Region
East Asia
China Suddenly Abandoned Its Zero COVID Policy. How Did It Start In The First Place?
By Ceren Ergenc
We tend to think China has a strict, top-down COVID-19 policy, but local variation is what really shaped the outcome, from beginning to end.
Japan’s Population Crisis Nears Point of No Return
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan’s population decline is following the worst-case scenario, prompting the government to devise urgent policies to incentivize more births.
Becoming a ‘Sponge City’ at Shenzhen Speed
By Robert C. Thornett
Shenzhen is a prime example of China's Sponge City Program, which aims to both prevent flooding and increase water supply in urban areas.
Where Is India in South Korea’s New Indo-Pacific Strategy?
By Jagannath Panda and Choong Yong Ahn
Seoul’s Indo-Pacific strategy converges with India’s outlook of the region, while sharing a common vision that goes beyond great power politics.
North Korea Imposes 5-day Lockdown on Pyongyang
By Mitch Shin
According to a post published by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea imposed a five-day lockdown on Pyongyang to contain infectious diseases.
Diversification Isn’t Enough to Cure Europe’s Economic Dependence on China
By Francesca Ghiretti and Hanns W. Maull
In wrestling with its economic vulnerability to China, the EU is betting on diversification to solve its problems. It’s not the panacea it is made out to be.
North Korea Mines New Revenue Sources in Its Trade With China
By Troy Stangarone
The latest data shows Pyongyang is continuing to adapt to U.N. sanctions, while trade is beginning to rebound from pandemic lows.
After an Astonishing Year, Chinese See a Brighter Post-COVID Future
By John D. Van Fleet
There is a palpable sense of relief in China now that the days of zero COVID are over.
How Xi Jinping Used the CCP Constitution to Cement His Power
By Jarek Grzywacz
Xi’s eventual successor will face the problem of major revisions to the party constitution – meaning a complicated transition period.
Assessing the Japan-US Summit
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Jeffrey Hornung.
Beyond Oil: A New Phase in China-Middle East Engagement
By Nurettin Akcay
Yes, the oil trade is a major factor. But China’s eagerness to also invest in technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure is driving the next phase of cooperation.
South Korea’s Economic Security Dilemma
By Moksh Suri and Abhishek Sharma
As China-U.S. competition securitizes more and more economic transactions, Seoul’s old balancing act between the rivals is becoming trickier to sustain.