[{"_1":2,"_290":-5,"_291":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_288":289},"root",{"_5":6,"_14":15},"fb",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":12,"_13":8},"apiKey","AIzaSyAdxqOaB63feHHqSm_nZCKsSHpSAcxkct8","authDomain","thediplomat.firebaseapp.com","projectId","firebase-thediplomat","appId","ga",true,"routes/$issue",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"slug","2015-01","path","/2015-01","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-Jkpy9XhyvQFk1HPaHBt","title","Asia Pacific in 2015: What to Expect","description","In this issue, we look forward at the trends to watch around the region in 2015, look back on Narendra Modi’s very big year, reflect on the significance of Japan’s recent election, and of course provide reporting, analysis and commentary from around the region.","masthead","","number",2,"date","January 2015","month",1,"year",2015,"status","rdy","toc",[44,59,75,83,109,133,162,187,208,233,254,271],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"CVRS","priority",0,"Cover Story","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":58},"-JzyGOxdY07Qkiua87GU","lead","

The Diplomat looks at the trends to watch across the region in the coming year.

","model","story","preview","The Asia-Pacific in 2015: What to Expect",{"_24":60,"_46":37,"_26":61,"_49":62},"LDS","Leads",[63,67,71],{"_24":64,"_53":65,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":66},"-JzyGOy5gLEn23lziGtw","

An ambitious leader for an increasingly ambitious state.

","Modi Ushers in New Era for India",{"_24":68,"_53":69,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-JzyGOy9YyZhQkRiVzih","

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wins reelection, but the policy challenges remain.

","What Now for Japan?",{"_24":72,"_53":73,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":74},"-JzyGOyBgLIpQAvAaqVZ","

Why Turkmenistan will prevail over Russia as China’s primary pipeline gas supplier.

","The Fight for China’s Gas Market",{"_24":76,"_46":33,"_26":77,"_49":78},"INT","Interview",[79],{"_24":80,"_53":81,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":82},"-JzyGP--q6PsWXAUpQZT","

Author Suki Kim speaks with The Diplomat about the six months she spent teaching English to the sons of North Korea’s elites.

","Suki Kim",{"_24":84,"_46":85,"_26":86,"_49":87},"CHN",3,"China",[88,92,96,100,104],{"_24":89,"_53":90,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":91},"-JzyGP-313v74GW_sM_f","

China can afford to move slowly in consolidating its influence on the international stage

","Xi Jinping’s ‘Big Country Diplomacy’ with Chinese Characteristics",{"_24":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":95},"-JzyGP-589xIsGmTiArv","

As its economy transitions, China will need to undertake another major reform effort.

","Reforming China’s Service Sector",{"_24":97,"_53":98,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":99},"-JzyGP-8GArvfozdGMaQ","

China claims its Internet will be multilateral, democratic, and transparent, but attacks on teachers suggest otherwise.

","Will China’s Internet Finally Open to the World?",{"_24":101,"_53":102,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":103},"-JzyGP-C4-kHLxPljvZQ","

The U.S. and China are locked in a great power competition, and their primary goals are incompatible.

","China-US Relations: The Return of Mao’s Noose",{"_24":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":107,"_40":41,"_26":108},"-JzyGP-Iz7cPsjJnfAqf","

The protesters may be exhausted, but China’s problems with Hong Kong most definitely remain.

",4,"Winning the Battle But Losing the War in Hong Kong",{"_24":110,"_46":107,"_26":111,"_49":112},"NEA","Northeast Asia",[113,117,121,125,129],{"_24":114,"_53":115,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":116},"-JzyGP-K_C_dMkbsYCIr","

The new U.S.-Japan defense guidelines won’t transform the Asia-Pacific, but they are significant nonetheless.

","Evolution, Not Revolution",{"_24":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":120},"-JzyGP-PaEVy9hut0DRA","

The UN takes a step toward prosecuting North Korea for crimes against humanity, but China and Russia remain obstacles.

","Will Pyongyang Be Held to Account?",{"_24":122,"_53":123,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":124},"-JzyGP-STP9S1UUQ4B9j","

The opposition NPAD is electing new leaders, with significant implications for leftist politics in South Korea.

