[{"_1":2,"_286":-5,"_287":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_284":285},"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","2015-11","path","/2015-11","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-K1X_9nAchZF3hzJt1IN","title","What Next for the Trans-Pacific Partnership?","description","This month Francisco Sanchez, former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, looks at the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We also preview the Myanmar elections, go back in time to consider JFK’s forgotten 1962 crisis, and take on the conventional wisdom about China’s so-called ghost cities. All accompanied by reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.","masthead","","number",12,"date","November 2015","month",11,"year",2015,"status","rdy","toc",[44,59,76,84,110,134,159,184,209,230,251,268],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"CVRS","priority",0,"Cover Story","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":27},"-K1X_D1dF0fiIuHqbHEm","lead","

With the TPP, the Asia-Pacific has the opportunity to shape the future of international commerce.

","model","story","preview",1,{"_24":60,"_46":58,"_26":61,"_49":62},"LDS","Leads",[63,67,71],{"_24":64,"_53":65,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":66},"-K1X_D1zXUXbSyN6ihtD","

The forthcoming elections are a critical step into a somewhat uncertain future.

","Myanmar’s Big Moment",{"_24":68,"_53":69,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-K1X_D22b-18kzY72Oqy","

1962 is remembered for the Cuban Missile Crisis, but the U.S. almost got involved in another war.

","John F. Kennedy’s Forgotten Crisis",{"_24":72,"_53":73,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":75},"-K1X_D25f5KfauKCVSfS","

The same process that creates currently underpopulated new areas also has generated some of the world’s most successful cities

",2,"The Truth About China’s Ghost Cities",{"_24":77,"_46":74,"_26":78,"_49":79},"INT","Interview",[80],{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-K1X_D2DLbLv6qlUI7Fj","

After a year in office, how has President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo redirected Indonesia’s foreign policy?

","Donald K. Emmerson",{"_24":85,"_46":86,"_26":87,"_49":88},"CHN",3,"China",[89,93,97,101,105],{"_24":90,"_53":91,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":92},"-K1X_D3uXwPK6j-KK_ZN","

It’s been nearly a year since the China-Japan breakthrough. What’s the state of the relationship today?

","Making Progress Between Beijing and Tokyo",{"_24":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":96},"-K1X_D3vWfcI0RfgGi7C","

Chinese investment in power plant projects in the U.K. has some worried, but “keeping the lights on is non-negotiable.”

","Kowtowing at Hinkley Point?",{"_24":98,"_53":99,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":100},"-K1X_D3wTmVtTZjOMCo9","

The two ambitious projects have become an integral part of Chinese diplomacy.

","China’s AIIB and OBOR: Ambitions and Challenges",{"_24":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":104},"-K1X_D3zQYk69ehyFQqO","

China is increasing its presence in the Russian Arctic. What does Moscow really think about it?

","Sino-Russian Relations in the Arctic: Thawing Out or Freezing Up?",{"_24":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-K1X_D4093vFjNCp0ATB","

It’s official: Hung Hsiu-chu is out, and Eric Chu is in. But will it make a difference?

",4,"Taiwan's Ruling Party Ousts Its Presidential Candidate",{"_24":111,"_46":108,"_26":112,"_49":113},"NEA","Northeast Asia",[114,118,122,126,130],{"_24":115,"_53":116,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":117},"-K1X_D44NNh_HKJiZEi4","

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic rhetoric is simple, but solutions to Japan’s economic woes are not.

","Japan: Getting Back to Abenomics",{"_24":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":121},"-K1X_D46DNXwrs8tvm4c","

South Korea’s Ministry of Education has a plan to renationalize the production of history textbooks.

","Politicizing History, Park Geun-hye Calls for State Textbook",{"_24":123,"_53":124,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":125},"-K1X_D49LPmn3_w1MVSt","

Could a new US-China-South Korea trilateral framework form?

