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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.
Uzbekistan’s Upcoming Parliamentary Elections: A Chance for Change?
By Mirshohid Aslanov
From tackling corruption to enhancing public services, people of Uzbekistan are clear about their priorities.
The Bangladesh Army Must Not Meddle in Politics
By Ahmede Hussain
Instead of focusing on bringing accountability into the armed forces he leads, Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman is busy offering unsolicited views on an election timeline.
Thailand’s New Leader Faces a Time of Crisis and Opportunity
By Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn and Patrick Phongsathorn
Can Paetongtarn Shinawatra seize the opportunity to make a break with the repressive policies of past administrations?
China’s ‘Gifts’ of Parliament Buildings in Africa Are a Wake-Up Call for Digital Sovereignty
By Marci Harris and Innocent Batsani-Ncube
Over the past two decades, Beijing has financed and built at least 15 parliament buildings in African nations. These projects carry hidden costs that extend far beyond their initial construction.
A New Paradigm For Supporting the People of Myanmar Is Emerging in Rakhine State
By Chris Gunness
And with reports of starvation and widespread atrocity crimes, the pressure to make it work has never been greater.
Holding the Taliban Accountable Through the Media
By Harun Najafizada
The digital revolution and modern journalism allow us to cover Afghanistan during these critical times despite Taliban efforts to block us.
What’s Wrong With Calling Hun Sen ‘Despicable’?
By David Hutt
In clamping down so hard on the speech of its citizens, the Cambodian government only reveals the depth of its insecurities.
Why It’s Time to Rename the South China Sea
By Edmund Lin
The sea needs a name that honors its rich history of commercial and cultural exchange, while positioning the sea as a space for cooperation and mutual benefit.
US Congress Should Support the Transnational Repression Reporting Act
By Rasheed Ahmed
The bill is poised to help a wide range of U.S. citizens contending with threats from the governments of India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, and other regimes.
The Arrest of Mech Dara (Part I): Repression and Retaliation
By Jacob Sims
How one journalist’s plight reveals the need for global solidarity against criminal autocracy in Cambodia.
Closing the Afghan Embassy in London Is a Moral and Diplomatic Mistake
By Ramiz Bakhtiar
Thousands of Afghan nationals residing in the U.K. rely on essential services provided by the embassy in London.
To Solve the Plastic Crisis, We Must Phase out Production
By Xuan Quach
Promoting recycling without a systems change that unlocks drastic reduction of plastics is merely greenwashing.