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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.
As COVID-19 Crashes Across Solomon Islands, Vaccines Must Be Available to All
By Clement Manuri
If we want Solomon Islanders to have a safe future, our people must embrace vaccinations everywhere, on all islands, from the coast to the mountains and the valleys.
The Philippines’ COVID-19 Response Has Left the Most Vulnerable Behind
By Yvonne Su and Sivakamy Thayaalan
Far from being a "great leveler," the pandemic is much more likely to impact socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
Addressing the Southeast Asian Food Security Vulnerabilities Exposed by COVID-19
By Mark S. Cogan and Paul D. Scott
The pandemic has highlighted just how precarious the region's food supplies are.
An Urgent Need for Justice: Expediting the International Criminal Court’s Afghanistan Investigation
By Mahir Hazim
Given the Taliban’s atrocities, past and present, there’s an urgent need for the ICC to move more quickly in the pursuit of justice.
Bhasan Char and Refugee ‘Warehousing’
By Hanh Nguyen and Themba Lewis
Bangladesh’s relocation of Rohingya refugees has disturbing parallels to offshore detention of refugees elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.
India Needs to Get Serious About the Crisis in Myanmar
By Gautam Mukhopadhaya
The political landscape in the country has shifted. New Delhi now needs to adjust its own approach.
Catholicism’s Overlooked Importance in Asia
By Bernardo Brown and Michel Chambon
Catholicism – whether embraced or rejected – has played a crucial role in defining identity in Asia.
Cambodia Needs to Increase the Transparency of Key Infrastructure Projects
By Chen Heang
The Tatay River Hydropower Dam in southwestern Cambodia has become a case study in how not to do things.
Beijing 2022 Is the Death Knell of the Olympic Charter
By Omer Kanat
If genocide is no longer a red line, then what good is the Olympic Charter’s commitment to “the preservation of human dignity”?
Biden Must Recalibrate Policy on North Korea
By Mitch Shin
North Korea is not testing missiles in a bid to entice the U.S. into talks. Pyongyang is honing its missile arsenal as a goal in and of itself.
The Yearlong Failure to Protect Myanmar’s People and What to Do Now
By Savita Pawnday and Liam Scott
There is much more the world can do to help the people of Myanmar in their struggle against the military dictatorship.
The Difference Between Ukraine and Taiwan
By Francis P. Sempa
The arguments that U.S. credibility on Taiwan hinges on Ukraine is the latest version of the discredited domino theory.