","China’s Changing North Korea Policy",{"_24":127,"_53":128,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":129},"-K1X_D4AwpkiDQw2234x","

South Korea reverts to its old system of state-produced history textbooks, sparking a national debate.

","South Korea's Other History War",{"_24":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":133},"-K1X_D4CV3mVhSRsxwnZ","

South Korea’s relationships with China and the United States make for tricky diplomacy.

","Park’s US Visit Highlights Balancing Act With China",{"_24":135,"_46":136,"_26":137,"_49":138},"SOA",5,"South Asia",[139,143,147,151,155],{"_24":140,"_53":141,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":142},"-K1X_D4IJ2ApG7z6k-Fn","

It may be based in religion and sustained by sentiment and nationalism, but the beef taboo shouldn't justify violence in India.

","The Beef Taboo",{"_24":144,"_53":145,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":146},"-K1X_D4MxZBUfC6qNGA_","

Recent developments show that India’s attention is very much on the Indian Ocean.

","India’s ‘Look West’ Maritime Diplomacy",{"_24":148,"_53":149,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":150},"-K1X_D4QUyO66xVrsP61","

What are Pakistan’s interests in approaching the U.S. about a nuclear deal?

","All Pakistan Wants Is the Same Nuclear Deal the US Gave India",{"_24":152,"_53":153,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":154},"-K1X_D4V9EsxzU8oMXy6","

Bangladesh is rapidly making its bed with Islamic fundamentalism.

","Rising Extremist Worries in Bangladesh",{"_24":156,"_53":157,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":158},"-K1X_D4Wi-ven8vqeFYQ","

A group of young Afghans tries to stop their educated compatriots from migrating to Europe.

","Young Afghans Come Together to Prevent 'Brain Drain'",{"_24":160,"_46":161,"_26":162,"_49":163},"SEA",6,"Southeast Asia",[164,168,172,176,180],{"_24":165,"_53":166,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":167},"-K1X_D4ZJF-SjAQCMUSo","

Bangkok aims to create a single gateway for Internet traffic, with the express purpose of suppressing circulation of anti-monarchy material.

","Gateways of Perception in Thailand",{"_24":169,"_53":170,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":171},"-K1X_D4_zWyVQasp5GkV","

Wellington looks to deepen its already comprehensive engagement with Southeast Asia.

","ASEAN-New Zealand Relations Get a Boost",{"_24":173,"_53":174,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":175},"-K1X_D4afKYfPSydFwkM","

Other ethnic groups from Myanmar are facing an increasingly difficult situation too.

","Myanmar’s Refugee Problem: It’s Not Just the Rohingya",{"_24":177,"_53":178,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":179},"-K1X_D4dX7qyqNYG-KVi","

The future of the body hangs in the balance amid financial and performance concerns.

","Why the Mekong River Commission May Be In Peril",{"_24":181,"_53":182,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":183},"-K1X_D4eVNfL_gWsMdhL","

A look at the four major candidates ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

","The Race for the Philippine Presidency Has Begun",{"_24":185,"_46":186,"_26":187,"_49":188},"CEA",7,"Central Asia",[189,193,197,201,205],{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-K1X_D4gLX1SIL9lSsdG","

While Moscow never really left the region, its presence is noticeably on the rise.

","Russia’s Military Return to Central Asia",{"_24":194,"_53":195,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":196},"-K1X_D4jaat7jfdNnpZL","

In 2015, both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan elected new parliaments. They couldn’t more dissimilar.

","A Tale of Two Elections",{"_24":198,"_53":199,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":200},"-K1X_D4m2OnHPD31O7E2","

Once again the Kumtor gold mine produces controversy.

","European Environmental Team Harassed in Kyrgyzstan",{"_24":202,"_53":203,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":204},"-K1X_D4pDiarqRUFeX-r","

Caught between the undelineated Caspian and a deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Ashgabat has few options.

