Top Stories
TOP
September 10, 2021
South Korea’s Traffic Violence Epidemic
By Sam Macdonald
Korean pedestrians die at a rate three times higher than the OECD average.
September 09, 2021
The Real Cause of China’s Alibaba Crackdown
By Canghao Chen
Political intrigue? Personal grudges? There's a more basic cause for Alibaba's ill fortune: The company threatens China's monetary authority.
September 09, 2021
Malabar 2021 and Beyond: India’s Naval Pushback Against China
By Sreeram Chaulia
Maritime diplomacy is the key to India’s more muscular China strategy.
September 07, 2021
Mapping China’s Place in the Global Semiconductor Industry
By John Lee and Jan-Peter Kleinhans
China’s national interests and supply chain security for the most “core” of technologies.
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 5
Dense Grey Webs
Cyber Risks and Trends in the Asia-Pacific
COVID-19 in Asia
September 17, 2021
The Forgotten Vaccine: Russia’s Sputnik V in Thailand and Southeast Asia
By Tita Sanglee
Despite all the hype and promises, Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has made few inroads in Southeast Asia.
September 13, 2021
Why are Schools Still Closed in the Philippines?
By Mong Palatino
The decision reflects the highly centralized nature of decision-making under President Rodrigo Duterte.
September 11, 2021
Gender Responsive Budgeting Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in India
By Akanksha Khullar
The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing economic inequalities within India’s patriarchal society.
September 10, 2021
The Politics of Taiwan’s COVID-19 Response
By Brian Hioe
Taiwan's first real COVID-19 outbreak engendered fierce political debates between the DPP and the KMT.
Magazine
M
September 01, 2021
The Soviet Water Legacy in Central Asia
By Asel Murzakulova
The Soviet legacy in Central Asia’s water and energy infrastructure is complex, weaving together conflict and cooperation.
September 01, 2021
The Philippines-US Alliance at 70
By Renato Cruz De Castro
The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty became the most important element in the Philippine-U.S. alliance. How can it remain relevant in a changing Indo-Pacific?
September 01, 2021
Imran Khan and the Generals
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Imran Khan is unlikely to lose the army’s support anytime soon.
September 01, 2021
Asia and the ‘Global War on Terror’
By Mariya Y. Omelicheva, Abdul Basit, Bilveer Singh, and Sean R. Roberts
Launched in the wake of 9/11, the GWOT has had far-reaching consequences across Asia.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
September 17, 2021
‘Red Roulette’: Tell-All Book Reveals the Dark Underbelly of China’s Gilded Age
By Lizzi C. Lee
Beneath Desmond Shum’s deeply personal memoir about corruption and wealth, we can glimpse the profound political and economic tectonic shifts that foreshadowed Xi Jinping’s second term of office.
September 17, 2021
Will China Actually Join the CPTPP?
September 17, 2021
Rural Affairs Specialist Han Jun Likely to Ascend to Vice Premier in 2022
September 16, 2021
Understanding China’s Draft Algorithm Regulations
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
September 18, 2021
Afghanistan, Taiwan, and America’s ‘Fighting Spirit’
By Andrei Lungu
Long before the Afghanistan withdrawal, China had become convinced that the U.S. does not have the stomach for a protracted fight over Taiwan.
September 18, 2021
AUKUS and Submarines: The Fallout for France
September 17, 2021
Chinese Disinformation Operations: What Central and Eastern Europe Can Learn From Taiwan
September 16, 2021
Australia-India 2+2 Dialogue: Converging Interests
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
September 17, 2021
The Strategic Symbolism of Australia’s Nuclear Subs
By Jacob Parakilas
Australia’s announcement that it will be building nuclear-powered submarines with American and British help will take years to pay military dividends, but the strategic impacts start immediately.
September 16, 2021
Week of Tit-for-Tat Missile Tests on Korean Peninsula
September 16, 2021
Australia Dumps French Submarine Deal for US Nuclear Fleet
September 13, 2021
What’s in the Newly Regionalized Japan-Vietnam Defense Partnership?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
September 17, 2021
What Does the New AUKUS Alliance Mean for Southeast Asia?
By Sebastian Strangio
The new partnership is likely to be greeted with ambivalence in a region that has little appetite for a new Cold War.
September 17, 2021
The Forgotten Vaccine: Russia’s Sputnik V in Thailand and Southeast Asia
September 16, 2021
Despite Crime Concerns, Laos Authorizes Cryptocurrency Trial
September 16, 2021
Rethinking Social Protection Programs: Cambodian Migrant Workers Deserve Better
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
September 18, 2021
New Zealand Abandons Cricket Tour of Pakistan Over Security Concerns
By Rizwan Ali
New Zealand Cricket called off its first match in Pakistan in 18 years, even though Pakistan’s government insisted that “no security threat of any kind exists.”
