Region
East Asia
Shipping, Ports, and China’s New Maritime Empire
By Mercy A. Kuo
Insights from Christopher R. O’Dea.
Japan’s Governing Party Is Engulfed by a Slush Fund Scandal. Will It Spur Political Reform?
By Thisanka Siripala
The government is facing intense pressure over fears of widespread corruption and financial misconduct.
Japan, Italy Agree to Further Strengthen Bilateral Defense Ties
By Takahashi Kosuke
Meeting in Tokyo, Prime Ministers Kishida Fumio and Giorgia Meloni discussed naval port calls, enlarged joint exercises, and expanded cooperation.
The ROC Era and the Making of Modern China
By Shannon Tiezzi
Author and professor Xavier Paules on this often overlooked period of Chinese history.
Mongolia Commits to Fighting Corruption With International Help
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Corruption has been a perennial issue for Mongolia, but public outrage has sparked a new anti-corruption strategy from the government.
China’s Quiet Move Toward Moderation
By Robert Sutter
Rhetorically, China is standing firm as the U.S. leads a hardening of policy toward Beijing. But its actions reveal a new willingness to compromise.
China-US Relations: Ping-Pong Diplomacy 2.0
By Shannon Tiezzi
As Beijing and Washington look to resurrect people-to-people diplomacy, a group of 12 American college students headed to China to play ping-pong.
Engagement Lite: The Logic of Biden’s Diplomacy With China
By Nathaniel Sher and Andrew Weaver
The Biden administration’s approach should not be confused with a return to “strategic engagement” – combining high-level diplomacy with economic integration.
North Korea Tests More Cruise Missiles as Kim Jong Un Calls for War Readiness
By Kim Tong-hyung
North Korea’s fourth round of cruise missile tests in 2024 came hours after state media reported that Kim had inspected unspecified naval projects at a shipyard in Nampho.
The Iran Factor in the China-Taiwan-US Triangle
By Thiago de Aragao
China could seek to use Iran as a tool to push the United States farther and farther from Taiwan.
Japan’s Nuclear Follies
By Jeff Kingston
Nuclear energy may make sense in places where reactors can be operated safely, but Japan is a seismically active archipelago.
A New Era for China’s Overseas Anti-Corruption Campaign
By Chi Yin
In an apparent first, China has convicted two people for bribing foreign officials. The high-profile judgment sends a clear signal: the time has come to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction.