Region
East Asia
China Looks Ahead to 20th Party Congress in 2022
By Tristan Kenderdine
China’s elite politics begins the run toward the personnel changes of October 2022’s 20th Party Congress.
South Koreans Welcome Decision to Maintain ‘Comfort Women’ Statue in Berlin
By Mitch Shin
Tokyo’s pressure over the statue faced a set-back in Germany as the issue continues to loom large in Japan-South Korea interactions.
Taiwan Touts Australian ‘Freedom Wine’ In Opposition to Chinese Tariffs
By Nick Aspinwall
President Tsai Ing-wen has prioritized Taiwan-Australia ties as part of her New Southbound Policy, and there’s momentum on both sides toward a potential trade agreement.
COVID-19 Underscores the Benefits of South Korea’s Artificial Intelligence Push
By Troy Stangarone
South Korea's government is banking on AI as part of its post-COVID recovery.
China Prepares Large-Scale Rollout of Coronavirus Vaccines
By Associated Press
Despite concerns about the vaccines' efficacy, China said it will ensure the products are affordable for developing countries.
Washington’s Backyard: The Caribbean Amid Sino-American Competition
By Bradley J. Murg and Rasheed J. Griffith
China's engagement with the region is altogether more patchy than many popular prognoses make out.
Japan’s COVID-19 Spike Raises Alarm for Elderly and At-Risk Groups
By Thisanka Siripala
The controversial “Go To” domestic tourism subsidy has come under the microscope for possibly facilitating the nation’s explosion of coronavirus cases.
Japan Spacecraft Approaches Earth to Drop Asteroid Samples
By Associated Press
The Hayabusa2’s samples are due to arrive home on Sunday, after a year-long journey back from the asteroid Ryugu.
To Step up Its Digital Transformation, Taiwan Needs a New Social Compact
By Roy Ngerng
If Taiwan is to succeed in its digital strategy, there needs to be a fundamental mindset shift toward investing in Taiwan’s industries and citizenry.
China’s New Surveillance Currency
By Maximilian Kärnfelt and Kai von Carnap
China is wrong to think its digital currency will increase global payments in RMB. But Beijing has its eye on a different prize, anyway.
Will China’s Civil Code Finally Get Companies to Take Fighting Sexual Harassment Seriously?
By Darius Longarino
The implementation of the new code will determine whether it can truly turn the tide against sexual harassment.
China’s Technoindustrial Policy Is More Soviet Retro Than Japan Innovation
By Tristan Kenderdine
In science and technology innovation, closed markets, proprietary standards, and ideologized scientific research policy are a recipe for retrogradation.