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.
Korean Super Group BTS Faces Uproar in China Over War Comments
By Associated Press
China’s nationalists bristled at a mention of U.S.-South Korea cooperation in Korean War, fought against China and North Korea.
As COVID Restrictions Ease in China, Silk Road Tourism Blooms Again
By Chen Zhixin and Tim Winter
The BRI has led to a dramatic uptick in Silk Road heritage projects in China.
Setting Usual Mudslinging Aside, India Twitter Rallies Behind an Old Man and His Small Roadside Eatery
By Sumaira Rizvi
Indian social media is full of partisan vitriol. But its support for Kanta Prasad shows all is not lost yet.
South Korea’s Emperor of Trot Goes Viral
By Jenna Gibson
73-year-old superstar Na Hoon-a captured South Korea's attention with a rare TV concert.
Japan Seeks to Boost Catch Limits of Prized Bluefin Tuna
By Associated Press
Demand for bluefin tuna is such that any progress in restoring its depleted population draws pressure for bigger catches.
The Korean Wave Rises in the UAE
By Donya Saberi
K-drama, K-beauty, and Korean fried chicken in the UAE.
INDIA: Inspecting New Delhi’s Initiative Acronyms
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The current Indian government likes to name its policies with clever acronyms.
Uncle Roger: The East to West Comedic Sensation
By Layne Vandenberg
Nigel Ng’s viral comedy sketches, featuring his middle-aged Malaysian “uncle” alter-ego, have resonated with fans both in Asia and the West.
Hong Kong-Indonesian Couples Caught in the Middle Amid COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
By Jason Hung
Plans for a travel bubble between Hong Kong and Indonesia have been put on hold, disappointing couples who have been left separated by closed borders.
Beyond Data Privacy: Trump’s Proposed Ban of WeChat
By Layne Vandenberg
The broader success factors behind Tencent and WeChat indicate alternative motivations for Trump’s proposed ban.
‘Mulan’ Wanted Chinese Money. Taiwan’s Rising Filmmakers Don’t.
By Anthony Kao
As Taiwan decouples from China, its filmmakers are starting to eschew Chinese profits in favor of political expression.
Divers in Southeast Asia May Have Found US Submarine Lost in WWII
By Grant Peck
Divers believe they’d found the wreckage of the the USS Grenadier in the Strait of Malacca.