Archive
August 2021
Can America’s Withdrawal From Afghanistan Help Its China Strategy?
By Dingding Chen and You Wang
Despite the intention to refocus U.S. energy and attention on the Asia-Pacific, difficult questions remain as to the benefits for U.S. China policy.
For Afghan Refugees in India, Hopes Dim for Returning Home
By Sheikh Saaliq
The Taliban blitz toward Kabul left refugees already in India feeling isolated and farther from home than ever.
Climate Change Is a Test for Asia’s Tech Titans
By Xueying Wu
As extreme weather intensifies, companies like Samsung, Toshiba, and Alibaba must commit to renewable energy.
The China Challenge in Israel-US Relations
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Gedaliah Afterman.
China and the Taliban: What to Watch
By Bonnie Girard
Developments in two areas – Afghanistan’s illicit drug trade and the Sino-Afghan shared border – will give us early indications of Beijing’s approach to a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Washington and Seoul Seek to Diversify the South Korea-US Alliance Through Cyber
By Jason Bartlett
There’s more to bilateral cyber cooperation than keeping tabs on North Korean hackers.
COVID-19 Deepening Asia-Pacific Cyber Trends: DRI Report
By Arindrajit Basu, Abhijnan Rej, and Justin Sherman
These trends will persist long after the pandemic has receded into the background.
Japan Looks Back at the Tokyo Olympics
By Priyanka Borpujari
The highly-controversial and expensive Tokyo Olympic Games stirred up mixed emotions among Japanese.
Myanmar’s Anti-Junta Resistance Inflicting Rising Casualties: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
Nearly seven months since the coup, the armed resistance to the military junta continues to grow and expand.
Harris Meets With Singapore Officials to Begin Asia Visit
By Alexandra Jaffe
On the first day of her Southeast Asian trip, the vice president signed agreements on COVID-19, climate change, and supply chain issues.
In Biden’s ‘America First’ Lite, Allies and Partners Come Second
By William Choong
After the fall of Kabul, there will be an element of doubt surrounding U.S. commitments in the Indo-Pacific.
Nepal Looks to Foreign Powers to Evacuate its Citizens from Afghanistan
By Arun Budhathoki
The nation's inability to rescue its own nationals underscores its limited capacity abroad.
What Does the Taliban Takeover Mean for Violent Extremism in Indonesia?
By Cameron Sumpter
The impact of Taliban rule on the country's security situation is unclear, but is likely to be less marked than in the 1980s and 1990s.
Vietnam Calls in Army, Introduces Strict Lockdowns in COVID-19 Epicenter
By Sebastian Strangio
Last year's successful containment efforts are proving less effective against the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Why Taiwan Matters to the United States
By John Bolton and Derik R. Zitelman
Washington has strategic, economic, and normative reasons for safeguarding the island from Chinese coercion.
Will Vietnam Be America’s Next Strategic Partner?
By Alexander L. Vuving
The momentum is now set for the two countries to announce their long overdue strategic partnership the next time their top leaders meet in person.
What Will Happen in Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s Canada Extradition Case?
By Lizzi C. Lee
The latest hearings wrapped up on August 18 in a case that has attracted international attention and torpedoed Canada-China relations.
The Kachin Insurgency Could Deal a Heavy Blow to Myanmar’s Military Junta
By Drake Avila
The KIA threat to Hpakant and Myitkyina could cut off the military from the lucrative jade trade.
What the ‘Blue Arctic’ Means for the US Pacific Military Presence
By Sonoko Kuhara
Melting sea ice in the Arctic increases accessibility between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and mitigates a geographic disadvantage for the U.S. Navy.
New Chinese Law Tightens Requirements for Data Privacy
By Associated Press
The law would impose some of the world’s strictest controls on private sector handling of information about individuals.
China’s Biggest IPO of 2021 May Be a Renewable Energy Firm Listing
By Dmytro Spilka
The huge success of Three Gorges Renewables helps demonstrate the potential for investing in sustainable energy.
Does the Belt and Road Have a Future in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan?
By Sebastien Goulard
The Taliban will welcome the hard infrastructure elements of the BRI. The “soft” components are a different story.
The Myth of a Sustainable Stalemate in Afghanistan
By Gil Barndollar
Biden's choice was indeed between withdrawal and escalation. There never was a sustainable stalemate that could have been maintained.
US-Vietnam Relations in 2021: ‘Comprehensive,’ But Short of ‘Strategic’
By Hong Kong Nguyen and Pham Muoi Nguyen
Every step Vietnam takes toward the United States is accompanied by anxious glances in the direction of Beijing.