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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.
Are We Legitimizing Violence in Asian Schools?
By Roland Angerer
How to make schools safe and let children learn without fear.
Pakistanis Are the ‘Collateral Damage’ of Their State’s Counterterror Failures
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
A mother, father, and teenage daughter are the latest innocent victims of Pakistan's botched counterterror policy.
Fighting for Tajikistan’s Jailed Lawyers
By Marc Gottridge
On January 24, 2019, Tajik lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov will have been in prison for 1,215 days for simply doing his job.
The Missing Piece in Uzbekistan’s Reform Puzzle
By James Reston
The fight for LGBT rights in Uzbekistan is especially important now.
How to Pave the Road to Trump-Kim 2.0
By Ankit Panda
Working-level talks must proceed with urgency to avoid a repeat of the pitfalls of the 2018 Singapore encounter.
China and the US Are Destined for Peace, Not for War
By Jin Kai
The trade truce provides a chance for both sides to remember that they are not enemies.
Taiwan’s Newly Reshuffled Cabinet Looks a Lot Like Its Old Cabinet
By Nick Aspinwall
Premier William Lai has vacated his post after the DPP’s crushing regional election defeat, but most of Taiwan’s ministers are staying on.
An American Consensus: Time to Confront China
By Zoe Leung and Michael Depp
The U.S. approach toward China under the Trump administration has quickly turned to all-out confrontation.
January 7 in Cambodia: One Date, Two Narratives
By Kimkong Heng
Cambodian politicians should move beyond their arguments over history and find common ground to move Cambodia forward.
What ARIA Will and Won’t Do for the US in Asia
By Ankit Panda
U.S. allies will welcome the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act.
Japan and South Korea’s Unnecessary Squabble
By Sukjoon Yoon
The radar lock-on spat centers on a key point: search and rescue operations are not warfare.
Why Duterte’s Controversies Are No Laughing Matter
By Luke Hunt
Duterte's 'jokes' reveal a lack of respect for institutions, the rule of law, and the Philippine people.