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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.
3 Years Since Myanmar’s Coup, Stronger Global Action Is Needed
By Shayna Bauchner
The 2022 U.N. Security Council resolution has not become the hoped-for on-ramp to stronger action, but rather the feeble peak of council activity on a country in harrowing crisis.
Three Years After the Myanmar Coup, Women Human Rights Defenders Remain at the Forefront
By Naw Hser Hser and Maggi Quadrini
Many women activists and revolutionaries are working to ensure that the fall of the military will also lead to a revolution in gender equality.
Securing China-US Relations Within the Wider Asia-Pacific
By Sourabh Gupta
The United States and China must craft a durable consensus that prioritizes regional stability and coexistence.
How India Betrayed Mahatma Gandhi
By Safa Ahmed
The ideology of Gandhi’s assassin is now mainstream in the country, while Gandhi himself has been demonized for promoting Hindu-Muslim unity.
Engaging With the Taliban Doesn’t Work
By Lauryn Oates
Observers urging engagement with the Taliban should take direction from those on the ground, who are directly impacted by the Taliban’s discriminatory policies.
What Voice Will We Give to Australia’s Future?
By Lisa Jackson-Pulver
The wellbeing of our nation should be at the forefront of our minds right now – and we need to get the history right.
Mending Pakistan’s Ties With the West – Via the Middle East
By Syed Abdul Ahad Waseem
Pakistan’s relevance in the Middle East theater is natural, and it is about time that Pakistan leverages that relevance to alleviate its isolation.
A First-hand Run-in With Pakistan’s Dangerous Blasphemy Obsession
By Fizza Abbas
A public altercation over a shawl made me confront the blasphemy laws of Pakistan head-on.
Apple Must Clean up Its Polluting Supply Chain – Starting With Foxconn
By Xueying Wu
Apple likes to brand itself as a climate hero, but one of its largest suppliers is a laggard on renewable energy – despite the many green options in China.
One Woman’s Journey From South Asia to Mexico, and From Slave to Spiritual Icon
By Diego Javier Luis
Catarina de San Juan’s life is a snapshot of Spain’s colonization – and the often-overlooked history of the Pacific slave trade.
It’s Time to Confront the Taliban’s Corruption
By David J. Kramer, Natalie Gonnella-Platts, and Jessica Ludwig
Fundamental to the Taliban’s vicious pursuit of power is the strategic use of corruption and kleptocracy.
Rip off the Blindfold: Let Taiwanese Civil Society Learn From Ukraine
By Wu Min-Hsuan
Taiwan’s new government must encourage civil society groups to visit Ukraine and learn from the country's recent experience.