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June 03, 2023
China’s Ban of Micron Puts South Korea in the Worst of Both Worlds
By Troy Stangarone
South Korean firms are China’s main alternatives to Micron, dragging Seoul farther into the China-U.S. semiconductor dispute.
June 02, 2023
The Short Life of India’s 2,000-Rupee Note
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Introduced when the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes were demonetized in 2016, the 2,000-rupee note has now been pulled out of circulation.
June 01, 2023
Could ‘Chicky Cha-Cha Boom-Boom’ Become Kyrgyzstan’s Soft Power Motto?
By Colleen Wood
Much of what is written about soft power in Central Asia focuses on countries like Kyrgyzstan as passive recipients of Russian, Chinese, and American cultural influence. D Billions may flip the script.
June 01, 2023
Pakistan in Crisis: Imran Khan vs. the Army Chief
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Even if the establishment manages to put Khan behind bars, his political ghost will not be that easy to get rid of.
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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.
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offer actionable insight to strategic decision-makers seeking to understand political risk and economic
trends in Asia.
May 31, 2023
China’s Double-Edged Fintech Ecosystem: Promoting Both Development and Surveillance
May 26, 2023
Thailand Edges Closer to New Government in Break With Recent Past
May 15, 2023
Japan’s G7 Presidency: Turning to the Indo-Pacific and Engaging the Global South
May 10, 2023
Japan Launches Landmark Immigration Schemes to Compete for Global Talent
Magazine
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June 01, 2023
Kalay: A Case Study of Resistance in Myanmar
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The city in northwestern Myanmar was one of the first to see anti-coup protests – and also among the first to see pitched battles between resistance fighters and the military.
June 01, 2023
What Will It Take to Finally Build a ‘New Uzbekistan’?
By Madina Amin
Since 2016, Mirziyoyev’s reforms have often served two purposes: a populist aim paired with an overriding interest in regime security.
June 01, 2023
What Drives the Taiwanese Fighting in Ukraine?
By James Baron
Many Taiwanese feel a sense of kinship with Ukraine as it battles an invading neighbor. But only a few have made the heavy choice to travel to Ukraine and take up arms.
June 01, 2023
Pakistan in Crisis: Imran Khan vs. the Army Chief
By Ayesha Siddiqa
Even if the establishment manages to put Khan behind bars, his political ghost will not be that easy to get rid of.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
June 08, 2023
For Taiwan’s DPP, an Unprecedented ‘3-peat’ Depends on a Third Party
By Seamus Boyle
Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party could play spoiler in the 2024 election – likely to the DPP’s benefit.
June 07, 2023
The Myth of Rifts in China-Pakistan Relations
June 06, 2023
What Will China’s New Security Initiatives Look Like?
June 06, 2023
Elon Musk’s Chinese Odyssey
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
June 08, 2023
India Not Planning to Invite Ukraine to G20 Summit in September
By Ashok Sharma
Ukraine is not a G-20 member, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was invited to participate in last year's G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
June 07, 2023
Former ByteDance Executive Says Chinese Communist Party Tracked Hong Kong Protesters via Data
June 06, 2023
US, Japanese, Philippine Coast Guard Ships Stage Law Enforcement Drills Near South China Sea
June 02, 2023
The High Seas Treaty: A Tall Order for Implementation?
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
June 07, 2023
Japan Awards Kawasaki Heavy Industries $243 Million Contract for Homegrown Version of Tomahawk Missile
By Takahashi Kosuke
Both KHI and MHI received major contracts to develop standoff missiles, part of Japan’s push for counterstrike capabilities.
June 06, 2023
Indonesia Kicks Off Naval Exercises With Involvement of China, US
June 06, 2023
AUKUS, Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific: Beyond Cyclical Perception Management?
June 05, 2023
India, US Discuss Upgrading Defense Ties to Counter China
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
B
June 09, 2023
A Missing Boat of 180 Rohingya Refugees Symbolizes the World’s Apathy
By Kristen Gelineau
Human rights advocates say what happened to those on board is the latest example of political inaction and global apathy: Governments ignore the Rohingya because they can.
June 08, 2023
Leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party Says He Disposed of Controversial Media Shares
June 08, 2023
Philippine Court Denies Bail to Prominent Duterte Critic
June 07, 2023
Thailand Cuts Power Supply to Criminal Hub After Request From Military Junta
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
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June 08, 2023
Border Clashes and Water Disputes Complicate Taliban-Iran Relations
By Parisa Abbasian
Both the Taliban and Iran have made gestures aimed at lowering border tensions, but each still blames the other for recent clashes.