","Factional Politics Will Determine Future of South Korean Left",{"_24":126,"_53":127,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":128},"-JzyGP-VglY7FBsEbenc","

A big win in Taipei by an independent candidate owed to more than discontent over China policy.

","KMT’s Drubbing: Not Just Cross-Strait Relations",{"_24":130,"_53":131,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":107,"_40":41,"_26":132},"-JzyGP-XMLYy106J6jgh","

China may not need to “abandon” North Korea, just as China never truly “had” North Korea.

","Does China Need to Abandon North Korea?",{"_24":134,"_46":135,"_26":136,"_49":137},"SOA",5,"South Asia",[138,142,146,150,154,158],{"_24":139,"_53":140,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":141},"-JzyGP-_9xNujC1jR0i5","

Approaching the bicentennial of Waterloo, it is worth reflecting on the lasting Asian legacy of the Napoleonic Wars.

","Napoleon, Persia and India",{"_24":143,"_53":144,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":145},"-JzyGP-al-7u6mIV1Zcp","

No more “good” and “bad” Taliban as Pakistan responds to a horrific slaughter at a Peshawar school.

","Massacre in Pakistan",{"_24":147,"_53":148,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":149},"-JzyGP-egK0sJ6AAvZXo","

Increasing state control over Grameen Bank will hardly serve the interests of Bangladesh.

","Saving Grameen Bank, Sustaining the Bangladesh Paradox",{"_24":151,"_53":152,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":153},"-JzyGP-i17Eq6Kw6SYrc","

High-level defections are troubling developments for President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

","Sri Lanka’s Presidential Race Gets Interesting",{"_24":155,"_53":156,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":107,"_40":41,"_26":157},"-JzyGP-lm9Iwj6E9-loX","

After a brief flicker of optimism, bilateral relations have soured once again.

","India and Pakistan: A Debilitating Relationship",{"_24":159,"_53":160,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":135,"_40":41,"_26":161},"-K-1dURFnd6gr_zBx30o","

Could a high-profile first lady improve the lot of Afghanistan’s women?

","Rula Ghani, Afghanistan’s Unusually Prominent First Lady",{"_24":163,"_46":164,"_26":165,"_49":166},"SEA",6,"Southeast Asia",[167,171,175,179,183],{"_24":168,"_53":169,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":170},"-JzyGP-nM-ynGcIFI60E","

The Indonesian president’s new vision faces some formidable challenges<

","Will Jokowi’s Maritime Doctrine Succeed?",{"_24":172,"_53":173,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":174},"-JzyGP-pDzTzyUwU0I5M","

With elections, ceasefire negotiations, and constitutional measures, 2015 will be a major test for the fledgling democracy.

","A Make or Break Year for Myanmar",{"_24":176,"_53":177,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":178},"-JzyGP-tojo54nMWesPh","

The region is not short on laws that impinge on human rights. Here are some that need urgent attention.

","Southeast Asian Laws That Ought to Be Repealed in 2015",{"_24":180,"_53":181,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":182},"-JzyGP-x6WoG-e98ihbl","

The president promises to improve the country’s ease of doing business, but he’ll have a lot of red tape to cut through first.

","Can Indonesia Be Better for Business?",{"_24":184,"_53":185,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":107,"_40":41,"_26":186},"-JzyGP-zkFqmuZUTY3EB","

Criticism of Cambodia’s handling of asylum seekers also puts a recent Australian deal back in the spotlight.

","Vietnam Again Puts Cambodia on the Spot Over Montagnards",{"_24":188,"_46":189,"_26":190,"_49":191},"CEA",7,"Central Asia",[192,196,200,204],{"_24":193,"_53":194,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":195},"-JzyGP0yzM9uwGOkAPC5","

Things are not looking good for international NGOs in Kyrgyzstan.

","Kyrgyzstan’s Choice",{"_24":197,"_53":198,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":199},"-JzyGP11UQZM5FmcXCEI","

Ankara has been noticeably reticent developing ties in the former Soviet sphere.

","Turkey in Central Asia: Turkic Togetherness?",{"_24":201,"_53":202,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":203},"-JzyGP12RJIPqOFmOx2n","

Russian officials certainly seem to think so. Others are less enthused.

