Top Stories
TOP
June 29, 2022
China’s Directed Energy Weapons and Counterspace Applications
By Oskar Glaese
China's non-kinetic physical anti-satellite weapons, including DEWs, will play a critical part in future warfare.
June 29, 2022
China’s Vast Maritime Claims Are Becoming Reality
By Raymond Powell
Recent comments from Chinese officials highlight how Beijing purposefully conflates existing legal terminology with its own extralegal claims.
June 28, 2022
Same-Sex Marriage Ban Continues in Japan
By Airin Ri
A ruling by the Osaka district court reflects the same outdated rhetoric as the conservative government.
June 28, 2022
Asia Can’t Save Russia’s Energy Sector
By Nicholas Trickett
Russia’s rising energy trade with Asia – including China and India – masks underlying problems, including artificially low prices and maxed-out infrastructure.
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.
July 1, 2022
The New Energy Landscape in Asia: Profound Shifts After the War in Ukraine
June 24, 2022
As China Enters Final Preparations for National Congress, Rumors Abound. The November Gathering Is Already Shaping Policy
June 17, 2022
United States Launches New Economic Initiative in Indo-Pacific. Twelve Other Countries Join, But for Now Symbolism Reigns
June 2, 2022
A New Buzzword From China: “National Unified Market.” Impact Will Take Time but May Be Profound
Magazine
M
July 01, 2022
A Counterrevolution in the Philippines: Marcos 2.0
By Richard Javad Heydarian
What can we expect from Ferdinand Marcos Jr.?
July 01, 2022
Is There a New Kazakhstan?
By Bruce Pannier
Not yet, despite the president’s repeated assertions otherwise.
July 01, 2022
Is Anyone Listening to the Pacific Islands?
By Cleo Paskal
What do people of the Pacific Islands think about China’s plans for the region and the U.S. response?
July 01, 2022
India’s Energy-Environment Catch-22
By Monika Mondal
Extreme weather events, like India’s heatwaves, pose new challenges to green solutions.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
July 07, 2022
Ahead of G-20 Ministers’ Meeting, China Slams US, NATO
By Associated Press
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian's comments underscore the increasingly fractious relationship between Beijing and Washington.
July 06, 2022
China’s Main Food Security Challenge: Feeding Its Pigs
July 05, 2022
China Sees Record Rains, Heat as Weather Turns Volatile
July 02, 2022
Can China Achieve Its BRICS Ambitions?
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
June 30, 2022
As Cyber Threats Grow, Indonesia’s Data Protection Efforts Are Falling Short
By Estey Chen
Bureaucratic rivalry and overlapping mandates have prevented the country from pushing ahead with a planned data protection bill.
June 27, 2022
Australian Defense Minister’s India Trip: A Sign of Growing Defense Ties
June 23, 2022
Could Argentina Join the BRICS?
June 21, 2022
Learning to Live With a Nuclear North Korea
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
July 05, 2022
Mongolia’s Military Diplomacy Highlights Female Peacekeepers
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolia hosted a conference dedicated to the role of women in peacekeeping operations.
July 02, 2022
Japan Awards Contract to Shipbuilder JMU for 12 New Offshore Patrol Vessels
July 01, 2022
US-led RIMPAC, World’s Largest Maritime Exercise, Starts Without China or Taiwan
June 29, 2022
China’s Directed Energy Weapons and Counterspace Applications
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
July 06, 2022
Decapitation Video Points to Increasing Military Atrocities in Myanmar
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The grisly video may have been purposefully leaked in order to terrorize civilians and deter them from supporting anti-regime resistance forces.
July 06, 2022
Inflation in Laos Reaches 22-Year High as Economic Crisis Worsens
July 06, 2022
‘Forward Singapore’ Offers a Timely Opportunity for Difficult Conversations
July 06, 2022
Campaigners Urge Clemency Ahead of Singapore Drug Executions
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
July 07, 2022
Can the Taliban Actually Prevent Attacks Launched From Afghan Soil?
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban promised, again, that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten the security of neighboring countries a day after five rockets landed in an Uzbek border town.
July 06, 2022
Economic Crisis Forces Sri Lanka to Shed Fears and Move Closer to US, Middle East
July 06, 2022
China Takes Full Advantage of Taliban’s Isolation
July 06, 2022
Twitter Files Lawsuit Against Indian Government in Court
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
July 06, 2022
Amid Worsening Medicine Shortages, North Korea Cracks Down on Private Drug Sellers
By Seulkee Jang
With medicine prices rising over ten-fold since the closure of the border, North Korea recently declared price ceilings for drugs in each region.
