DRI | COVID-19 IN ASIA
Presented by Diplomat Risk Intelligence
September 18, 2020
In Southeast Asia, COVID-19 Slowly Tightens Its Grip
By Sebastian Strangio
After weathering the early stages of the pandemic, several Southeast Asian nations are in the midst of worrying spikes of COVID-19.
September 18, 2020
China Border City Goes Into ‘Wartime Mode’ to Combat COVID-19
By Sebastian Strangio
The arrival of coronavirus cases from Myanmar highlights the difficulty of securing the long, winding border between the two countries.
September 15, 2020
Pakistan’s Fight Against COVID-19 Has Made Imran Khan Stronger
By Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
By bringing the military in as a stakeholder as well as advocating a smart lockdown, Khan’s COVID-19 response has consolidated his hold on power.
DRI | APAC Risks, Analyzed
DRI
September 25, 2020
Southeast Asia Caught Between the US and China
By Ankit Panda
How do Southeast Asian countries view intensifying geopolitical competition between the United States and China in Asia?
September 25, 2020
Can China Become the World Leader in Semiconductors?
By Justin Hodiak and Scott W. Harold
China’s semiconductor industry faces considerable challenges in reaching global leadership status. But don't assume it's impossible.
September 24, 2020
China’s Draft Data Security Law: A Practical Review
By Marcel Green
For the first time, the Chinese government is taking steps to protect personal and consumer data. Businesses should take note.
Magazine
M
September 01, 2020
Inter-Korea Relations: Things Fall Apart
By Christopher Green
The diplomacy of 2018 could have changed the political landscape of the Korean peninsula permanently. Two years later, does any of that progress remain?
September 01, 2020
Australia Steps Up in Defense of the Indo-Pacific Order
By Ashley Townshend and Brendan Thomas-Noone
The Strategic Update provides a blueprint for how Australia will navigate a “poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly” future in the Indo-Pacific.
September 01, 2020
What’s Left of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan?
By Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska
While the IMU itself might no longer be an important player in the complex landscape of international jihad, it may yet be too soon to portend its total demise.
September 01, 2020
China and the EU: A Tale of Two Summits
By Theresa Fallon
COVID-19 has accelerated shifting dynamics in EU-China relations.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
September 25, 2020
China Is Signaling Its Desire to Improve Relations With the US. Is Anyone Listening?
By Aries Li
Chinese officials’ World War II commemorations hold an important message for the modern day China-U.S. relationship.
September 25, 2020
Is Press Freedom Dying in Hong Kong?
September 25, 2020
China Announces Aggressive Climate Targets at United Nations
September 25, 2020
Peacekeeping With Chinese Characteristics
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
FSeptember 25, 2020
Can China Become the World Leader in Semiconductors?
By Justin Hodiak and Scott W. Harold
China’s semiconductor industry faces considerable challenges in reaching global leadership status. But don't assume it's impossible.
September 26, 2020
What If Washington Had Supported Taiwanese Independence in the 1990s?
September 17, 2020
Don’t Underestimate India’s Sidelining of Huawei
September 24, 2020
Explainer: The TikTok Deal for Dummies
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
September 26, 2020
Pentagon Hosts Meeting on Ethical Use of Military AI With Allies and Partners
By Abhijnan Rej
This comes in the backdrop of growing interest in global technology cooperation.
September 25, 2020
Are Two-Seat Fighters Obsolete?
September 24, 2020
What Are India’s Plans for Directed Energy Weapons?
September 17, 2020
Head of US Nuclear Forces Warns of Growing, Modernizing Chinese Nuclear Threat
By Other Means
Geopolitics in Asia With Ankit Panda
B
September 16, 2020
What Can Asia Expect From Suga’s Japan?
By Ankit Panda
Abe's successor will represent continuity, but faces a challenging set of internal issues.
September 13, 2020
India and Japan’s Proactive Convergence Continues: The ACSA and Beyond
September 05, 2020
India-China Tensions Spike in the Himalayas
August 25, 2020
North Korea Comes to Terms With Internal and External Challenges
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
September 25, 2020
US Bill Aims to End Aid to Philippines Military and Police
By Nick Aspinwall
The Philippine Human Rights Act would end American security assistance to Manila unless it commits to reforms.
September 25, 2020
US Ambassador, Cambodian Defense Minister Meet Following China Sanctions
September 25, 2020
Sabah Heads to the Polls for Snap State Election
September 25, 2020
Will Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim Finally Succeed?
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
September 25, 2020
Women in Sri Lanka Make up 56% of Voters, But Only 5% of Legislators
By Bansari Kamdar
Money, pedigree, sexism and social norms keep Sri Lanka’s largest electorate – the country’s women – out of politics.
