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.

The Case for an Alliance of Semiconductor Producing Nations 

The Case for an Alliance of Semiconductor Producing Nations 

By Carisa Nietsche
The “Semi7” would include countries making meaningful contributions to the semiconductor value chain and that share similar goals.

UN Human Rights Chief Demands Urgent Action to End ‘Unspeakable Tragedy’ in Myanmar

UN Human Rights Chief Demands Urgent Action to End ‘Unspeakable Tragedy’ in Myanmar

By Benedict Rogers
Volker Turk shone a long overdue and much-needed spotlight on a particular tragedy that the rest of the international community has chosen to ignore.
China’s Unjust Life Sentence for Uyghur Scholar Rahile Dawut Is a Tragic Loss for Humanity

China’s Unjust Life Sentence for Uyghur Scholar Rahile Dawut Is a Tragic Loss for Humanity

By Omer Kanat
Rahile's imprisonment represents not only a personal tragedy but also a broader assault on Uyghur culture and identity.

Hun Manet 1, US State Department 0

Hun Manet 1, US State Department 0

By Arthur Eremita
Washington flip-flops on $18 million Cambodia aid penalty.

Why Boris Johnson Is Wrong About the British Indian Ocean Territory

Why Boris Johnson Is Wrong About the British Indian Ocean Territory

By Peter Harris
It’s long past time to decolonize the Chagos Islands. None of the former PM’s reasons for keeping control is convincing. 

Myanmar’s Military Junta Is Weaponizing Access to Life-Saving Vaccines

Myanmar’s Military Junta Is Weaponizing Access to Life-Saving Vaccines

By Zaw Wai Soe
As with international aid shipments, basic inoculations are being distributed on the basis of political loyalty.

Thailand’s New Government is Failing the LGBTQ Community

Thailand’s New Government is Failing the LGBTQ Community

By Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn
Despite vowing respect for human rights at the U.N. General Assembly, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been largely silent on the issue of marriage equality.
Antisemitism Exists in China, Too

Antisemitism Exists in China, Too

By Ross Darrell Feingold
Antisemitic slurs are all too common in China – and much of the Indo-Pacific region.

Is There Any Southeast Asian Autocrat That the US Won’t Do Business With?

Is There Any Southeast Asian Autocrat That the US Won’t Do Business With?

By David Hutt
Hypocrisy is an inevitable part of power politics. But there are limits to how far a nation like the U.S. should compromise.

Fostering Global Collaboration Amid Volatile Geopolitics and Technology Bans

Fostering Global Collaboration Amid Volatile Geopolitics and Technology Bans

By Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa and Dingding Chen
No country can go it alone in today's interconnected world. Here's a potential path back to global cooperation to facilitate the sharing of technological advancements and the assurance of collective security.

The US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Is Not All About China

The US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Is Not All About China

By Nguyen Hung Son
The upgrade in ties was consistent with Hanoi's longstanding goal of building a network of relationships with the region and the world.
President Biden Should Not Overlook Vietnam’s Rights Crisis

President Biden Should Not Overlook Vietnam’s Rights Crisis

By Carolyn Nash
Progress on shared objectives like climate mitigation will be impossible without measures to address the human rights failures of both Vietnam and the U.S.

Page 1 of 290