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April 28, 2021
Why Isn’t South Korea Buying Chinese Vaccines?
By Jin Kai
Like many Asian countries, Seoul is having troubling sourcing vaccines. But unlike its neighbors, South Korea has so far refused to turn to a ready supplier: China.
April 28, 2021
It’s Time to Talk About J-15, China’s First Carrierborne Fighter
By Rick Joe
Rumors of the J-15's unreliability have been greatly exaggerated.
April 27, 2021
Sunk Indonesian Submarine Should Worry Pacific Powers
By Nick Danby
The increased reliance on undersea warfare means submarines need to run silent, deep, and safe in the Pacific.
April 26, 2021
The COVID-19 Disaster in India: Chronicles of Agony and Pain on the Ground
By Ritu Mahendru with Inshah Malik
India's current level of suffering was not inevitable. Voices from the ground tell stories of mismanagement, neglect, and apathy.
DRI | Monthly Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 3
An Asian Space Odyssey
Civil, Military, and Commercial Space Ambitions
COVID-19 in Asia
May 05, 2021
Russia Turns to China to Make Sputnik Shots to Meet Demand
By Huizhong Wu and Daria Litvinova
While pledging hundreds of millions of doses, Russia has only delivered a fraction. It’s turning to Chinese companies to help pick up the pace.
May 04, 2021
COVID-19 Stages Another Comeback in Vietnam
By Sebastian Strangio
A recent spate of community transmissions is likely to delay the country's planned resumption of international tourism.
May 03, 2021
Fiji Locks Down Large Cities as COVID-19 Cases Rise
By Joshua Mcdonald
Health authorities believe the virus found its way back into the community after a soldier providing security at a quarantine facility became infected.
May 03, 2021
Afghanistan Fears Impending COVID-19 Crisis
By Ezzatullah Mehrdad
The rise of COVID-19 cases coupled with health missteps in the war-torn country spread fear of a tragedy amid a raging war.
Magazine
M
May 01, 2021
Learning From Kyrgyzstan’s Local Elections
By Colleen Wood
Local elections provide a window into the state of Kyrgyz politics – and what might come next in the three decade-long game of political musical chairs.
May 01, 2021
5 Years of Duterte: A Calamity Reaching Its Crescendo
By Michael Beltran
The Diplomat spoke with experts, victims, documenters, and communities affected by one of the most polarizing governments in Philippine history.
May 01, 2021
South Korea’s Political Pendulum Swings Again
By Youngmi Kim
The “old boys” are back after April 7 by-elections in Seoul and Busan.
May 01, 2021
Beyond Xinjiang: Xi Jinping’s Ethnic Crackdown
By James Leibold
The shifts in ethnic policy go well beyond Xinjiang. This is fundamental rethink of how the CCP manages ethnocultural diversity and its colonial possessions.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
May 05, 2021
Will Easing of Student Visa Restrictions Rekindle China-US Exchanges?
By Eleanor Albert
It's a step in the right direction, but there are still substantial hurdles - both logistical and political - for Chinese students to come to the U.S.
May 05, 2021
China Is Courting Middle Eastern Nations on Xinjiang
May 05, 2021
China Outlines Its Priorities as UN Security Council President
May 04, 2021
Business Moguls and Chinese (Soft) Power: The ‘Huaren’ of Southeast Asia
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
May 04, 2021
Can China-US Relations Improve During the Biden Administration?
By Ge Jianhao and Dingding Chen
So far, there have been no major changes in Biden’s China policy, but there’s still hope for a stabilized relationship.
May 01, 2021
Is China Done With Salami Slicing?
April 30, 2021
UK Deploys Aircraft Carrier in the Indian Ocean
April 28, 2021
The Missing Pieces of the US Cyber Strategy of ‘Persistent Engagement’
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
May 05, 2021
Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?
By Jacob Parakilas
It is easy to advocate an outright ban on “supersoldiers.” But augmentation has been around in one form or other for a long time – in life and war alike.
April 30, 2021
US Navy to Put Hypersonic Missiles on Zumwalt Destroyers by 2025
April 29, 2021
The Coming Age of Strategic Annoyance
April 27, 2021
Sunk Indonesian Submarine Should Worry Pacific Powers
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 05, 2021
Indonesia Deploys Special Forces to Troubled Papua Region
By Sebastian Strangio
The uneasy region seems set for another cycle of military crackdowns and separatist counter-attacks.
May 05, 2021
Medical Workers Targeted in Myanmar’s Post-Coup Crisis
May 05, 2021
Norway’s Telenor Writes Off its Myanmar Operation Amid Crisis
May 04, 2021
COVID-19 Stages Another Comeback in Vietnam
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 06, 2021
Amid US Pullout, Taliban Issue Threat to Afghan Journalists
By Kathy Gannon and Tameem Akhgar
The Taliban warned journalists to stop giving “one-sided news in support of Afghanistan's intelligence" service or "face the consequences."
