Archive
2020
South Korea’s Supreme Court Upholds 17-Year Jail Term for Ex-President Lee
By Associated Press
Lee Myung-bak was convicted of taking bribes before and during his presidency.
The US Navy’s Next Large Surface Combatant
By Robert Farley
Recent reporting suggests the Navy is going back to basics in designing its next cruiser and destroyer hull.
US Approves Sales of Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles to Taiwan
By Steven Stashwick
Truck-mounted Harpoon missiles and other recent sales are aimed at repelling a potential invasion by China.
Imagination, Probability, and War
By Jacob Parakilas
Artificial intelligence may help us make sense of large, complex questions, but imagining the future of war needs to remain a fundamentally human exercise.
China Shows Signs of Cracking Down on ‘Silk Road’ Crime
By Sebastian Strangio
The bizarre story of She Zhijiang, who ran a Southeast Asian casino empire while a fugitive from the law in China, demonstrates the limits of Chinese power.
Pompeo, in Indonesia, Renews China Attacks as US Vote Looms
By Associated Press
Washington's top diplomat attacked China's "unlawful" maritime claims and pledged deeper ties with Southeast Asia's most populous nation.
Southeast Asia and Japan’s Indo-Pacific Vision: What’s Next After Suga’s ASEAN Tour?
By Prashanth Parameswaran
The trip raised questions about continuity and change in Japan’s approach to Southeast Asia after Abe.
Secretary Pompeo’s Visit to Hanoi: What To Expect
By Le Hong Hiep
The last-minute stop in Vietnam is designed to consolidate recent strategic gains as both nations stare down a more assertive China.
Could ASEAN Really Cut Laos and Cambodia Loose?
By Sebastian Strangio
The suggestion by a retired Singaporean diplomat has made waves among Southeast Asia watchers – but is it likely to happen?
North Korea’s Elite Defectors
By Mitch Shin
Despite its avowedly socialist nature, North Korea is governed by a rigid class system – and not all defectors come from the bottom.
The Distance Between Moscow and Russia’s Far East Is Growing
By Gabriel Gavin
Tensions in Siberia are growing, fueled by fears around Chinese investment and resentment at being governed from another continent.
What Happens to the CCP If China’s Economic Growth Falters?
By Alexis Leggeri
Thanks to a rapid build-up in its domestic security capacity, the Party has the ability to substitute hard control for economic legitimacy.