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January 14, 2022
Philippines Confirms Purchase of BrahMos Supersonic Missile System
By Sebastian Strangio
The long-expected acquisition marks the latest evolution of Southeast Asia's naval arms competition.
January 11, 2022
Japan’s COVID-19 Surge Spreads at Alarming Speed
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan is showing signs of a “sixth wave” of coronavirus infections as the highly contagious Omicron variant tears through the community.
January 10, 2022
Information Chaos in Kazakhstan
By Katrina Keegan
Seeking control, the Kazakh government shut down the internet. But the long-term effects may only necessitate continued crackdowns.
January 08, 2022
Rare Earths: Fighting for the Fuel of the Future
By Brendan P. Dziama, Juan Manuel Chomón Pérez, and Andreas Ganser
Rare earths are as critical to the modern economy as oil – and China has quietly secured a near-monopoly.
Diplomat Risk Intelligence Analyses That Help You Act Today – For Tomorrow
Report
Afghanistan and Taliban 2.0
August 2021
A DRI report on Afghanistan following the return of the Taliban regime to Kabul looks at the international security and geopolitical implications of the development.
Access the Report
Trendlines
Demography’s Long Shadow
November 2021
A data-driven deep dive into key variables determining the demographics of China, India, and Japan.
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Asia Review
Year of Tiger, Eye of Storm?
January 11, 2022
China's new land border law comes into effect just as the country's neighborhood travails deepen.
Read Newsletter
Majlis
Australia and an Indo-Pacific in Flux
October 2021
Australia is making headlines. Let three leading experts from the country tell you about the forces shaping how Canberra is looking at world.
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Future Tense
Global Arms Trends: What’s New?
January 3, 2022
In conversation with Lucie Béraud-Sudreau, Director of SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme.
Listen to Podcast
Magazine
M
January 01, 2022
The Limits of Vietnam’s Labor Reforms
By Joe Buckley
Contrary to much reporting, Vietnam has not authorized independent workers’ unions.
January 01, 2022
America’s Militarist Drift in the Indo-Pacific
By Van Jackson
The Biden administration has returned a sense of normalcy to Asia policy. Unfortunately, that includes continuing a military-first approach to Asia.
January 01, 2022
North Korea: A Decade Under Kim Jong Un
By Rachel Minyoung Lee
What has the past decade revealed about Kim’s leadership style and goals for North Korea?
January 01, 2022
2022: What to Expect in the Asia-Pacific
Writers from across the region highlight the trends and event to watch in the new year.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
January 14, 2022
What’s Behind China’s New National Standardization Outline Document?
By Arjun Gargeyas and Megha Pardhi
To become a global leader in standard-setting, China first needs to focus on domestic standards.
January 14, 2022
Omicron Tests China’s ‘Zero-Tolerance’ COVID Approach Weeks Ahead of Beijing Olympics
January 13, 2022
Badiucao Explains How China Exports Its Propaganda and Censorship to the West
January 12, 2022
Former Xinjiang Security Official Takes Charge of Hong Kong Garrison
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
January 14, 2022
After Denouncing New US Sanctions, North Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles
By Mitch Shin
After the U.S. imposed sanctions on six North Korean individuals in the wake of the recent missile launches, Pyongyang launched two short-range ballistic missiles eastward.
January 14, 2022
No Progress in China-India Military Talks
January 14, 2022
US State Department Study Dismisses China’s ‘Unlawful Maritime Claims’ in South China Sea
January 13, 2022
Making ‘Quad Plus’ a Reality
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
DJanuary 14, 2022
Philippines Confirms Purchase of BrahMos Supersonic Missile System
By Sebastian Strangio
The long-expected acquisition marks the latest evolution of Southeast Asia's naval arms competition.
January 13, 2022
Mongolia’s Female Peacekeepers: A Case Study for Gender Parity
January 11, 2022
South Korea’s Naval Shipbuilders Are Stepping Up in Southeast Asia
January 11, 2022
Bangladesh, Turkey Sign New Security and Counterterrorism Deal
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
January 17, 2022
‘No Progress’ on ASEAN Peace Plan for Myanmar: Singaporean PM
By Sebastian Strangio
Four Southeast Asian nations have now expressed criticisms of Cambodia's unilateral crisis diplomacy on Myanmar.
January 17, 2022
Aung San Suu Kyi Hit With 5 New Corruption Charges
January 14, 2022
Has the ASEAN Chair Become Too Powerful?
January 13, 2022
The Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership Takes Another Step Forward
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
January 16, 2022
China’s Bridge Over the Pangong Tso in Ladakh
By Tarushi Aswani
In general, bridges bring people together and facilitate trade. But for India’s Ladakhis, the bridge across the Pangong Tso brings uncertainty and apprehension.
