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.
August 11, 2020
Hong Kong’s Cancelled Elections Paved the Way for the Latest Arrests
By Johnny Patterson and Sam Goodman
Carrie Lam’s public health postponement of the polls must be exposed for the cynical farce that it is.
August 11, 2020
Imran Khan’s Populism Clashes With Pakistan’s Economic Realities
By Husain Haqqani
All politicians have to adjust or tweak policies, but the rate at which Imran Khan makes U-turns is dizzying.
August 08, 2020
China’s Human Rights Abuses Invite US Leadership
By Pierfilippo M. Natta
The oppression in Xinjiang is a test as to whether nations actually adhere to the principle of Responsibility to Protect.
August 03, 2020
US Anti-China Sentiment Reaches New Peak
By Amitai Etzioni
We're at the wagging the dog stage.
July 31, 2020
Peace in Korea Can Happen Without Denuclearization
By Daniel R. DePetris
Pyongyang is going to remain a nuclear weapons state for the foreseeable future. U.S. policymakers must learn to live with this reality.
July 31, 2020
Pakistan’s Bloodthirsty Blasphemy Law Needs to Be Repealed
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
Vigilantes have claimed the life of yet another Pakistani accused of blasphemy.
July 30, 2020
India’s TikTok Ban Tightens the Government’s Grasp on the Internet
By Kian Vesteinsson
Restricting access in the name of data security threatens human rights.
July 30, 2020
Why Are Peaceful Human Rights Activists Still Behind Bars in Vietnam?
By Kasit Piromya
In the midst of a global pandemic, Vietnamese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Nguyen Bac Truyen, and other prisoners of conscience like him.
July 30, 2020
Don’t Write Hong Kong’s Obituary Just Yet
By Chandran Nair
The resilient people of Hong Kong are bouncing back yet again. They deserve the international community’s support.
July 28, 2020
Malaysia’s Unwelcoming Shore for Refugees Fleeing Religious Persecution
By Gayle Manchin and James W. Carr
Malaysia has long guaranteed the safety of thousands of refugees, despite remaining outside international conventions, but that’s changing at a worrying pace.
July 27, 2020
The Tragedy of Azimjon Askarov
By Catherine Putz
Askarov’s story illustrates just how broken Kyrgyzstan’s entire system is.
July 24, 2020
A Robust EU-India Partnership Must Depend on ‘Values and Principles’
By Antti Tulonen
The EU can’t make the same mistake with India it made with China: Ignoring rights concerns until it’s too late.
Page 1 of 228