Region
East Asia
![Who Is the Real Mulan? Who Is the Real Mulan?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-04-7.jpg)
Who Is the Real Mulan?
By Jessie Lau
The current film has sparked a fierce fight over Mulan’s soul: what she should represent, both as a symbol for women and for Chinese-ness.
![Abe Shinzo’s Legacy in South Korea Abe Shinzo’s Legacy in South Korea](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-moon-abe.jpg)
Abe Shinzo’s Legacy in South Korea
By Kyle Ferrier
South Korea-Japan ties during Abe’s tenure can probably best be described as persistent lows, punctuated by what have proved to be mostly ephemeral highs
![China’s Crackdown on Mongolian Culture China’s Crackdown on Mongolian Culture](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-03-7.jpg)
China’s Crackdown on Mongolian Culture
By Antonio Graceffo
A new policy promoting Mandarin-language education has sparked protests in Inner Mongolia and outrage across the border.
![Japan’s Departing PM Abe Shinzo Spurs Political Chaos and Mixed Reactions on Political Legacy Japan’s Departing PM Abe Shinzo Spurs Political Chaos and Mixed Reactions on Political Legacy](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-04-23-3.jpg)
Japan’s Departing PM Abe Shinzo Spurs Political Chaos and Mixed Reactions on Political Legacy
By Thisanka Siripala
The sudden mid-term resignation of Japan’s prime minister creates confusion amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
![How China Strengthens the Quad How China Strengthens the Quad](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-05-06-5.jpg)
How China Strengthens the Quad
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Chinese belligerence further strengthens the motivation for Australia, India, Japan, and the United States to keep the Quad together.
![South Korean Conservatives Rebrand Again in Attempted Makeover South Korean Conservatives Rebrand Again in Attempted Makeover](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat.com-7779857076_8df355fdc1_z1.jpg)
South Korean Conservatives Rebrand Again in Attempted Makeover
By Kyle Pope and Simon Voget
The United Future Party is no more. How will the People’s Power Party be different?
![How Will China Respond to the Czech Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan? How Will China Respond to the Czech Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-03-5.jpg)
How Will China Respond to the Czech Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan?
By Matej Šimalčík and Richard Q. Turcsányi
The visit met with harsh rhetoric from Chinese officials. Beijing’s responses to European countries in previous cases offer possible scenarios for how China might react.
![Pentagon Releases Annual China Military Power Report Pentagon Releases Annual China Military Power Report](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-03-1.jpg)
Pentagon Releases Annual China Military Power Report
By Steven Stashwick
Unclassified study assesses China now has world’s largest navy, plans to double its nuclear arsenal.
![Germany Joins the ‘Indo-Pacific’ Club Germany Joins the ‘Indo-Pacific’ Club](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-03-3.jpg)
Germany Joins the ‘Indo-Pacific’ Club
By Sebastian Strangio
Berlin's announcement of an official Indo-Pacific strategy reflects a wider European turn against China.
![Space Security and Geopolitical Competition in the Asia-Pacific Space Security and Geopolitical Competition in the Asia-Pacific](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-earth-1990298_1280.jpg)
Space Security and Geopolitical Competition in the Asia-Pacific
By Ankit Panda
Between the proliferation of counterspace capabilities and intensifying geopolitical competition, space is a critical domain for Asian powers.
![As COVID-19 Surges in South Korea, Doctors Are Furious Over Government Training Plan As COVID-19 Surges in South Korea, Doctors Are Furious Over Government Training Plan](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2020-09-02-4.jpg)
As COVID-19 Surges in South Korea, Doctors Are Furious Over Government Training Plan
By Tae-jun Kang
The government's plan to train more doctors has sparked controversy and a doctors' strike -- all in the middle of a global pandemic.
![Chinese Experts Think US-China Rivalry Accelerated Abe Shinzo’s Departure Chinese Experts Think US-China Rivalry Accelerated Abe Shinzo’s Departure](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-xi-and-abe.jpg)
Chinese Experts Think US-China Rivalry Accelerated Abe Shinzo’s Departure
By Hemant Adlakha
Experts in Beijing believe Abe got caught up in the unending hostility between Japan’s key ally, the U.S. and China, its largest trading partner -- just like in 2007