Security

What Happened: Despite ongoing peace negotiations, the Taliban continue their attacks, recently incorporating weaponized commercially available drones into their arsenal.

Our Focus: The apparent weaponization of commercial available drones by the Taliban, Franz J. Marty writes, “exemplify that the Taliban remain — despite engaging the Afghan government and other Afghan stakeholders in peace negotiations — intent on fighting the Afghan government and employ new, ingenuous tactics to do so.”

What Comes Next: Whether and to what extent the Taliban will continue, expand and/or improve their use of weaponized commercial drones is hard to predict.

Interview

Dr. Aim Sinpeng, a senior lecturer in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, on the dynamics of social media in Southeast Asia: “The Internet and social media’s arrival in the region have led to unprecedented levels of grassroots activism across societies, especially in authoritarian regimes.”

Northeast Asia

China and the EU are racing to complete a long-dreamt-of bilateral investment treaty to meet an end-of-2020 goal. China wants to cast itself as a champion of free trade with a banner deal, but Europe remains distinctly dissatisfied with China's market restrictions on foreign firms. The prognosis as of the last China-EU (virtual) summit didn't look too rosy; can negotiators bridge the final gaps?

South Asia

The recent death of Baloch activist Karima Mehrab in Toronto has raised the ugly possibility that Pakistani state entities may be behind it. While the Toronto Police so far have not described it as suspicious -- leaving open the possibility that she was not a victim of foul play -- Mehrab's death once again brings to sharp relief the ongoing and often violent struggle between Baloch separatists and Pakistan and the geopolitical forces shaping it.

Southeast Asia

After months of low case numbers that would be the envy of most nations, Thailand has seen a sudden alarming surge in coronavirus infections, linked to a seafood market in the coastal province of Samut Sakhon. This week, Thai authorities are testing tens of thousands in the area – many of them migrant workers from Myanmar – in a bid to bring the outbreak under control.

Central Asia

The results of elections on both sides of the Tian Shan mountains set for January 10 feel like foregone conclusions, but there’s lots to be learned in watching the machinations of political circles in both countries as election day approaches.

SOCIETY

Perceptions of China have darkened in the United States and much of Europe. Are those feelings mutual?

SOCIETY

Popular slang for China’s work culture, a reference to working hours that stretch from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. It’s particularly ubiquitous in the cutthroat competition of the technology industry.