[{"_1":2,"_287":-5,"_288":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_285":286},"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","2016-01","path","/2016-01","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-K8w-9w6ph82iw7rywPo","title","The Asia Pacific in 2016: What to Expect","description","This month we look ahead to consider the trends that should dominate Asia and the Pacific in 2016. We also look at the tectonic political shift underway in Taiwan, consider the Indian Navy’s strategy for the increasingly contested Indian Ocean Region, and take a look at the Eurasian Economic Union on its first anniversary.","masthead","

\nPublisher\nTrans-Asia Inc.
\n701 Ebisu MF Bldg.
\n4-6-1 Ebisu Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
\n150-0013, Japan\n

\nEditor\nJames Pach\n

\nTechnical & Design\nStefan Yanku\n

\nManaging Editor\nShannon Tiezzi\n

\nAssociate Editors\nAnkit Panda
\nPrashanth Parameswaran
\nFranz-Stefan Gady\n

\nSpecial Projects Editor\nCatherine Putz\n

\nEditorial Assistants\nBochen Han
\nBenjamin David Baker\n

\nContributing Editors\nJin Kai
\nKerry Brown
\nElizabeth Economy
\nBo Zhiyue
\nXie Tao
\nDavid Volodzko
\nZheng Wang
\nCarl Thayer
\nHarsh V. Pant
\nRohan Joshi
\nDingding Chen
\nRobert Farley
\nGreg Austin
\nVan Jackson
\nLuke Hunt
\nMong Palatino
\nShawn Crispin
\nSteven Denney
\nJohn Power
\nCasey Michel
\nAkhilesh Pillalamarri
\nTaylor Dibbert
\nAnthony Fensom
\nSara Hsu
\nMercy A. Kuo
\nAngelica O. Tang
\nYuki Tatsumi
\nMina Pollmann
\nGraham Webster
\nBradley Jardine
\nMuhammad Akbar Notezai\n

","number",14,"date","January 2016","month",1,"year",2016,"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":37,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":58},"-K8w-CFrTQekikyZrZ2o","lead","

The Diplomat’s authors look at the trends to watch across the region in the coming year.

","model","story","preview","The Asia-Pacific in 2016: 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},"-K8w-CIaqBuCh1Mklhd_","

As election day approaches, what’s behind the DPP’s rising popularity and the KMT’s stagnation?

","The Changing Tides of Taiwanese Politics",{"_24":68,"_53":69,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":70},"-K8w-CIaqBuCh1Mklhda","

The Indian Navy is trying to preserve its influence in increasingly contested waters.

","India’s Emerging Indian Ocean Strategy",{"_24":72,"_53":73,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":75},"-K8w-CIp-_AnLipfyw3T","

The EEU’s first year has raised serious questions about its economic rationale, institutional effectiveness, and geopolitical underpinnings.

",2,"The Eurasian Union’s Troubled First Year",{"_24":77,"_46":74,"_26":78,"_49":79},"INT","Interview",[80],{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":37,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-K8w-CIp-_AnLipfyw3U","

Taking a closer look at the realities of China’s investments and engagements in Africa.

","Deborah Brautigam",{"_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},"-K8w-CIp-_AnLipfyw3V","

The most disturbing trend in the bilateral relationship was one that didn’t make the headlines.

","US-China Relations: The Year in Review",{"_24":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":96},"-K8w-CIp-_AnLipfyw3W","

The French philosopher’s theories on social control provide a helpful window into modern China.

","Foucault and China",{"_24":98,"_53":99,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":100},"-K8w-CIp-_AnLipfyw3X","

There’s a logic to China’s urbanization scheme, but its social and cultural impacts are complex.

","The Complex Impact of Urbanization in Xinjiang",{"_24":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":104},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjn","

Xi Jinping doubles down on the controversial concept at the 2nd World Internet Conference.

","China Vows No Compromise on 'Cyber Sovereignty'",{"_24":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjo","

The central government might have the plan, but it needs the provinces to execute it.

",4,"China’s Next Five-Year Plan: Ideas Easy, Implementation Hard",{"_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},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjp","

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to use changes to Japan’s tax code to boost economic growth.

","What Next for Abenomics?",{"_24":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":121},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjq","

Critics blame Park Geun-hye, but the truth is that South Korea has never had strong protections for free speech.

","In South Korea, Freedom of Speech Under Scrutiny",{"_24":123,"_53":124,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":125},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjr","

A year after the state secrets law passed, what impact is it having on freedom in Japan?

","Japan’s Controversial State Secrets Law: One Year Later",{"_24":127,"_53":128,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":129},"-K8w-CJ4Sh5pUA-GFEjs","

Can Park Geun-hye’s Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI) build trust in a tense region?

","Northeast Asia, Trust and the NAPCI",{"_24":131,"_53":132,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":133},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXQ","

The UN is forcing the DPRK’s abysmal record higher up the international political agenda.

","The Global Politics of Human Rights in North Korea",{"_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},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXR","

“We finally should declare all out war on Pakistan.“

","Dispatch From the Frontlines: Fighting ISIS in Afghanistan",{"_24":144,"_53":145,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":146},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXS","

More a year after the slaughter at Army Public School, where does Pakistan stand on terrorism?

","Remembering the Peshawar Attack",{"_24":148,"_53":149,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":150},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXT","

If history is any indication, no.

