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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 26, 2022
It is in ASEAN’s Strategic Interest to Admit Timor-Leste Now
By Truston Yu
If the nation is not admitted soon, it will fall further behind the 10 members of the Southeast Asian bloc.
May 25, 2022
Unwelcome Refugees: Afghans Continue to Face Pushback and Deportation
By Themba Lewis and Hanh Nguyen
As half a million Ukraine refugees move west into Europe, what happens to the solidarity the world once shared for Afghans?
May 24, 2022
Vanuatu Shows How to Reduce Emissions Through Trade Facilitation
By Shamika Sirimanne and Ratnakar Adhikari
When it comes to cutting emissions, there is low-hanging fruit ripe for the picking. These Asia-Pacific countries show how to do it.
May 20, 2022
How LGBT+ Communities Overcame Japan’s 2011 Triple Disaster
By Natasha Fox
LGBT+ people found themselves marginalized from Japan’s state-run disaster relief – so they created their own alternatives. That can serve as a model for other efforts around the world.
May 19, 2022
The US Should Ban China’s State Media From Social Platforms
By David L. Sloss
U.S. companies – including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter – are subsidizing Chinese and Russian information warfare by providing free electronic amplification services.
May 18, 2022
US-ASEAN Summit a Missed Opportunity to Tackle Shrinking Civic Space Across the Region
By Pornpen Khongkachonkiet
Civil society across ASEAN is struggling to survive in the face of growing repression. Countering this alarming trend must be a top priority for the U.S.
May 17, 2022
Marcos’ Victory Offers Washington the Chance for a Diplomatic Reset with the Philippines
By Peter Mumford
Marcos might not have been the ideal choice of many U.S. policymakers, but he offers the opportunity for a more stable and predictable partnership.
May 16, 2022
South Korea Can Do More in the Battle Against COVID-19
By Troy Stangarone
For all its success at home, South Korea has been less forthcoming with donations during the pandemic.
May 12, 2022
Speak Up on Behalf of Afghan Women
By Heather Barr
What is happening right now in Afghanistan is the most serious women’s rights crisis in the world today.
May 11, 2022
Uyghurs Have No Faith in Michelle Bachelet’s UN Visit to China
By Omer Kanat
The United Nations, an organization established in the aftermath of one genocide, has yet to impose any consequences, or even to officially condemn, China’s genocide against the Uyghur people.
May 11, 2022
The US-ASEAN Summit Should Prioritize Internet Freedom
By Michael Caster
Washington should use the upcoming Special Summit to take a firm stand against the rising digital authoritarianism in Southeast Asian nations.
May 09, 2022
This Tiger Cub is Only the Tip of the Iceberg of an Illegal Trade
By Natalie Phaholyothin
Many Asian countries have passed strong laws against the tiger trade, but implementation remains patchy. That needs to change.
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