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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.
A Boiling Pot: The CCP’s Increasingly Intrusive Surveillance in Tibet
By Tenzin Tsultrim
China’s repressive campaign in Xinjiang is now well-known. But what about Tibet?
What’s Behind the Release of Cambodia’s Opposition Leader?
By David Hutt
The freeing of Kem Sokha has raised bigger questions about power and the way it is exercised in Cambodia.
Will Taiwan Trap Itself Into ‘One China’ Again?
By Lin Fei-fan
In Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, China might have found a useful wedge to influence Taiwan's domestic politics.
Unsilenced: Male Rape by the Sri Lankan Security Forces
By Ana Pararajasingham
A new report documents the widespread use of sexual torture on male Tamil detainees.
Japan's Shameful Myanmar Embrace
By Lisa Tassi
Japan is on the wrong side of history over Myanmar’s atrocities against the Rohingya.
Maritime Security Cooperation in the South China Sea: Sailing In Different Directions
By Mark J. Valencia
“The diplomatic graveyard is full of failed proposals and efforts that did not take regional realities into account.”
The New Nuclear Normal in North Korea?
By Ankit Panda
North Korea is beginning to lower the profile of nuclear weapons in its external signaling.
Taiwan Can Help the UN Achieve Its Goals
By Jaushieh Joseph Wu
The United Nations should stand up to external pressures and open its doors to Taiwan.
The Damage Is Done: Trump and the Asia-Pacific
By Ankit Panda
The president’s successor will need to offer a path forward that addresses our current self-serving American approach.
The EU’s New China Resolution: Principled But Not Strategic
By Tim Rühlig
The new China resolution of the European Parliament differs considerably from the 2015 version.
Uzbekistan: Building on Centuries of Inter-Religious Harmony
By Javlon Vakhabov
The new leadership of Uzbekistan is openly tackling a backlog of challenges, including in the field of religious freedoms.
Rapprochement is a Prerequisite for Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
By Brad Stapleton
Washington’s focus on denuclearization puts the cart before the horse.