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June 10, 2021
Khurelsukh Cruises to Victory in Mongolian Presidential Race
By Julian Dierkes, Marissa Smith, and Shannon Tiezzi
It was the biggest victory ever in Mongolia’s democratic history.
June 10, 2021
Don’t Expect Pakistan to Host US Military Bases
By Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
As Washington looks for options post-Afghanistan withdrawal, Islamabad isn’t going to roll out the red carpet.
June 08, 2021
How Chinese Unmanned Platforms Could Degrade Taiwan’s Air Defense and Disable a US Navy Carrier
By Franz-Stefan Gady
A fictional war scenario showcases how emerging technological capabilities could be used in a future Sino-U.S. military confrontation over Taiwan.
June 08, 2021
Malaysia Aims to Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign
By Alexandra Radu
With cases soaring, Malaysia hopes to quicken the pace of vaccinations and head off further deaths from the virus.
DRI | Monthly Report
DRI
DRI REPORT NO. 3
An Asian Space Odyssey
Civil, Military, and Commercial Space Ambitions
COVID-19 in Asia
June 15, 2021
What Explains Vietnam’s Current COVID-19 Struggles?
By Zachary Abuza
Once considered the gold standard for COVID-19 response, Vietnam is now battling rising infections and a glacial vaccine rollout.
June 15, 2021
Bhutan’s Health Minister on Navigating the Pandemic as a Small State
By Bansari Kamdar
Dechen Wangmo, the 44-year-old health minister of Bhutan and the newly elected president of the World Health Assembly, shares her goals for advancing world health.
June 12, 2021
Nepal’s Leaders Must Put Aside Differences Amid COVID-19 Crisis
By Nirajan Thapaliya
For now, instead of endless politicking, Nepal’s leaders must put their differences aside and work together
June 11, 2021
Japan’s COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Is Quietly Picking Up Steam
By Thisanka Siripala
Vaccinations for the elderly are in full swing, but the current pace means Japan won’t see a return to normal life until the end of the year.
Magazine
M
June 01, 2021
Reimagining the Future of China-US Competition
By Jacob Parakilas
How governments imagine the future – including the future of war – shapes their responses and planning in the present.
June 01, 2021
Will Afghanistan Collapse When the US Withdraws?
By Jonathan Schroden
The fate of the Afghan government following the Soviet withdrawal is more complex than sometimes assumed. That has lessons for Kabul today.
June 01, 2021
Hong Kong’s New Police State
By Victoria Tin-bor Hui
Beijing is establishing a police state in Hong Kong – even if it risks destroying the international city.
June 01, 2021
Will the South China Sea Spark the Next Global Conflict?
By Richard Javad Heydarian
In Asia’s maritime heartland, all the ingredients of a global cataclysm are conspiring against the post-Cold War period of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Blogs
China Power
A New World Order
P
June 15, 2021
China-Backed SEZs Linked to Southeast Asia’s Illegal Wildlife Trade
By Sebastian Strangio
The trade has been facilitated by a combination of loose state jurisdictions and proximity to China's economy.
June 15, 2021
China’s Repression of the Hui: A Slow Boil
June 14, 2021
Emerging Ethnic Affairs Policy Specialist Chen Run’er Could Take Over as Xinjiang Party Secretary
June 12, 2021
The Soviet Origins of Xi’s Xinjiang Policy
Flashpoints
Diplomacy by Other Means
F
June 14, 2021
Good China-Russia Relations Are Here to Stay
By Janko Šćepanović,
A Russia-U.S. détente is unlikely to happen any time soon.
June 12, 2021
The Promise and Peril of Technological Competition
June 12, 2021
Look for an Increasingly Active Canada in the South China Sea
June 12, 2021
With Focus on China, US Senate Passes Major Industrial Policy Bill
Asia Defense
Militaries of the Asia-Pacific
D
June 15, 2021
US Navy’s Zumwalt Destroyers to Carry 12 Hypersonic Weapons in 2025
By Steven Stashwick
The 2022 U.S. Navy budget plans add details about hypersonic deployment.
June 11, 2021
India’s Submarine Saga
June 08, 2021
How Chinese Unmanned Platforms Could Degrade Taiwan’s Air Defense and Disable a US Navy Carrier
June 03, 2021
Pentagon’s 2022 Budget Cuts Ships to Modernize
ASEAN Beat
Insights Into Half a Billion
BJune 15, 2021
What Explains Vietnam’s Current COVID-19 Struggles?
By Zachary Abuza
Once considered the gold standard for COVID-19 response, Vietnam is now battling rising infections and a glacial vaccine rollout.
June 15, 2021
Myanmar Puts Aung San Suu Kyi on Trial on Charges Critics Call Bogus
June 14, 2021
Rare Earths in Myanmar: Unobtanium?
June 11, 2021
Despite COVID-19, Asia’s Drug Trade Expands, Diversifies
The Pulse
Perspectives on South Asia
P
June 15, 2021
Is Nepal Now Courting India and Ignoring China?
