Blog
Asia Life
Sports, culture and the arts are a passion for billions in the Asia-Pacific, and offer unique insights into what makes countries here tick. From the latest cricket match to prize-winning novels and the latest art exhibitions, The Diplomat's bloggers cover it all, giving you a fresh perspective on the region.
The God of Great Things, India’s Arundhati Roy Returns With a New Novel
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is important as a collection of essays but less digestible as a novel.
Kung Fu Yoga: A Chinese-Indian Soft Power Romance
By Antonina Łuszczykiewicz and Krzysztof Iwanek
The movie is also a promotional feature for One Belt, One Road.
Cabbages & Condoms: A Socio-Sexual History and Restaurant Review
By Tyler Roney
Beneath the strange restaurant gimmick are Thailand's family planning and population policies.
Is Hong Kong Taking a Backward Step on LGBT Rights?
By Tyler Roney
With a petition to appeal a landmark rights case, Hong Kong may be taking a small step backward.
Asia’s Coming Genomics Revolution
By Will Greene
From China to Japan and Singapore, Asian countries are investing in the genomics revolution.
‘Skeleton God’: Exorcising Demons in Tibet
By Jonathan DeHart
Mysterious murders, corruption, and the ghosts of history haunt the fictional Tibetan town of Yangkar.
South Korea and China Chasing Hockey Dreams
By Matt Lerner
As the next two hosts of the Winter Olympics, both countries are pushing to improve their ice hockey performances.
The Indian Cavalry’s Charge on an Israeli City And Its Usefulness Now
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The politics of history can be useful for diplomacy but dangerous for grammar.
The Perilous Homecoming of Flappy McFlapperson
By Tyler Roney
The cuckoos that captured hearts are on their way back to Beijing.
The Sleuth on the Sukhumvit: 25 Years of Noir Fiction With Christopher G. Moore
By Tyler Roney
Noir fiction set in Southeast Asia is particularly popular.
Vietnam’s Beekeepers Fight Back
By Isa Soares
Beekeepers fight climate change to keep their hives alive.
Inside the World of Indian Moneylenders
By Moin Qazi
Though universally despised, the sahukar plays an indispensable role in most rural communities.