DRI | COVID-19 IN ASIA
Presented by Diplomat Risk Intelligence
December 15, 2020
South Korea Prepares for Its Worst COVID-19 Scenario Yet
By Mitch Shin
Seoul has hesitated to tighten restrictions thus far, even as health authorities predict the number of daily cases might top 1,000.
December 14, 2020
Cambodia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Boondoggle
By David Hutt
The tycoon-funded vaccine drive demonstrates the durability of the patronage state that Hun Sen has built since the 1980s. It also reveals its weaknesses.
December 11, 2020
Pakistan: Reporting in a Pandemic
By Tehreem Azeem
Amid COVID-19, Pakistani journalists are looking for training to help them counter misinformation and stay safe while reporting.
DRI | APAC Risks, Analyzed
DRI
December 17, 2020
US Government Officially Labels Vietnam a Currency Manipulator
By Sebastian Strangio
The unprecedented designation threatens to generate frictions with an important U.S. partner in Southeast Asia.
December 17, 2020
Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Coming Biden Presidency
By Ankit Panda
Will the Biden administration finally end the U.S. presence in Afghanistan?
December 15, 2020
India’s Out of RCEP: What’s Next for the Country and Free Trade?
By Prachi Priya and Aniruddha Ghosh
India’s foreign trade policy must be aligned to its self-reliance goals. But it also needs to work towards making domestic industries competitive.
Magazine
M
December 01, 2020
Afghanistan’s Biggest Fight: Climate Change
By Ezzatullah Mehrdad
While the war has taken the majority of government attention (and money), climate change may be the more difficult battle.
December 01, 2020
Southeast Asia’s Imperiled Biodiversity
By Nithin Coca
Southeast Asia is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The region is also among the leaders in habitat and wildlife loss.
December 01, 2020
The Costs of Australia’s Climate Politics
By Matt McDonald
Despite the reality of the threat posed by climate change, Australia is a significant part of the failure to adequately address it. That has growing diplomatic costs.
December 01, 2020
The New Geopolitics of Climate Change
By Scott Moore
As climate action becomes a question of geopolitical competition, the world’s major economies look ready to finally take serious steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
December 24, 2020
Sino-Cuban Relations: No ‘New Cold War’ in Havana
By Bradley J. Murg and Rasheed J. Griffith
If we were going to see a new Cold War in the Caribbean, it should have happened by now.
December 23, 2020
A Quantum Leap Forward: Chinese Influence Grows in Iraq’s Oil Market
December 23, 2020
How Will China Manage the Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery?
December 18, 2020
What Do Chinese People Think of Developed Countries?
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
December 24, 2020
5 Books to Understand 2020
By Abhijnan Rej
Geopolitical tensions on top of a pandemic has made 2020 a turning point for many countries. Here are five books to understand the year better – and what the future may hold.
December 24, 2020
Is France Capable of Being an Indo-Pacific Power?
December 23, 2020
The Lesson of 2020? Security Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Does
December 22, 2020
India-Vietnam Summit: From Normative Convergence to Substantive Cooperation
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
December 23, 2020
India’s New Maritime Theater Command: A Quantum Leap
By Shishir Upadhyaya
The new command will help India maintain a favorable maritime balance of power when it comes to China.
December 19, 2020
Civilian Participation in National Defense as a Part of Japan’s Pacifism
December 18, 2020
PLA No-Shows US-China Maritime Safety Talks
December 18, 2020
Russia Tests Anti-Satellite Missile: US
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
December 24, 2020
After Months of Calm, Thailand Grapples with Virus Outbreak
By Associated Press
The surge of cases in Samut Sakhon province threatens to undo months of efforts to contain the virus and hasten recovery of Thailand's ailing economy.
December 23, 2020
Indonesia Quietly Advances Economic, Cultural Ties with Taiwan
December 23, 2020
Two Rappers Convicted of ‘Incitement’ in Cambodia
December 23, 2020
Amid Corruption and COVID-19, Jokowi Shakes Up Indonesia’s Cabinet
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
December 25, 2020
India’s New Farm Laws: Reform, Resistance, and the Road to Reconciliation
By Kriti Upadhyaya
The new agricultural reforms are a necessity for Indian farmers; the Modi government, however, must do more to ally their fears.
December 25, 2020
Bhutan: India First, But Not India Alone?
