Shin
In a press conference on Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his wish to resume talks with North Korea – including hosting Kim Jong Un in Seoul.
January 16, 2021
Chatbot Gone Awry Starts Conversations About AI Ethics in South Korea
January 15, 2021
North Korea Holds Nighttime Military Parade After Party Congress
January 15, 2021
North Korea Holds Huge Military Parade as Kim Vows Nuclear Might
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
January 20, 2021
Why Some in Japan Are Still Unsettled About a Biden Administration
By Carlos Ramirez
The favorable view of Trump’s policy combined with a pessimism of Biden as it relates to Japan is both unfounded and misguided
January 19, 2021
Japan’s Struggling Single Mothers Expose the Flaws of Womenomics
January 19, 2021
Institutionalizing the Quad?
January 19, 2021
Japan Urges South Korea to Drop Wartime Compensation Demands
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
January 22, 2021
Vietnam Leadership Transition Will Not Loosen the Party’s Grip
By Huong Nguyen
The past five years have seen a sharp increase in both the number of arrests of dissidents, and the severity of the sentences imposed on them.
January 22, 2021
Mind the Remote Learning Gap in ASEAN
January 22, 2021
The Pitfalls of the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment
January 22, 2021
China’s Hypocrisy on America’s Democracy
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
January 26, 2021
The Taxman Cometh for Kazakh NGOs
By Catherine Putz
In January so far, four Kazakh NGOs have been fined and suspended by the state's tax authorities -- a convenient cover for political repression.
January 25, 2021
Uzbekistan Takes Further Steps Toward Eurasian Economic Union
January 22, 2021
Mongolia’s Prime Minister Offers Shock Resignation Amid Protests
January 21, 2021
In Lifting Trump Travel Bans, Biden Removes Visa Restrictions on Kyrgyzstan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
January 23, 2021
US Senate Confirms Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense
By Abhijnan Rej
He becomes the first African American to hold that office.
January 22, 2021
To Confront the Future, the US Congress Should Look to Its Past
January 21, 2021
Biden Administration Makes Early Outreach to Taiwan
January 21, 2021
Biden Administration to Probe Rohingya Genocide Claim
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
January 21, 2021
UN: Pandemic, Surging Food Prices Leave Many in Asia Hungry
By Associated Press
Across Asia, high prices for fruits, vegetables, and dairy products have made it "nearly impossible" for low income families to have healthy diets.
January 20, 2021
North Korea’s New Economic Plan Looks a Lot Like the Old One
January 19, 2021
Low Rates Are Pushing US Capital Into Southeast Asia. What Happens When Rates Go Up?
January 14, 2021
China Won’t Rush to Join CPTPP. Neither Should the US.
Asia Life
The Other Asia-Pacific
LJanuary 22, 2021
In Hong Kong, COVID-19 and Racism Make an Ugly Mix
By Jessie Lau
In Hong Kong, the pandemic has fanned the flames of a more silent epidemic: systematic racism.
January 14, 2021
Australia to Kill Pigeon that Crossed Pacific from Oregon
January 04, 2021
Spell It Out: Should English Transcription of Indian Words Be Reformed?
December 23, 2020
Official Costs of Tokyo Olympics Up by 22% to $15.4 billion
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
January 14, 2021
Australia’s Reading of the US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific
By Joshua Mcdonald
Australia is noted in the document not nearly as often as Japan, South Korea, or India, but that likely underscores the already tight relations between the two countries.
January 14, 2021
Biden Administration’s Momentum Bodes Ill for Australia’s Lackluster Climate Change Policies
January 13, 2021
Australia Debates Vaccines, Worries About New COVID-19 Strain
January 12, 2021
After Trump, Can Australia Trust the United States?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
PJanuary 14, 2021
Elections in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: What Next?
By Ankit Panda
A presidential election in Kyrgyzstan and a parliamentary election in Kazakhstan kick off 2021 in Central Asia.
December 31, 2020
A Conversation With the President of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia
December 23, 2020
The Flashpoints of Hun Sen’s Cambodia
December 17, 2020
Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Coming Biden Presidency
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
January 11, 2021
Dhanushkodi Fisherfolk: 50 Years of Life on the Edge
By Sugato Mukherjee
At India’s southernmost tip, a fishing community remains resilient over 50 years after a cyclone wiped their home off the map.