","Are Turkmenistan’s Pipelines Pipe Dreams?",{"_24":206,"_53":207,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":208},"-K1X_D4rzobTAR5IjtVh","

Mostly more of the same in the annual religious freedom report, but a small hopeful note.

","Terrorism as Pretext: Religious Repression in Central Asia",{"_24":210,"_46":211,"_26":212,"_49":213},"OCE",8,"Oceania",[214,218,222,226],{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-K1X_D4u1uXchci1kauj","

The prime minister has big plans, but can he keep his party in step?

","Malcolm Turnbull: Reformer?",{"_24":219,"_53":220,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":221},"-K1X_D4vBOMaF7_O7RER","

The debate often misses the regional context surrounding Australia’s submarine program.

","Australia’s Submarine Debate: Shipyards and Seas",{"_24":223,"_53":224,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":225},"-K1X_D4wWTHGM6S_VDT2","

In 1815, a German, on behalf of the Russian-American Company, tried to conquer Hawaii in the name of the Tsar.

","Russia’s Pacific Paradise",{"_24":227,"_53":228,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":229},"-K1X_D4xA9Z9bvHF828y","

While the president was out of the country, the speaker of parliament pardoned himself after being convicted on corruption charges.

","Trouble in Paradise: Intrigue and Corruption in Vanuatu",{"_24":231,"_46":232,"_26":233,"_49":234},"SCR",9,"Security",[235,239,243,247],{"_24":236,"_53":237,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":238},"-K1X_D6P0DexbGQe5klu","

Four reasons why Tokyo’s military will not threaten peace in East Asia.

","Understanding Japan’s Military Limitations",{"_24":240,"_53":241,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":242},"-K1X_D6TuuoINoFVEzqu","

Is the Indian Navy justified in building large warships?

","The Indian Navy and the ‘Battleship’ Debate",{"_24":244,"_53":245,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":246},"-K1X_D6UQ_znkv5Wej4w","

The U.S. Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan does not meet requirements for amphibious warfare in the Pacific.

","Is the US Navy Too Weak to Fight in the Asia-Pacific?",{"_24":248,"_53":249,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":250},"-K1X_D6WxcmkLGBaT5HY","

At a recent Expo, Chinese companies showcased several new aircraft and drones.

","Chinese Arms Companies Pick Up the Pace in Africa and Middle East",{"_24":252,"_46":253,"_26":254,"_49":255},"DPL",10,"Diplomacy",[256,260,264],{"_24":257,"_53":258,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":259},"-K1X_D6YgisQXmZCTqu0","

Mongolia’s president wants the country to become an oasis of neutrality in a diplomatically fraught region.

","A Northeast Asian Switzerland",{"_24":261,"_53":262,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":263},"-K1X_D6_Obcoo98hkiDu","

September’s summit appears to have changed little.

","The Impasse of US-China Relations",{"_24":265,"_53":266,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":267},"-K1X_D6asHPfNDaxBt6G","

Upcoming visits next month by US and Chinese leaders will test Hanoi’s balancing skills.

","Vietnam Between China and the United States: The Next Balancing Test Beckons",{"_24":269,"_46":37,"_26":270,"_49":271},"ASL","Asia Life",[272,276,280],{"_24":273,"_53":274,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":275},"-K1X_D6dV3K9SQU_BwM3","

With the second season of the ISL underway, football is clearly on the rise in India.

","Football Slowly Emerges in India",{"_24":277,"_53":278,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":279},"-K1X_D6eZRLvtVpJinjw","

Zhang Zeduan’s masterpiece is on display for the first time in 10 years.

","China’s Greatest Painting Is Back in the Limelight",{"_24":281,"_53":282,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":283},"-K1X_D6fYTnrMSNJufRg","

In Yangon, artist Ma Ei has turned her period into a 3-day piece of performance art.

","Fighting Menstruation Stigma in Myanmar","routes/$issue.masthead",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]

Masthead