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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 13, 2021
Japan Set to Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccine Program For Elderly
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan will step up efforts to complete the vaccination of its elderly population by the end of July.
May 12, 2021
What US Support For a Vaccine Waiver Means For India
By Urvi Tembey and Ameya Pratap Singh
In an integrated world there can be no national solutions to a global pandemic.
May 12, 2021
India’s Economy Begins to Feel Pandemic Second Wave Pinch
By Prachi Priya
Just as the Indian economy was beginning to show signs of recovery following last year’s disastrous downturn, a second COVID-19 wave could undo the gains.
May 12, 2021
Education in Pakistan Amid COVID-19: A Test Case for Policymakers
By Sidra Tariq Jamil and Umair Jamal
Schools systems have faced an unprecedented crises in the past year.
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
P
May 13, 2021
Drop in Xinjiang Birthrate Largest in Recent History: Report
By Dake Kang
Experts note that the tightening birth control measures must be understood in the broader context of fear that's pervasive among Xinjiang's minorities.
May 08, 2021
How Chinese Fans Enforce Chinese Nationalism on the World
May 08, 2021
Taiwan Catches Two Chinese Nationals Arriving by Dinghy
May 07, 2021
Hong Kong Domestic Workers Decry Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
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 12, 2021
Japan, US, France hold 1st Joint Drills on Japanese Land
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan is seeking to expand its military ties beyond its alliance with the United States to include "like-minded" countries such as France.
May 10, 2021
Upgrading South Korean THAAD
May 06, 2021
Philippine Marines’ New Operating Concept Highlights Their Growing National Security Role
May 05, 2021
Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 12, 2021
Japanese PM Suga Talks Maritime Security With Vietnam’s President
By Sebastian Strangio
The conversation once again hints at the overlapping strategic and economic interests between the two nations.
May 12, 2021
As Ramadan Ends, Malaysia Begins Its Third COVID-19 Lockdown
May 11, 2021
Thailand Arrests Three Journalists Fleeing Junta Crackdown in Myanmar
May 11, 2021
Amid Crackdown, Indonesia Arrests Papuan Independence Leader
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
PMay 12, 2021
What US Support For a Vaccine Waiver Means For India
By Urvi Tembey and Ameya Pratap Singh
In an integrated world there can be no national solutions to a global pandemic.
May 12, 2021
Education in Pakistan Amid COVID-19: A Test Case for Policymakers
May 12, 2021
The Asymmetrical EU-Afghanistan Cooperation on Migration
May 11, 2021
EU-India Summit 2021: Pushing Ahead With the 4 Cs
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 11, 2021
North Korea Leaves Room to Renew Dialogue with the US
By Mitch Shin
According to local news reports, after being ignored for months Washington finally got through to Pyongyang to explain U.S. policy.
May 06, 2021
Moon’s Prosecutor Pick Puts Reform Efforts Back in the Spotlight
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
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RMay 13, 2021
Japan Set to Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccine Program For Elderly
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan will step up efforts to complete the vaccination of its elderly population by the end of July.
May 09, 2021
Japan Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency Amid Alarming Spike in COVID-19 Variants
May 06, 2021
Japan Backward in Coming Forward on US-North Korea
April 30, 2021
Japan as an Agenda Setter for the Quad’s Vaccine Diplomacy
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 12, 2021
Artificial Intelligence in a Natural Partnership: India and the UK
By Ruchi Ghanshyam and Uday Nagaraju
Both countries have much to gain concretely from AI collaboration.
May 11, 2021
Why Humanitarian Assistance Matters: The Case of Climate Disaster and COVID-19 in Timor-Leste
May 11, 2021
How Canada’s Assistance Has Benefited Afghanistan
May 10, 2021
Myanmar’s Crisis: What Comes Next?
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 12, 2021
Young People, Social Media, and Urban Transformation of Dushanbe
By Sher Khashimov and Tahmina Inoyatova
In the Tajik capital, young people turn to social media to document and discuss the changing face of the city.
May 11, 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Finally Responds to Kazakh Sovereignty Worries
May 11, 2021
Uzbek Blogger Otabek Sattoriy Sentenced to 6.5 Years
May 08, 2021
Kyrgyzstan’s Worrying New Limits on Dissent
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 11, 2021
Biden’s First 100 Days and India-U.S. Relations
By Monish Tourangbam and Priyanjali Simon
Policy mandarins in New Delhi need to pay attention to the shifting domestic and foreign imperatives that are shaping Washington's foreign policy.
May 11, 2021
Transatlantic Cooperation on the China Challenge
May 05, 2021
3 Reasons Why the US Doesn’t Have a Coherent China Strategy
April 30, 2021
China Is No Excuse for Biden to Ignore Human Rights in India
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
MMay 12, 2021
India’s Economy Begins to Feel Pandemic Second Wave Pinch
By Prachi Priya
Just as the Indian economy was beginning to show signs of recovery following last year’s disastrous downturn, a second COVID-19 wave could undo the gains.
May 11, 2021
How Jokowi Solved Indonesia’s Toll Road Dilemma. Sort Of.
May 10, 2021
COVID-19 Drives Uptake of Digital Payment Systems
May 08, 2021
Chinese Subsidies: A Threat to US Competitiveness?
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
P
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.