July 06, 2022
South Korean Spy Agency Files Charges Against Ex-Chiefs Over North Korea Border Incidents
July 05, 2022
Following NATO Summit, North Korea Denounces US-South Korea-Japan Joint Military Cooperation
July 01, 2022
South Korea’s Space Program Is a Big Deal
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
July 07, 2022
Japan’s NATO Outreach Bears Fruit
By Mina Pollmann
Prime Minister Kishida's emphasis on unity with NATO over Russia paid off with recognition of China as a challenge to NATO's interests and security.
July 05, 2022
Can Japan’s Revamped Childcare Policy Get Workaholic Fathers to Take Leave?
July 01, 2022
Ardern-Kishida Meeting: Stepping up the New Zealand-Japan Strategic Partnership
July 01, 2022
How the War in Ukraine Could Change Japan’s Refugee Policies
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
DJune 29, 2022
China’s Vast Maritime Claims Are Becoming Reality
By Raymond Powell
Recent comments from Chinese officials highlight how Beijing purposefully conflates existing legal terminology with its own extralegal claims.
June 28, 2022
Amid Afghanistan’s Emergency, Its Neighbors Need Support
June 27, 2022
Indonesia Criminal Code Update Risks Backsliding on Freedoms
June 24, 2022
A Revived G7 Needs to Talk About China
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
July 06, 2022
Pipeline Critical to Kazakh Oil Exports Ordered to Halt Operations by Russian Court
By Catherine Putz
The timing of the decision has naturally raised some eyebrows, but of greater consequence is the lack of diversification of export routes for Kazakh oil.
July 06, 2022
Russian Foreign Minister Visits Mongolia in Drive for Support
July 06, 2022
Unrest in Central Asia: The Trouble in Karakalpakstan
July 05, 2022
Karakalpak Protests Reflect the Shattered Promise of Mirziyoyev’s ‘New Uzbekistan’
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
July 01, 2022
Biden’s Uphill Battle to Restructure the Global Semiconductor Sector
By Tian He and Anton Malkin
Is it possible – or advisable – to remake global value chains in order to boost U.S. national security?
June 21, 2022
How the US Can Help Strengthen Disaster Management in Southeast Asia
June 15, 2022
Will IPEF Help the US Counter China?
June 13, 2022
Vietnam Eyes Pragmatic Gains from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
July 06, 2022
What Do High Oil Prices Mean for Clean Energy in Southeast Asia?
By James Guild
Net energy importers may be forced into a quicker transition, but the same is not true of nations with a large amount of oil and gas at their disposal.
July 01, 2022
China’s Up-and-Coming Sports Gear Makers: When Politics Meets Business
June 30, 2022
India’s Urban Unemployment Crisis
June 28, 2022
Garuda Indonesia Strikes Debt Restructuring Deal
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
July 05, 2022
Is Jacinda Ardern Rethinking Her China Strategy?
By Geoffrey Miller
Is New Zealand suddenly softening its more pro-Western foreign policy – and its tougher line on China?
July 01, 2022
A Return to Values-based Foreign Policy in New Zealand
June 30, 2022
Indian Australians Fastest Growing Group in Australia
June 30, 2022
Ambassador Xiao Qian’s Speech: A New Way Forward for Australia-China Relations?
Videos
Asia on Video
V
June 30, 2022
What Do the Pacific Island Countries Think About China?
Henry Ivarature, Lice Movono, and Patricia O’Brien discuss the hopes and concerns Pacific Island governments – and people – have about China.
May 12, 2022
Russia-Ukraine War: The Economic Impact for the Asia-Pacific
April 21, 2022
What’s Driving Pakistan’s Political Crisis?
March 16, 2022
What Does Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Mean for Central Asia?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
June 29, 2022
NATO’s Madrid Summit and the Interlinkages Between European and Asian Security
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
Why are the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan heading to a NATO summit?
June 15, 2022
Takeaways From the 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue
June 01, 2022
What Is the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework About?
May 30, 2022
‘Delikado’: Saving Palawan from the Chainsaws
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
June 28, 2022
Rohingya Refugee Children Face Uncertainty in India
By Mehran Bhat
In refugee camps in Jammu, children avoid going out to study or play as they fear being attacked by right-wing groups or detained by police.