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July 23, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Attendees and the No-Shows
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s spectatorless Opening Ceremony welcomes world leaders and sponsors amid a COVID-19 state of emergency.
July 21, 2021
The Kris Wu Sex Scandal and China’s Search for Morality in Public Figures
By Jo Kim
In China, celebrities are under greater political and societal pressure to refrain from “immoral conduct.” Is this the Chinese version of cancel culture?
July 20, 2021
China Rejects WHO Call for More Transparency on Origins Probe
By Shannon Tiezzi
China’s Foreign Ministry bluntly rejected the WHO’s call for China to be more cooperative with investigations into COVID-19’s origins.
July 16, 2021
Malaysia to Phase Out China’s Sinovac Vaccine
By Sebastian Strangio
Will mounting evidence about the limited efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines spell the end for Beijing's vaccine diplomacy?
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 4
Comorbid
India’s Economy and the Pandemic
COVID-19 in Asia
July 23, 2021
Nepal’s COVID-19 Crisis Exacerbates Hardships for Women
By Rajin Rayamajhi and Tracy Fehr
The economic and health impact of the pandemic has disproportionately fallen on women – especially single women.
July 23, 2021
Myanmar Shadow Government Forms COVID-19 Task Force
By Sebastian Strangio
The National Unity Government hopes to capitalize on the junta's incompetent response to the current COVID-19 surge.
July 22, 2021
Thailand to Join COVAX, Acknowledging Low Vaccine Supply
By Chalida Ekvittayavechnukul
The country's slow vaccine rollout has heaped pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government.
July 21, 2021
Southeast Asia, Geopolitics, and China’s Vaccine Diplomacy
By Ankit Panda
How has China approached vaccine diplomacy in Southeast Asia?
Magazine
M
July 01, 2021
After Wild Election Season, What’s Next for Mongolia?
By Marissa Smith and Julian Dierkes
The Mongolian People’s Party now controls the executive and the legislature, but now must contend with COVID-19 and demands to level the political playing field.
July 01, 2021
The Bear Is Back? Russia’s Return to Southeast Asia
By Zachary Abuza
Russia will never match U.S. or Chinese influence in the region, but it has proven adept at getting a decent return for its minimal investments.
July 01, 2021
The Present in the Past: 100 Years of the Chinese Communist Party
By Tony Saich
As the CCP celebrates its centennial, how close is the party of Xi Jinping to its founding vision?
July 01, 2021
Nuclear Justice for the Marshall Islands
By Jon Letman
Seventy-five years after the U.S. began testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands stand at a new crossroads.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
July 24, 2021
As China Rolled Out Its COVID-19 Shots, Victims of Earlier Vaccine Scandals Vanished
By Renee Xia
China’s habit of disappearing and censoring critics is not the way to win trust in its vaccine industry.
July 23, 2021
Ghost in the Machine: A Faceless, Famous Chinese Blogger Goes Silent
July 22, 2021
Introducing China’s Carbon Market
July 22, 2021
Teen With US Ties Again on the Run From China With Fiancee
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
July 23, 2021
Can China’s Economy Overtake the United States?
By Robert Farley
Chinese economic growth has been the dominant fact of 21st century international relations, and will continue to shape global politics for the rest of the century.
July 19, 2021
A Fateful Moment for the CSTO on the Afghan Border
July 17, 2021
Russia’s Disturbing Actions on Innocent Passage in the Black Sea
July 16, 2021
The US Needs a New China Strategy
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
July 24, 2021
USMC Force Design 2030: US Marines and the Indo-Pacific
By Alec Bohlman
The new vision for the U.S. Marine Corps will impact cooperation with allies as well.
July 23, 2021
Thai Navy’s Submarine Acquisition Stuck in Limbo
July 22, 2021
A Taiwan Contingency and Japan’s Counterstrike Debate
July 22, 2021
Russia Tests Hypersonic Zircon Missile
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
BJuly 23, 2021
Myanmar Shadow Government Forms COVID-19 Task Force
By Sebastian Strangio
The National Unity Government hopes to capitalize on the junta's incompetent response to the current COVID-19 surge.
July 23, 2021
US, Philippines Set to Reinforce Threatened Defense Accord
July 22, 2021
Thailand to Join COVAX, Acknowledging Low Vaccine Supply
July 22, 2021
Myanmar Hemorrhages Jobs Due to Coup Crisis, COVID-19
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
PJuly 23, 2021
Nepal’s COVID-19 Crisis Exacerbates Hardships for Women
By Rajin Rayamajhi and Tracy Fehr
The economic and health impact of the pandemic has disproportionately fallen on women – especially single women.
