DRI | COVID-19 IN ASIA
Presented by Diplomat Risk Intelligence
February 12, 2021
Philippines Vaccine Program Hindered by Delays, Public Distrust
By Nick Aspinwall
The government’s mass vaccination start date is in flux, and Filipinos still harbor fears after a 2016 dengue vaccine scandal eroded public confidence in vaccinations.
February 05, 2021
Taiwan Will Restrict Lunar New Year Activities Due to COVID-19 Threat
By Nick Aspinwall
The country could also receive its first vaccine doses in February, although it must work around its exclusion from the World Health Organization.
February 04, 2021
China Gifts Pakistan 1.2 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
By Eleanor Albert
Pakistan was the first country to receive donations of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, reflecting the countries' warm bilateral relationship.
DRI | APAC Risks, Analyzed
DRI
February 05, 2021
Myanmar After the 2021 Coup: Internal Security and Geopolitical Consequences
By Ankit Panda
How will the February 1, 2021, coup in Myanmar affect the country’s internal security and foreign relations?
January 26, 2021
The Indian Army’s Pivot to the North
By Ankit Panda
What’s behind the Indian Army’s reorientation of its Mathura-based 1 Corps toward China?
January 21, 2021
The Global Reach of China’s Venture Capital
By Sophie Zinser
Chinese VC investment has been excluded from India but is growing in South and Southeast Asia. How is that remaking foreign startup ecosystems?
Magazine
M
February 01, 2021
The Illusions of Post-Nazarbayev Kazakhstan
By Paolo Sorbello
Despite his resignation from the presidency in March 2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev’s shadow lies heavily across the “new” leadership. The January parliamentary elections confirmed the paradox.
February 01, 2021
Taiwan’s COVID-19 Triumph
By Lev Nachman
How did Taiwan manage to make the best of 2020’s worst situation?
February 01, 2021
The EU’s South China Sea Challenge
By Sophie Boisseau du Rocher
In the South China Sea, the EU’s raison d’être – the rule of law and peaceful coexistence – is under threat. What can Brussels do about it?
February 01, 2021
The US-Taliban Deal: A Year Later
By Franz J. Marty
The U.S.-Taliban “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” has so far yielded few concrete results and bloody fighting and attacks are continuing across the country.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
February 13, 2021
Could Biden Make US-China Trade Better for Workers?
By Michael Haack
If decoupling is not in the cards, the United States must find a way to ensure trade improves the lives of workers - on both sides of the Pacific.
February 13, 2021
China Bans BBC World News Over Xinjiang Reporting
February 13, 2021
Clubhouse Gave Taiwan and China a Rare Opportunity for Cross-Strait Dialogue
February 12, 2021
First Biden-Xi Phone Call Shows Not Much Has Changed in US-China Relations
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
February 13, 2021
Could the Destruction of Manila in 1945 Have Been Avoided?
By Robert Farley
The question vexed planners at the time, and has been debated extensively in the years since.
February 13, 2021
Will the Biden Administration Push Russia and China Closer Together?
February 12, 2021
Remembering the Battle of Manila, 76 Years Later
February 12, 2021
Indian Defense Minister Outlines Ladakh Disengagement Plan
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
February 13, 2021
ICBM Commander Makes Case for US Nuke Modernization
By Abhijnan Rej
The Biden administration is highly unlikely to continue with Trump’s maximalist nuclear modernization plans.
February 11, 2021
Russian Submarines: Still a Relevant Threat?
February 11, 2021
How Do You Measure a Revolution in Military Affairs?
February 10, 2021
Indonesia’s Military Gets New Reserve Component
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
February 12, 2021
Report Shows Rising Southeast Asian Trust in US, Falling Trust in China
By Sebastian Strangio
Fear of China, and optimism about the Biden administration, underpin the shift in regional opinion toward the two superpowers.
February 12, 2021
Myanmar Coup Leader: ‘Join Hands’ With Army for Democracy
February 12, 2021
Philippines Vaccine Program Hindered by Delays, Public Distrust
February 12, 2021
Myanmar Junta Readies Draconian Cyber-Security Legislation
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
February 12, 2021
Dam Agreement Highlights India’s Soft Power Gambit in Afghanistan
By Priyanjali Simon
Compared to Islamabad, New Delhi has preferred a softer approach towards protecting its interests in Afghanistan.