December 22, 2020
Suspicious Death of Baloch Activist in Toronto Raises Uncomfortable Questions for Pakistan
December 22, 2020
Bangladesh’s Dangerous Islamist Appeasement – And What It Portends
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
December 24, 2020
At War Online: South Korea and China
By Troy Stangarone
On the battlefields of social media, conflicts between citizens of China and South Korea are increasingly common.
December 22, 2020
Part-time Workers in South Korea Out of Luck
December 21, 2020
North Korea Vows to Redevelop Mountain Tour Site Despite Pandemic
December 15, 2020
South Korea Prepares for Its Worst COVID-19 Scenario Yet
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
December 25, 2020
Abe Apologizes, But Isn’t Charged for Cherry Blossom Scandal
By Associated Press
Prosecutors investigated whether Abe, his aide and two executives from his political support group had subsidized the party fees in violation of campaign and election funds laws.
December 23, 2020
Japanese Companies Fall Victim To Unprecedented Wave of Cyber Attacks
December 22, 2020
Why Did Japan Suspend the ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?
December 18, 2020
Japan-South Korea: The Limits of Outreach Without Trust
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
December 24, 2020
Challenges to Democracy and Hopes for Peace and Justice in Myanmar
By Gus Miclat
For a multicultural society like Myanmar, the greatest test of democracy is whether the government treats its minorities equal to the majority.
December 23, 2020
Displaced, Stranded, Unprotected: ASEAN’s Migrant Workers
December 23, 2020
The Pandemic Drags On. But What About Infrastructure?
December 17, 2020
The New Poor: ASEAN Tackles the Challenge of Rising Inequalities
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
December 22, 2020
Looking Ahead to January 10: Elections in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
By Colleen Wood
Why bother analyzing elections in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan if we think we know the results?
December 22, 2020
There Won’t be Political Reform in Uzbekistan. Here’s Why
December 21, 2020
Uzbekistan Hedging Vaccine Bets with Russian Purchase
December 18, 2020
India-Iran-Uzbekistan Pursue Central Asian Connectivity
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
December 24, 2020
How Should Biden Engage China?
By Yan Liang
Complete rupture and a “cold war” with China is one possibility, while peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence is another and better option.
December 21, 2020
China’s Challenges to Global Democracy
December 17, 2020
US Government Officially Labels Vietnam a Currency Manipulator
December 16, 2020
How the US Can Mediate the Japan-South Korea Dispute
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
December 22, 2020
Singapore’s Digital Banking Race is On
By James Guild
Digital newcomers face serious challenges in poaching customers from Singapore’s traditional banking sector.
December 16, 2020
FinTech and the Risks of Terrorist Financing in Indonesia
December 15, 2020
The Complexity of Indonesia’s Halal Economy
December 11, 2020
How Can Asian Governments Foster Local Entertainment in the Streaming Era?
Asia Life
The Other Asia-Pacific
L
December 23, 2020
Official Costs of Tokyo Olympics Up by 22% to $15.4 billion
By Associated Press
The Olympics are to open on July 23, 2021.
December 19, 2020
Taiwanese Horror Game ‘Devotion’ Gets Pulled Again Over Chinese Objections
December 18, 2020
New Collectors Boost Chinese Public Art Fairs
December 11, 2020
Pakistan: Reporting in a Pandemic
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
December 24, 2020
Australia to Host Indo-Pacific Tech Summit in 2021
By Abhijnan Rej
The inaugural edition of the Sydney Dialogue, to be held virtually in the second half of 2021, will have India as a core focus.
December 22, 2020
Australia and India Economic Relations: The Stars Have Aligned
December 21, 2020
Can Australian Media Find the Right Balance?
December 18, 2020
Pacific Island Nations Wary of Chinese Fishing Fleets
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
December 23, 2020
The Flashpoints of Hun Sen’s Cambodia
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with Ou Virak about human rights, China's rise, and the plight of the Mekong River.
December 17, 2020
Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Coming Biden Presidency
December 01, 2020
South Asia and the Coming Biden Presidency
November 20, 2020
Southeast Asia and the Coming Biden Presidency
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
December 22, 2020
Bhasan Char: A New Home for Rohingya Refugees
By StoriesAsia
Bangladesh has relocated some of the Rohingya refugees in the country to an island in the Bay of Bengal.