","Could TAPI Bring Peace to Afghanistan?",{"_24":152,"_53":153,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":154},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXU","

There has been little mention of the region – and that’s unlikely to change.

","Do US Presidential Candidates Care About South Asia?",{"_24":156,"_53":157,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":158},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXV","

Things can get a little tense on the idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago.

","Fear and Loathing in the Maldives",{"_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},"-K8w-CJKvi2LeXQS_jXW","

Will the Philippines ever finalize a new defense pact with the United States?

","Still Waiting for the US-Philippine Defense Pact",{"_24":169,"_53":170,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":171},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9K","

Rodrigo Duterte’s style is a stark contrast to incumbent president Benigno Aquino’s nice guy persona.

","Punisher for President in the Philippines",{"_24":173,"_53":174,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":175},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9L","

The Diplomat talks with Ng Shui Meng, the wife of disappeared Lao activist Sombath Somphone.

","Remembering the Disappearance of Sombath Somphone",{"_24":177,"_53":178,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":179},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9M","

A big year for regional integration has been marred by troubling national corruption scandals.

","Corruption Scandals Hound ASEAN Leaders in 2015",{"_24":181,"_53":182,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":183},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9N","

As the country’s economic woes continue, the junta deserves its share of blame.

","Will Thailand’s Military Be Held Accountable for the Country’s Economic Woes?",{"_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},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9O","

The Uzbek and Kazakh presidents have handled reputation-ruining corruption in very different ways.

","Dealing with a Bad Reputation: Corruption Scandals in Central Asia",{"_24":194,"_53":195,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":196},"-K8w-CJZl0DLM7iOtP9P","

A cosmodrome on the Kazakh steppe, operated by Russians, is humanity's last tether to manned spaceflight.

","The Final Frontier",{"_24":198,"_53":199,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":200},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQR","

Human rights advocates and opposition figures tell a dark story of descent into crisis.

","Tajikistan's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year",{"_24":202,"_53":203,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":204},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQS","

Always in sight, but always just beyond reach: Will Kashagan ever live up to expectations?

","Kashagan: Kazakhstan’s White Whale",{"_24":206,"_53":207,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":108,"_40":41,"_26":208},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQT","

Moscow’s displeasure with Ankara is trickling into Central Asia, but to varying degrees in each capital.

","A Tangled Web: Russia, Turkey and 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},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQU","

The environmental and economic case for coal is becoming increasingly difficult to make.

","Australia, Coal and Climate Change",{"_24":219,"_53":220,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":221},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQV","

Australia should have a role in a grand negotiated settlement.

","Australia’s Unique Position in a Negotiated Political Resolution in Syria",{"_24":223,"_53":224,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":225},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQW","

A former deputy PM expresses frustration on U.S. gun control policy – and the alliance with Australia.

","Australia, Gun Control and the US Alliance",{"_24":227,"_53":228,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":229},"-K8w-CJohzdhQEhUGbQX","

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster can now perform marriages in New Zealand.

","A Happy Day for New Zealand’s Pastafarians",{"_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},"-K8w-CLRzt7LBvmhZhO3","

Does Beijing or New Delhi have the advantage in terms of aircraft carriers?

","The Carrier Question",{"_24":240,"_53":241,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":242},"-K8w-CLT4WYruIu-jlz1","

Pyongyang’s missile failures must be seen for what they are – teething issues the Kim regime is determined to overcome.

","Rethinking North Korean Missile Capabilities",{"_24":244,"_53":245,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":246},"-K8w-CLV3h0HDqWamg46","

The U.S. Navy’s traditional blue-water advantage in the Asia-Pacific is at risk. Japan can help.

","Look to Japan to Solve the US Navy’s ASM Crisis",{"_24":248,"_53":249,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":250},"-K8w-CLWkuMiv3Tl1Qu_","

Beijing is increasingly exploiting information operations for influence in areas of strategic competition.

","China and the ‘Three Warfares'",{"_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},"-K8w-CLaph4aaCFRlX3B","

With the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the hard part is over, but the harder part is yet to come.

","The Long Road to TPP’s Entry Into Force",{"_24":261,"_53":262,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":263},"-K8w-CLc1BDlrWN1GxZl","

The two countries look likely to strengthen ties in the energy sector.

","Russia-Vietnam: Cooperation in the Arctic?",{"_24":265,"_53":266,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":267},"-K8w-CLdTShGMb4ck5LA","

Abe’s diplomatic successes are being constrained by his ideological leanings.

","Japan's Tangle of Ideology and Diplomacy",{"_24":269,"_46":270,"_26":271,"_49":272},"ASL",11,"Asia Life",[273,277,281],{"_24":274,"_53":275,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":276},"-K8w-CLhartFuwfmJfw0","

Vietnam’s capital is a hotbed of artistic expression.

","Hanoi Cafes: The City’s Most Important Cultural Spaces",{"_24":278,"_53":279,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":37,"_40":41,"_26":280},"-K8w-CLi-ahg4leHEZ5Q","

Security threats on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway have drastically increased over the last few weeks.

","Next Stop Jalalabad: Traveling One of the World’s Most Dangerous Roads",{"_24":282,"_53":283,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":74,"_40":41,"_26":284},"-K8w-CLjla9Iq4TUfV2n","

“The Force, it’s calling to you. Just let it in.”

","Why Isn’t Star Wars a Big Deal in China?","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]