Archive
February 2023
China-Australia Trade Ministers Hold 1st Meeting Since 2019
By Rod McGuirk
Australia's new government is urging China to lift official and unofficial barriers on Australian exports.
Kyrgyzstan’s Media Under Pressure
By Catherine Putz
From well-known independent outlets to bloggers, the country's vibrant media are under increasing threat.
China Admits There’s a 2nd Chinese Balloon Over Latin America
By Shannon Tiezzi
Like the balloon spotted over the United States, the Pentagon claimed the object was used for surveillance; Beijing says it was blown off course while conducting civilian research.
What If China Isn’t Really That Unique?
By Evan Freidin
Trends relating to birth rates and tech industry layoffs are not unique to China, but a part of a broader story of global change.
What Does International Law Say About China’s Spy Balloon and the US Response?
By Donald R. Rothwell
The incursion of the Chinese balloon tested the bounds of international law.
Flexible Enmeshment: The Philippines’ New Approach to China-US Competition
By Justin Baquisal
Marcos could be characterized as a middle ground between his predecessors – not as pro-U.S. than Aquino, but less pro-China than Duterte.
Pakistan Blocks Wikipedia, Says It Hurt Muslim Sentiments
By Munir Ahmed
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says it blocked Wikipedia because a 48-hour deadline to remove content it said was blasphemous was ignored.
Sri Lankan President Pledges Full Implementation of 13th Amendment
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Ranil Wickremesinghe appears to be using the promise of power-sharing as a political tool to secure himself in power.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s Military Ruler in 9/11 Wars, Dies
By Jon Gambrell and Munir Ahmed
He ruled Pakistan through the first six years of the US military operations in Afghanistan, tensions with India, a nuclear proliferation scandal and mounting Islamic extremism at home.
Japan’s New Defense Direction and Its Indo-Pacific Policy
By ISHIHARA Yusuke
Each has implications for the other.
Sri Lanka’s Flawed Path to Independence
By Devana Senanayake
Sri Lanka’s elite-driven independence process laid the groundwork for the problems that continue to plague the country today, from ethnic tensions to inequality.
This Week in Asia: February 3, 2023
The Diplomat’s weekly video round-up of Asia news.