2021/02/18 |
Political Repression and Authoritarian Legalism in Hong Kong
Defenders of Hong Kong’s legal system will insist that judicial independence is a prerequisite for the region’s continued wellbeing, but Beijing may reason that modern China has done well enough with its captive courts.
2021/02/05 |
Protecting the Taiwan Strait in the 21st Century
Whether the U.S. should maintain strategic ambiguity or embrace strategic clarity on Taiwan is an important but distinct question. Neither policy stands a chance of long-term success without sustained U.S. military capabilities in the Asia Pacific.
2021/01/19 |
Rethinking Japan’s Refugee and Asylum Policy
Japan is unlikely to expand its refugee intake in the near future despite international criticism.
2021/01/12 |
How Will Biden’s Strategy on South Asia Differ From Trump’s?
U.S. president-elect Joe Biden might shake up Washington's current foreign policy, but not its South Asia policy.
2021/01/08 |
Singapore’s 2020 Risk Management Strategy
Singapore has kept the pandemic under control and its economy has survived in much better shape than expected. The success is based on the Singaporean government’s aversion to risks.
2020/12/31 |
The Year of Unexpected Successes in Taiwan
While the world waits to see how the Biden administration’s foreign policy team will approach China and Taiwan, President Tsai at least will be in a position to roll into 2021 confident in Taiwan’s firm global standing.
2020/12/23 |
How China’s State Serves the Party
Despite the vast and ongoing challenges through 2020 because of Covid-19, the Chinese Communist Party has never looked more dominant.
2020/12/18 |
ASEAN in the Driver’s Seat in the South China Sea
After decade-long disputes, what can we expect to see in South China Sea in the upcoming year?
2020/12/10 |
North Korea Faces One of Its Toughest Winters
North Koreans are in for a tough winter, with the Covid-19 pandemic, severe food shortages, and the lack of heating options.
2020/12/02 |
Why RCEP Is a Big Deal
The RCEP trade deal, signed on November 15, shows deep commitments to trade liberalization and regional economic integration, but challenges to implement it lie ahead.
2020/11/23 |
Can Suga Lead on Japanese Foreign Policy?
Suga can be one of the many typical post-war premiers who focuses on domestic policy, but the regional security environment around Japan will not allow this indefinitely.
2020/11/17 |
The Shifting US Position Over the Senkaku Islands
With U.S. commitment to help defend the Senkaku Islands, the question Japan now faces is whether it will be drawn deeper into the increasingly hostile U.S. policies toward China, a country that happens to be Japan’s largest trading partner.
2020/11/10 |
Refugees Left Stranded by Southeast Asia Amid Covid-19
As governments impose strict border controls to contain the spread of Covid-19, asylum seekers and refugees are stranded at sea.
2020/11/06 |
Chinese-Style Censorship Is No Fix for the Covid-19 Infodemic
China’s control has turned its internet environment into a hotbed of distorted information and ultra-nationalistic narratives.
2020/10/30 |
Myanmar’s Elections Are Not a Level Playing Field
The second multiparty election in Myanmar, slated for November 8, may simply be a proof that democracy is going backwards in the Southeast Asian nation.
2020/09/23 |
Covid-19 Exposes Gaps in South Korea’s Social Security System
Covid-19 has exposed a weak point in the South Korean social security system. One option on the table is a universal basic income.
2020/07/02 |
Covid-19 Is Accelerating China’s Economic Self-Reliance
Reliance on domestic consumption is just one of the shifts accelerated by the coronavirus and the increasing rivalry with the United States.