September 17, 2021
Party Politicking Backfires on Nepal’s PM Deuba
September 16, 2021
With Foreign Funds Frozen, Afghan Aid Groups Stuck in Limbo
September 16, 2021
India’s Family Planning: Moving the Needle from ‘Control’ to ‘Choice’
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
September 15, 2021
North Korea Fires 2 Ballistic Missiles Off Its East Coast
By Mitch Shin
The North’s missile launch came amid a flurry of diplomatic meetings in Seoul and Tokyo. Seoul quickly followed up with its own SLBM test.
September 13, 2021
In Signal to the US, North Korea Tests New Long-Range Cruise Missiles
September 10, 2021
South Korea’s Traffic Violence Epidemic
September 10, 2021
North Korea’s Unusual Military Parade
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
September 10, 2021
What If Kono Taro Becomes Japan’s Next Prime Minister?
By Daisuke Akimoto
The spirit of the Kono Statement will be welcomed by Beijing and Seoul - if Kono Taro truly intends to follow in his father's footsteps.
September 09, 2021
Japan’s Prime Minister Hopefuls Outline Different Visions
September 07, 2021
The Arrival of Kishida Diplomacy?
September 04, 2021
Suga Bows Out of Party Vote, Paves Way for New Japan Leader
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
September 17, 2021
How Asia Can Achieve a Just Energy Transition in a Post-COVID World
By Nithi Nesadurai and Hang Dao
A just transition to renewable energy is not just good for the environment, it’s great for the economy, too.
September 17, 2021
Pakistan’s Shameful Glee at the Taliban’s Rise
September 16, 2021
19 Months Into the Pandemic, China Is Still Shutting Out US Students
September 14, 2021
The US Can’t Blame Pakistan for Its Failure in Afghanistan
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
September 15, 2021
Kazakhstan’s Cryptocurrency Mining Grows Despite Emissions Worries
By Paolo Sorbello
The increased energy demand could be met by a long-awaited nuclear power plant.
September 14, 2021
Ahead of Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections, Elections Official Arrested on Fraud Charges
September 13, 2021
South Korea Becomes Mongolia’s 6th Strategic Partner
September 13, 2021
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Take Different Approaches to Afghanistan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
September 17, 2021
Has the ‘China Initiative’ Run Its Course?
By Shannon Tiezzi
After a resounding legal defeat, will the Justice Department change stance on the controversial program?
September 16, 2021
Biden Announces Indo-Pacific Alliance With UK, Australia
September 14, 2021
CFIUS Ramps up Oversight of China Deals in the US
September 11, 2021
Easing China-US Tensions: Lessons From Nixon’s 1972 Trip
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
September 18, 2021
China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ Campaign is Going to Be Tough Going
By Andrew Collier
Fixing inequality would require fundamental change in China’s tax structure and state system – reforms highly unlikely under the current political system.
September 17, 2021
Indonesia Is Failing to Provide a Green Track for Industry
September 14, 2021
Thailand’s 2022 Budget Takes Shape
September 10, 2021
Lithium and an Unexpected Battle for Energy Transition in Afghanistan
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
September 15, 2021
Samoa’s First Female-Led Government Sits, But Opposition Barred
By Grant Wyeth
Given the HRPP’s refusal to accept the April election results, the Samoan speaker refused the party’s MPs entry to parliament.
September 13, 2021
Australia-South Korea Partnership: Beyond 2+2
September 10, 2021
How 9/11 Changed New Zealand’s Foreign Policy
September 10, 2021
Australia, Indonesia Agree to Ramp up Defense Relationship
Videos
Asia on Video
V
September 08, 2021
Where Does the China-India Border Dispute Stand?
Alka Acharya, M. Taylor Fravel, Lin Minwang, Lu Yang, and Sushant Singh discuss the state of the border today and the future of China-India relations.
August 10, 2021
Myanmar, Six Months After the Coup
July 17, 2021
Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
July 07, 2021
Webinar Alert: Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
September 16, 2021
How Washington Sees Southeast Asia and ASEAN
By Luke Hunt
A conversation about why the Quad matters
September 09, 2021
The Biden Administration and US-China Relations in 2021
August 26, 2021
The Taliban, 9/11 and An American Evacuation
August 06, 2021
After 15 Years, Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge Tribunal Nears Its End
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
August 14, 2021
A Visit to Pangong Lake
By Bhat Burhan
Situated on the Line of Actual Control between China and India, Pangong is at the heart of a tense, but beautiful, border region.