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July 24, 2021
USMC Force Design 2030: US Marines and the Indo-Pacific
By Alec Bohlman
The new vision for the U.S. Marine Corps will impact cooperation with allies as well.
July 24, 2021
North Korean Oil Tanker Stops in Chinese Port in the First Recorded Visit Since 2017
By Leo Byrne
It’s the first time since tight U.N. sanctions on the North’s oil imports went into effect that Pyongyang has openly sent a tanker to China.
July 23, 2021
How the Milk Tea Alliance Is Remaking Myanmar
By Jasmine Chia and Scott Singer
Why the social media-based movement, and not ASEAN, offers a vision for a democratic and federalist Myanmar.
July 21, 2021
The Kris Wu Sex Scandal and China’s Search for Morality in Public Figures
By Jo Kim
In China, celebrities are under greater political and societal pressure to refrain from “immoral conduct.” Is this the Chinese version of cancel culture?
DRI | Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 4
Comorbid
India’s Economy and the Pandemic
COVID-19 in Asia
July 29, 2021
Why Taiwan Is Beating COVID-19 – Again
By Wayne Soon
How did Taiwan suppress this wave, even as Australia, Vietnam, and Singapore are struggling with an uptick of the virus?
July 29, 2021
Tokyo Sets Another COVID Record Days After Olympics Begin
By Mari Yamaguchi
Even as the Games continue, health experts urged Japanese to adopt a “sense of crisis” toward the current outbreak.
July 28, 2021
In Vietnam, Civil Society Is Picking up the Slack Where Authorities Struggle
By Luke Hunt
Ho Chi Minh City residents say self-help is key to surviving the pandemic.
July 27, 2021
Bhutan’s Vaccination Program Scales New Heights
By Wasbir Hussain and Rishi Lekhi
The Himalayan kingdom fully vaccinated 90 percent of eligible adults within a week.
Magazine
M
July 01, 2021
After Wild Election Season, What’s Next for Mongolia?
By Marissa Smith and Julian Dierkes
The Mongolian People’s Party now controls the executive and the legislature, but now must contend with COVID-19 and demands to level the political playing field.
July 01, 2021
The Bear Is Back? Russia’s Return to Southeast Asia
By Zachary Abuza
Russia will never match U.S. or Chinese influence in the region, but it has proven adept at getting a decent return for its minimal investments.
July 01, 2021
The Present in the Past: 100 Years of the Chinese Communist Party
By Tony Saich
As the CCP celebrates its centennial, how close is the party of Xi Jinping to its founding vision?
July 01, 2021
Nuclear Justice for the Marshall Islands
By Jon Letman
Seventy-five years after the U.S. began testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands stand at a new crossroads.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
July 30, 2021
Who Is Qin Gang, China’s New US Ambassador?
By Lizzi C. Lee
Qin has little U.S. experience, unlike his predecessors. But he may have something even more valuable: direct access to Xi Jinping.
July 30, 2021
China Is Providing an Alternative Regional Framework for South Asia
July 29, 2021
China Targets the Private Tutoring Sector
July 29, 2021
Why Taiwan Is Beating COVID-19 – Again
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
July 30, 2021
Authoritarianism Can’t Beat Climate Change
By Alexander Butler
If indeed there does exist a pathway out of global climate governance gridlock, the answer does not lie at the feet of authoritarian monoliths.
July 30, 2021
Japan, the US, and the Quest for Secure Supply Chains
July 29, 2021
US Stepping up Airstrikes This Week to Support Afghan Forces
July 28, 2021
Can the Taliban Play China and Russia Off the United States?
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
July 30, 2021
US Navy Unveils Strategy for Autonomous Vehicles
By Steven Stashwick
AI-controlled unmanned craft can supplement flagging numbers in the U.S. fleet.
July 28, 2021
Emergency Fighters and National Resilience
July 27, 2021
General Ju Qiansheng Takes Command of the PLA Strategic Support Force
July 24, 2021
USMC Force Design 2030: US Marines and the Indo-Pacific
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
July 30, 2021
Philippines’ Duterte Retains Pact Allowing US War Exercises
By Jim Gomez
The president has formally retracted his earlier letter announcing the termination of the Philippines-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement.
July 29, 2021
Malaysia PM Under Pressure to Quit After Stern Royal Rebuke
July 29, 2021
Olympic Champion Hidilyn Diaz Deserves an Apology From the Philippine Government
July 28, 2021
In Vietnam, Civil Society Is Picking up the Slack Where Authorities Struggle
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
July 30, 2021
‘Welcome Home’: Evacuation Flight Brings 200 Afghans to US
By Ellen Knickmeyer and Matthew Lee
Subsequent flights are due to bring more of the roughly 700 applicants who are farthest along in the process of getting visas.
