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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.
Coercion and Criminality: Cambodia’s Dual Threat to Regional and Global Stability
By Jacob Sims
As the harms of Cambodia's criminalized political economy ripple outward, governments in the region and further afield must move beyond their muted, incoherent response.
China-US Cooperation on the Fentanyl Crisis Is Very Possible
By Marcel Arsenault
Bilateral cooperation on fentanyl can save lives, protect societies and punish drug traffickers.
Bangladesh’s Fragile Progress Toward Freedom of Expression
By A K M Wahiduzzaman
The interim government’s draft Cyber Security Ordinance mirrors the repressive legal frameworks of previous administrations.
Taiwan’s Constitutional Crisis Threatens Its Democracy
By You-Hao Lai
The Constitutional Court has been effectively sidelined through a legislative gambit – and the biggest losers are the Taiwanese people.
Burmese Tofu Diplomacy: Myanmar’s Democratic Forces and Their Engagement with China and India
By Tin Shine Aung
The National Unity Government needs a proactive strategy for gaining recognition from the region's two superpowers.
The South Korean Government and Presidential Security Service Are Trampling the Rule of Law
By Eunwoo Lee
Their blind protection of President Yoon Suk-yeol perpetuates his insurrection.
Is Japan’s Sudden Pivot to China Naïve?
By Yukari Easton
Japan has little to show for an unprecedented relaxing of its visa program for Chinese nationals.
3 Years on: Kazakhstan’s Kafkaesque System Fails Bloody January Torture Victims
By Alva Omarova
While over 30 security and law enforcement officials have been convicted for abuse during Bloody January, the number remains low compared to the scale of violations.
To Strengthen Defense, Taiwan Must Revamp Its Military Procurement
By Ping-yu Lin
Recurring corruption scandals shed light on the lack of accountability in military procurement decisions.
In the UK, Labor’s China Audit Is Fast Becoming a Post-Mortem
By Andrew Yeh
The trajectory of the new government’s China policy could be set well before the foreign secretary’s much vaunted audit sees the light of day.
Busan Was a Major Political Win on Plastic Pollution, Even If Not a Procedural One
By Arpita Bhagat
The political dynamics, narratives, and numbers are conditioned in favor of a strong agreement now.
Why Indonesia Needs To Reform Its Oil and Gas Exploration Landscape
By Larry Luckey
If the country is to achieve its ambitious 2030 energy goals, it needs to remove the obstacles in the way of foreign exploration activities.