Region
East Asia
North Korean Soldiers Fire at South Korean Guardpost
By Ankit Panda
Seoul assessed the incident as a violation of a 2018 military agreement.
Kim Jong Un’s Quiet April: Exceptional, or Par for the Course?
By Ankit Panda
Plus: China-Australia tensions; U.S. export controls; offensive cyber from Vietnam
What Will Tokyo’s Postponed Olympics Mean for Japanese Politics?
By Kristo Tamm
Shinzo Abe’s legacy is on the line.
As COVID-19 Loses Steam, Hong Kong Protests Heat Up
By Associated Press
Dwindling case counts, coupled with Beijing’s latest moves to consolidate control over the city, have protesters braving in-person demonstrations yet again.
Amid a Pandemic, China Ramps Up Maritime ‘Micro-Aggressions’
By Ben Lowsen
Beijing is putting up a brash front to hide its growing insecurity.
Will COVID-19 Be a Blessing in Disguise for the Belt and Road?
By Xianbai Ji
The hiatus afforded by COVID-19 provides an opportunity for China to contemplate ways to bring about an improved BRI 2.0.
Japan’s Jobless Rate Spikes as Companies Clamor for Assistance
By Thisanka Siripala
Confusion, controversy, and red tape have critics warning that government assistance will arrive too late to keep businesses from going under.
Getting the Pacific Deterrence Initiative Right
By Benjamin Rimland and Patrick Buchan
The PDI will undoubtedly set the groundwork for U.S. defense posture in Asia for the foreseeable future. Getting it right matters.
North Korea Gives Rare Response to Panic Buying Rumor
By Tae-jun Kang
North Korea almost never reacts to reports in foreign media. What's different this time?
Tsai Ing-wen 2.0
By Lev Nachman and Jessica Drun
Tsai’s first term had its successes and failures, yet she still won a historic re-election victory. What can she deliver in her second term?
Taiwan High Court Overturns Acquittals, Finds Sunflower Movement Protesters Guilty
By Nick Aspinwall
The High Court’s decision to overturn not guilty verdicts for seven protesters who stormed the Executive Yuan led to outrage from civil society figures.
Japan and China’s Competition in the Pacific Islands
By Denghua Zhang and Miwa Hirono
Amid the geostrategic competition in the Pacific, the China-Japan dynamic is often overlooked.