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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.
Myanmar on the Brink
By Andreus Sang
What does the emergence of a government-in-exile and a newly formed alliance of ethnic rebel groups mean for the country’s emerging conflict?
The Military’s Coup is Giving Way to a New Dawn for Myanmar
By Saw Kapi
The Myanmar military coup council has not yet fallen, but it is failing fast on all fronts.
COVID-19: A Wake-Up Call to Address Development Fault Lines in Asia and the Pacific
By Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
The pandemic widened pre-existing gaps in Asia-Pacific development. It’s high time to address those obvious deficits to commit to a better future.
Philippines: Embracing Transparency Critical for Mining Sector
By Anj Dacanay
The mining sector in the Philippines has had a lethal impact on people and the environment. Will an international transparency process help end it?
Killing, Violence, and Detention: Myanmar Is No Place for Children
By Hassan Noor
Since the coup, Myanmar’s military has killed 43 children, detained 20, and traumatized countless more.
China-US Relations: Views From China
By Mu Chunshan
Understanding how ordinary Chinese people view the relationship is a crucial, but often overlooked, element in getting U.S. policy right.
The Myanmar Crisis and the Contradictions of ‘Non-Interference’
By Kyaw Khant
As the situation in Myanmar worsens, it is becoming harder for outside nations to remain neutral.
How the Olympic Movement Can Resist Beijing’s Games
By Ben Lowsen
The world at large cannot expect the IOC to address every issue, but the issue of genocide is too great to ignore.
Politics Are Keeping the UN From Protecting Children
By Karin Landgren
International pressure was critical to ending the use of child soldiers in Nepal. The United Nations can’t let politics undermine its mission to do so elsewhere.
Sri Lanka’s Proposed ‘Burqa Ban’ Would Backfire
By Nilay Saiya
If Sri Lanka adopts the burqa ban and refuses to address systemic issues of bias and discrimination against Muslims, it will only create a breeding ground for terrorism.
Rehumanizing US North Korea Policy
By Esther S. Im and Paul K. Lee
The challenges on the Korean Peninsula have never just been abstract foreign policy issues happening “over there” – they have touched the lives of thousands of American families.
India’s Absurd Sedition Law – And What It Enables
By Aditya Sharma
The Indian Penal Code is replete with pernicious and outdated laws. Its Section 124A is a marquee example.