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Asia Unbound

CFR fellows and other experts assess the latest issues emerging in Asia today.

Latest Post

U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit gala dinner in Manila, the Philippines, on November 12, 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit gala dinner in Manila, the Philippines, on November 12, 2017. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Southeast Asia Responds to Trump’s Victory

Southeast Asian leaders are adept at dealing with President-elect Trump’s transactional style of diplomacy, but an escalating U.S.-China conflict would severely harm the region.

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Russia
Why Expanded BRICS Is Backing a Russia-Initiated Grain Exchange
In a move to reshape global agricultural trade, the 2024 BRICS Kazan Declaration has thrown its weight behind the creation of a BRICS Grain Exchange. 
Human Rights
Southeast and South Asia Step Up Controls on Online Discourse
Governments across Southeast and South Asia have sought to restrain freedom of expression on online platforms.
Japan
Japan’s Ruling Coalition Rules No More
On Sunday, Japanese voters handed the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, an unmistakable defeat.
  • China
    China’s Hospital Admission Paradox: Institutional Design and Perverse Incentives
    Without comprehensive reforms, the sustainability of China’s healthcare system remains at risk, compromising its ability to meet the genuine medical needs of its population in the long term.
  • Indonesia
    The Tragedy of Joko Widodo
    Joko Widodo assumed office promising to be a different type of leader for Indonesia. His record suggests otherwise.
  • China
    Europe Should Emulate Biden’s Restrictions on Chinese Smart Cars
    Europe’s planned tariffs on electric vehicles from China miss the bigger threat: Beijing could turn smart cars into weapons of cyber warfare.
  • Southeast Asia
    Is the United States Losing Ground to China in Southeast Asia?
    The United States’ influence in Southeast Asia is waning as China strengthens its position.
  • Taiwan
    Would Trump Abandon Taiwan?
    Taiwan must contend not just with the prospect of a second Trump presidency, but with a broader U.S. shift towards weaker regional engagement. 
  • Taiwan
    Reading Lai Ching-te’s National Day Speech and Its Implications for Cross-Strait Relations
    Although Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, delivered a measured National Day speech, China is unlikely to ease its pressure campaign.
  • NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
    NATO’s Indo-Pacific Aspirations
    As China, North Korea, and Russia move into closer alignment, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are concluding that European and Indo-Pacific security are not divisible.