January 14, 2022
In Kotputli: Rich Lands, Impoverished People
January 13, 2022
India State Assembly Elections: Where Is the Level Playing Field?
January 13, 2022
Will the Ruling BJP Be Ousted in Uttar Pradesh?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
January 15, 2022
South Korea’s Local Governments Rise to the Occasion
By Yong Kwon
Local governments are pursuing unorthodox policy responses – from universal basic income to a government-backed food delivery app – to national challenges.
January 07, 2022
North Korea Will Skip Beijing Winter Olympics
January 07, 2022
North Korea’s Strict COVID-19 Policies Undermine Kim Jong Un’s Goal of Ending Hunger
January 05, 2022
North Korea’s ‘Strategic Patience’
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
January 16, 2022
Japan’s North Korea Missile Woes
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan is on high alert after a frenzied series of North Korean ballistic missile tests.
January 14, 2022
In Memory of ‘Kaifu Diplomacy’ During the Gulf War Turmoil
January 11, 2022
Japan’s COVID-19 Surge Spreads at Alarming Speed
January 04, 2022
Japan’s Self-Destructive Immigration Policy
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
January 16, 2022
Summit for Democracy Showed the Challenges to Democracy
By MIMAKI Seiko
The problem is not just the rival camp, but the unclear US strategy.
January 14, 2022
How Myanmar’s Coup Has Reshaped Its Ethnic Conflicts
January 14, 2022
How COVID-19 Has Enriched Asia’s Wealthy and Punished Its Poor
January 12, 2022
How to Lose a Cold War With China
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
January 14, 2022
Kazakhstan: Local Politics and the Chaos in Almaty
By Colleen Wood
Resolving discontent with Almaty’s local government will be an important step in Kazakhstan’s broader political reform efforts.
January 13, 2022
After Kazakhstan Unrest, Relatives Await Detainees’ Release
January 13, 2022
Central Asia Continues to Supply Electricity to Afghanistan
January 13, 2022
Central Asia Braces for COVID-19 Omicron Wave
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
January 10, 2022
Washington Needs to Sort Out Its Ambassadors to Southeast Asia
By David Hutt
A focus on high-profile state visits conceals the vacuum of diplomatic representation at the regional and national level.
December 31, 2021
What the National Defense Authorization Act Means for US Policy Toward Myanmar
December 23, 2021
Can the G-7’s B3W Initiative Compete With China in Latin America?
December 21, 2021
Blinken in Southeast Asia: Is This the Real ‘Pivot’?
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
January 17, 2022
In Numbers: The Changing Composition of Populations in China, India, and Japan
By Diplomat Risk Intelligence
A new DRI Trendlines looks at demographics of three leading Asian powers, and how key variables paint a complicated and, in large parts, pessimistic picture.
January 14, 2022
Evergrande Still Looms Large Over Asian Markets’ 2022 Outlook
January 12, 2022
Environmental Issues Take Precedence in ASEAN’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy
January 11, 2022
Indonesia Loosens Coal Export Ban Amid Calls From Trading Partners
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
January 14, 2022
Omicron Overshadows Australia’s Opening Up
By Joshua Mcdonald
Opening up after nearly two years closed off from the world, Australia knew that would mean a rise in COVID-19 cases. But Omicron has surged cases past expectations.
January 12, 2022
Australia’s Working Holiday Visa Can Help Solve Its Population Problem
January 11, 2022
Djokovic Saga Shines Ugly Spotlight on Australia’s Detention Program
January 08, 2022
Some Say Politics at Play in Djokovic Detention in Australia
Videos
Asia on Video
V
November 24, 2021
AUKUS’ Reception in the Indo-Pacific
Shihoko Goto, Manjari Chatterjee Miller, and Susannah Patton discuss the implications of AUKUS for countries in the region.
October 29, 2021
Can China and the US Cooperate on Climate Change?
September 08, 2021
Where Does the China-India Border Dispute Stand?
August 10, 2021
Myanmar, Six Months After the Coup
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
January 11, 2022
Causes and Consequences of Kazakhstan’s January 2022 Unrest
By Ankit Panda, Catherine Putz, and Ankit Panda
Protests over gas prices have quickly spiraled into nationwide unrest, resulting in the first-ever intervention by the CSTO in one of its member states.
January 10, 2022
Making Wine in Asia
December 31, 2021
Surviving Saigon in 1945 and a Dog Named Mephisto
December 18, 2021
2021 in Asian Geopolitics: A Retrospective
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
December 10, 2021
Laos Unlocked
By Nicholas Bosoni
A trip on the maiden journey of the $5.9 billion Laos-China Railway.