September 25, 2020
SAARC Foreign Ministers Meet Virtually in a Sign That the Grouping Is Not Dead – Yet
September 25, 2020
Jaishankar’s Six Needles: Indian Foreign Policy ‘The India Way’
September 25, 2020
Pakistan Opposition’s Plan to Challenge Military Faces Setbacks
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
September 25, 2020
Kim Jong Un Apologizes Over Shooting Death of South Korean
By Associated Press
South Korean officials said the North Korean leader had issued a rare apology, likely to de-escalate tensions after the shocking incident.
September 25, 2020
Role of Unification Ministry Questioned After South Korean Official Shot Dead by the North
September 24, 2020
Seoul Says North Korea Killed South Korean Official, Burned His Body
September 23, 2020
South Korea President Stresses Peace, Inclusiveness, and Multilateralism at UN
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
September 25, 2020
Can Japan’s New Suga Administration Steer the Battered Economy Toward Growth?
By Thisanka Siripala
All eyes are on the Suga administration’s policy agenda after committing to advancing his predecessor’s Abenomics growth strategy.
September 22, 2020
After Abe, Opportunities Loom for Japan-Indonesia Relations
September 18, 2020
Japan’s Defense Ministry Launches Protocol for UFO Sightings
September 17, 2020
In Japan’s Post-Abe Era, Addressing Political Gender Inequality is Essential
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
September 25, 2020
Democracy Is Dying in Bangladesh. Targeted Sanctions Could Save It.
By Toby Cadman
Sanctions are a critical and powerful tool to spur much-needed reform.
September 24, 2020
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on the Struggle for a Free Thailand
September 24, 2020
The India-China Ladakh Crisis: Why So Silent, World?
September 22, 2020
Seeking a Viable Alternative to Indonesia’s Blasphemy Laws
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
September 25, 2020
Uzbekistan’s COVID-19 Response Exposes Tashkent’s Reform Successes and Failures
By Benjamin Godwin
What does the coronavirus response say about the government’s ability to deliver on its ambitious reform program?
September 24, 2020
What Did Central Asia’s Leaders Have to Say to the UN General Assembly?
September 23, 2020
The FinCEN Files Show Suspicious Activities of Kazakhstan’s Former Oligarchs
September 23, 2020
Sino-Russian Economic Cooperation in Central Asia is Not What It Seems to Be
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
September 22, 2020
New York City Police Officer of Tibetan Origin Charged With Acting as ‘Illegal Agent’ of China
By Abhijnan Rej
The arrest of Baimadajie Angwang demonstrates the breadth of China’s United Front toolkit.
September 18, 2020
What the US Thinks It Learned About Kim Jong Un
September 18, 2020
US Envoy to United Nations Meets With Taiwan Official in New York
September 17, 2020
From the Deal to Decoupling: Trump’s Evolution on China
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
September 26, 2020
Taiwan Charges Five Politicians With Bribery, Sparking Criticism of Weak Lobbying Laws
By Nick Aspinwall
Four of the lawmakers are charged with allegedly taking bribes from a business magnate, highlighting a lack of effective regulations on lobbying in Taiwan.
September 23, 2020
Turkey’s Turn to the Asia-Pacific
September 23, 2020
China’s New Carbon Neutrality Commitment Will Affect Global Energy Security
September 22, 2020
Will Trade Lead the Way in Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 Recovery?
Asia Life
The Other Asia-Pacific
L
September 25, 2020
Hong Kong-Indonesian Couples Caught in the Middle Amid COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
By Jason Hung
Plans for a travel bubble between Hong Kong and Indonesia have been put on hold, disappointing couples who have been left separated by closed borders.
September 21, 2020
Beyond Data Privacy: Trump’s Proposed Ban of WeChat
September 18, 2020
‘Mulan’ Wanted Chinese Money. Taiwan’s Rising Filmmakers Don’t.
September 16, 2020
Divers in Southeast Asia May Have Found US Submarine Lost in WWII
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
September 24, 2020
The Waning Health of US Democracy Is a Poignant Reminder for Australia
By Philip Citowicki
With alarm bells ringing across the Pacific, Australia must act quickly to reform its own political environment – before it’s too late.
September 24, 2020
The Case of Cheng Lei: China Blurring the Lines of Ethnicity and Citizenship
September 22, 2020
New Zealand’s Defense Ministry Sizes Up the International Security Environment
September 14, 2020
Australia Enters First Recession Since 1991
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
PSeptember 25, 2020
Southeast Asia Caught Between the US and China
By Ankit Panda
How do Southeast Asian countries view intensifying geopolitical competition between the United States and China in Asia?
September 21, 2020
Cambodia’s Microfinance Industry in Troubled Waters
September 09, 2020
Assessing Abe Shinzo’s Geopolitical Legacy
September 03, 2020
Space Security and Geopolitical Competition in the Asia-Pacific
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
September 21, 2020
Scenes From Thailand’s Massive Protests Demanding Reform
By Cory Wright
For months, protesters in Thailand have called for reforms. This weekend as many as 100,000 protesters descended on Bangkok.