Diplomat Risk Intelligence
Insights Today – for Tomorrow
Diplomat Risk Intelligence offers you dedicated access to an exclusive network of subject matter experts on geopolitical, security, economic, and political trends covering the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Research Notes
Published by Diplomat Risk Intelligence, Research Notes
offer actionable insight to strategic decision-makers seeking to understand political risk and economic
trends in Asia.
May 17, 2022
With Decisive Win, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Is the New President of the Philippines. Return of the Marcos Family Happens Amidst Growing Geopolitical and Economic Challenges
May 12, 2022
Sri Lanka Shaken by Protests and Repression. The Economic and Political Emergency May Herald Similar Crises in the Region
May 5, 2022
Faced With Stronger Headwinds, South Korea Looks for a New Strategy. President Yoon Wants a Break With the Past
April 29, 2022
Indian FinTech Gains Escape Velocity. The Sector Is a Bright Spot in India’s Race for Global Economic Influence
Magazine
M
May 01, 2022
Far From Home: The Afghans Aiding Afghanistan
By Ezzatullah Mehrdad
Global attention on Afghanistan has largely dried up, but the Afghan diaspora cannot look away.

May 01, 2022
Australia’s Elections: The China Narrative
By Natasha Kassam and Jennifer Hsu
How best to manage ties with China ought to be a central election issue, but the campaign narratives are focused on posturing rather than policy.

May 01, 2022
Japan’s Constitution at 75
By Sheila A. Smith
How does Japan’s post-war constitution hold up in an era of increasing great power competition and unexpected emergencies?

