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April 28, 2021
Why Isn’t South Korea Buying Chinese Vaccines?
By Jin Kai
Like many Asian countries, Seoul is having troubling sourcing vaccines. But unlike its neighbors, South Korea has so far refused to turn to a ready supplier: China.
April 28, 2021
It’s Time to Talk About J-15, China’s First Carrierborne Fighter
By Rick Joe
Rumors of the J-15's unreliability have been greatly exaggerated.
April 27, 2021
Sunk Indonesian Submarine Should Worry Pacific Powers
By Nick Danby
The increased reliance on undersea warfare means submarines need to run silent, deep, and safe in the Pacific.
April 26, 2021
The COVID-19 Disaster in India: Chronicles of Agony and Pain on the Ground
By Ritu Mahendru with Inshah Malik
India's current level of suffering was not inevitable. Voices from the ground tell stories of mismanagement, neglect, and apathy.
DRI | Monthly Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 3
An Asian Space Odyssey
Civil, Military, and Commercial Space Ambitions
COVID-19 in Asia
May 07, 2021
Hong Kong Domestic Workers Decry Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
By Jessie Lau
Activists say the community is being singled out unfairly, a continuation of long-standing discriminatory practices.
May 07, 2021
Under Pressure, Australia Reverses Ban on Returns from India
By Grant Wyeth
Although the ban is set to be lifted on May 15, flying home for Australians in India will still be a difficult, and expensive, prospect.
May 07, 2021
Duterte Orders Arrest of Quarantine Violators After Taking Unauthorized Vaccine
By Nick Aspinwall
The Philippines president received the unapproved Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine as COVID-19 cases continue to surge.
May 07, 2021
Vaccinations Progress Slowly in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
For myriad reasons, vaccination programs in Central Asia are proceeding slowly. Hesitancy is one factor.
Magazine
M
May 01, 2021
Learning From Kyrgyzstan’s Local Elections
By Colleen Wood
Local elections provide a window into the state of Kyrgyz politics – and what might come next in the three decade-long game of political musical chairs.
May 01, 2021
5 Years of Duterte: A Calamity Reaching Its Crescendo
By Michael Beltran
The Diplomat spoke with experts, victims, documenters, and communities affected by one of the most polarizing governments in Philippine history.
May 01, 2021
South Korea’s Political Pendulum Swings Again
By Youngmi Kim
The “old boys” are back after April 7 by-elections in Seoul and Busan.
May 01, 2021
Beyond Xinjiang: Xi Jinping’s Ethnic Crackdown
By James Leibold
The shifts in ethnic policy go well beyond Xinjiang. This is fundamental rethink of how the CCP manages ethnocultural diversity and its colonial possessions.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
PMay 07, 2021
Hong Kong Domestic Workers Decry Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
By Jessie Lau
Activists say the community is being singled out unfairly, a continuation of long-standing discriminatory practices.
May 07, 2021
Ramadan in China: Faithful Dwindle Under Limits on Religion
May 05, 2021
Will Easing of Student Visa Restrictions Rekindle China-US Exchanges?
May 05, 2021
China Is Courting Middle Eastern Nations on Xinjiang
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
May 04, 2021
Can China-US Relations Improve During the Biden Administration?
By Ge Jianhao and Dingding Chen
So far, there have been no major changes in Biden’s China policy, but there’s still hope for a stabilized relationship.
May 01, 2021
Is China Done With Salami Slicing?
April 30, 2021
UK Deploys Aircraft Carrier in the Indian Ocean
April 28, 2021
The Missing Pieces of the US Cyber Strategy of ‘Persistent Engagement’
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
May 06, 2021
Philippine Marines’ New Operating Concept Highlights Their Growing National Security Role
By Rej Cortez Torrecampo
A preview of how the Philippine Marine Corps will operate in the current and future security environment.
May 05, 2021
Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?
April 30, 2021
US Navy to Put Hypersonic Missiles on Zumwalt Destroyers by 2025
April 29, 2021
The Coming Age of Strategic Annoyance
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 07, 2021
Myanmar Coup Forced Sharp Downturn in Business: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
The first two months of the crisis wrought more damage to Myanmar's economy than a year of COVID-19.
May 07, 2021
Malaysian Cabotage Policy Agitates Old Wounds in the Country’s East
May 07, 2021
Thai Government Readies Legal Shackles for Civil Society
May 07, 2021
Duterte Orders Arrest of Quarantine Violators After Taking Unauthorized Vaccine
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 08, 2021
Maldives’ Parliament Speaker Nasheed in Critical Condition After Blast
By Mohamed Sharuhaan
Police said that they were investigating the explosion as an act of terrorism targeting the former president.
