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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.
Why the 'Comfort Women' Issue Still Matters, 70 Years Later
By Hiroka Shoji
The refusal to adequately address past atrocities permeates how women are viewed in Japanese society today.
Steering North Korea to Become a Normal Country
By Jongsoo Lee
With the Singapore summit, Kim Jong Un has effectively declared the end of North Korea’s era of diplomatic isolation.
Summit: What Next for Kim Jong-un?
By Atsuhito Isozaki
Although little of substance was agreed, the summit was still a risky move for the North Korean leader.
How China Lost Sight of Malaysia’s Changes
By Peter T C Chang
China’s ethical missteps in Malaysia offer lessons for the Belt and Road.
Why the UN Deal With Myanmar Ignores Rohingya Realities
By Tun Khin
Conditions are nowhere near ready for Rohingya to return in safety and dignity.
China’s New Missiles in the Spratlys May be a Turning Point
By Steven Stashwick
There is no longer any reason for China to acknowledge the diplomatic fig leaf of Xi Jinping’s “militarization” assurance.
Kim Jong Un Grabs the Headlines At Home, But What Did Trump Get From the Historic Summit?
By Ankit Panda
The summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un was historic, but far from the "epochal" event claimed by both leaders.
The Singapore Summit's Failure on North Korean Human Rights
By John Sifton
Romancing Kim in Singapore won't denuclearize North Korea or improve its human rights record.
North Korea Must Come Clean About Its Dirty Money
By Neil Bhatiya and Elizabeth Rosenberg
For the goal of complete North Korean denuclearization to be successful, it must have a financial component.
Kim Jong-un's Night Out in Singapore: A Selfie and a Skyline
By Ankit Panda
Why did Kim Jong-un feel it necessary to tour Singapore by night?
Dear President Trump: Don’t Underestimate Kim Jong-Un
By Jenna Gibson
Popular portrayals of Kim as a willful child are misleading -- and dangerous.
The Decline and Attempted Revival of China’s Economic Exceptionalism
By Dinny McMahon
Can a new generation of Chinese leaders resurrect the magic of China’s economic exceptionalism?