June 08, 2023
Indian Wrestlers Demanding Arrest of Sports Official for Sexual Abuse Suspend Protests
June 08, 2023
Pakistan, Iran Seal Energy Deal to Power Gwadar
June 07, 2023
A Breakthrough in Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations?
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
June 08, 2023
South Korea’s Healthcare Sector Is Heading Toward a Crisis
By Eunwoo Lee
Reform efforts have put the government at loggerheads with physicians, who are reluctant to let go of their privileges.
June 05, 2023
The Apparent Rise of Kim Jong Un’s Daughter
June 03, 2023
China’s Ban of Micron Puts South Korea in the Worst of Both Worlds
May 31, 2023
The Hidden History of Korean Labor Migrants in Germany
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
R
June 08, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 2: The Ongoing Debates
By Pascal Lottaz
Within Japan, there are debates as to how new – and how hawkish – the 2022 National Security Strategy really is.
June 06, 2023
Japan’s New Security Strategy, Part 1: The Historical Context
May 30, 2023
Planned Fukushima Water Release Adds a New Wrinkle to Japan-South Korea Ties
May 24, 2023
The Hiroshima G7 Summit and Japan’s Evolving Security Identity
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
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June 08, 2023
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: Chinese Companies’ Vanishing Acts in Xinjiang
By Magnus Fiskesjö
There is a recurring pattern of Chinese firms attempting to hide branches in the Uyghur region, seeking to avoid association with human rights abuses.
June 08, 2023
Why Southeast Asia Should Consider Legalizing Sex Work
June 07, 2023
There’s No ‘Political Solution’ to Myanmar’s Crisis
June 06, 2023
Defense Posturing Has Crippled Legitimate Dialogue in Singapore
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
June 09, 2023
Era of the First President Waning Further in Kazakhstan With Office Closure
By Catherine Putz
With the expected closure of the Office of the First President, de-Nazarbayevification marches on.
June 08, 2023
What’s the Status of Plans to Export Russian Gas to Uzbekistan?
June 08, 2023
What’s in Mongolia’s New Anti-Corruption Strategy?
June 07, 2023
EU-Central Asia Leaders’ Meeting Latest to Highlight Region’s Geopolitical Centrality
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
June 07, 2023
Ron DeSantis Brings US China Policy Into the Culture Wars
By Jiachen Shi
His strategy of framing China-U.S. competition within an ideological and cultural narrative allows DeSantis to differentiate himself from former President Donald Trump.
June 06, 2023
Senior US, Chinese Diplomats Hold ‘Candid’ Talks to Avoid Escalation of Tensions
June 05, 2023
The Case for a US Digital Trade Deal in IPEF – and Why It’s an Uphill Battle
May 24, 2023
The Big Hole in the Biden Administration’s Economic Diplomacy
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
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June 08, 2023
Why Singapore Airlines Had a Good 2022
By James Guild
The city-state's flagship carrier enjoys a key advantage over many of its regional rivals.
June 03, 2023
Chinese Investment in Europe Is Changing
June 02, 2023
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Reaches Supply Chain Agreement
May 31, 2023
Why Weakness in US Banking Is Unlikely to Spread to Indonesia
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
June 07, 2023
Fiji Reconsiders Security Ties With China Amid Pacific Tensions
By Nick Perry
Fiji’s government is finalizing a defense agreement with New Zealand, even while it considers scrapping a 2011 police cooperation agreement with China.
June 02, 2023
New Caledonia’s FLNKS Still Seeking Independence
June 01, 2023
Australia’s Undeclared National Crisis: A Dire Lack of Affordable Housing
May 31, 2023
Albanese at the Modi Show: Blurring the Line Between Australian Diplomacy and Indian Domestic Politics
Videos
Asia on Video
V
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
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June 08, 2023
The Shangri-La Dialogue Hits 20 Years With US-China Tensions at the Center
By Catherine Putz and Ankit Panda
What does the 2023 Shangri-La Dialogue tell us about Asian geopolitics?
May 23, 2023
Takeaways From the 2023 Hiroshima G7 Summit
May 20, 2023
A New China-Central Asia ‘Blueprint’?
April 29, 2023
The Washington Declaration and the US-South Korea Alliance
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
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June 08, 2023
Bajau: The Vanishing Seafarers of Southeast Asia
By Claudio Sieber
Today, only 100-200 seafarers remain on traditional "Lansa" houseboats near Borneo’s shorelines.