Region
East Asia
North Korea in a Nutshell
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Kongdan Oh.
China’s ‘Circular 15’ Addresses Local Governments’ Hidden Debts
By Sara Hsu
Local government financing vehicle bonds are coming under increasing scrutiny as a source of financial risk.
China Rejects WHO Call for More Transparency on Origins Probe
By Shannon Tiezzi
China’s Foreign Ministry bluntly rejected the WHO’s call for China to be more cooperative with investigations into COVID-19’s origins.
Is Japan’s Olympic Bubble About to Burst?
By Thisanka Siripala
Gaping holes in the Tokyo Olympics bubble could derail the safety of athletes in the village and entire competitions.
What Cultured Meat Can Tell Us About China
By Bonnie Girard
A new survey on a niche product provides a window into changing attitudes, and even has implications for Chinese national security.
Will Japan’s Rapid COVID-19 Rebound Set Back the Tokyo Olympics?
By Thisanka Siripala
The COVID-19 outlook for Tokyo ahead of the Olympics looks bleak, with the infection rate expected to rise.
The Road Ahead for Taiwan-US Relations
By Melissa Conley Tyler
Increased U.S. support has raised hopes in Taiwan – and some of those expectations may be difficult for Washington to meet.
Where Does China’s Digital Currency Stand?
By Edward Lehman and Jed Rothstein
The eCNY continues to be a trailblazer as a central bank-backed digital currency, even if it’s not quite ready for its full debut.
What Threat Do China’s New Missile Silos Pose to the US?
By Adam Cabot
The silos will significantly complicate counterforce options. What can Washington do?
Report: China Plans BioNTech Booster for Its Population
By Shannon Tiezzi
The report from Caixin comes as the efficacy of homegrown vaccines from Sinopharm and Sinovac continue to be questioned.
WHO Chief Says It Was ‘Premature’ to Rule out COVID Lab Leak
By Frank Jordans and Maria Cheng
Tedros also made a rare public criticism of China, directly asking Beijing to “to be transparent, open and cooperate” with the WHO investigation.
Rising COVID Cases Obscure South Korea’s Economic Recovery
By Kyle Ferrier
Just as South Korea's economy began to pick up steam, a new surge brought the tightest social distancing requirements since March 2020.