The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued this statement on ASEAN's Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea on July 20, 2012.

As the global economic crisis increases the importance of trade, and China and the United States eye greater engagement with Southeast Asia, ASEAN may play a more robust role in the region.

Russian President Putin, mistrustful of Western motives, is likely to resist pressure to commit to stronger sanctions against Syria's government, says expert Dimitri Simes.

Captain Melissa Bert, USCG, and Captain Bradley Russell, USN, argue that while the United States is a nation reliant on sea power, it is not being the leader it can be on the Law of the Sea Convention.

The financial and political crisis facing Europe can only be redressed with further eurozone integration that the continent's publics may not be ready for, says CFR's Charles A. Kupchan.

Debates about the possibility of containing a nuclear Iran often hinge on judgments of whether the regime there is rational. But as a wealth of recently released Iraqi documents about Saddam Hussein's tumultuous reign in Iraq show, even an arguably rational leader can be unreasonable -- and very hard to deter.

John B. Bellinger III argues that Congress should reconsider the International Criminal Court.

The U.S. State Department released its yearly Trafficking in Persons report on June 19, 2012.

In his testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, John Bellinger argues that the Law of the Sea Convention is beneficial to the United States military, especially during a time of armed conflict, because it provides clear treaty-based navigational rights for our Navy, Coast Guard, and aircraft.

Alex M. Brill and James K. Glassman of the National Taxpayers Union argue that the G20 needs clear admission standards to boost the grop's legitimacy. They offer a set of broad criteria for judging admission and assess whether current G20 members meet those standards.

Jerome A. Cohen asks, "As China's Communist Party elite prepare to select the country's leadership for the coming decade, to what extent does concern for the rule of law affect their deliberations?"

Max Boot says that the United States should consider tougher actions against the Syrian government.

The conflict in Syria is less about democratic reforms and more about redistributing power along sectarian and ethnic lines--with troubling regional implications, says expert Vali Nasr.

Nuclear talks with Iran are unlikely to lead to a deal in the short term, but they have had some impact: easing tensions and calming oil markets, says CFR's Richard Falkenrath.

Activist and advocate Chen Guangcheng discusses his personal journey, human rights, and the rule of law in China.

Activist and advocate Chen Guangcheng discusses his personal journey, human rights, and the rule of law in China.

Canada's military is managing its role in Afghanistan against new security concerns in the Arctic, and is looking to increase its capacity in an age when other NATO countries are cutting back on spending, says Canadian Rear Admiral David Gardam.

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the UN, gave these remarks regarding Syria on May 30, 2012.

The U.S. financial sector is at risk of eurozone sovereign debt contagion that could potentially undermine the fragile U.S. economic recovery, explains economist Richard H. Clarida.

Secretary of State Clinton gave these remarks on the Law of the Sea Convention before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on May 23, 2012.