By Bindesh Dahal and Arun Budhathoki
As Oli steers his party to the right to woo India's ruling BJP, China is courting Nepal's left wing.
June 14, 2021
Amid Tensions With China, India Proceeding With AIIB-funded Projects
June 14, 2021
Why India’s Democracy is Not Dying
June 14, 2021
India Breathes Easy With a Maldivian Becoming UNGA President
The Koreas
Divided Peninsula
K
June 14, 2021
South Korean Female Sergeant’s Death Highlight Military’s Problem With Sexual Assault
By Mitch Shin
The Ministry of National Defense promised a thorough investigation into the case, but critics say it’s too little, too late.
June 10, 2021
After the Latest Forced Labor Court Ruling, Where Do Japan-South Korea Relations Stand?
June 08, 2021
Seoul Court Rejects Slave Labor Claim Against Japanese Firms
June 04, 2021
Can South Korea Keep up its Momentum on Climate after the P4G Seoul Summit?
Tokyo Report
News From Japan
RJune 11, 2021
Japan’s COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Is Quietly Picking Up Steam
By Thisanka Siripala
Vaccinations for the elderly are in full swing, but the current pace means Japan won’t see a return to normal life until the end of the year.
June 10, 2021
No Cheers: Tokyo Olympic Village Considering Ban on Alcohol
June 09, 2021
Could Russia and Japan Finally Find Peace in the Pacific?
June 04, 2021
Keeping Strategic Anxieties at Bay: Growing Japan-Vietnam Bonhomie
The Debate
Comment and Opinion
D
June 14, 2021
Afghan Children Are Paying the Price for Global Vaccine Inequality
By Athena Rayburn
If Afghanistan is any example to go by, it is blindingly apparent that we have failed to live up to big promises of global solidarity.
June 12, 2021
Nepal’s Leaders Must Put Aside Differences Amid COVID-19 Crisis
June 11, 2021
To Prevent Violent Extremism in Tajikistan, Promote Religious Freedom
June 10, 2021
The G-7 Must Talk About 3 Urgent Asia Issues
Crossroads Asia
The New Silk Road
A
June 15, 2021
Kyrgyz President Japarov Visits Turkey
By Catherine Putz
Japarov reportedly asked about the disappearance of Orhan Inandi, but in typical style Erdogan dodged and stressed the need to combat “FETO.”
June 10, 2021
Is Kazakhstan Losing Its Most Talented Youth to Russia?
June 10, 2021
Kyrgyzstan Reviewing Entry Bans on Rittmann and Rickleton
June 10, 2021
Khurelsukh Cruises to Victory in Mongolian Presidential Race
Trans-Pacific View
U.S. Policy on Asia
V
June 15, 2021
Biden’s Multilateral Approach to China Is Paying Off
By Gray Sergeant
The G-7 summit was testament to how far U.S. allies have moved on the China issue.
June 12, 2021
Taiwan, US Trade Officials Set to Meet in ‘Coming Weeks’
June 10, 2021
How US Congress Can Help Advance North Korea Diplomacy
June 08, 2021
How Trump Fueled Anti-Asian Violence in America
Pacific Money
Economy And Business
M
June 11, 2021
Which Asian Nations Can Benefit From the ‘China Plus One’ Strategy?
By Sara Hsu
As supply chain diversification becomes the name of the game, some of China’s neighbors are looking to provide attractive alternatives.
June 09, 2021
World Bank: Uncertainty in Post-COVID Recovery in Central Asia
June 08, 2021
WTO to Review Malaysia-EU Palm Oil Spat. What Happens Next?
June 01, 2021
A European FTA With India Is Not a Counterweight to China
Oceania
The South Pacific
O
June 11, 2021
Maori Connection to Antarctic May Predate European ‘Discovery’
By Joshua Mcdonald
New research links the Maori people to possibly discovering Antarctica long before Europeans and Americans.
June 11, 2021
Singapore’s Lee Advises Australia to Engage With China
June 07, 2021
What We Can Learn From Australia’s Sikh Community
June 02, 2021
Fiji: Civil Society Demands Powerful Minister Resign
Videos
Asia on Video
V
June 02, 2021
What Happened at the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border?
Anahita Saymidinova, Madeleine Reeves, and Aigerim Turgunbaeva discuss the violence along the border and the long-term implications for both countries.
May 01, 2021
Is ASEAN Still Relevant?
March 23, 2021
Ceasing Fire: India, Pakistan, and Elusive Peace in South Asia
March 15, 2021
Violence Follows New ‘Anti-Conversion’ Law in India’s Madhya Pradesh
Podcasts
Asia Geopolitics
P
Photo Essays
Asia in Pictures
EJune 08, 2021
Malaysia Aims to Speed Up COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign
By Alexandra Radu
With cases soaring, Malaysia hopes to quicken the pace of vaccinations and head off further deaths from the virus.