Blog
The Debate
The Debate is our home for the best opinions from around Asia. Whether it is negotiating with Iran, responding to North Korean provocations, discussing Japan's looming demographic issues, or considering the new balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, some of the region's leading thinkers offer their take.
A Civilizational Clash Isn’t the Way to Frame US Competition With China
By Ankit Panda
Race and civilization are the wrong framing for the U.S.-China competition.
The Cruel Irony of China’s Celebration of Asian Cultures
By Shannon Tiezzi
A week-long event dedicated to Asian diversity is laughable in the face of China’s attempts to eradicate Uyghur culture.
Asia Will No Longer Tolerate Being a Plastic Waste Dump
By Mageswari Sangaralingam and Sam Cossar
China set the trend of refusing foreign plastic waste. Now other Asian countries are following suit.
A Decade Without Justice for Sri Lanka’s Tamils
By Anjali Manivannan
May 18 is an important reminder that while the country’s armed conflict may have ended, the search for elusive justice continues.
Myanmar’s Fragile Democracy Needs the US, Not China
By Jieun Pyun
The US and its allies must engage more directly with Myanmar, lest China's influence derail its democratic potential.
China’s Effort to Silence the Sound of Uyghur
By Rustem Shir
A key part of China's campaign against Uyghur identity is a crackdown on the Uyghur language.
Battling Corruption in Indonesia’s Elections
By Donal Fariz
While the vote was largely free and fair, there are issues that Indonesian authorities must address before the next election.
China’s Influence Operations in Asia: Minding the Open Door Challenge
By Prashanth Parameswaran
While attention to Beijing’s conduct is important, addressing the permissive conditions that create an enabling environment for its activities should remain front and center.
Challenges for the US in China’s Military Modernization
By Ankit Panda
China’s military modernization continues to be a major challenge for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan Seeks to Share Its Advances in Digital Healthcare
By Chen Shih-Chung
Taiwan can help countries around the world achieve the goal of universal health coverage by 2030.
Beijing’s Persecution of the Uyghurs is a Modern Take on an Old Theme
By Arch Puddington
Like its totalitarian antecedents, the Chinese regime is willing to break entire cultures in pursuit of artificial conformity.
Three Proposals for Kim Jong-un
By Atsuhito Isozaki
How might the North Korean leader achieve that elusive breakthrough?