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March 21, 2023
South Korea Will Stay Out of a Taiwan Strait War
By Denny Roy
There is good reason to think South Korea would limit its support to actions near the low end of the spectrum.
March 20, 2023
China Sends Military Drones to DRC Amid Fears of Regional War
By Robert Bociaga
The DRC has purchased Chinese attack drones, raising concerns about China’s role in exacerbating the DRC-Rwanda conflict.
March 18, 2023
Korean Diplomat Accused of Sexually Assaulting New Zealand Man Faces Renewed Charges at Home
By Raphael Rashid
The resumption of the case in South Korea will put justice against politics, diplomacy, and societal attitudes toward sexual violence.
March 17, 2023
Indonesia Close to Closing Deal for BrahMos Weapons System: Report
By Sebastian Strangio
A deal would make Indonesia the second Southeast Asian nation after the Philippines to acquire the potent supersonic missile.
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March 01, 2023
China’s Rise Reverberates in Tajikistan
By Sher Khashimov
China’s growing importance to – and influence over – the country is a case study in Beijing’s geopolitical rise over the past several decades.
March 01, 2023
From Hope to Despair in Myanmar
By Zachary Abuza
From 2015-2020, Myanmar seemed on the cusp of a meaningful transformation. Then the coup set the country back decades.
March 01, 2023
In the Face of Climate Change, the Pacific Leads Boldly
By Jon Letman
Seven years after the Paris Agreement, Pacific Islanders demonstrate leadership and resolve in the face of the climate crisis.
March 01, 2023
Is China’s Reform and Opening Era Over?
By Sara Hsu
Xi changed China’s trajectory from the “Reform and Opening Up” of his predecessors toward a more internal and state-focused model of economic development.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
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March 24, 2023
Upgraded Philippines-US Military Cooperation May Cause a Setback in China-Philippines Relations
By Nian Peng
Beijing is paying close attention to the rapid developments in the Philippines-U.S. alliance, and China is not happy with what it sees.
March 22, 2023
China’s Expanding Influence in Iraq
March 22, 2023
China, Russia Recommit to Close Partnership in the Shadow of Ukraine War
March 21, 2023
Explaining China’s Diplomatic Strategy on Ukraine
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
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March 24, 2023
North Korea Says It Tested New Underwater Nuclear Attack System
By Mitch Shin
North Korea said it tested a new “unmanned underwater nuclear attack craft” as the South Korea-U.S. drills drew to a close.
March 24, 2023
Take the Xi-Putin Relationship at Face Value
March 22, 2023
China in Russia, Japan in Ukraine: Asian Powers Enter International Diplomacy
March 21, 2023
Japan’s Kishida Offers Ukraine Support as China’s Xi Backs Russia
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
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March 21, 2023
US, Philippines Break Ground on $25 Million Runway Rehabilitation Project
By Sebastian Strangio
The upgrade at Manila's Basa Air Base is part of $82 million in U.S.-funded infrastructure upgrades at military bases included under a 2014 defense pact.
March 20, 2023
Japan Commissions Second Taigei-Class Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine
March 17, 2023
Will Korea Aerospace Industries Be Privatized?
March 17, 2023
Indonesia Close to Closing Deal for BrahMos Weapons System: Report
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
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March 24, 2023
Laos Takes Another Step Forward on Controversial Mekong Dam
By Sebastian Strangio
The China-backed Pak Lay hydropower project is just one of nine dams that the Lao government has planned for the Mekong River.
March 24, 2023
Jokowi, Ganjar, and Prabowo: A Look at Indonesia’s Pre-Election Landscape
March 24, 2023
Soccer is Empowering Burmese Migrant Girls on the Thai Border
March 24, 2023
It’s Time To Rethink Myanmar’s Ethnic Armed Organizations
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
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March 25, 2023
Pakistani Court Grants Imran Khan Protection From Arrest
By Munir Ahmed
Khan will be able to avoid arrest until at least March 27 amid accusations that he incited supporters to violence in last week’s clashes with police.
March 24, 2023
Militarizing Re-entry of Space Objects – An Indian Perspective
March 24, 2023
Is India the ‘Mother of Democracies’?
