Rizieq Shihab was welcomed by tens of thousands of followers when he returned to Indonesia from…
Category: The Diplomat
COVID-19 Underscores the Benefits of South Korea’s Artificial Intelligence Push
South Korea’s government is banking on AI as part of its post-COVID recovery.
Middle Corridor Struggles to Find Its Way Across Eurasia
Without China’s geoeconomic policy push, there is still little economic rationale behind the development of the…
Mongolia Grapples With Its First Real COVID Wave
After recording the first locally transmitted case in November, Mongolia’s local cases of COVID-19 have surpassed…
RCEP: The Future of Trade in Asia
Insights from Peter Petri.
Tajik Authorities Continue Harassing Dissident’s Family
New year, same problem: Tajik authorities continue to harass the family of Fatkhuddin Saidmukhidinov, a Europe-based…
South Koreans Welcome Decision to Maintain ‘Comfort Women’ Statue in Berlin
Tokyo’s pressure over the statue faced a set-back in Germany as the issue continues to loom…
China Looks Ahead to 20th Party Congress in 2022
China’s elite politics begins the run toward the personnel changes of October 2022’s 20th Party Congress.
Diplomats in China and Cuba Plausibly Targeted by Microwaves: US Report
While the National Academies’ report carefully hedges its claims, it is likely to add to the…
Australian Parliamentary Committee Recommends Global Magnitsky Type Legislation
The legislation, expected to be introduced in the parliament next year, will be a significant addition…
Taiwan Touts Australian ‘Freedom Wine’ In Opposition to Chinese Tariffs
President Tsai Ing-wen has prioritized Taiwan-Australia ties as part of her New Southbound Policy, and there’s…
Fiji Attorney General Under Investigation
Fiji Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is being investigated in connection with two bombings in Fiji in the…
Awards for Indonesian Judges Raise Conflict of Interest Questions
The awards, along with recent high-level corruption arrests, have spurred a rare discussion of conflict of…
Queensland Confirms Australian Bid for 2032 Olympics
Four countries, including Australia, are bidding to host the 2032 Olympic Games.
Marawi Rehabilitation Delays Could Cast a Dark Shadow over Duterte’s Peace Legacy
The glacial pace of the city’s reconstruction could fuel disillusionment among the region’s population.
Another Indonesian Minister Detained on Bribery Charges
Juliari Batubara is the fourth serving or former minister of President Joko Widodo’s government to be…
Ceasefire Raises Hopes of Elections in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
The most important obstacle – a ceasefire – is now in place, but many more challenges…
Biden Must Aid India’s Quest for Multilateral Reforms
For New Delhi, comprehensive reforms of global institutions are a key foreign policy priority. Washington should…
Washington’s Backyard: The Caribbean Amid Sino-American Competition
China’s engagement with the region is altogether more patchy than many popular prognoses make out.
China Prepares Large-Scale Rollout of Coronavirus Vaccines
Despite concerns about the vaccines’ efficacy, China said it will ensure the products are affordable for…
To Step up Its Digital Transformation, Taiwan Needs a New Social Compact
If Taiwan is to succeed in its digital strategy, there needs to be a fundamental mindset…
A Test of Japan–South Korea Relations
If the FOIP strategy is to succeed, the two countries have some work to do.
Media Flubs Reporting on China’s Senkaku Comments
Reports on controversial comments by China’s foreign minister miss some key details.
ASEAN Development Strategies for the New Normal under COVID-19
The bloc has been proactive on what comes next.
What’s Russia’s Aim in Afghanistan?
The Russian presence in Central Asia, predicated on the threats from Afghanistan, stymies the political and…
China’s New Surveillance Currency
China is wrong to think its digital currency will increase global payments in RMB. But Beijing…
Will China’s Civil Code Finally Get Companies to Take Fighting Sexual Harassment Seriously?
The implementation of the new code will determine whether it can truly turn the tide against…
Under Pressure on Shore, Abu Sayyaf May Increase Reliance on the Sea
A November incident holds important lessons about the militant group’s changing operations, as well as how…
5 Steps Joe Biden Should Take to Confront the China Challenge
China is a looming threat to international order. U.S. leadership in confronting the issue has never…
Japan’s COVID-19 Spike Raises Alarm for Elderly and At-Risk Groups
The controversial “Go To” domestic tourism subsidy has come under the microscope for possibly facilitating the…
Japan Spacecraft Approaches Earth to Drop Asteroid Samples
The Hayabusa2’s samples are due to arrive home on Sunday, after a year-long journey back from…
China’s Technoindustrial Policy Is More Soviet Retro Than Japan Innovation
In science and technology innovation, closed markets, proprietary standards, and ideologized scientific research policy are a…
India’s Flawed Approach to Bilateral Investment Treaties
The model BIT of 2016 is vague, flawed, and offers little succor for Indian or foreign…
Why the India-Sri Lanka-Maldives NSA-level Talks Matter
The nature of bilateral political relations in the Indian Ocean region has an impact on the…
India Warns Canada as the Trudeau Comments Threaten Relations
The Indian foreign ministry’s statement after it summoned the Canadian high commissioner is unlikely to go…
What Can Pakistan Expect From the Biden Administration?
While it is likely that Pakistan will see some relief come January, the United States’ policy…
Rights Groups Allege Coercion in Rohingya Island Relocation Plan
Refugees and rights groups say that threats and inducements have been used to get refugees to…
Duterte and Philippine Mayors Trade Loyalty for Drug Killings, Study Shows
Local officials have driven the Philippine president’s deadly drug war by ramping up anti-drug operations in…
Farmers Protests in India: Politics Over Economics?
New laws around agriculture in India stand to significantly boost farmers’ incomes.
US Senate Resolution Voices Support for Thai Protesters
But making such support U.S. policy would create undoubtedly create tensions between Washington and Bangkok.
What Does Rizieq Shihab’s Return Mean for Indonesian Politics?
The firebrand’s return comes at a time of Islamist political ascendancy in Indonesia.
Who Cares About Kaavan?
A feel-good story about an elephant has distracted attention from the dire state of the environment…
China Hits Out at US Over New Visa Restrictions
A government spokesperson said the move was “totally inconsistent with the U.S.’s own interests.”
Philippine Jeepneys Won’t Go Down Without a Fight
Drivers have pushed back against a forced modernization scheme which the government says is needed to…
Afghanistan’s Biggest Fight: Climate Change
While the war has taken the majority of government attention (and money), climate change may be…
Indian Government, Farmers to Meet Again Over Highway Blockade
There was some progress in talks between the government and protesting farmers six days after the…
Citing Forced Labor Concerns, US Issues Ban on Xinjiang Cotton
U.S. businesses should not be allowed “to profit from slave labor,” a U.S. official said of…
Bangladesh Begins Relocating Rohingya Refugees to Island
International aid agencies and the U.N. have vehemently opposed the relocation since it was first proposed…
China’s Moon Plans: A Cautionary Note
While the idea of mining the moon may look attractive, neither China nor anybody else is…
China’s New Weapon in the US Trade War: The Export Control Law
China now has an answer to the United States’ Entity List. How will Beijing use its…