May 07, 2021
US Sends More Warplanes to Protect Pullout from Afghanistan
May 03, 2021
More Than News: Newsletters on Indian Politics Grow Under Lockdown
May 07, 2021
Afghanistan’s Wildcard Warlords
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 06, 2021
Moon’s Prosecutor Pick Puts Reform Efforts Back in the Spotlight
By Jenna Gibson
Kim Oh-soo, the nominee for prosecutor general, is a strong supporter of President Moon's controversial prosecution reform plan.
May 05, 2021
South Korea’s Climate Pledges: Less Than Meets the Eye
May 04, 2021
Kim Yo Jong Slams Seoul After Anti-North Korea Leaflets Launched
May 03, 2021
North Korea Warns US on Biden Administration’s New Policy
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
May 06, 2021
Japan Backward in Coming Forward on US-North Korea
By ISOZAKI Atsuhito
At a time of stalemate, the Suga administration seems unwilling to take the initiative.
April 30, 2021
Japan as an Agenda Setter for the Quad’s Vaccine Diplomacy
April 29, 2021
Japan Has a Chance to Break the Ice With South Korea
April 27, 2021
Japan’s Ruling Party Loses 3 Key Elections in Bow to Suga
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 06, 2021
We Don’t Need to Wait on the UN to Expand Taiwan’s International Role
By Gray Sergeant
Liberal democracies can, and should, develop their own bilateral and multilateral exchanges with Taiwan, even while pushing for its inclusion in the WHO and other U.N. bodies.
May 06, 2021
The US Should Restore its Fulbright and Peace Corps Programs in China
May 04, 2021
Whether Fighting COVID-19 or the Next Pandemic, Taiwan Can Help
May 03, 2021
The Indian Foreign Service Must Speak Out Against Growing Politicization
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 08, 2021
Kyrgyzstan’s Worrying New Limits on Dissent
By Colleen Wood
Kyrgyzstan’s president continues to sharpen the country’s legal code as a tool to limit dissent.
May 07, 2021
Vaccinations Progress Slowly in Central Asia
May 06, 2021
How Mongolia Made the Most of Vaccine Diplomacy
May 06, 2021
US Afghan Envoy Visits Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 05, 2021
3 Reasons Why the US Doesn’t Have a Coherent China Strategy
By Bu Le and Dingding Chen
The United States’ China policy will continue to zig and zag in the future.
April 30, 2021
China Is No Excuse for Biden to Ignore Human Rights in India
April 30, 2021
What Would a US-Led Global Technology Alliance Look Like?
April 28, 2021
Policy Advisers Urge US Government to Ratchet up the Pressure on China
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 04, 2021
As China Ditches High Growth, the World Must Adjust
By Michael Hirson, Tsveta Petrova, and Rickard Nyman
Observers of China’s economy need to become more sophisticated in their understanding Beijing’s evolving and competing policy priorities as growth targets fall out of favor.
May 04, 2021
Vietnam Looks To Go Big on Transport Infrastructure
April 29, 2021
Facing $11B Tax Bill, Samsung Heirs Donate Massive Art Trove
April 27, 2021
Southeast Asia and the ‘Just Transition’ to Clean Energy
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 07, 2021
How the US Can Protect the Sovereignty of the Smallest Pacific Islands
By Alexander B. Gray
As the Biden administration confronts China’s growing assertiveness, the challenges confronting the smallest Pacific Islands should be front of mind.
May 07, 2021
Under Pressure, Australia Reverses Ban on Returns from India
May 03, 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern Takes Tougher Stance on China
May 03, 2021
Fiji Locks Down Large Cities as COVID-19 Cases Rise
Videos
Asia on Video
V
May 01, 2021
Is ASEAN Still Relevant?
By The Diplomat
Hoang Thi Ha, Ja Ian Chong, and Evan A. Laksmana discuss ASEAN's regional role amid the Myanmar crisis and China-U.S. tensions.
March 23, 2021
Ceasing Fire: India, Pakistan, and Elusive Peace in South Asia
March 15, 2021
Violence Follows New ‘Anti-Conversion’ Law in India’s Madhya Pradesh
March 04, 2021
Myanmar Coup and the Aftermath
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
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April 30, 2021
Solidarity in Cambodia
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with the trade unionist Wim Conklin.
April 14, 2021
Understanding North Korea’s Fuel Smuggling Networks in East Asia
April 03, 2021
China’s Maritime Militia at Whitsun Reef: Trouble in the South China Sea
March 30, 2021
Breathing Fresh Life into Cambodia’s Art Scene
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
May 05, 2021
4 Dams on the Upper Mekong in Yunnan, China: 2011-2019
By Scott Ezell
Firsthand glimpses of how dam construction changed the river over the course of eight years.