","A Common Currency forthe EEU?",{"_24":205,"_53":206,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":207},"-JzyGP142ua6mhyE3oMp","

South and Central Asia leaders sign an agreement that appears to have little chance of going anywhere.

","An Historic, But Pointless, CASA-1000 Accord",{"_24":209,"_46":210,"_26":211,"_49":212},"OCE",8,"Oceania",[213,217,221,225,229],{"_24":214,"_53":215,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":216},"-JzyGP1BqYxVsDCht-yb","

Australia is in the market for some submarines. But who will the vendor be?

","The Great Australian Submarine Race",{"_24":218,"_53":219,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":220},"-JzyGP1EyazNrdWrkQGa","

Rushing to fit lone wolf attacks into prevailing narratives is a mistake.

","Lessons from the Sydney Hostage Siege",{"_24":222,"_53":223,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":224},"-JzyGP1FPPK_0x3ubbBn","

The ABC faces sweeping cuts under a PM who has done little to disguise his distaste for Australia’s national broadcaster.

","Australia’s ABC: Goodnight and Good Luck?",{"_24":226,"_53":227,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":228},"-JzyGP1HVpMpjI0X_abD","

A conference on South Pacific fishing has failed to strengthen safeguards for fast-dwindling stocks.

","Disappointing Outcome at Pacific Fisheries Meet",{"_24":230,"_53":231,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":107,"_40":41,"_26":232},"-JzyGP1Jbh6fuP-Ohhby","

The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement has taken effect, with considerable potential for Australia’s farmers.

","Australia’s Korean Trade Opportunity",{"_24":234,"_46":235,"_26":236,"_49":237},"SCR",9,"Security",[238,242,246,250],{"_24":239,"_53":240,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":241},"-JzyGP1KHxOVrOHVEV5b","

Navies around the region are stepping up efforts to expand their submarine fleets.

","The Underwater Naval Arms Race in Asia",{"_24":243,"_53":244,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":245},"-JzyGP1LLNdWwFqWDz_Z","

In training a new generation of strategists, its best worth recalling Aristotle’s sage advice: strategy is a habit.

","Strategy Is a Habit",{"_24":247,"_53":248,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":249},"-JzyGP1OpAzMe7-OQ7NR","

Iran air strikes in Iraq raise a host of difficult questions.

","Iran Joins ISIS Fight",{"_24":251,"_53":252,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":85,"_40":41,"_26":253},"-JzyGP1Q36hPr6tmAhMQ","

In a recently released position paper, Beijing outlines its reasons for rejecting a Philippine request for arbitration.

","Why China Won’t Accept International Arbitration in the South China Sea",{"_24":255,"_46":256,"_26":257,"_49":258},"DPL",10,"Diplomacy",[259,263,267],{"_24":260,"_53":261,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":262},"-JzyGP1Ub4a4so3ot2lU","

He’s finalized three big free trade deals this year, but Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants more.

","Australia’s Busy Asian FTA Diplomacy",{"_24":264,"_53":265,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":266},"-JzyGP1W_dUQLOgqMsSB","

Bilateral ties have long been rocky, but a recent defense deal marks a turning point.

","New Era in Russia-Pakistan Relations?",{"_24":268,"_53":269,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":270},"-JzyGP1XdrjTFR-WUj6_","

India-China competition in South Asia
is as hot as ever, but India could be losing out to China in important ways.

","India and China Slug It Out in South Asia",{"_24":272,"_46":273,"_26":274,"_49":275},"ASL",11,"Asia Life",[276,280,284],{"_24":277,"_53":278,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":279},"-JzyGP1bL169x0cnSG3H","

The Hong Kong Occupy protests have inspired some fascinating art.

","Good Art in Bad Times",{"_24":281,"_53":282,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":283},"-JzyGP1dMNqrDPZCmkUB","

Pro boxing is taking off in China, helped by the emergence of a home-grown star.

","Boxing’s Great Leap Forward",{"_24":285,"_53":286,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":33,"_40":41,"_26":287},"-JzyGP1fOyjhg_R4FhZf","

A new philanthropic initiative may reintroduce Indian classical literature to the masses.

","In 2015, a Milestone for Indian Literature","routes/$issue.masthead",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]

Masthead