Top Stories
TOP
June 21, 2021
India’s Economy and the Pandemic: Key Risks
By Puja Mehra, Prachi Priya, and Abhijnan Rej
A new DRI report presents a comprehensive examination of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy. An excerpt.
June 15, 2021
Why Are Indians So Angry at Bill Gates?
By Akshay Tarfe
The latest backlash against the Gates Foundation in India is the result of years' worth of concerns raised by human rights activists and civil society.
June 15, 2021
What Explains Vietnam’s Current COVID-19 Struggles?
By Zachary Abuza
Once considered the gold standard for COVID-19 response, Vietnam is now battling rising infections and a glacial vaccine rollout.
June 15, 2021
US Navy’s Zumwalt Destroyers to Carry 12 Hypersonic Weapons in 2025
By Steven Stashwick
The 2022 U.S. Navy budget plans add details about hypersonic deployment.
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 4
Comorbid
India’s Economy and the Pandemic
COVID-19 in Asia
June 25, 2021
‘Scary’ Sydney Virus Cluster Blamed on Delta Variant Grows
By Associated Press
“Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through,” said state leader Gladys Berejiklian.
June 23, 2021
Japan Welcomes Domestic Spectators for Tokyo Olympics Despite Warnings From Experts
By Thisanka Siripala
While restaurants and bars in Tokyo face COVID-19 restrictions, local fans will be allowed at Olympic venues, fanning fears of a coronavirus rebound.
June 22, 2021
Vaccine Hesitancy Puts India’s Gains Against Virus at Risk
By Rajesh Kumar Singh
Misinformation and mistrust is fueling widespread vaccine hesitancy, particularly in rural areas where two-thirds of India’s nearly 1.4 billion population lives.
June 22, 2021
Thailand Prepares to Strike Back Against COVID-19. Will It Be Enough?
By James Guild
Thailand's ambitious plans for economic reopening are being undermined by the country's sluggish COVID-19 vaccine campaign.
Magazine
M
June 01, 2021
Reimagining the Future of China-US Competition
By Jacob Parakilas
How governments imagine the future – including the future of war – shapes their responses and planning in the present.
June 01, 2021
Will Afghanistan Collapse When the US Withdraws?
By Jonathan Schroden
The fate of the Afghan government following the Soviet withdrawal is more complex than sometimes assumed. That has lessons for Kabul today.
June 01, 2021
Hong Kong’s New Police State
By Victoria Tin-bor Hui
Beijing is establishing a police state in Hong Kong – even if it risks destroying the international city.
June 01, 2021
Will the South China Sea Spark the Next Global Conflict?
By Richard Javad Heydarian
In Asia’s maritime heartland, all the ingredients of a global cataclysm are conspiring against the post-Cold War period of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
June 25, 2021
China Holds Slimmed-Down Belt and Road Conference
By Shannon Tiezzi
At least 29 countries attended China's virtual “Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation.”
June 24, 2021
China’s Transnational Repression Leaves Uyghurs No Space to Run
June 24, 2021
Should Murder Go Unpunished? China and Extradition, Part 2
June 23, 2021
Should Murder Go Unpunished? China and Extradition, Part 1
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
June 21, 2021
The EU’s Stake in the Taiwan Strait Issue
By Earl Wang
Recent statements reflect growing awareness of how a crisis in the strait would impact European interests.
June 17, 2021
Chinese Crew Enters New Space Station on 3-month Mission
June 16, 2021
China’s Afghanistan Challenge and the Central Asian Dilemma
June 14, 2021
Good China-Russia Relations Are Here to Stay
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
June 18, 2021
Assessing Prabowo Subianto’s Defense Diplomacy
By Noto Suoneto and Ananta Evander
Nearly two years on from his surprise appointment, how do the efforts of the Indonesian Defense Minister hold up?
June 17, 2021
Are Nuclear Weapons Gaining New Salience in National Security Strategies?
June 16, 2021
Indonesia Clinches Deal for 8 Italian-Made Frigates
June 15, 2021
US Navy’s Zumwalt Destroyers to Carry 12 Hypersonic Weapons in 2025
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
June 24, 2021
Thai Protesters Return to the Streets After 3-Month Hiatus
By Sebastian Strangio
Demonstrators renewed their calls for charter reform and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
June 24, 2021
Mekong Development Zones Facilitating Illicit Activities: Report
June 24, 2021
Philippine Democracy Scion, Ex-President Benigno Aquino Dies
June 24, 2021
Loud and Proud: Resisting Authoritarianism in the Philippines
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
June 25, 2021
Modi Meets Kashmir Leaders 1st Time After Altering Region
By Aijaz Hussain
Experts say the meeting is meant to ward off mounting criticism at home and abroad.
June 25, 2021
Will Turkey Keep Providing Security for the Afghan Capital’s Airport?