May 01, 2022
Can the US Deter a Taiwan Invasion?
By David Gitter
Rethinking “strategic ambiguity” is important, but in the meantime Washington must compensate for its dwindling military advantage over China with more costly signals of political resolve.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
May 25, 2022
China Claims Sabotage as UN Rights Official Visits Xinjiang
By Associated Press
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is in China, the first such trip since 2005, to investigate abuses against Muslim minorities.
May 23, 2022
Is Shanghai’s Lockdown Over?
May 20, 2022
Warning Signs in China’s Economic Outlook as COVID-19 Spreads
May 18, 2022
Taiwan’s Quest to Attend the World Health Assembly
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
May 21, 2022
Evaluating China’s ‘Space-Ground Integrated Information Network’ Project
By Kai Lin Tay
The high-tech mega-project is still in an early stage, but will have both economic and military implications.
May 21, 2022
Philippines Establishes 3 New Coast Guard Outposts in South China Sea
May 19, 2022
India vs. China in Latin America: Competing Actors or in Separate Leagues?
May 17, 2022
Beware the Himalayan Heat: China, India, and Pakistan on the Brink
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
May 25, 2022
China, Russia Fly 6 Bombers Near Japan Amid Quad Summit
By Kosuke Takahashi
The first such joint flight since November 2021 coincided with Japan's hosting of the Quad summit.
May 21, 2022
Looking Back at the 1999 India-Pakistan Lahore Declaration
May 19, 2022
Will the Philippines’ President-Elect Continue the Country’s Defense Modernization?
May 13, 2022
The Changing Pattern of China’s Aircraft Incursions Into Taiwan’s ADIZ
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
May 24, 2022
At Least 17 Perish as Refugee Boat Capsizes Off Myanmar Coast
By Sebastian Strangio
The tragedy is a reminder of the unresolved Rohingya refugee crisis that has been largely eclipsed by the country's post-coup conflict.
May 24, 2022
Thailand’s Democrat Party: The Gloomy Light at the End of the Tunnel
May 23, 2022
How Philippine Education Contributed to the Return of the Marcoses
May 23, 2022
Political Dynasties Dominate Philippines Election — Again
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
May 25, 2022
What Lies Behind Modi’s Nepal Visit?
By Bipin Ghimire and Apoorva Pathak
The choice to visit Lumbini for Buddha's birthday was carefully crafted both religiously and geopolitically.
May 24, 2022
Imagine a World Without the Taj Mahal
May 23, 2022
Bulldozers Emerge as an Important Weapon in BJP’s Anti-Muslim Arsenal
May 21, 2022
Is Gwadar’s New Development Prepared to Handle Its Weather?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
May 23, 2022
Yoon and Biden Hold 1st Summit Meeting in Seoul
By Mitch Shin
U.S. President Joe Biden visited South Korea from May 20 to May 22 and discussed regional issues with new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.
May 19, 2022
What Comes Next in North Korea’s Battle With Omicron?
May 17, 2022
Which Yoon Should Biden Expect at the Upcoming South Korea-US Summit?
May 16, 2022
North Korea’s COVID-19 Crisis
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
May 18, 2022
Japan to Co-develop Future Fighter F-X With UK
By Kosuke Takahashi
Japan may choose BAE Systems, not Lockheed Martin, to support Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in developing next-generation fighter aircraft.
May 17, 2022
Okinawa Marks 50 Years of End to US Rule Amid Protests
May 13, 2022
Japan’s Food Self-Sufficiency Debate Overlooks the Core Problem
May 12, 2022
Japan’s Weak Yen Hampers Its Post-COVID Recovery
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
May 24, 2022
Vanuatu Shows How to Reduce Emissions Through Trade Facilitation
By Shamika Sirimanne and Ratnakar Adhikari
When it comes to cutting emissions, there is low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking. These Asia-Pacific countries show how to do it.
May 20, 2022
How LGBT+ Communities Overcame Japan’s 2011 Triple Disaster
May 19, 2022
The US Should Ban China’s State Media From Social Platforms
May 18, 2022
US-ASEAN Summit a Missed Opportunity to Tackle Shrinking Civic Space Across the Region
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
May 25, 2022
Hearings Begin in Case Against Kyrgyz Journalist Temirov and Singer Nazarov
By Catherine Putz
As preliminary hearings began last week, Temirov discovered that his Kyrgyz passport had been canceled already.
May 25, 2022
Internet Severed Again in Tajikistan’s GBAO
May 20, 2022
Can Digital Governance Strengthen Mongolia’s Democratic Institutions?
May 13, 2022
China and Uzbekistan: An Emerging Development Partnership?
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
May 24, 2022
Southeast Asian Nations Roll the Dice on Biden’s Indo-Pacific Framework
By Sebastian Strangio
The region has thrown its support behind Washington's long-awaited economic engagement plan, even as the specifics remain vague.
May 24, 2022
Biden Launches Indo-Pacific Trade Deal
May 18, 2022
Taiwan’s President Condemns California Church Shooting
May 17, 2022
Assessing the Outcomes of the US-ASEAN Special Summit
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
May 24, 2022
‘KKN di Desa Penari’ Becomes Indonesia’s Biggest Even Homegrown Blockbuster
By James Guild
As Indonesian box office sales continue to rise, so too is the demand for locally produced films.
May 18, 2022
COVID-19 Lockdowns Bring Economic Woes for China
May 17, 2022
The Economic Outlook for the Philippines Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
May 16, 2022
What’s Behind China’s Ban on NFTs?
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
May 24, 2022
As Biden Wraps First Asia Trip, Ardern Heads to the US
By Geoffrey Miller
Biden’s meetings in South Korea and Japan – along with a change of government in nearby Australia – will set the scene for the New Zealand PM’s trip to the United States.
May 23, 2022
Australian Voters Demand Change, Oust Morrison’s Coalition Government
May 23, 2022
What Labor’s Victory Means for Australia’s Engagement With Southeast Asia
May 23, 2022
Australia Has a New Government. What Should Quad Leaders Expect?
Videos
Asia on Video
V
May 12, 2022
Russia-Ukraine War: The Economic Impact for the Asia-Pacific
Dingding Chen, Biswajit Dhar, and Bruno Maçães discuss how Asia-Pacific governments and companies are responding to the economic turmoil.
April 21, 2022
What’s Driving Pakistan’s Political Crisis?
March 16, 2022
What Does Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Mean for Central Asia?
February 18, 2022
South Korea’s Presidential Election: The Big Picture
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
May 23, 2022
The Path to Militancy and Terrorism
By Luke Hunt
A conversation with author Charlotte McDonald-Gibson.
May 18, 2022
Sizing-up the US-ASEAN Summit and Vietnam’s Place in the World
May 18, 2022
The Geopolitical Consequences of China’s Solomon Islands Pact
April 29, 2022
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Lessons for Taiwan
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
April 16, 2022
Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges are Headed for Global Recognition
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The bridges have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites.