Diplomat Risk Intelligence
Insights Today – for Tomorrow
Diplomat Risk Intelligence offers you dedicated access to an exclusive network of subject matter experts on geopolitical, security, economic, and political trends covering the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Research Notes
Published by Diplomat Risk Intelligence, Research
Notes
offer actionable insight to strategic decision-makers seeking to understand political risk and economic
trends in Asia.
May 31, 2023
China’s Double-Edged Fintech Ecosystem: Promoting Both Development and Surveillance
May 26, 2023
Thailand Edges Closer to New Government in Break With Recent Past
May 15, 2023
Japan’s G7 Presidency: Turning to the Indo-Pacific and Engaging the Global South
May 10, 2023
Japan Launches Landmark Immigration Schemes to Compete for Global Talent
Magazine
M
June 01, 2023
Kalay: A Case Study of Resistance in Myanmar
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The city in northwestern Myanmar was one of the first to see anti-coup protests – and also among the first to see pitched battles between resistance fighters and the military.

June 01, 2023
What Will It Take to Finally Build a ‘New Uzbekistan’?
By Madina Amin
Since 2016, Mirziyoyev’s reforms have often served two purposes: a populist aim paired with an overriding interest in regime security.

June 01, 2023
What Drives the Taiwanese Fighting in Ukraine?
By James Baron
Many Taiwanese feel a sense of kinship with Ukraine as it battles an invading neighbor. But only a few have made the heavy choice to travel to Ukraine and take up arms.

