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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 Need for an Enduring US Military Presence in Afghanistan
By Julian D. Alford and Amin Tarzi
U.S. interests in Afghanistan are enduring and will need to be safeguarded into the future.
Joe Biden Is Better for India – If Democratic Values Are What Matters Most in US-India Ties
By Raymond E. Vickery, Jr.
Biden and Trump hold similar views on the security dimension of the U.S.-India relationship. But the relationship has other aspects which must not be overlooked.
What To Do About the 2022 Beijing Olympics?
By Benedict Rogers
Does a regime accused of atrocity crimes and grave breaches of an international treaty deserve to host this prestigious sporting event?
South Korea and Japan: Resolving the Comfort Women Issue
By Naoko Kumagai
A little more empathy is needed, on both sides.
Narratives of Power and Prejudice: From Nixon to Trump
By Abhijnan Rej
A recent essay about Indira Gandhi and Richard Nixon brings uncomfortable contemporary questions to the fore.
When Emulating Mao, Xi Should Not Forget the Cultural Revolution
By Chi Wang
Mao’s quest for uncontested power culminated in a national tragedy – and a deeply personal one for the author.
A China-Centered Order Is Not Inevitable
By Valérie Niquet and Walter Lohman
The pandemic has revealed is that the shift of global leadership toward a China-centered Asia is neither inevitable nor desired.
Bangladesh’s Ambiguity on Religion Has Been Expensive for the Country
By Shafi Md Mostofa
The lack of a clear position on where Bangladesh stands vis-à-vis state and religion has helped breed fundamentalism, extremism, and anti-West sentiments in that country.
Asim Bajwa Exposé Underlines the Corruption Linking the Pakistan Army and CPEC
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
With the backing of the powerful military, it has become all but impossible to raise questions about CPEC -- even when major corruption allegations are made.
An Opportunity to End the Korean War: We Can’t Let This Slip Away
By Song Young Gil
The chair of South Korea's legislative foreign affairs committee argues that diplomacy with North Korea must remain a priority for the US, regardless of who wins the upcoming election.
Bangladesh’s ‘Crossfire’ Culture Hits Home
By Brad Adams
Bangladeshi security forces have allegedly extrajudicially killed over 2,400 people during Sheikh Hasina's decade in power.
Abe Shinzo or Shinzo Abe: What’s in a Name?
By Shannon Tiezzi
Japan changed the order of officials' English language names a year ago – but the world has been slow to adapt.