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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.
May 27, 2023
Australia’s Crackdown on Climate Activists
By Sophie McNeill
It is critically important for citizens to be able to express their concern about the climate emergency in whatever peaceful way they would like to do so.
May 26, 2023
South China Sea Tensions Haunted by European Colonialism
By Saman Rizwan
The legal case brought by Sulu Sultanate heirs against Malaysia highlights the unexpected links between present day tensions and European colonialism in Southeast Asia.
May 26, 2023
ASEAN’s Defective Approach to the Crisis in Myanmar
By Nyein Kaung
The bloc’s response to the bombing in Kanbalu has laid bare its impotence and poor understanding of the country’s conflict.
May 26, 2023
Religious Persecution at the Far Edge of India
By Knox Thames
Spurring India’s political leadership to change course and confront religious violence will take outside pressure.
May 24, 2023
The Complex Reality of Uyghur Forced Labor: Unveiling the Products Implicated
By Kuldeep Singh Chauhan
A new report reveals that the Chinese government has invested substantial resources in developing an extensive network of compulsory labor, encompassing a wide range of industries.
May 23, 2023
The Hiroshima G7 Summit and Nuclear Disarmament
By AKIYAMA Nobumasa
Essential talks were held, but more is now needed.
May 22, 2023
US Policy on Myanmar and Taiwan: Shifting Strategies to Counter China’s Influence
By Zaw Tuseng
Washington needs to recognize that the situation in both places is part of a single, interconnected struggle to contain Chinese influence.
May 20, 2023
How a CCP Propaganda Campaign Targeted the Dalai Lama
By Magnus Fiskesjö
The latest smear campaign succeeded beyond China’s wildest dreams by playing into Western ignorance about Tibetan culture – and self-righteous “cancel culture” on social media.
May 19, 2023
The Political Hazards of Economic Decoupling From China
By Max Abbott
Southeast Asian nations are promising candidates for firms seeking to relocate manufacturing operations from China, but investors need to be prepared for the risks.
May 18, 2023
ASEAN Leaders Tackle Human Trafficking at Latest Summit
By Kuldeep Singh Chauhan
In recent years, the abuse of technology has increasingly facilitated this heinous crime, making it imperative for ASEAN nations to join forces and develop effective measures to combat it.
May 17, 2023
Global Plastics Treaty Will Test Japan’s Clean Image
By Hirotaka Koike
As one of the negotiators representing the Asia-Pacific, Japan's reluctance to embrace agreed global rules capping plastics use is concerning.
May 17, 2023
Supporting Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Membership Should Be a Priority for Its Friends
By Melissa Conley Tyler and Parker Novak
Other countries can support Timor-Leste in the bureaucratic development needed to attend and contribute meaningfully to ASEAN’s numerous annual meetings.
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