Opinion


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2022/01/25 | Mongabay

Typhoon Exposes Biodiversity Haven Palawan’s Vulnerability — And Resilience

Experts say the storm-damaged forests can recover — if they aren’t disturbed by human incursions, fires, or additional storms.

2022/12/14 | The Interpreter

A Step-up for China’s Involvement in the Middle East

Beijing will soon supplant Washington as a dominant security partner ­– and the Arab world sees a chance for leverage.

2022/01/17 | East Asia Forum

South Korea’s Transgender Community Pushes for Recognition and Acceptance

The issue of transgender discrimination was once again brought into the spotlight earlier in 2021, following the suicide of a soldier who was forcibly discharged from the military after a gender reassignment surgery.

2022/02/22 | East Asia Forum

A No-fly Zone Won’t Fly in Myanmar

As long as Myanmar’s junta enjoys the support of Russia and China, there is little chance that the UN would support the idea of a no-fly zone.

2022/02/10 | The Interpreter

A Foreign Policy Cheat Sheet for South Korea’s Presidential Election

Liberal and conservative candidates bring distinct traits to office. But after polling day, the shackles could come off.

2022/12/13 | New Mandala

Indonesia’s New Criminal Code Turns Representatives Into Rulers

Activists say provisions in the code smack of the Sukarno-era Anti-Subversion Law, a vaguely-worded statute that was used to great effect by the Suharto regime to repress and intimidate dissidents.

2022/11/10 | The Interpreter

Countdown to Asia’s Summit Season

Conflict in Myanmar and Ukraine against a backdrop of U.S.‑China tension – a crowded agenda will unfold in coming weeks.

2022/04/13 | East Asia Forum

The Russia–Ukraine Crisis and Japan’s Energy Dilemma

The war in Ukraine has led to renewed momentum for Japan to accelerate investment in energy efficiency, electrification, and renewables, which are being proposed as a solution to the global energy market turmoil.

2022/04/12 | Timothy S. Rich

How Does the South Korean Public View Misinformation on Social Media?

Survey results suggest a continued challenge in finding broadly accepted efforts at combating misinformation—despite a general consensus among an otherwise polarized electorate on the value of responding.

2022/01/05 | East Asia Forum

Challenges Abound for Japan’s Kishida in 2022

Kishida’s new initiative called the “new form of capitalism” has been disappointing so far.

2022/10/12 | The Conversation

20 Years After the Bali Bombings, Survivors Are Still Processing a Unique Kind of Grief

Two decades after the bombings, which killed 202 people from more than 20 countries, grieving continues.

2022/11/18 | CJ Sheu

Co-winner ‘Jeong-sun’ Vividly Portrays Patriarchal Ageism

‘Jeong-sun’, co-winner of the 2022 Golden Horse Asian Cinema Observer Recommendation Prize, is a masterful work of social realism that brings us into the life of a woman with magnanimous compassion.

2022/02/07 | The Interpreter

Olympics Not The Only Games This Year

While China’s many human rights problems have been highlighted as the main reason for the boycott, it can be said that a secondary target is the Olympic movement itself.

2022/03/28 | CJ Sheu

‘Microhabitat’ Is an Ozu Adaptation in Both Story and Heart

No matter how desperate Mi-so’s situation is, she’s always more concerned for those around her. Our view of her suggests that the critique is not just of modernity, but of contemporary capitalism.

2022/02/14 | East Asia Forum

Civic Rights for Foreign Residents Sparks Backlash in Japan

Voting rights for foreigners wasn’t an issue in Japan’s general elections last year, yet conservative mass media latched onto a proposal by the city assembly of Musashino in suburban Tokyo, making it an issue of national security.