Top Stories
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September 18, 2021
AUKUS and Submarines: The Fallout for France
By Valerie Niquet and Marianne Peron-Doise
The less-than-strategic decision will discourage one of Europe’s most forward-leaning actors in the Indo-Pacific.
September 17, 2021
Pakistan’s Shameful Glee at the Taliban’s Rise
By Mohsin Dawar
An elected representative of North Waziristan urges the Pakistani government to confront the reality of what the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan will mean for Pakistan.
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 16, 2021
Is China’s Evergrande Group Too Big to Fail?
By Nathan Handwerker
In a year marked by defaults, the potential collapse of China’s second largest property developer offers insight into Beijing’s changing attitude on bailouts and financial risk.
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 5
Dense Grey Webs
Cyber Risks and Trends in the Asia-Pacific
COVID-19 in Asia
September 20, 2021
In Southeast Asia, Privatized Vaccination Schemes Gain Traction
By Simon Tran Hudes and Estey Chen
Governments struggling with under-capacity have turned to the private sector for assistance in distributing vaccines.
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.
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 18, 2021
China’s ‘Standards 2035’ Project Could Result in a Technological Cold War
By Arjun Gargeyas
The repercussions of the Chinese plan will create blocs of influence, each following separate technical standards governing emerging and critical technologies
September 17, 2021
‘Red Roulette’: Tell-All Book Reveals the Dark Underbelly of China’s Gilded Age
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
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
September 21, 2021
Taiwanese Presidents Will Not and Can Not Unilaterally Change Taiwan’s Status
By Brian Hioe and Lev Nachman
A single leader cannot make Taiwan independent or unify it with the People Republic of China. Even trying either course would be political suicide.
September 20, 2021
What Do North Korea’s Latest Missile Launches Mean?
September 21, 2021
France Seeks European Support After AUKUS Submarine Deal Surprise
September 18, 2021
Afghanistan, Taiwan, and America’s ‘Fighting Spirit’
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 20, 2021
Philippine Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao Enters the Presidential Ring
By Sebastian Strangio
Pacquiao's candidacy threatens to spoil President Duterte's hopes for a smooth transition to an anointed successor.
September 20, 2021
Myanmar’s Currency Falls to All-Time Low Amid Post-Coup Turmoil
September 20, 2021
In Southeast Asia, Privatized Vaccination Schemes Gain Traction
September 17, 2021
What Does the New AUKUS Alliance Mean for Southeast Asia?
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
September 20, 2021
India’s Confused Approach to Afghanistan
By Mohamed Zeeshan
New Delhi will need to institutionalize scenario planning in foreign policy making if it is keen to shape global events.
September 18, 2021
New Zealand Abandons Cricket Tour of Pakistan Over Security Concerns
September 17, 2021
Party Politicking Backfires on Nepal’s PM Deuba
September 16, 2021
With Foreign Funds Frozen, Afghan Aid Groups Stuck in Limbo
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
September 20, 2021
South Korea Leads the Fight Against Google and Apple’s App Market
By Sang Kim
South Korea’s legislature passed a landmark law requiring Google and Apple to open up to other payment systems for app developers.
September 15, 2021
North Korea Fires 2 Ballistic Missiles Off Its East Coast
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
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 20, 2021
The US Should Support South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Aspirations
By Jihoon Yu and Erik French
After offering SSNs to Australia, it’s time to extend similar support to South Korea.
September 17, 2021
How Asia Can Achieve a Just Energy Transition in a Post-COVID World
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
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
September 21, 2021
Iran’s Membership Raises the SCO’s Profile – and Expectations
By Ovigwe Eguegu and Javairyah Kulthum Aatif
After adding Tehran to its ranks, the SCO will face its biggest test yet: maintaining stability in Afghanistan.
September 15, 2021
Kazakhstan’s Cryptocurrency Mining Grows Despite Emissions Worries
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
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
September 21, 2021
‘We Were Them:’ Vietnamese Americans Help Afghan Refugees
By Amy Taxin
The crisis in Afghanistan has reopened painful wounds for many of the country's 2 million Vietnamese Americans, and spurred many to assist new arrivals.
September 20, 2021
US-Vietnam Relations: From Reconciliation to a Relationship of Substance
September 17, 2021
Has the ‘China Initiative’ Run Its Course?
September 16, 2021
Biden Announces Indo-Pacific Alliance With UK, Australia
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
September 20, 2021
Revisiting RCEP’s Trade Implications
By Jean-Marc F. Blanchard and Wei Liang
What are the implications of RCEP for trade? The second of a four-part series looks at the agreement’s impact on trade.
September 20, 2021
RCEP Edges Closer to Ratification in an Indonesia Battered by COVID-19
September 20, 2021
Evergrande Is a Symptom, Not Cause, of China’s Debt Woes
September 18, 2021
China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ Campaign is Going to Be Tough Going
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
September 19, 2021
AUKUS Without Us: New Zealand’s Responses to a New Indo-Pacific Alliance
By Marc Lanteigne
What does the Australia-U.K.-U.S. alliance mean for New Zealand?
September 15, 2021
Samoa’s First Female-Led Government Sits, But Opposition Barred
September 13, 2021
Australia-South Korea Partnership: Beyond 2+2
September 10, 2021
How 9/11 Changed New Zealand’s Foreign Policy
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
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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.