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.
July 28, 2022
South Asia in Turmoil: The Crisis in Sri Lanka Reaches a Boiling Point, While Bangladesh Requests Help from the IMF
July 18, 2022
Violence in Karakalpakstan Is a Blow to Image of “New Uzbekistan” and Efforts to Court Foreign Investment
July 11, 2022
US-China Trade War Tariffs: The State of Play After Inflation
July 1, 2022
The New Energy Landscape in Asia: Profound Shifts After the War in Ukraine
Magazine
M
August 01, 2022
The Guadalcanal Campaign: Then and Now
By Robert Farley
Eighty years after the Guadalcanal Campaign, Solomon Islands has once again drawn U.S. strategic interest.

August 01, 2022
Undelivered Promises: Life in Kashmir After Article 370
By Ritu Mahendru
Three years after the Modi government struck down Kashmir’s special status, the Valley has only grown more volatile.

August 01, 2022
Southeast Asia’s Sinking Megacities
By Nicholas Muller
The coastal cities of Bangkok, Jakarta, and Ho Chi Minh City battle a common existential threat.

August 01, 2022
Funding Myanmar’s Spring Revolution
By Zachary Abuza
War isn’t cheap. How has the National Unity Government funded itself – and its military efforts?
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
August 05, 2022
China Suspends Military Dialogues, Climate Change Talks With US
By Shannon Tiezzi
China's new diplomatic “countermeasures” to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan strike at the Biden administration's priority areas for the relationship.
August 05, 2022
China Stresses Ties With Southeast Asia in Cambodia Meeting
August 05, 2022
From Cambodia, China’s Foreign Minister Seeks Rhetorical Support on Taiwan Crisis
August 03, 2022
Pelosi Lands in Taiwan; China Announces Fighter Flights, Firing Drills
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
August 05, 2022
Restraint May Be the Biden Administration’s Best Answer to the Taiwan Crisis
By John Brake
A preoccupation with showing resolve has long been hard-wired into U.S. foreign policy. But conspicuous restraint would reinforce the United States’ position as a responsible power – and head off an escalating crisis.
August 04, 2022
China Conducts ‘Precision Missile Strikes’ in Taiwan Strait
August 02, 2022
China-India Relations in a State of Limbo
August 02, 2022
How Far Could the Quad Support Taiwan?
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
August 05, 2022
China’s Live-Fire Drills Near Taiwan Send Ballistic Missiles Into Japan’s EEZ
By Kosuke Takahashi
It’s the first time China has fired ballistic missiles into Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
August 04, 2022
US, Indonesia Hold Joint Military Drills Amid China Concerns
July 28, 2022
Fearing US Sanctions, Philippines Scraps Russian Helicopter Deal
July 28, 2022
Pacific Defense Chiefs Meet Against Backdrop of Rising China
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
August 05, 2022
Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan Creates a Headache for ASEAN Countries
By Thi Mai Anh Nguyen
Southeast Asian countries’ greatest fear is being caught in the middle of a China-U.S. conflict. The latest tensions over Taiwan bring that worryingly close to reality.
August 05, 2022
Parsing the Content of ASEAN’s Latest Joint Communique
August 05, 2022
Pariah Solidarity: Myanmar-Russia Relations Blossom Amid Western Sanctions
August 04, 2022
Timor-Leste Denied Entry to ASEAN – For Now
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
August 05, 2022
India’s New Climate Target: Paris-Compliant, But Not Much More
By Tarun Gopalakrishnan
It remains ambitious on renewable energy expansion but moves away from its 2.5-billion-ton forest carbon sequestration target.
August 05, 2022
Al-Qaida-Affiliated Terrorists in India Found With Sophisticated Communication App
August 04, 2022
Bangladesh Tightens Its Belt as Forex Crisis Looms
August 03, 2022
Sri Lanka Leader Proposes 25-year Plan for Crisis-hit Nation
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
August 05, 2022
Does the South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality Need to Be Abolished?
By Britt Robinson
A simple rebrand could make MOGEF a strong ally of the Yoon administration for solving many of the crises facing the South Korean public.
August 04, 2022
South Koreans Question President Yoon’s Decision to Skip Meeting with Pelosi
