Popular
P
April 02, 2020
Japan Rejects Lockheed Martin Plans for Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft
By Franz-Stefan Gady
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has rejected proposals by foreign manufacturers to develop a new fighter aircraft, according to a government spokesperson.
March 28, 2020
Mongolia’s Small-Country Strategy for Containing COVID-19
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolia’s small population might be an asset in fighting the new pandemic.
March 26, 2020
Can China’s COVID-19 Statistics Be Trusted?
By Scott N. Romaniuk and Tobias Burgers
From GDP figures to coronavirus counts, China’s government has a long history of manipulating data for political gain.
Diplomat Risk Intelligence
DRI
March 21, 2020
Peace Is Easier Said Than Done in Afghanistan
By Ankit Panda
The U.S.-Taliban ‘leap day’ deal is proving difficult to see through, even as the Afghan government tries to move forward.
March 09, 2020
‘This Is Not a Drill’: COVID-19’s Economic Fallout
By Ankit Panda
Making sense of COVID-19 and the specter of a global economic crisis.
February 21, 2020
Duterte’s Gamble on the US-Philippines Alliance
By Ankit Panda
A reset for the U.S.-Philippines alliance?
Magazine
M
April 01, 2020
China: Fighting COVID-19 With Automated Tyranny
By Maya Wang
The government response to the virus hinged on invasive new surveillance methods, like the Health Code app.
April 01, 2020
South Korea: Elections Amid a Pandemic
By Youngmi Kim
Electoral reforms and inter-Korea relations once looked destined to dominate April’s parliamentary elections. Now a global pandemic will likely be the deciding factor.
April 01, 2020
Sharia in Brunei: Much Ado About Nothing?
By Asif Ullah Khan
One year after an international outcry against the new Sharia Penal Code, most Bruneians say it hasn’t impacted their lives at all.
April 01, 2020
War and Peace in the Philippines
By Zachary Abuza
With the BARMM’s first birthday, the peace process in the southern Philippines reaches a milestone.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
April 03, 2020
The Latest Target of China’s Nationalistic Backlash: Chinese Returnees
By Chauncey Jung
Chinese nationalists are mobilizing hate against fellow citizens returning from abroad. The government seems content to sit back and watch.
April 02, 2020
‘Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy’ Fails to Impress – or Reassure
April 02, 2020
Some Say China’s Belt and Road Helped Create This Pandemic. Can It Prevent the Next One?
April 02, 2020
China and Eastern Europe in the COVID-19 Era
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
April 03, 2020
US Navy Fires Captain Who Sought Help for Virus-Stricken Ship
By Associated Press
The captain of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus on his ship was fired by Navy leaders.
April 03, 2020
Nearly 3,000 Sailors to Leave US Navy Carrier Amid Virus Outbreak
April 01, 2020
US Aircraft Carrier Captain Seeks Crew Isolation as Virus Spreads
March 31, 2020
‘Choppy Waters’ Await US Navy as Virus Strikes Aircraft Carrier
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
April 03, 2020
US Orders 78 New F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters
By Franz-Stefan Gady
Lockheed Martin was awarded $4.7 billion to build 78 new F-35 fifth-generation combat aircraft.
April 03, 2020
Russia Offers India Three Refurbished Kilo-Class Submarines
April 03, 2020
Indonesia Is Reconsidering Contract With South Korea for 3 Diesel-Electric Submarines
April 02, 2020
Japan Rejects Lockheed Martin Plans for Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
April 03, 2020
The 2020 Delhi Riots: Implications for Southeast Asia
By Jasminder Singh
The recent anti-Muslim riots in New Delhi have elicited a strong rebuke from Muslim-majority countries in Southeast Asia.
April 03, 2020
Why Isn’t Indonesia Seeking China’s Funding for Its New Capital?
April 02, 2020
Will the COVID-19 Crisis Spell the End of Cambodia’s Hun Sen?
April 02, 2020
Thailand Imposes New Coronavirus Curfew
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
April 03, 2020
Mosques Stay Open in Pakistan Even as Virus Death Toll Rises
By Associated Press
Mosques remain open in Pakistan, even as they have been shut down across much of the Middle East and elsewhere.
April 03, 2020
Rohingya Refugees in India Fear Dying of Hunger Before Being Killed By Coronavirus
April 03, 2020
Virus Lockdown Changes How Hindus Celebrate Holy Period
April 03, 2020
Pakistan Court Overturns Conviction in Death of Daniel Pearl
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
April 02, 2020
Elections in the Time of COVID-19
By Jenna Gibson
South Korea’s ruling party hopes to maintain its control of the legislature in upcoming election.
April 01, 2020
Did Kim’s Vladivostok Visit Reshape Russia-North Korea Relations?
