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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 11, 2021
With COVID-19 Rampant, Indonesia Braces for the Holidays
By Teguh Maulana
Outbreaks and vaccine problems loom as Indonesian Muslims prepare for Eid al-Fitr festivities.
May 11, 2021
COVID-19 Testing Scam Hits Indonesian Airport
By Harsh Mahaseth
Those involved have gained as much as $125,000 from washing and reusing nasal test swabs.
May 10, 2021
What Will Happen to India’s COVID Orphans?
By Umar Sofi
With increasing COVID-19 deaths in India, hundreds of children are being traumatized and left in the lurch.
May 09, 2021
Japan Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency Amid Alarming Spike in COVID-19 Variants
By Thisanka Siripala
Tokyo and Osaka face a prolonged, stricter state of emergency after an explosion of faster spreading COVID-19 variants.
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 08, 2021
How Chinese Fans Enforce Chinese Nationalism on the World
By Siru Chen
Chinese fans are quick to call out idols for crossing political red lines -- and those norms are being internalized in the global pop culture industry.
May 08, 2021
Taiwan Catches Two Chinese Nationals Arriving by Dinghy
May 07, 2021
Hong Kong Domestic Workers Decry Mandatory COVID-19 Testing
May 07, 2021
Ramadan in China: Faithful Dwindle Under Limits on Religion
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 12, 2021
Japan, US, France hold 1st Joint Drills on Japanese Land
By Mari Yamaguchi
Japan is seeking to expand its military ties beyond its alliance with the United States to include "like-minded" countries such as France.
May 10, 2021
Upgrading South Korean THAAD
May 06, 2021
Philippine Marines’ New Operating Concept Highlights Their Growing National Security Role
May 05, 2021
Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 11, 2021
Thailand Arrests Three Journalists Fleeing Junta Crackdown in Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
How the Thai government handles them will give the world a clear signal of its priorities.
May 11, 2021
Amid Crackdown, Indonesia Arrests Papuan Independence Leader
May 11, 2021
COVID-19 Testing Scam Hits Indonesian Airport
May 10, 2021
Shades of South Vietnam in US Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 11, 2021
EU-India Summit 2021: Pushing Ahead With the 4 Cs
By Shairee Malhotra
COVID-19, commerce, connectivity, and climate dominated the May 8 summit.
May 11, 2021
Nepal’s Oli Loses Trust Vote Amid Raging Second COVID-19 Wave
May 11, 2021
Death Toll soars to 50 in School Bombing in Afghan Capital
May 10, 2021
Why Did Japan Award Bhutan’s Dago Tshering with the Order of the Rising Sun?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 11, 2021
North Korea Leaves Room to Renew Dialogue with the US
By Mitch Shin
According to local news reports, after being ignored for months Washington finally got through to Pyongyang to explain U.S. policy.
May 06, 2021
Moon’s Prosecutor Pick Puts Reform Efforts Back in the Spotlight
May 05, 2021
South Korea’s Climate Pledges: Less Than Meets the Eye
May 04, 2021
Kim Yo Jong Slams Seoul After Anti-North Korea Leaflets Launched
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RMay 09, 2021
Japan Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency Amid Alarming Spike in COVID-19 Variants
By Thisanka Siripala
Tokyo and Osaka face a prolonged, stricter state of emergency after an explosion of faster spreading COVID-19 variants.
May 06, 2021
Japan Backward in Coming Forward on US-North Korea
April 30, 2021
Japan as an Agenda Setter for the Quad’s Vaccine Diplomacy
April 29, 2021
Japan Has a Chance to Break the Ice With South Korea
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 11, 2021
How Canada’s Assistance Has Benefited Afghanistan
By Sayed Mujtaba Ahmadi
Canada’s assistance over the years has had real impact on the lives of Afghans.
May 10, 2021
Myanmar’s Crisis: What Comes Next?
May 06, 2021
We Don’t Need to Wait on the UN to Expand Taiwan’s International Role
May 06, 2021
The US Should Restore its Fulbright and Peace Corps Programs in China
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 11, 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Finally Responds to Kazakh Sovereignty Worries
By Alimana Zhanmukanova
Five months after controversial comments regarding Kazakh territory, Lavrov dismisses them as coming from deputies “chasing after sensations.”
May 11, 2021
Uzbek Blogger Otabek Sattoriy Sentenced to 6.5 Years
May 08, 2021
Kyrgyzstan’s Worrying New Limits on Dissent
May 07, 2021
Vaccinations Progress Slowly in Central Asia
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 11, 2021
Transatlantic Cooperation on the China Challenge
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Hans Binnendijk.
May 05, 2021
3 Reasons Why the US Doesn’t Have a Coherent China Strategy
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?
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 11, 2021
How Jokowi Solved Indonesia’s Toll Road Dilemma. Sort Of.
By James Guild
In breaking through old bottlenecks, Indonesia's president has blurred the lines between the state and private enterprise.
May 10, 2021
COVID-19 Drives Uptake of Digital Payment Systems
May 08, 2021
Chinese Subsidies: A Threat to US Competitiveness?
May 04, 2021
As China Ditches High Growth, the World Must Adjust
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 07, 2021
How the US Can Protect the Sovereignty of the Smallest Pacific Islands
By Alexander B. Gray
As the Biden administration confronts China’s growing assertiveness, the challenges confronting the smallest Pacific Islands should be front of mind.
May 07, 2021
Under Pressure, Australia Reverses Ban on Returns from India
May 03, 2021
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern Takes Tougher Stance on China
May 03, 2021
Fiji Locks Down Large Cities as COVID-19 Cases Rise
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.