August 03, 2022
North Korea Denounces Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan
July 28, 2022
Kim Jong Un Slams South Korean President’s ‘Suicidal’ Military Moves
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
August 06, 2022
Pelosi Discusses Taiwan Tensions in Japan
By Mari Yamaguchi
The U.S. House speaker and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida both denounced China’s ongoing military drills near Taiwan, underscoring Japan's security concerns.
August 05, 2022
Kishida Becomes First Japanese PM to Attend NPT Review Conference
August 02, 2022
Japan Truckmaker Hino Says Emissions Data Faked for 20 years
July 30, 2022
Tackling Japan’s Inflation Shock
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
August 05, 2022
Fashion Brands Have Failed to Protect Workers in Military-Ruled Myanmar
By Alysha Khambay
The military's seizure of power has created a climate in which even carrying out human rights due diligence is next to impossible.
August 04, 2022
Abe Shinzo Excelled at Foreign Policy, But He Failed Women Badly
August 03, 2022
South Korea’s ‘Sender Pays’ Policy Is a Threat to the Internet
August 01, 2022
China’s Heavy-Handed Push to Prevent a UN Report on Xinjiang
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
August 05, 2022
A Reminder From Kazakhstan: ‘Separatist’ Comments Online Can Lead to Jail Time
By Catherine Putz
The timing of an August 3 briefing on a months-old separatism case in Petropavl was no coincidence.
August 05, 2022
Former Russian President Questions Kazakhstan’s Sovereignty
August 04, 2022
Uzbekistan Unblocks Twitter, TikTok Still Restricted
August 03, 2022
Pair of Pamiri Activists Disappear From Russia and Reappear in Tajikistan
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
August 05, 2022
The Strategic Logic of Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan
By James Lee and M. Patrick Hulme
Why did Pelosi go to Taiwan? Because Congress’ stance is particularly important for ensuring U.S. deterrence.
August 04, 2022
China Tensions Are Deepening South Korea-US Economic Coordination
August 02, 2022
US Congress Reaffirms Ties With India
August 01, 2022
China, US Woo Pacific Island Nations
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
August 06, 2022
Pacific Rim Economies in Doldrums, Sapped by Inflation, War
By Elaine Kurtenbach
Most economies in the region are just beginning to fully emerge from border closures and other pandemic-related precautions.
August 02, 2022
Rodrigo Duterte’s Economic Legacy in the Philippines
July 26, 2022
Why is Vietnam’s VinFast Building an EV Factory in the United States?
July 25, 2022
The Economic Effects of Extreme Heat in China
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
August 05, 2022
Australia’s China Strategy Under the Labor Party
By Patricio Giusto
Regardless of the government, Australia’s commitment to the Quad – and concerns about China – are here to stay.
August 02, 2022
Jacinda Ardern Strikes a Softer Tone on China
August 01, 2022
Chinese Company Eyes Solomon Islands Deep-water Port
July 29, 2022
Are Australia and New Zealand Compromising on Democratic Ideals in the Pacific?
Videos
Asia on Video
V
June 30, 2022
What Do the Pacific Island Countries Think About China?
Henry Ivarature, Lice Movono, and Patricia O’Brien discuss the hopes and concerns Pacific Island governments – and people – have about China.
May 12, 2022
Russia-Ukraine War: The Economic Impact for the Asia-Pacific
April 21, 2022
What’s Driving Pakistan’s Political Crisis?
March 16, 2022
What Does Russia’s Ukraine Invasion Mean for Central Asia?
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
July 27, 2022
No End in Sight: 18 Months of Military Rule in Myanmar
By Ankit Panda
What is the state of Myanmar’s complex internal insurgency and how has the international response evolved since the January 2021 coup?
July 20, 2022
Sri Lanka’s Future May Not Be All That Bleak
July 19, 2022
Abe Shinzo’s Enduring Legacy on Geopolitics in Asia
July 11, 2022
An American Artist Who Stayed Behind in Myanmar
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
E
July 26, 2022
Sri Lanka’s New President Cracks Down on Protests as Challenges Mount
By Luke Hunt
Ranil Wickremesinghe's use of troops to dismantle protest camps in Colombo sends out a chilling message.