Post-COVID boom in visitors sparks over-tourism fears in Asia (May 6, 2025, Reuters)
Rebound in visitors leading to unsustainable practices in some regions. Fears Asia's most beautiful places could become 'the next Boracay'. Phuket is building a new incinerator to cope with plastic waste. Malaysia leveraging Indigenous-led tourism. Nikoi and Cempedak resorts are investing heavily in sustainability.
Why a decades-old Japanese graphic novel has sparked travel fears in Asia (May 24, 2025, Story Board 18)
In an unusual convergence of pop culture, pseudoscience and public anxiety, tourism bookings to Japan from several Asian markets have plunged in recent weeks, spurred by a viral prediction of an impending earthquake, first foretold in a manga published more than two decades ago.
Turkmenistan’s deepening water crisis could have far-reaching regional consequences (June 9, 2025, Atlantic Council)
Exacerbated by a changing climate, almost a century of unsustainable practices, and new regional developments, this crisis is not just an environmental problem—it’s an unfolding human tragedy that could have significant economic and political ramifications well beyond its borders.
North Korea defectors in SK public sector at record high (May 16, 2025, BBC)
Seoul has been widening its support for North Korean defectors who struggle with unemployment and social isolation as they adjust to their new lives in the South.
Bridging the gap: Addressing the doctor shortage in Asia (May 2, 2025, Wolterskluwer)
Doctor shortages in Asia – especially in rural and primary care – are driving up healthcare costs and overwhelming hospitals. However, the solution is not as simple as just “more doctors”. This piece explores how digital tools, clinical decision support, and smarter workforce strategies can empower frontline care and relieve system strain.
How the few freedoms North Koreans enjoyed have vanished since the pandemic (April 7, 2025, The Washington Post)
The city of Hyesan, just over the river from China, once offered a glimpse of a more open North Korea. Now it exemplifies Kim Jong Un’s mounting authoritarianism.
Oman Case Study | Climate Refugees (January 13, 2025, Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley)
Oman has experienced significant climatic events such as tropical cyclones, periodic droughts, and summer winds which often generate large sand and dust storms throughout the region.
The Precarious Power of Azerbaijan: How a Delayed Peace With Armenia Endangers a New Regional Order (May 26, 2025, Foreign Affairs) (Subscription required)
Few other countries in the past five years have experienced as great a shift in fortune as Azerbaijan. As recently as 2020, the small, oil- and natural-gas-rich country was mired in a decades-long conflict with neighboring Armenia and lacked full control of its territory. Today, that situation has dramatically changed.
Fear factor: more Japanese worry war ‘likely’ to break out in Asia, survey shows (May 6, 2025, South China Morning Post) (Subscription required)
Japanese people are increasingly fearful that war will break out in the Asia-Pacific region and that Japan will be dragged into the fighting with rising tensions over disputed islands in the East China Sea adding to public anxiety.
Why are some key Tehran allies staying out of the Israel-Iran conflict? (June 14, 2025, The Associated Press)
Hezbollah has long been considered Iran’s first line of defense in case of a war with Israel. But since Israel launched its massive barrage against Iran this week, the Lebanese militant group has stayed out of the fray.
AsiaBriefs, produced in partnership with ChinaSource, is a place for you to catch up on news items and analysis from around Asia that you might have missed. It is a curated list of links from published online sources. Clicking a link will take you to a website other than Asia Congress or ChinaSource. Neither Asia Congress nor ChinaSource is responsible for the content or other features on that site. Further, an article’s inclusion does not equal an endorsement. Links to China stories are from ZGBriefs, a weekly publication of ChinaSource that highlights important news and analysis from China. You can read the complete, unabbreviated version of ZGBriefs at ChinaSource, and subscribe to receive it by email every Thursday.
Editor
Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
Blessing Asia
In October-2022 more than 500 Christian leaders from across Asia gathered in Thailand for the Asia 2022 Congress, sponsored by the Lausanne Movement and various partnering organizations. I had the opportunity to participate in the Congress virtually and was mightily blessed. From Bible exposition to K-pop worship, and through seminars and workshops, the participants were encouraged by the stories of what God is doing in countries all over Asia. Clearly, God is on the move.
A beautiful vision was portrayed in a video of the popular worship song The Blessing, featuring singers from all over Asia. Here it is:
Many of the sessions have already been posted on their website and to their YouTube channel.
One that I found particularly helpful considering all that is going on in China was a presentation titled Church and State Relationship in Asia Today. You can see the video here.
I encourage you to spend some time on their website; there are fantastic resources for understanding God’s work in Asia today.
Original link: https://www.chinasource.org/resource-library/blog-entries/blessing-asia/
Image credit: Andrea Brucker, via Unsplash
Explore Topics
Newsletter