March 23, 2023
Once Again, Teesta River Issue Roils Bangladesh-India Relations
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
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March 24, 2023
Yoon and Kishida Are Fumbling South Korea-Japan Rapprochement
By Joel Atkinson
With Yoon and Kishida less than ideal midwives to a new relationship, there’s a real need for Washington to help move things along.
March 23, 2023
A Chinese Businessman on Doing Business Inside North Korea
March 16, 2023
Rich South Korea, Unhappy Koreans
March 15, 2023
How to Enhance South Korea’s Support for Ukraine
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
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March 21, 2023
India-Japan Relations: Out of the Shadow of Ukraine
By Titli Basu
Amid fractured global politics, Kishida’s visit to New Delhi proved how crucial India in for Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
March 21, 2023
What’s Driving the Japan-South Korea Thaw?
March 15, 2023
The Politics of Sexual Minorities in Japan
March 14, 2023
The Japan-South Korea Thaw Is Far From a Done Deal
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
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March 24, 2023
Ahead of UN Vote, Vanuatu Says: We Must Fight for Climate Justice
By Jotham Napat and Patricia Scotland
If we value human rights and the rule of law, then we must fight for climate justice, argue Vanuatu's foreign minister and the Commonwealth's secretary-general.
March 23, 2023
The War in Ukraine Could Formally End in Mongolia
March 22, 2023
As Survivors of China’s Genocide, We Must Bear Witness
March 21, 2023
Why China’s Xi Jinping Is Visiting Russia
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
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March 23, 2023
China’s Grip on Mongolia’s Quest for Spiritual Leadership
By Amar Adiya
The search for the next Jebtsundamba Khutuktu is being complicated by Beijing’s desire to assert control over Tibetan Buddhism – even outside China’s borders.
March 21, 2023
What Does Xi Jinping’s Third Term Mean for China-Mongolia Relations?
March 21, 2023
Low Turnout and a Victory for Kazakhstan’s Ruling Party in Parliamentary Polls
March 18, 2023
Detangling the Urban Paradox in Ulaanbaatar
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
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March 24, 2023
The Case of Guo Wengui: How Anti-China ‘Fake News’ Thrives in the West
By Juan Alberto Ruiz Casado
Unscrupulous individuals who frame themselves as persecuted dissidents can easily deceive a media environment poised to believe any negative story about China.
March 17, 2023
Artificial Intelligence Will Bring Social Changes in China
March 16, 2023
Garcetti’s Long-stalled India Ambassador Nomination Faces Senate
March 11, 2023
Foreshadowing the US Marine Corps Landing at Guam’s Camp Blaz
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
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March 25, 2023
The Future of State-Sponsored AI Research in China
By Shaoshan Liu
The fundamental mindset of Chinese tech companies is still driven by short-term profit, and they have always looked to the state to sponsor technological leaps.
March 22, 2023
A Reality Check on China-US Decoupling
March 21, 2023
Southeast Asia’s Post-Pandemic Tourism Revival
March 17, 2023
TikTok Dismisses US Calls for Chinese Owners to Sell Stakes
Oceania
The South Pacific
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March 23, 2023
What Are Australia’s Plans for the ‘Indigenous Voice’?
By Rod McGuirk
Australia is planning a constitutional referendum on creating an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, but the move has generated controversy.
March 22, 2023
Another Way to Look at AUKUS: Keeping the US Engaged in the Indo-Pacific
March 20, 2023
New Zealand’s Middle East Strategy, 20 Years After the Iraq War
March 16, 2023
Breach of Bail to Return as an Offense for Children in Queensland
Videos
Asia on Video
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Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
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March 24, 2023
The AUKUS Partners Explain Their Phased Approach. What Are the Risks?
By Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz
The three partners have explained how the submarine cooperation initiative will move ahead. What are the risks?
February 22, 2023
The Diplomat Magazine Hits Issue 100
February 27, 2023
Rescuing the Trafficked in Southeast Asia
February 22, 2023
What’s Driving South Korea’s Debate on Acquiring Nuclear Weapons
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
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March 17, 2023
A Community From India’s Northeast Finds a Home in Israel
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Around 4,000 people of the Bnei Menashe, one of 10 lost tribes of Israel, have emigrated to Israel.