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.
Reality Check on Human Rights in Uzbekistan
By Hugh Williamson
Tashkent needs clear goals for a Human Rights Council term.
Why Am I Worried About the Taliban’s Return?
By Ali Reza Sarwar
One Afghan explains why he’s concerned about the return of the Taliban to the official political arena in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Fight Against COVID-19 Has Made Imran Khan Stronger
By Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
By bringing the military in as a stakeholder as well as advocating a smart lockdown, Khan’s COVID-19 response has consolidated his hold on power.
Is Pakistan Safe for Women?
By Tehreem Azeem
The horrific gang rape of a mother along the highway was not an isolated incident, but comes against a backdrop of regular threats and harassment of women.
Recover Better Together: Taiwan Can Help
By Jaushieh Joseph Wu
“Working together for the greater good is how the world will defeat COVID-19,” Taiwan’s foreign minister writes – and Taiwan must be a part of that effort.
China-US Media Relations Are Cratering. That’s a Serious Problem.
By Mu Chunshan
Amid the tensions, media on both sides have been casualties. That bodes very poorly for the future of U.S.-China relations.
Rapidly Evolving Missile Threats Require Modern, Multilateral Approaches
By Izumi Nakamitsu
Preventing the spread and emergence of destabilizing missile threats is a vital, unfinished task for the international community.
The Need for an Enduring US Military Presence in Afghanistan
By Julian D. Alford and Amin Tarzi
U.S. interests in Afghanistan are enduring and will need to be safeguarded into the future.
Joe Biden Is Better for India – If Democratic Values Are What Matters Most in US-India Ties
By Raymond E. Vickery, Jr.
Biden and Trump hold similar views on the security dimension of the U.S.-India relationship. But the relationship has other aspects which must not be overlooked.
What To Do About the 2022 Beijing Olympics?
By Benedict Rogers
Does a regime accused of atrocity crimes and grave breaches of an international treaty deserve to host this prestigious sporting event?
South Korea and Japan: Resolving the Comfort Women Issue
By Naoko Kumagai
A little more empathy is needed, on both sides.
Narratives of Power and Prejudice: From Nixon to Trump
By Abhijnan Rej
A recent essay about Indira Gandhi and Richard Nixon brings uncomfortable contemporary questions to the fore.