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.
Arrest of Kyrgyz Lawyer an Attack on the Legal Profession
By Alva Omarova
Prior to his arrest, Samat Matsakov worked on several high-profile cases involving critics of the government.
The ICC’s Action on the Rohingya is Historic, but the Court Should Go Further on Myanmar
By Patrick Phongsathorn
The arrest warrant against junta chief Min Aung Hlaing only addresses a tiny portion of the crimes committed by the Myanmar armed forces.
India’s Mosques Are Under Siege. The Destruction of the Babri Masjid Explains Why.
By Rasheed Ahmed
The destruction of the Babri Masjid in 1992 has emboldened others attempting to destroy mosques, providing them with a game plan.
The Axis of Trump: Russia, Israel, and India
By Muqtedar Khan
While India and Israel feel that Trump will give them a free hand to pursue their goals without regard for human rights, Russia hopes NATO expansion will cease.
Across the Asia-Pacific, Governments Criminalize Human Rights Defenders Like Me
By Muhammad Ismail
Most people in the region are living in countries with closed or repressed civic space where their freedoms to speak up, organize, or mobilize are under attack on a daily basis.
COP29 Finance Goal Falls Short of Addressing Southeast Asia’s Needs
By Trang Nguyen
The conference put more money on the table for developing countries, but this will not solve the “chicken-and-egg” dilemmas facing the region.
The Time of Impunity for Myanmar’s War Criminals Must End
By Chris Gunness
The Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court demands an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s dictator Min Aung Hlaing.
Global Plastic Treaty Talks Offer Final Hope to Protect Pacific Island Oceans
By Albert Taaviri Kaitara Nicholas
“Plastic pollution is fueling the climate crisis that poses an existential threat to our people.”
A Plea for Justice and Clemency for a Brother on Singapore’s Death Row
By Angelia Pranthaman
My brother is at risk of imminent execution, but I won’t stop campaigning until his conviction is quashed.
Why South Korea’s Leadership Is Critical for a Successful Global Plastics Treaty
By Doun Moon
South Korea, despite its key position as the host nation of the fifth INC, has maintained an ambiguous stance on reducing plastic production.
The Global North and South Need a New Industrial Pact
By Penny Naas and Romana Vlahutin
To truly counter China’s Belt and Road, the G-7 needs a new development business model with the Global South.
Why Does It Matter What We Call the Oppression of Afghan Women?
By Nazila Jamshidi
What we want is for the cruelty being endured by women and girls in Afghanistan to be called what it actually is: gender apartheid, and a crime against humanity.