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.
Why Is Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University Afraid of Academic Freedom?
By Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal
At many Thai universities, academic freedom does not extend to searching criticisms of the political and economic status quo.
Containing the Taliban after America’s Defeat
By Mark S. Cogan and Paul D. Scott
Western nations should swiftly move to restrict the space, capability, authority of the new Taliban regime in Kabul.
Why the Quad Needs to Improve Its Economic Game
By Mukesh Aghi
Trade, investment, and supply chain security need to be high on the agenda of the four-nation grouping.
To Compete With Beijing, the Quad Must Remain Pro-Asia, Not Anti-China
By Zachary Durkee
Countries across Southeast Asia do not wish to be pushed into choosing sides when their economic futures depend on maintaining positive ties with China and the United States.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister: Time to Let Taiwan Work With the UN
By Jaushieh Joseph Wu
“There is no lack of compelling reasons for Taiwan to play a constructive role in the U.N. system,” writes Joseph Wu.
Can NGOs Continue to Provide Aid in Afghanistan?
By Sam McLaren
What is the outlook for aid workers in the Taliban’s Afghanistan?
As Rohingya Wait for Justice, Myanmar’s Military Continues to Revel in Impunity
By Wai Wai Nu and Khin Ohmar
Four years on, there is an urgent need for international action to tackle the Myanmar military's culture of impunity.
Did Biden’s Taiwan Remarks Represent a US Policy Change?
By Gerrit van der Wees
“Strategic ambiguity” is not a policy; it is a tactic. The difference matters.
Climate Change Is a Test for Asia’s Tech Titans
By Xueying Wu
As extreme weather intensifies, companies like Samsung, Toshiba, and Alibaba must commit to renewable energy.
In Biden’s ‘America First’ Lite, Allies and Partners Come Second
By William Choong
After the fall of Kabul, there will be an element of doubt surrounding U.S. commitments in the Indo-Pacific.
The Myth of a Sustainable Stalemate in Afghanistan
By Gil Barndollar
Biden's choice was indeed between withdrawal and escalation. There never was a sustainable stalemate that could have been maintained.
How Papua New Guinea Can Eliminate Vector-Borne Diseases
By Sarthak Das, Simon Bland, and Mobumo Kiromat
PNG is one of the Asia-Pacific countries most severely affected by mosquito-borne diseases.