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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.
Filipino Women Confront the Latest Government Crackdown
By Rosanna Langara
As the Duterte administration strives to silence them, women activists in the Philippines speak up.
Why the Kim-Moon Summit at Panmunjom Matters
By Ankit Panda
The summit between the two Koreas will set the tone for the Trump-Kim summit.
The South China Sea: Reality Is Slowly Sinking In
By Mark J. Valencia
It's finally clear that the United States is not willing to confront China in the disputed waters.
Is China Forging a New Tripolar World Order?
By N. Janardhan
We could soon have a new tripolar world order, with China joining the United States and Russia at the helm of global affairs.
China’s Ever-Expanding Surveillance State
By Sarah Cook
Recent developments shed light on the phenomenon’s immediate and long-term implications.
Bangladesh Set to Reach Economic Par With India
By Sajeeb Wazed
Bangladesh is poised to graduate from “least developed country” to “developing country” status.
Including Taiwan Should Not Be a Troubling Issue for the WHO
By Shih-Chia Lin
Despite the new WHO director-general's emphasis on reform and inclusion, Taiwan remains sidelined.
Do US-China Economic Relations Have a Bright Future Under Xi?
By Quinn Marschik
Xi, with his power more secure than ever, might pursue the kind of economic changes that the U.S. has been pushing for.
Sharif's Lifetime Ban From Politics Is the Final Blow to Pakistan's Democracy
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
Nawaz Sharif’s lifetime disqualification has scratched off Pakistan’s façade of democracy.
What the US-China Struggle for Regional Dominance Means for Southeast Asia
By Mark J. Valencia
How are Southeast Asian countries responding to growing tensions between the two powers?
China's Successful Coercion of Vietnam in the South China Sea Deserves US Attention
By Ankit Panda
Washington failed to back up its words with action after Beijing pressured Hanoi into abandoning a South China Sea oil drilling project.
How Economic Growth Can Help Defeat Terrorism in Afghanistan
By M. Ashraf Haidari
The campaign for Afghanistan's economy must stand on equal footing with the counterterrorism campaign.