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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 China Won't Be Glad to See US-Pakistan Relations Take a Nosedive in 2018
By Ankit Panda
China sees more of a challenge than an opportunity in the ongoing U.S.-Pakistan tiff.
'Sky Row' Calls for Debates on China in Taiwan
By Charles I-hsin Chen
China's unilateral announcement of new flight routes should spark a rethink of Tsai's cross-strait policy.
How Should We Write About Nuclear Weapons?
By Franz-Stefan Gady
How should one combine the human with the abstract when writing about nuclear weapons?
Is Promoting Human Rights in ASEAN an Impossible Task?
By Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Developments in the region suggest that the goal remains far from becoming a reality anytime soon.
Why Bangladesh Cannot Accept All the Rohingya
By Sajeeb Wazed
A government adviser explains Dhaka's approach to the refugee crisis.
China and India: An Emerging Gulf in Infrastructure Plans
By N. Janardhan
The Asian giants must devise ways to make their respective initiatives less competitive geopolitically and more cooperative geo-economically.
What’s Next for South Korea’s Moon Jae-in in 2018?
By Brad Glosserman
Given that little about what is occurring is new, here is a cliché-ridden assessment of what lies ahead for him.
Who Dares Speak Truth to Power in Myanmar?
By Sarah Schulman
Why the fate of the two detained journalists is intertwined with the future of the political transition of Myanmar.
A Week of False Ballistic Missile Alerts: From Japan to Hawaii
By Ankit Panda
What should we make of two disconcerting mistakes in Japan and Hawaii?
Notes From Kazakhstan’s Mission to the UN
By Anuar Ayazbekov
Kazakhstan is positioning itself at the heart of global diplomacy.
The Risk of a Nuclear-Tinged South Asian Crisis Is Rising
By Sameer Lalwani and Hannah Haegeland
The odds of another serious South Asian crisis remain high.
The Vietnam War Spy Who Didn’t Love Us
By Shane Worrell
A new book sheds light on journalist and spy Pham Xuan An.