June 24, 2021
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Blames Women for Sexual Violence
June 23, 2021
Can the UN Push Afghanistan and the Taliban Back to the Negotiating Table?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
June 24, 2021
What Is North Korea Trying to Tell the US?
By Mitch Shin
Pyongyang and Washington have shown different interpretations of Kim Jong Un’s latest remarks about possible talks with the Biden administration.
June 24, 2021
Bank of Korea Highlights Risks to COVID-19 Economic Recovery
June 22, 2021
A Revival of North Korean Communism?
June 14, 2021
South Korean Female Sergeant’s Death Highlight Military’s Problem With Sexual Assault
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RJune 23, 2021
Japan Welcomes Domestic Spectators for Tokyo Olympics Despite Warnings From Experts
By Thisanka Siripala
While restaurants and bars in Tokyo face COVID-19 restrictions, local fans will be allowed at Olympic venues, fanning fears of a coronavirus rebound.
June 22, 2021
Can Japan Fix the Gender Gap in Its Politics?
June 17, 2021
Japan Steps Up Its ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’ in Southeast Asia
June 16, 2021
Japanese Corporations Get VIP COVID-19 Vaccine Treatment Ahead of Immunity Passports
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
June 23, 2021
EU Energy Project in Nepal Sets Landmark Precedent on Indigenous Consent
By Anirudha Nagar
The European Investment Bank has large investments in Nepal, with four projects in its energy sector, but has done little to stop rights violations.
June 23, 2021
Women are Key to the Humanitarian Response in Myanmar
June 22, 2021
There is No ASEAN Consensus on Myanmar
June 18, 2021
Apple Daily Raid Is the Latest Blow to Hong Kong’s Freedom
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
June 23, 2021
Why Atajurt’s Brief YouTube Suspension Matters
By Colleen Wood
YouTube's temporary suspension of a Kazakh human rights group’s channel highlights the risks of civil society's heavy reliance on the tech giants.
June 22, 2021
New Opposition Party in Uzbekistan Denied Registration, Again
June 21, 2021
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Talk Dams, Not Rogun
June 17, 2021
UN Working Group Finds Kadyr Yusupov’s Detention in Uzbekistan Arbitrary
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
June 24, 2021
In Responding to the China Challenge, Biden Should Take a Lesson From JFK
By Nick Danby
Kennedy’s “flexible response” strategy for deterring and countering Soviet aggression in the 1960s could be used again.
June 24, 2021
Asian Americans Lobby to Name Navy Ship for Filipino Sailor
June 22, 2021
B3W: Building an Alternative to the BRI or Falling Into the Same Trap?
June 21, 2021
India’s Tech Talent Flows: A Win-Win for India-US AI Partnership
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
June 23, 2021
Indonesia Needs to Seek Out Alternative Sources for Biofuel
By Haryanto and Filda Citra Yusgiantoro
The country has abundant resources of biomass, a great potential source of renewable energy.
June 22, 2021
Thailand Prepares to Strike Back Against COVID-19. Will It Be Enough?
June 21, 2021
Does It Matter If Dollar Dominance Ends?
June 21, 2021
India’s Economy and the Pandemic: Key Risks
Oceania
The South Pacific
OJune 25, 2021
‘Scary’ Sydney Virus Cluster Blamed on Delta Variant Grows
By Associated Press
“Since the pandemic has started, this is perhaps the scariest period that New South Wales is going through,” said state leader Gladys Berejiklian.
June 24, 2021
The Murugappans: Sri Lanka Asylum Seeker Case Illustrates Absurdities of Australian System
June 18, 2021
Pacific Island Nations Consider Deep-sea Mining, Despite Risks
June 15, 2021
Australia, UK Reach Free Trade Deal
Videos
Asia on Video
V
June 02, 2021
What Happened at the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border?
Anahita Saymidinova, Madeleine Reeves, and Aigerim Turgunbaeva discuss the violence along the border and the long-term implications for both countries.
May 01, 2021
Is ASEAN Still Relevant?
March 23, 2021
Ceasing Fire: India, Pakistan, and Elusive Peace in South Asia
March 15, 2021
Violence Follows New ‘Anti-Conversion’ Law in India’s Madhya Pradesh
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
June 21, 2021
Southeast Asia’s Difficult Road Ahead
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with veteran foreign correspondent Lindsay Murdoch.
June 16, 2021
India and China, One Year After the Galwan Clash
June 09, 2021
The Withdrawal from Afghanistan by US and Allied Forces
May 28, 2021
Emerging Military Technologies and a Future Taiwan Strait Conflict
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
June 08, 2021
Malaysia Aims to Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign
By Alexandra Radu
With cases soaring, Malaysia hopes to quicken the pace of vaccinations and head off further deaths from the virus.