Archive
April 2021
Malaysian Cartoonist in the Crosshairs of Increasingly Repressive Government
By Sebastian Strangio
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has used the coronavirus pandemic as a pretext to arm himself with emergency powers and silence dissenting voices.
Duterte Hedges as China Challenges in the South China Sea
By Nick Aspinwall
Manila asserted its right to conduct military drills in the South China Sea, but President Duterte continues to approach the issue with caution.
China’s Paper Tiger Surveillance State
By Isabel Ivanescu and Robert Carlson
The CCP's pervasive surveillance apparatus is a sign not of strength, but of fragility.
UK Deploys Aircraft Carrier in the Indian Ocean
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The upcoming “global deployment” is intended to reinforce the U.K.’s tilt toward the Indo-Pacific region.
How the Biden Administration Can Support Taiwan
By Chip Gregson, Russell Hsiao, and Stephen Young
Deterring Chinese coercion will take a concerted effort across the economic, political, and military fronts.
Myanmar Junta’s Diplomatic Games Need Tough Response
By John Sifton
The ASEAN summit’s failings demonstrate that standard diplomatic protocols are insufficient to deal with the Myanmar leadership.
America Must Become the Vaccine Arsenal of Democracy
By Joaquin Castro
The tragedy underway in India proves that the United States must leverage its full industrial and scientific capacity until the entire world is vaccinated.
Young Afghan Women, Grown Up Without Taliban, Dread Their Return
By Kathy Gannon
“With the return of the Taliban, society will be transformed and ruined… Women will be sent into hiding.”
China-Germany Relations at the Crossroads
By Shannon Tiezzi
China tries to keep Germany a bright spot in its European relations, as an end to Angela Merkel’s lengthy tenure looms.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Trade Blame for Cross-border Shelling
By Associated Press
Reportedly one Kyrgyz man has been killed in the clashes over a long-unsettled border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Xinjiang Cotton and the Shift in China’s Censorship Approach
By Zoe Jordan
What makes China’s shifting strategy on Xinjiang information management unique is that in addition to traditional approach to censorship, there seems to be a shift to fill the censored silence with noise.
Pakistani Opposition’s Criticism of the Military Continues
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan Democratic Movement leader Fazlur Rehman’s potshot at the army shows the opposition remains emboldened.