July 23, 2021
What Does a Taliban Government Mean for the Rest of South Asia?
July 23, 2021
Pakistan Sees Surge in Silencing of Mainstream and Social Media
July 22, 2021
As Afghan War Enters Latest Brutal Phase, Civilians Suffer
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
July 20, 2021
President Moon Decides Against Olympic Visit to Japan
By Mitch Shin
After a Japanese senior diplomat’s lewd comment about Moon was reported, South Korea decided to stop negotiating with Japan over a presidential summit in Tokyo.
July 16, 2021
Rising COVID Cases Obscure South Korea’s Economic Recovery
July 15, 2021
North Korea May Be Using 5G Technology to Monitor Its Border With China
July 14, 2021
Can a 36-Year-Old Leader Transform South Korea’s Conservative Party?
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RJuly 23, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Attendees and the No-Shows
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s spectatorless Opening Ceremony welcomes world leaders and sponsors amid a COVID-19 state of emergency.
July 21, 2021
Japanese Envoy Says Tokyo ‘Struggles Every Day’ With China
July 20, 2021
Is Japan’s Olympic Bubble About to Burst?
July 19, 2021
Will Japan’s Rapid COVID-19 Rebound Set Back the Tokyo Olympics?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
July 23, 2021
UNESCO and Japan’s Rewriting of History
By Mindy L. Kotler
At UNESCO, Japan lays bare the difficulties of achieving shared values within the Quad.
July 23, 2021
In Vietnam, the Party’s Rolling Crackdown on Dissent Continues
July 22, 2021
The World Must Not Forgot North Korea’s Crimes Against Humanity
July 19, 2021
Give ASEAN Diplomacy a Chance in Myanmar
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
July 19, 2021
Greater Coordination in Central Asian Responses to Afghan Border Troubles
By Umida Hashimova
Central Asian countries have begun coordinating their responses to the worsening security situation in Afghanistan.
July 15, 2021
Concerns Rise as Kyrgyzstan Enacts New NGO Controls
July 14, 2021
Afghanistan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
July 14, 2021
Allegations of Torture and Kyrgyz Involvement in Orhan Inandi case
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
July 23, 2021
Cooling Off China-US Technological Competition: A Blueprint in Shared Purpose
By Kangkyu Lee
Shared leadership on technological matters is crucial and cooler heads must prevail.
July 23, 2021
US Deputy Secretary of State to Visit China After All
July 22, 2021
Ted Cruz Blocking State Department Nominees Over Nord Stream 2
July 20, 2021
US High-Level Diplomat Visits Japan, South Korea, Mongolia
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
July 20, 2021
The Challenge of Modernizing a Navy: Malaysia’s Boustead Heavy Industries
By James Guild
A decade ago, the Malaysian shipbuilder was in fine health. Now it finds itself in financial straits.
July 20, 2021
China’s ‘Circular 15’ Addresses Local Governments’ Hidden Debts
July 16, 2021
Vietnam’s Battle to Market Its Prized Rice
July 13, 2021
Why US-China Rivalry Might Be Good for Singapore’s Semiconductor Industry
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
July 23, 2021
Australia Struggles With Moral Obligation to Aid Afghan Partners
By Joshua Mcdonald
Afghan interpreters plead for support from the Australian government as the threat from the Taliban increases.
July 22, 2021
Connecting the Vertices: Prospects for Australia-Taiwan Relations
July 22, 2021
New Zealand’s Statement on China’s Cyberattacks: A Shot Across the Bow
July 19, 2021
Can Australian Rules Football Rule Australia?
Videos
Asia on Video
V
July 17, 2021
Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
Maciej Boni, Gigi Gronvall, and Yanzhong Huang discuss the investigation into COVID-19's origins: what we know and what we don't know.
July 07, 2021
Webinar Alert: Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
July 03, 2021
China’s Social Credit System: Fact vs. Fiction
June 02, 2021
What Happened at the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
July 22, 2021
A Foreign Correspondent in Academia
By Luke Hunt
A conversation about jailed colleagues in Myanmar, the COVID-19 pandemic, and teaching journalism.
July 21, 2021
Southeast Asia, Geopolitics, and China’s Vaccine Diplomacy
June 28, 2021
India’s Economy After the Pandemic
June 21, 2021
Southeast Asia’s Difficult Road Ahead
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
July 09, 2021
Myanmar Nationals Fleeing Coup Find a Home Away From Home in India’s Northeast
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
Local NGOs and residents are providing the refugees support.