Archive
2020
Thailand Blocks Access to Porn Sites, Prompting Protests
By Sebastian Strangio
The paternalistic move will only exacerbate the country's simmering anti-government and anti-monarchy sentiment.
China’s Fifth Plenum: Old Goals and Shifting Priorities
By Tristan Kenderdine
There's much more than technoindustrial policy in China’s Fifth Plenum communique, especially when compared to the 2015 outcomes.
Former Kazakh Health Minister Detained in Corruption Probe
By Catherine Putz
Birtanov was minister until late June when he resigned after contracting COVID-19.
Market Debut of Chinese E-finance Giant Ant Group Postponed
By Associated Press
It was hoped that Ant's debut would put a spotlight on China’s economic rebound from the pandemic.
South Korea’s Flu Vaccine Deaths Preview COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Challenges
By Justin Fendos
The public panic over flu vaccine safety highlights the potential problems facing a COVID-19 vaccine.
Russia, China Cautiously Watch Kyrgyzstan’s Lingering Political Turmoil
By Catherine Putz
Treading carefully, both Moscow and Beijing have engaged the new Japarov government but with a markedly light touch.
How the US Military Wound up ‘Poisoning the Pacific’
By Shannon Tiezzi
Author Jon Mitchell discusses the environmental contamination that has accompanied the U.S. military presence in Japan, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and elsewhere.
Regardless of the US Election Result, China Sees Itself as the Ultimate Winner
By Shannon Tiezzi
China’s leaders have bought into a narrative of historical inevitably: China is destined to rise, and the United States to fall.
New Zealand Names Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
By Grant Wyeth
Despite all the positive advances New Zealand has achieved, the prevalence of violence against women and children remains a persistent scourge.
Who Should Hong Kong Favor in the US Election? No One.
By Frances Hui
“Hong Kongers” is its own brand: Neither for Trump nor for Biden.
Fighting Tomorrow’s Wars with Yesterday’s Rifle
By Jacob Parakilas
The basic design of small arms has been stable for decades, even as other warfighting technologies have undergone revolutions. How much longer can that be true?
Is This Tajikistan’s #MeToo Moment?
By Sher Khashimov, Steve Swerdlow, and Sher Khashimov and Steve Swerdlow
Could a court decision punishing a victim of sexual harassment and the newspaper that helped her be Tajikistan’s #MeToo moment?