Top Stories
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July 30, 2021
How Feminism Became a Dirty Word in South Korea
By Spencer Hines and Jay Song
The demonization of feminist discourse and ideology in South Korea is a critical impetus for young Korean men’s embrace of misogynist attitudes and conservative politics.
July 29, 2021
COVID-19 Turned Vietnam’s State-Run Union’s Greatest Weakness Into Its Biggest Strength
By Joe Buckley
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor may be unable to fight for workers' rights, but it is well-placed to help them amid the COVID-19 crisis.
July 29, 2021
Why Taiwan Is Beating COVID-19 – Again
By Wayne Soon
How did Taiwan suppress this wave, even as Australia, Vietnam, and Singapore are struggling with an uptick of the virus?
July 26, 2021
Bangladesh’s Coming COVID-19 Catastrophe
By Masum Billah
The country withdrew restrictions for a week to celebrate Eid festival. Health experts now fear that the situation may spiral out of control in the weeks ahead.
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 4
Comorbid
India’s Economy and the Pandemic
COVID-19 in Asia
August 05, 2021
Delta Variant Challenges China’s Costly Lockdown Strategy
By Joe McDonald and Huizhong Wu
China’s “zero tolerance” policy against the virus may not be workable in the face of the highly contagious Delta strain.
August 04, 2021
The World Needs a New Marshall Plan
By Rizal Ramli
With the pandemic causing economic devastation, the stage is perfectly set for political crises.
August 02, 2021
Refugees Pushed to Back of the Line Amid Vaccine Shortages
By Victoria Milko and Aniruddha Ghosal
"The virus doesn't distinguish between a national and a refugee.”
July 29, 2021
Why Taiwan Is Beating COVID-19 – Again
By Wayne Soon
How did Taiwan suppress this wave, even as Australia, Vietnam, and Singapore are struggling with an uptick of the virus?
Magazine
M
August 01, 2021
The Rajapaksa Dynasty in Sri Lanka: Democracy in Decline
By Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu
COVID-19, an economic crisis, and a majoritarian dynasty at the helm: Sri Lanka’s future hangs in the balance.
August 01, 2021
The Collapse of Malaysia’s Middle Class
By Amrita Malhi
On the 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s New Economic Policy, the middle class it famously built may be collapsing. Will its goal of national unity collapse with it?
August 01, 2021
How Pacific Regionalism Fell Apart
By Steven Ratuva
It was almost inevitable that fractures would emerge within the Pacific Islands Forum.
August 01, 2021
What the Olympics Means to Japan
By Robin Kietlinski
Japan has been fixated on the Olympic Movement since the event began. Why?
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
August 05, 2021
Why Did China Crack Down on Its Ed-Tech Industry?
By Lizzi C. Lee
Beijing’s latest move is a response to long-held public grievances about educational inequality and the resulting pressure to keep up.
August 05, 2021
Delta Variant Challenges China’s Costly Lockdown Strategy
August 05, 2021
Taiwan – Sorry, ‘Chinese Taipei’ – Is Having a Fantastic Olympics
August 05, 2021
Macau Orders Closure of Entertainment Venues, Mass Testing
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
August 04, 2021
With Eyes on Afghanistan, Russian Military Exercises in Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
Meanwhile, Russian diplomats continue to press support for a negotiated settlement between Kabul and the Taliban, with a side of shade thrown at the Americans.
August 02, 2021
Why Is Beijing Micromanaging Its Technology Sector?
July 30, 2021
Britain Returns to Asia, to China’s Dismay
July 30, 2021
Authoritarianism Can’t Beat Climate Change
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
July 30, 2021
US Navy Unveils Strategy for Autonomous Vehicles
By Steven Stashwick
AI-controlled unmanned craft can supplement flagging numbers in the U.S. fleet.
July 28, 2021
Emergency Fighters and National Resilience
July 27, 2021
General Ju Qiansheng Takes Command of the PLA Strategic Support Force
July 24, 2021
USMC Force Design 2030: US Marines and the Indo-Pacific
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
August 05, 2021
Can ASEAN’s Special Envoy Resolve the Crisis in Myanmar?
By Sebastian Strangio
Brunei’s Erywan Yusof faces an uphill struggle in bringing the country’s contending factions into a process of dialogue.