June 01, 2023
Pakistan in Crisis: Imran Khan vs. the Army Chief
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Even if the establishment manages to put Khan behind bars, his political ghost will not be that easy to get rid of.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
June 07, 2023
The Myth of Rifts in China-Pakistan Relations
By Muhammad Shoaib and Syed Basim Raza
A new discourse has emerged that China-Pakistan relations are in trouble, but that idea is not backed up by facts.
June 06, 2023
What Will China’s New Security Initiatives Look Like?
June 06, 2023
Elon Musk’s Chinese Odyssey
June 05, 2023
Award-winning Hong Kong Journalist Wins Appeal in Rare Court Ruling Upholding Media Freedom
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
June 07, 2023
Former ByteDance Executive Says Chinese Communist Party Tracked Hong Kong Protesters via Data
By Zen Soo
Yintao Yu, formerly head of engineering for ByteDance in the U.S., said in a court filing that the company had a “superuser” credential for a committee of CCP members.
June 06, 2023
US, Japanese, Philippine Coast Guard Ships Stage Law Enforcement Drills Near South China Sea
June 02, 2023
The High Seas Treaty: A Tall Order for Implementation?
June 02, 2023
Top US, Chinese Defense Officials Vie for Influence in Asia-Pacific
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
June 07, 2023
Japan Awards Kawasaki Heavy Industries $243 Million Contract for Homegrown Version of Tomahawk Missile
By Takahashi Kosuke
Both KHI and MHI received major contracts to develop standoff missiles, part of Japan’s push for counterstrike capabilities.
June 06, 2023
Indonesia Kicks Off Naval Exercises With Involvement of China, US
June 06, 2023
AUKUS, Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific: Beyond Cyclical Perception Management?
June 05, 2023
India, US Discuss Upgrading Defense Ties to Counter China
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
June 07, 2023
Thailand Cuts Power Supply to Criminal Hub After Request From Military Junta
By Sebastian Strangio
The military's move to cut off power to Shwe Kokko, a center of scam operations and online gambling, follows pressure from high-ranking Chinese officials.
June 07, 2023
Malaysia Wins Court Battle Over $15 Billion Sulu Heirs Award
June 06, 2023
India Apprehended American, Canadian Nationals Crossing Border Into Myanmar
June 06, 2023
Thailand Kicks off Pride Month With Massive Parade in Bangkok
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
June 07, 2023
A Breakthrough in Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations?
By Ureeda Khan
A new joint committee on border movement aims to address the problem of cross-border attacks.
June 07, 2023
Workers Worry as Sri Lanka Begins Reforming Labor Laws Again
June 06, 2023
Pakistan Turns to Barter Trade With Russia, Iran and Afghanistan
June 06, 2023
Official: Almost 80 Schoolgirls Poisoned, Hospitalized in Northern Afghanistan
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
June 05, 2023
The Apparent Rise of Kim Jong Un’s Daughter
By ISOZAKI Atsuhito
And the fading prominence of his sister Kim Yo Jong.
June 03, 2023
China’s Ban of Micron Puts South Korea in the Worst of Both Worlds
May 31, 2023
The Hidden History of Korean Labor Migrants in Germany
May 25, 2023
South Korea Launches First Commercial-Grade Satellite as North Korea Plans First Spy Satellite
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
June 06, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 1: The Historical Context
By Pascal Lottaz
Since the end of World War II, Japan has been struggling to strike the right balance between pacifism and productive security engagement with the world.
May 30, 2023
Planned Fukushima Water Release Adds a New Wrinkle to Japan-South Korea Ties
May 24, 2023
The Hiroshima G7 Summit and Japan’s Evolving Security Identity
May 19, 2023
World Leaders Land in Hiroshima for G7 Meeting, With Ukraine War High on Agenda
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
June 07, 2023
There’s No ‘Political Solution’ to Myanmar’s Crisis
By Jordan Eriksson
International efforts to end the country's conflict should be focused on helping the pro-democracy resistance win.
June 06, 2023
Defense Posturing Has Crippled Legitimate Dialogue in Singapore
June 01, 2023
Developing Transitional Solutions for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
May 30, 2023
Can the US Forge a New ‘Washington Consensus’?
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
June 07, 2023
EU-Central Asia Leaders’ Meeting Latest to Highlight Region’s Geopolitical Centrality
By Catherine Putz
Last year, the EU’s meeting with Central Asian leaders followed their summit with Putin; this year it trailed their meeting with Xi.
June 06, 2023
Hobbled Economic Prospects in Central Asia
June 06, 2023
Brooklyn Lawyers Abuse Asylum System in Advising Clients to Fraudulently Claim LGBTQ Persecution
June 05, 2023
Uzbekistan Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Karakalpakstan Appeals
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
June 07, 2023
Ron DeSantis Brings US China Policy Into the Culture Wars
By Jiachen Shi
His strategy of framing China-U.S. competition within an ideological and cultural narrative allows DeSantis to differentiate himself from former President Donald Trump.
June 06, 2023
Senior US, Chinese Diplomats Hold ‘Candid’ Talks to Avoid Escalation of Tensions
June 05, 2023
The Case for a US Digital Trade Deal in IPEF – and Why It’s an Uphill Battle
May 24, 2023
The Big Hole in the Biden Administration’s Economic Diplomacy
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
June 03, 2023
Chinese Investment in Europe Is Changing
By Gabriele Manca
Chinese companies are investing less in Europe, but they are raising the bar for the investments that are being made.
June 02, 2023
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Reaches Supply Chain Agreement
May 31, 2023
Why Weakness in US Banking Is Unlikely to Spread to Indonesia
May 25, 2023
How Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo Rejuvenated Dependency Theory
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
June 07, 2023
Fiji Reconsiders Security Ties With China Amid Pacific Tensions
By Nick Perry
Fiji’s government is finalizing a defense agreement with New Zealand, even while it considers scrapping a 2011 police cooperation agreement with China.
June 02, 2023
New Caledonia’s FLNKS Still Seeking Independence
June 01, 2023
Australia’s Undeclared National Crisis: A Dire Lack of Affordable Housing
May 31, 2023
Albanese at the Modi Show: Blurring the Line Between Australian Diplomacy and Indian Domestic Politics
Videos
Asia on Video
VPodcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
May 23, 2023
Takeaways From the 2023 Hiroshima G7 Summit
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
What happened at the 2023 G-7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan?
May 20, 2023
A New China-Central Asia ‘Blueprint’?
April 29, 2023
The Washington Declaration and the US-South Korea Alliance
April 14, 2023
Turbulence in the Taiwan Strait: The New Normal
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
April 18, 2023
The Ghost Town of Thantlang in Myanmar’s Chin State
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Since control over this strategic town will give the military an advantage, it is being relentlessly bombed – displacing the entire population.