Top Stories
TOP
April 15, 2021
Chinese Militia Vessels Departing Contested South China Sea Reef
By Steven Stashwick
Over 200 Chinese ships occupied Whitsun Reef for several weeks. Only a handful remain.
April 12, 2021
Thailand Buffeted by Third Wave of COVID-19 Infections
By Sebastian Strangio
The new outbreak threatens to undermine Thailand's economic recovery before it has even begun.
April 09, 2021
Why Did Young South Koreans Ditch the Democratic Party and President Moon?
By Seoho Lee
In the crucial by-elections, young voters turned away from the ruling party they once supported. What happened?
April 08, 2021
US Destroyer Carries Out FONOP in Indian EEZ
By Abhijnan Rej
The move to publicly challenge India’s “excessive maritime claims” is sure to irk New Delhi privately.
DRI | Monthly Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 3
An Asian Space Odyssey
Civil, Military, and Commercial Space Ambitions
COVID-19 in Asia
April 16, 2021
Cambodian Leader Warns COVID-19 Has His Nation on ‘the Brink of Death’
By Sebastian Strangio
After months of low cast numbers, Cambodia's worsening outbreak suggests that COVID-19 is far from being defeated in the region.
April 16, 2021
A Crisis in Timor-Leste Reveals the Hollowness of ‘Build Back Better’ Rhetoric
By Chloe King
Despite invocations to envision a better, more equal world in the wake of COVID-19, global inequalities remain deeply entrenched.
April 16, 2021
India’s Biggest Cities Shut Down as New COVID-19 Cases Hit 200K
By Ashok Sharma
The soaring cases and deaths come just months after India thought it had seen the worst of the pandemic.
April 14, 2021
COVID-19 Resurgence Threatens India’s Economic Recovery
By Prachi Priya and Aniruddha Ghosh
Just when there was growing optimism over India’s economic rebound, the second COVID-19 wave has come as a rude shock to businesses and consumers alike.
Magazine
M
April 01, 2021
Asia’s Youth in Revolt
By Nicholas Farrelly
In Thailand, Myanmar, and Hong Kong, Asia’s brave youth go toe-to-toe with history.
April 01, 2021
Australia-China Relations: The Great Debate
By Jane Golley
All sides can agree that the relationship is at a historic low. But the causes – and possible solutions – are far more contentious.
April 01, 2021
What Explains Nepal’s Perennial Instability?
By Peter Gill
Decisive election results in 2017 raised hopes that Nepal would finally see a government finish its term. That looks like a distant dream today.
April 01, 2021
The Making of Brand Modi
By Asim Ali
Narendra Modi has created one of the most powerful political brands in India’s history. But that centralization of power creates its own weaknesses.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
April 17, 2021
Mass Prosecutions Send Chills Across Hong Kong’s Political Spectrum
By Simon Shen
A quick look at the diverse factions involved in the 2020 primary elections belies Beijing's claim that there was a unified conspiracy toward subversion.
April 15, 2021
Should the West Fear China’s Increasing Role in Technical Standard Setting?
April 15, 2021
Kerry Heads to China for Climate Talks
April 13, 2021
Hong Kong’s Activists in Exile
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
April 16, 2021
Fresh Calls for Space Security Governance Measures Unlikely to Yield Results
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Progress will probably require developing small, technical agreements given that big, all-encompassing agreements have proven too difficult under current international circumstances.
April 15, 2021
Chinese Militia Vessels Departing Contested South China Sea Reef
April 15, 2021
Biden Announces Plan for US Exit from Afghan War, Urges Attention to Future Challenges
April 13, 2021
Official: Iran to Enrich Uranium to 60%, Highest Level Ever
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
April 16, 2021
The Strategic Impact of Indonesian KF-21s
By Liang Tuang Nah
Using the phrase “arms race” is attention grabbing, but a more discerning assessment is necessary when it comes to weapons acquisitions.
April 16, 2021
Indonesia-South Korea Defense Ties in the Headlines with Fighter Jet Rollout
April 15, 2021
Can Smaller Countries Produce Competitive Fighters?
April 15, 2021
What’s in the New Russian Military Facility Chatter in Laos?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
April 16, 2021
Special ASEAN Summit on Myanmar Set for April 24
By Sebastian Strangio
After weeks of planning, the long-promised emergency meeting on the crisis in Myanmar finally has a date.
April 16, 2021
Cambodia Risks Being Left Behind by Workplace Automation
April 16, 2021
Cambodian Leader Warns COVID-19 Has His Nation on ‘the Brink of Death’
April 15, 2021
In Place of New Year Festivities, Myanmar Protesters Mark the Fallen
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
April 16, 2021
Blinken in Afghanistan to Sell Biden Troop Withdrawal
By Matthew Lee
"The partnership is changing, but the partnership itself is enduring,” Blinken said during his unannounced visit to Afghanistan.