May 05, 2021
Staunch Anti-India Kashmir Politician Dies in Police Custody
May 05, 2021
Pandemic Second Wave Presents a Moment of Reckoning for Modi – and Indian Politics
May 04, 2021
Violence Remains High in Afghanistan as US Withdrawal Begins
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 05, 2021
South Korea’s Climate Pledges: Less Than Meets the Eye
By Sam Macdonald
Once again, the Moon administration is making bold climate pledges on the international stage, while undermining these goals at home.
May 04, 2021
Kim Yo Jong Slams Seoul After Anti-North Korea Leaflets Launched
May 03, 2021
North Korea Warns US on Biden Administration’s New Policy
May 01, 2021
Despite Political Tensions, Japan’s ‘Demon Slayer’ Tops South Korean Book Market and Box Office
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
April 30, 2021
Japan as an Agenda Setter for the Quad’s Vaccine Diplomacy
By Maiko Ichihara and Atsushi Yamada
Japan has been pushing for Quad efforts to match its own vaccine diplomacy: more inclusive, less strategic.
April 29, 2021
Japan Has a Chance to Break the Ice With South Korea
April 27, 2021
Japan’s Ruling Party Loses 3 Key Elections in Bow to Suga
April 22, 2021
Can Japan’s ‘Invisible’ Diplomacy Help Solve the Myanmar Crisis?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 04, 2021
Whether Fighting COVID-19 or the Next Pandemic, Taiwan Can Help
By Shih-chung Chen
The world cannot build a resilient and inclusive global health system while excluding Taiwan from participating.
May 03, 2021
The Indian Foreign Service Must Speak Out Against Growing Politicization
May 03, 2021
Myanmar’s Generals Aren’t Going Anywhere
May 03, 2021
Independent Journalists in Vietnam: The Clampdown Against Critics Continues
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 06, 2021
US Afghan Envoy Visits Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
By Catherine Putz
As the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan begins, some suspect Washington is looking for nearby basing options.
May 05, 2021
Uzbek Blogger Bazarov Under House Arrest Facing Libel Charges
May 05, 2021
Russia Turns to China to Make Sputnik Shots to Meet Demand
May 05, 2021
Explaining the Evolution of Turkmenistan’s Assembly Bodies
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 05, 2021
3 Reasons Why the US Doesn’t Have a Coherent China Strategy
By Bu Le and Dingding Chen
The United States’ China policy will continue to zig and zag in the future.
April 30, 2021
China Is No Excuse for Biden to Ignore Human Rights in India
April 30, 2021
What Would a US-Led Global Technology Alliance Look Like?
April 28, 2021
Policy Advisers Urge US Government to Ratchet up the Pressure on China
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 04, 2021
As China Ditches High Growth, the World Must Adjust
By Michael Hirson, Tsveta Petrova, and Rickard Nyman
Observers of China’s economy need to become more sophisticated in their understanding Beijing’s evolving and competing policy priorities as growth targets fall out of favor.
May 04, 2021
Vietnam Looks To Go Big on Transport Infrastructure
April 29, 2021
Facing $11B Tax Bill, Samsung Heirs Donate Massive Art Trove
April 27, 2021
Southeast Asia and the ‘Just Transition’ to Clean Energy
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 03, 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern Takes Tougher Stance on China
By Nick Perry
Ardern's unusually targeted comments against China followed growing diplomatic discontent with Wellington's stance.
May 03, 2021
Fiji Locks Down Large Cities as COVID-19 Cases Rise
May 03, 2021
Australia’s Message to Its Expats: You’re On Your Own
April 30, 2021
The US Should Apologize to the Marshall Islands for Nuclear Tests
Videos
Asia on Video
V
May 01, 2021
Is ASEAN Still Relevant?
By The Diplomat
Hoang Thi Ha, Ja Ian Chong, and Evan A. Laksmana discuss ASEAN's regional role amid the Myanmar crisis and China-U.S. tensions.
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
March 04, 2021
Myanmar Coup and the Aftermath
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
April 30, 2021
Solidarity in Cambodia
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with the trade unionist Wim Conklin.
April 14, 2021
Understanding North Korea’s Fuel Smuggling Networks in East Asia
April 03, 2021
China’s Maritime Militia at Whitsun Reef: Trouble in the South China Sea
March 30, 2021
Breathing Fresh Life into Cambodia’s Art Scene
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
May 05, 2021
4 Dams on the Upper Mekong in Yunnan, China: 2011-2019
By Scott Ezell
Firsthand glimpses of how dam construction changed the river over the course of eight years.