July 30, 2021
Afghanistan 2021 Is Not Afghanistan 1996. That Offers Hope for Peace.
July 30, 2021
The Gendered Impact of Uttar Pradesh’s Population Control Bill
July 30, 2021
Blinken’s India Visit Goes Off Smoothly
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
July 30, 2021
South Korea and the Tokyo Olympics
By Jenna Gibson
Even while Koreans cheer on their athletes, the tensions between Japan and South Korea are bringing a political tint to the Games.
July 29, 2021
South Korea’s Struggle With the Politics of Inclusion
July 27, 2021
North, South Korea Agree to Reopen Communication Channels
July 20, 2021
President Moon Decides Against Olympic Visit to Japan
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RJuly 29, 2021
Tokyo Sets Another COVID Record Days After Olympics Begin
By Mari Yamaguchi
Even as the Games continue, health experts urged Japanese to adopt a “sense of crisis” toward the current outbreak.
July 23, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Attendees and the No-Shows
July 21, 2021
Japanese Envoy Says Tokyo ‘Struggles Every Day’ With China
July 20, 2021
Is Japan’s Olympic Bubble About to Burst?
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
July 29, 2021
How Taiwan’s Mayors Helped Lead the Fight Against COVID-19
By Chingyu Yao
Citizen-centered policies and local mayors can lead Taiwan – and the world – into a better new normal even after the pandemic.
July 28, 2021
Moon Jae-in’s Stalled Odyssey to Peace in Korea
July 28, 2021
South Asia’s Cultural Climate Is at Risk. What Can the US Do?
July 26, 2021
Blinken Must Urge Modi to Repeal Repressive Laws
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
July 28, 2021
Mongolia Seizes the Diplomatic Moment
By Shannon Tiezzi
In the space of just five days, Mongolian officials have held high-level talks with China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States
July 27, 2021
Weightlifter Guryeva Wins Turkmenistan’s 1st Olympic Medal
July 27, 2021
Kyrgyz Politician Arrested for Involvement in October Unrest Begins Hunger Strike
July 27, 2021
Tajikistan’s Latest COVID Outbreak: The Rahmon Family
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
July 30, 2021
Reasons for Optimism in Wake of Sherman’s Visit to China
By Brian Wong
Policymakers from both sides of the Pacific would benefit from seizing upon the opportunity generated by Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman's visit.
July 23, 2021
Cooling Off China-US Technological Competition: A Blueprint in Shared Purpose
July 23, 2021
US Deputy Secretary of State to Visit China After All
July 22, 2021
Ted Cruz Blocking State Department Nominees Over Nord Stream 2
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
July 27, 2021
Economic Logic Alone Will Not Curb ASEAN’s Carbon Emissions
By James Guild
The hard political choices involved in phasing out coal and reducing emissions are the most important, and also the most often elided, element.
July 20, 2021
The Challenge of Modernizing a Navy: Malaysia’s Boustead Heavy Industries
July 20, 2021
China’s ‘Circular 15’ Addresses Local Governments’ Hidden Debts
July 16, 2021
Vietnam’s Battle to Market Its Prized Rice
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
July 28, 2021
In Exporting Problems, Australia Risks Damaging Ties With New Zealand
By Grant Wyeth
With deportations, Australia is demonstrating a knee-jerk self-interest, divorced from the wider realities of the Australia-New Zealand relationship.
July 23, 2021
Australia Struggles With Moral Obligation to Aid Afghan Partners
July 22, 2021
Connecting the Vertices: Prospects for Australia-Taiwan Relations
July 22, 2021
New Zealand’s Statement on China’s Cyberattacks: A Shot Across the Bow
Videos
Asia on Video
V
July 17, 2021
Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
Maciej Boni, Gigi Gronvall, and Yanzhong Huang discuss the investigation into COVID-19's origins: what we know and what we don't know.
July 07, 2021
Webinar Alert: Where Did COVID-19 Come From?
July 03, 2021
China’s Social Credit System: Fact vs. Fiction
June 02, 2021
What Happened at the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
July 27, 2021
The Legacy of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Ruling, Five Years On
By Ankit Panda
What is the legacy of the landmark 2016 ruling by the Hague-based arbitral tribunal?
July 22, 2021
A Foreign Correspondent in Academia
July 21, 2021
Southeast Asia, Geopolitics, and China’s Vaccine Diplomacy
June 28, 2021
India’s Economy After the Pandemic
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
July 09, 2021
Myanmar Nationals Fleeing Coup Find a Home Away From Home in India’s Northeast
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
Local NGOs and residents are providing the refugees support.