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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.
Want a Rules-Based Order for the Indo-Pacific? Start With Diego Garcia.
By Peter Harris
The U.S. pushing for the divesting of colonialism in the Chagos Archipelago would be a good place to begin.
The Capitol Siege and the Crisis of American Statecraft
By Sebastian Strangio
If Joe Biden wishes to renew global democracy, he would do best to start in his own backyard.
American Shame
By Abhijnan Rej
The storming of the US Capitol on January 6 marks one of the darkest days in recent American history.
A Letter from a Cambodian Woman in Exile
By Mu Sochua
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s onslaught against the Cambodian opposition has not ceased.
Is China the 21st Century’s Great ‘Going Concern’?
By Francis P. Sempa
Halford Mackinder is famous for his “heartland” theory, but another of his major theoretical constructs may be more relevant to China's rise.
Taiwan Needs to Be a Part of the UK’s China Strategy
By David Green
The willingness (or lack thereof) to embrace Taiwan is a bellwether of how serious liberal democracies are about countering CCP threats to their ideals.
Challenges to Democracy and Hopes for Peace and Justice in Myanmar
By Gus Miclat
For a multicultural society like Myanmar, the greatest test of democracy is whether the government treats its minorities equal to the majority.
Displaced, Stranded, Unprotected: ASEAN’s Migrant Workers
By Geoffrey Ducanes, Puja Dutta and Nicola Nixon
The case for greater cooperation in the protection of ASEAN’s migrant workers.
The Pandemic Drags On. But What About Infrastructure?
By Amrita Malhi
Australia can't, and shouldn't, compete directly with China on the funding of hard infrastructure.
The New Poor: ASEAN Tackles the Challenge of Rising Inequalities
By Puja Dutta, Deepali Khanna and Nicola Nixon
The pandemic worsened an already precarious situation for many largely due to gaps in social protection systems.
How Trump and the 2020 US Election Are Helping Authoritarians’ Domestic Causes
By Mai Truong
The Trump administration has gifted autocrats with three key tools for consolidating their strength at home.
The Internet as Battleground in Thailand’s COVID-19 Tinderbox Moment
By Colleen Scribner
Online tools have been invaluable for Thailand's pro-democracy movement – but the government is cracking down.