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.
An Afghan Woman Takes on Society’s Taboos, One Tattoo at a Time
By Associated Press
“Being a woman in Afghanistan requires guts,” Suraya Shaheedi, a female tattoo artist, says.
Taiwan Pushed to the Sidelines as COP25 Climate Summit Concludes
By Nick Aspinwall
Taiwan sent a delegation to the summit’s sideline events even as a new climate index blasted its performance in meeting the emissions targets set by the Paris Agreement.
Taiwan’s Usually Obscure Party Lists Might Swing Its Legislative Election
By Lev Nachman and Brian Hioe
The KMT was riding high in legislative polls -- until a huge misstep with its party lists.
On Capturing Everyday Life: A Conversation with Kazuhiro Soda
By Layne Vandenberg
Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda broke from mainstream documentary production to give his viewers the power of observation.
Tao Indigenous Community Demands Removal of Nuclear Waste From Taiwan’s Orchid Island
By Nick Aspinwall
Taiwan’s president offered compensation to indigenous residents for storing nuclear waste on Orchid Island without their consent. Tao elders promptly rejected the offer.
Saving India‘s Intellectual History Will Require a Massive Effort
By Krzysztof Iwanek
Some of India’s historical sources are in dire need of preservation.
2 Books Showcase How to Write on India (Or Any Other Country)
By Krzysztof Iwanek
It is easy to turn the subjects of stories into objects. These two books on India are excellent examples on how to avoid this.
Queer Eye’s Adaptation to Japanese Audiences
By Layne Vandenberg and Emi Suzuki
Netflix’s Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! incorporates popular tropes of Japanese television to appeal to local viewers and address modern day issues.
Is This the Next Baby Shark-Like Phenom?
By Tae-jun Kang
South Korea has a new mega-hit cartoon character: Pengsoo the giant penguin.
The Fate of Sri Lanka’s Tamil National Anthem
By Dishani Senaratne
What the past (and future) of the Tamil version of the national anthem tells us about minority rights in Sri Lanka.
Social Media in Asia: A New Frontier for Mass Surveillance and Political Manipulation
By Samuel Woodhams
Although stark across Asia, the rise of social media monitoring tools and disinformation campaigns is a global phenomenon.
Singing, Dancing, and a Little Plov: Central Asia’s Got Talent
By Colleen Wood
Politics and economics are not the only relevant spheres of integration in Central Asia; a new TV show makes regional cooperation tangible to the masses.