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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.
The US Needs a Long-Term North Korea Strategy
By Willis L Krumholz
Today’s debate needs to be about more than just “taking out a bad guy.”
Time for the US to Stop Losing Ground to China in the South China Sea
By Tuan N. Pham
More opportunities for Washington to push back against Beijing in the South China Sea.
The Doklam Standoff Between India and China Is Far From Over
By Ankit Panda
The troops may have stepped back, but the China-India dispute in the Himalayas is far from over.
Asia-Pacific Economies Find their Groove
By Alan Bollard
How can APEC leaders keep the momentum going at their upcoming annual summit?
Does Democracy’s Toehold in Myanmar Outweigh the Lives of the Rohingya?
By Rukmani Bhatia
Putting pressure on Aung San Suu Kyi could endanger her bargain with the military, but a system that allows ethnic cleansing may not be worth saving.
The Case Against Nukes in South Korea
By Bruce Klingner
Nuclear weapons aren't a solution to growing South Korean doubts about U.S. resolve and commitment.
Why Silk Road Mayors Are Gathering in Kabul
By M. Ashraf Haidari
Hosting the 2017 Silk Road Mayors Forum returns Kabul to its historical place as the center of the Silk Roads.
Democracy vs North Korea
By David Straub
Why have democracies proven unable to halt the North Korean dictatorship’s development of nuclear weapons?
The Danger of Linking the Rohingya Crisis to Terrorism
By Sahar Khan
The perils of portraying the Rohingya crisis through securitized lens are quickly becoming apparent.
How Singapore Encourages Lifelong Learning and Workforce Resilience
By Robert Kamei
The global economy now demands workers to be nimbler than ever.
5 Hidden Costs of the RCEP to People and Planet
By Sam Cossar-Gilbert
Trade negotiators are meeting next week in South Korea to discuss the RCEP, which could impact billions of lives.
China, US Both Using Lawfare in the South China Sea
By Mark J. Valencia
China is indeed engaging in lawfare, but the U.S. has done so in a rather sophisticated manner for many years as well.