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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 Must Defend Taiwan – From COVID-19
By Dennis V. Hickey
The U.S. commitment to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act applies to more than just a military invasion.
Is Cambodia’s Exclusive Dependence on China Inevitable?
By Sam Rainsy
The most practical course for a small country is to cultivate as many friends and partners as possible.
India’s COVID-19 Crisis: An Opportunity to Recover Inter-Faith Fraternity
By Tehmina Arora
The crisis has seen Indians from all faiths and ethnicities coming together to save lives.
The Chinese Are Coming – to Taiwan?
By Amitai Etzioni
There are risks in hyping a threat.
The Legal Case Against Japan’s Fukushima Wastewater Decision
By Xiuxiu Zhang, Jeffrey Thaler, and Danning Zhu
The proposed discharge of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean would violate Japan’s legal and environmental obligations.
Colonialism Redux: How the EU Is Punishing a Tiny Island Nation for Not ‘Playing Fair’
By Francois Chani Tabisal
The unequal matchup between a bureaucratic behemoth and Vanuatu reveals more about history and geopolitics than it does about financial irregularities.
The International Brouhaha Over Fukushima Treated Water
By SUZUKI Kazuto
The criticisms from China and South Korea are missing some crucial points.
School Attacks on Afghanistan’s Hazaras Are Only the Beginning
By Sitarah Mohammadi and Sajjad Askary
The gruesome massacre of May 8 was sadly not an outlier. Afghanistan’s Hazaras are genuinely fearful for their lives.
Vietnam’s National Assembly Vote: A Futile Gesture
By Mu Sochua
The May 23 election is designed to affix a rubber stamp to the Vietnamese Communist Party's monopoly on political power.
Is Mongolia Heading Toward One-Party Rule?
By Enkhbaigali Byambasuren
A constitutional and legislative crisis resulted in a hunger strike ahead of the June presidential election.
India Must Impose a One-Time Tax on the Mega Rich to Fund Its Vaccination Program
By Bansari Kamdar and Javaid Iqbal
The pandemic has highlighted India’s extreme income inequality -- and will mostly likely worsen it.
Reversing the Coup is No Solution for Myanmar
By Michelle Onello and Akila Radhakrishnan
A return to the pre-coup status quo is not politically sustainable. What Myanmar needs is a more fundamental shift.