August 05, 2021
Controlling the Information Space: Big Tech and Free Speech in Southeast Asia
August 04, 2021
Coup Brings ‘Bad New Days’ to Myanmar’s Mining Communities
August 04, 2021
ASEAN Ministers Pick Brunei Diplomat as Envoy to Myanmar
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
August 05, 2021
Airstrikes Pummel Taliban Positions in Southern Afghanistan
By Tameem Akhgar and Rahim Faiez
Meanwhile, Taliban forces close in on a district center in the north.
August 05, 2021
Why Are Two of India’s ‘Seven Sisters’ Shooting at Each Other?
August 04, 2021
Taliban Claim Attack in Kabul as Cries of Defiance Echo
August 04, 2021
India’s Divided Opposition Unites Over Pegasus Spyware Controversy – At Least for Now
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
August 05, 2021
North Korea’s Public Security Gets Lessons From China
By Seulkee Jang
North Korea’s Ministry of Social Security is receiving training from China’s Ministry of Public Security.
July 30, 2021
How Feminism Became a Dirty Word in South Korea
July 30, 2021
South Korea and the Tokyo Olympics
July 29, 2021
South Korea’s Struggle With the Politics of Inclusion
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
August 04, 2021
Japan to Limit Hospital Care as COVID-19 Cases Hit New High
By Mari Yamaguchi
The home isolation policy is meant to ensure that hospital care is available for seriously ill patients.
August 02, 2021
Japan’s Challenge in the Age of China-US Rivalry
July 29, 2021
Tokyo Sets Another COVID Record Days After Olympics Begin
July 23, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Attendees and the No-Shows
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
August 05, 2021
Japan Was Right to Hold the Tokyo Olympics
By John Lee
The Games are a brave testament to the possibility of living with COVID-19, while keeping the worst effects at bay.
August 04, 2021
The World Needs a New Marshall Plan
August 03, 2021
Myanmar Is Not a Failed State, But a Failed Coup
July 29, 2021
How Taiwan’s Mayors Helped Lead the Fight Against COVID-19
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
August 05, 2021
Central Asian Leaders Set to Meet in Turkmenistan for Third Consultative Meeting
By Catherine Putz
Following summits in 2018 and 2019, the 2021 meeting comes amid a great number of regional difficulties and concerns.
August 04, 2021
Upcoming Parliament Elections Present New Opportunities and Challenges for Kyrgyzstan
August 03, 2021
Kumtor Case: Another Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Detained
August 03, 2021
Kyrgyzstan’s First Ousted President Returns to Cooperate With Kumtor Investigation
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
August 05, 2021
Rhetoric Aside, America’s Asian Partners Are Giving Up on Their Own Defense
By Justin Logan
When it comes to burden-sharing, banging the table doesn’t work -- doubt about the U.S. commitment does.
August 05, 2021
After Trump Interregnum, US, Indonesia Agree to Resume ‘Strategic Dialogue’
August 04, 2021
The Biden Administration’s China Sanctions Dilemma
August 03, 2021
The Trouble With Washington’s ‘Rules-Based Order’ Gambit
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
August 03, 2021
Why Did the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Make a Loan to Rwanda?
By Hannah Ryder
Does the AIIB’s first loan to Rwanda signify a new route to infrastructure finance for Africa?
August 03, 2021
Bangkok Spends Big on Public Transit
July 27, 2021
Economic Logic Alone Will Not Curb ASEAN’s Carbon Emissions
July 20, 2021
The Challenge of Modernizing a Navy: Malaysia’s Boustead Heavy Industries
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
August 05, 2021
Australian Government Agrees to Implement Magnitsky-like Laws
By Philip Citowicki
The reforms will enable the imposition of targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on individuals for a broad litany of violations.
July 28, 2021
In Exporting Problems, Australia Risks Damaging Ties With New Zealand
July 23, 2021
Australia Struggles With Moral Obligation to Aid Afghan Partners
July 22, 2021
Connecting the Vertices: Prospects for Australia-Taiwan Relations
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 27, 2021
The Legacy of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Ruling, Five Years On
By Ankit Panda
What is the legacy of the landmark 2016 ruling by the Hague-based arbitral tribunal?
July 22, 2021
A Foreign Correspondent in Academia
July 21, 2021
Southeast Asia, Geopolitics, and China’s Vaccine Diplomacy
June 28, 2021
India’s Economy After the Pandemic
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
August 02, 2021
The Rohingyas’ Lost Haven in New Delhi
By Naila Khan and Uzair Usmani
Rohingya refugees living in a makeshift camp in New Delhi lose their homes.