February 11, 2021
India and the Quad: 3 Wildcards
February 10, 2021
Did Iran Carry Out a ‘Surgical Strike’ Inside Pakistan?
February 09, 2021
Disaster Underscores Dam Danger in India’s Uttarakhand
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
February 11, 2021
South Korea’s Largest Internet Portal Shuts Down Controversial Trending Searches Chart
By Jenna Gibson
Naver will shutter the feature, which has been subject to economic and political manipulation in the past.
February 11, 2021
Strengthening Party Leadership in North Korea
February 09, 2021
South Korea Restarts Cost-Sharing Negotiations With Washington
February 04, 2021
The Impact of COVID-19 on South Korean Trade in 2020
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
February 12, 2021
Tokyo Olympics: Mori to Leave but Gender Issue Remains
By Associated Press
Despite the Olympic chief's resignation, Japan continues to be a country run "by a club of old men."
February 12, 2021
Japan Expects Biden to Rejoin the TPP
February 10, 2021
Japan’s Dilemma Over Nuclear Disarmament
February 09, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Hits a New Roadblock: Sexism
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
February 14, 2021
South Korea’s Dubious Comfort Women Ruling
By Jinyul Ju
Why the court got it wrong on international law
February 12, 2021
South Korea: United Nations Command, the Bête Noire of Alliance Management
February 12, 2021
Parsing Australia’s Insecurity Complex
February 12, 2021
The Fight at the Front: Securing Rights for India’s Rural Health ‘Volunteers’
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
February 12, 2021
A Closer Look at Uzbekistan’s Privatization Push
By Corissa Steiner
Tashkent has promoted privatization schemes before. Is this time different?
February 13, 2021
Son of Turkmenistan’s President Gets New Post
February 11, 2021
Matraimov Admits Guilt in Corruption Scheme, Gets Off With Tiny Fine
February 11, 2021
Small Protests Persist Outside Chinese Consulate in Kazakhstan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
February 13, 2021
US Defense Department to Create Big Picture China Task Force
By Abhijnan Rej
The move comes amid a visible push by the Biden administration to meet the China challenge.
February 12, 2021
Assessing India’s CAATSA Sanctions Waiver Eligibility
February 11, 2021
The US Needs a New Indian Ocean Strategy, Now
February 11, 2021
What to Expect From US-Taiwan Relations in 2021 (and Beyond)
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
February 09, 2021
Indonesia Has Plans to Expand Its Money Market. Is That a Good Idea?
By James Guild
Money markets could bring great benefits to the country's economy, alongside an injection of systemic risk.
February 09, 2021
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Debt Crisis Could Get Critical in 2021
February 03, 2021
The Philippines’ COVID-19 Economic Rescue Plan: Bayanihan 1 and 2
January 30, 2021
Rising Shipping Costs in China Add Weight to Decoupling Calls
Asia Life
The Other Asia-Pacific
L
February 13, 2021
Myanmar’s Protest Movement Finds Friends in the Milk Tea Alliance
By Jessie Lau
Transnational solidarity – including shared protest tactics and strategies – between Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan now stretches to include Myanmar’s anti-coup movement.
February 10, 2021
Korean American K-pop Stars Promote Mental Health Awareness
February 10, 2021
Nepal, the Beacon of LGBTQ+ Rights in Asia? Not Quite.
February 05, 2021
Taiwan Will Restrict Lunar New Year Activities Due to COVID-19 Threat
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
February 12, 2021
Trouble at the University of the South Pacific
By Joshua Mcdonald
Last week, Fiji deported the university's vice chancellor, leading some to suggest relocating its headquarters to Samoa.
February 09, 2021
Why China’s ‘Island City’ in Papua New Guinea is a Mirage
February 09, 2021
Chinese-Australian Reporter Accused of Sharing State Secrets by Beijing
February 08, 2021
New Zealand Steps into Australia-China Dispute
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
PFebruary 05, 2021
Myanmar After the 2021 Coup: Internal Security and Geopolitical Consequences
By Ankit Panda
How will the February 1, 2021, coup in Myanmar affect the country’s internal security and foreign relations?
February 01, 2021
China’s Latest White Paper and Southeast Asia
January 26, 2021
The Indian Army’s Pivot to the North
January 14, 2021
Elections in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: What Next?
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
February 10, 2021
Protests Against Military Coup Sweep Myanmar’s Yangon
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Portraits of a pensive nation.