March 30, 2020
A Democratic Response to Coronavirus: Lessons From South Korea
March 27, 2020
Suspicions Grow in South Korea Over China’s Online Influence Operations
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
April 03, 2020
Japan’s Nightlife Begins to Fizzle Amid Coronavirus Economic Fallout
By Thisanka Siripala
As stay-at-home advisories gain traction and customer numbers dwindle, music venues, bars, and clubs say they face bankruptcy without subsidies.
April 02, 2020
The Shape of a Japan-UK Free Trade Agreement
March 31, 2020
Carlos Ghosn and Japan’s ‘99% Conviction Rate’
March 31, 2020
What is the Future of Japan’s Nuclear Diplomacy?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
April 03, 2020
Afghanistan Needs the World’s Help to Fight COVID-19
By Timothy Bishop
Having already lived through decades of war, Afghans are now bracing themselves for another battle against COVID-19. The world cannot stand idly by.
April 02, 2020
The International Community Must Put a Spotlight on Tajikistan’s Human Rights Record
April 02, 2020
An Open Letter to the People of the United States From 100 Chinese Scholars
April 02, 2020
Book Review: ‘Trumped: Emerging Powers in a Post-American World’
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
April 02, 2020
Uzbekistan Leads Central Asian Diplomacy in the Age of COVID-19
By Catherine Putz
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been ringing his neighbors to coordinate and dispatching aid to Afghanistan.
April 01, 2020
Did Turkmenistan Really Ban the Word ‘Coronavirus’?
March 31, 2020
How Is Central Asia Handling COVID-19?
March 30, 2020
More Arrests Linked to February Ethnic Violence in Kazakhstan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
April 03, 2020
Trump Quietly Signs Legislation Strengthening Ties to Taiwan
By Eleanor Albert
With the world focused on COVID-19, Trump signed the TAIPEI Act into law.
April 01, 2020
The US and South Korea Need a Stopgap SMA
March 31, 2020
Character and Leadership: COVID-19 in US-China Relations
March 30, 2020
Drone Delivery Puts the Focus on US-Malaysia Security Cooperation
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
April 02, 2020
South Korea Aims for Environmental Leadership Through Green Free Trade Agreements
By Annie Young Song
Environmental chapters in South Korea’s FTAs represent a way of demonstrating environmental leadership at low costs – a strategy that could be replicated in other emerging economies.
April 01, 2020
Soaring Coronavirus Cases Deepen Global Economic Gloom
March 31, 2020
World Bank Sees Coronavirus Outbreak Hitting Asia Hard
March 31, 2020
How COVID-19 Is Affecting North Korea’s Economy
Asia Life
The Other Asia-Pacific
L
April 04, 2020
Taiwan Will Donate 10 Million Masks in Bid to Aid Global Coronavirus Response
By Nick Aspinwall
The masks will go to the U.S. and EU countries, along with Taiwan’s 15 diplomatic allies. Future mask donations will target South and Southeast Asian nations.
April 03, 2020
Rohingya Refugees Brace for Potential Coronavirus Outbreak
April 03, 2020
Hong Kong’s Refugees in the Time of Coronavirus
April 01, 2020
South Korean Cobbler Hopes Donation Gives ‘Strength and Courage’
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
April 03, 2020
Where In the World Are There No Coronavirus Cases?
By Catherine Putz
What should we make of the countries that have not reported cases? Are they unable to test? Are they lying? Are they that isolated?
April 02, 2020
Women in Vanuatu Vie for a Presence in Parliament
March 30, 2020
Pandemic in the Pacific: COVID-19 to Hit Pacific Economies Hard
March 26, 2020
COVID-19 Risks Stalling the Indonesia-Australia Economic Partnership
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
April 02, 2020
North Korea’s March 2020 Return to Missile Testing: Hard Times Ahead?
By Ankit Panda
Are negotiations with the United States no longer a priority?
March 28, 2020
Japan’s Postponement of the Olympics: What Next?
March 19, 2020
Making Sense of Malaysia’s 2020 Political Tumult
March 18, 2020
Of Film and Adventure in Mainland Southeast Asia
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
March 04, 2020
Who Will Save Luang Prabang?
By Tom Fawthrop
The World Heritage site in Laos is endangered by mega-projects and Mekong dams.
February 18, 2020
After 14-Day Quarantine, 238 Indonesians From Wuhan Finally Come Home
January 29, 2020
The Rich Merchant and the Young Bukharans
January 22, 2020
Ringing in Chinese New Year in Indonesia
Videos
Asia on Video
V
February 05, 2020
The Shrinking Space for Minorities and Dissent in Sri Lanka
By StoriesAsia
An interview with activist Ruki Fernando on Gotabaya’s presidency.