April 16, 2021
India’s Biggest Cities Shut Down as New COVID-19 Cases Hit 200K
April 15, 2021
Pakistan’s Police Brave Islamist Violence — Alone
April 15, 2021
What’s Behind the Surge in Violent Islamism in Bangladesh?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
April 16, 2021
7 Years After Sewol Ferry Disaster, Bereaved Families Still Urge Government to Reveal the Truth
By Mitch Shin
Four years into a new presidential administration that promised transparency, families say key questions still remain shrouded in mystery.
April 16, 2021
Is North Korea Returning to Diplomacy?
April 15, 2021
How South Korean Soldiers and YouTube Catapulted a K-Pop Girl Group to Fame
April 12, 2021
Global Trade Is Recovering From the Pandemic. North Korea’s Economy Isn’t.
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
April 16, 2021
Japan Faces Growing Pressure to Rethink Releasing Fukushima’s Wastewater into Ocean
By Thisanka Siripala
China and South Korea have reacted strongly to the Japanese government’s decision to release contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear reactor.
April 13, 2021
The Biden-Suga Summit: What to Expect
April 09, 2021
The Japan-US Alliance During the Biden Administration
April 08, 2021
Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Operators Penalized for Sloppy Safeguards at Niigata
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
April 16, 2021
Long After the World Moved on, Bangladesh Is Still Sheltering Rohingya Refugees
By Sayeed Ahmed
The world owes Bangladesh a standing ovation for taking in an astonishing 1.3 million Rohingyas.
April 16, 2021
A Crisis in Timor-Leste Reveals the Hollowness of ‘Build Back Better’ Rhetoric
April 15, 2021
Jumpstarting China’s Industrial Decarbonization Revolution
April 15, 2021
Vietnam’s Great Debate Over Democracy
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
April 16, 2021
Europe’s Troubling Turkmenistan Engagement
By Jade McGlynn and Luke Rawlings
If they are concerned that “democracy is in retreat,” the U.K. and other leading European democracies might want to consider their own retrograde roles in the process.
April 15, 2021
Money Laundering! What Money Laundering? Case Against Matraimov Closed
April 13, 2021
Europe Adds Uzbekistan to GSP+ Trade Scheme
April 12, 2021
Low Turnout for a Strong President: Kyrgyzstan Approves New Constitution
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
April 10, 2021
US Envoy Kerry Discusses Climate Challenges in Bangladesh
By Julhas Alam
The U.S. special envoy on climate stopped in Bangladesh as part of a tour of climate change-vulnerable nations.
April 06, 2021
The China Plan: Transatlantic Blueprint for Strategic Competition
April 06, 2021
The Challenges of US China Policy
April 06, 2021
The Japan-US Summit and Cooperation With South Korea
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
April 14, 2021
Singapore Eyes SG$90 Billion in Infrastructure Bonds
By James Guild
For the first time in 40 years, the state is seeking to borrow money to fund long-term infrastructure improvements.
April 14, 2021
China’s Exports Rise as Global Demand Revives
April 12, 2021
Sacred Sustainability: Singapore, Greening, and Biophilic Design
April 06, 2021
How Independent Should Bank Indonesia (or any Central Bank) Be?
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
April 16, 2021
The Nordic Paradox in Australia: Women’s Advancement and Male Resentment
By Grant Wyeth
Male resentment and status anxiety are globally destabilizing forces.
April 06, 2021
New Zealand to Open Travel Bubble With Australia on April 19
April 06, 2021
Why Australia Needs to Prioritize Women
April 05, 2021
Heavy Rains Over Easter Weekend Flood Timor-Leste’s Capital
Videos
Asia on Video
V
March 23, 2021
Ceasing Fire: India, Pakistan, and Elusive Peace in South Asia
By The Diplomat
Madiha Afzal, Michael Kugelman, and Asfandyar Mir discuss the surprise ceasefire and the long-term implications for South Asian peace.
March 15, 2021
Violence Follows New ‘Anti-Conversion’ Law in India’s Madhya Pradesh
March 04, 2021
Myanmar Coup and the Aftermath
February 09, 2021
African Perspectives on China
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
April 14, 2021
Understanding North Korea’s Fuel Smuggling Networks in East Asia
By Ankit Panda
How does North Korea keep fueling its military and other needs?
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
March 17, 2021
Southeast Asia’s Emerging Markets, Post-Pandemic
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
March 08, 2021
In Photos: China and India’s Pangong Lake Disengagement
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
After false starts China-India military disengagement in the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Lake is finally over. This is how the process looked.