[{"_1":2,"_295":-5,"_296":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_16":17,"_293":294},"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","2017-10","path","/2017-10","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-KuqUHDHzF3BMrE6mIFk","title","Trump Comes to Asia","description","Welcome to the October 2017 issue of The Diplomat. This month, we take stock of where U.S. Asia policy stands ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned travel to the region in November. We also dive into the mayhem in Marawi, explore Thailand’s deep state, and analyze the careful balance Pakistan maintains in its relations with the Middle East. And, of course, we offer a range of reporting, analysis, and opinion from across the region.","masthead","

\n Publisher\n Diplomat Media, Inc.
\n 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue
\n Suite 300
\n Washington, DC 20006
\n United States of America\n

\n Publisher\n James Pach\n

\n Editor-in-Chief\n Shannon Tiezzi\n

\n Managing Editor\n Catherine Putz\n

\n Senior Editor\n Ankit Panda\n

\n Associate Editors\n Prashanth Parameswaran
\n Franz-Stefan Gady\n

\n Junior Editor\n DD Wu\n

\n Contributing Editors\nAidan Foster-Carter
\nAkhilesh Pillalamarri
\nAnthony Fensom
\nGrant Wyeth
\nHarsh V. Pant
\nHyunmin Michael Kang
\nJeff Smith
\nKrzysztof Iwanek
\nLuke Hunt
\nMercy Kuo
\nMong Palatino
\nPaolo Sorbello
\nRobert Farley
\nSpencer Sheehan
\nSteven Stashwick
\nTyler Roney
\nUmair Jamal
\nVishal Arora
\nYuki Tatsumi
\n

\n Technical & Design\n Stefan Yanku\n

","number",35,"date","October 2017","month",10,"year",2017,"status","rdy","toc",[44,60,67,84,93,118,143,168,193,218,239,255,276],{"_24":45,"_46":47,"_26":48,"_49":50},"LTR","priority",0,"Letter","pages",[51],{"_24":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":59},"-KuqUIOYrttC4BeJUEwc","lead","

Let’s take a deeper dive on some critical assumptions from Washington to Bangkok, Manila to Islamabad.

","model","story","preview",1,"Letter From the Editor",{"_24":61,"_46":58,"_26":62,"_49":63},"CVRS","Cover Story",[64],{"_24":65,"_53":66,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":27},"-KuqUIOeWy6h0xdGQsK_","

American priorities remain clear, but questions linger about the administration's aims in Asia.

",{"_24":68,"_46":69,"_26":70,"_49":71},"LDS",2,"Leads",[72,76,80],{"_24":73,"_53":74,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":75},"-KuqUIOfYhjnmgMgRzPX","

Is the Philippines up to the task of handling the latest wave of Islamist terrorism?

","Mayhem in Marawi",{"_24":77,"_53":78,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":79},"-KuqUIOggCBB2SwSjROy","

A year after King Bhumibol's passing, Thailand’s deep state thrives.
A year after King Bhumibol's passing, Thailand’s deep state thrives.

","New King, Deep State: Thailand",{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-KuqUIOizkD_KhYMxnKs","

What is Pakistan looking for in the modern Middle East as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran grow more pronounced?

","Pakistan in the Middle East: A Cautious Balance",{"_24":85,"_46":86,"_26":87,"_49":88},"INT",3,"Interview",[89],{"_24":90,"_53":91,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":92},"-KuqUIOkmouYsLDL2gUI","

Dirty politics in paradise.

","JJ Robinson",{"_24":94,"_46":95,"_26":96,"_49":97},"CHN",4,"China",[98,102,106,110,114],{"_24":99,"_53":100,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":101},"-KuqUIOlPNyPGpzXYPEU","

Pro-independence posters in Hong Kong triggered a huge debate on freedom of speech and the rule of law.

","Is It OK to Advocate Independence in Hong Kong?",{"_24":103,"_53":104,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":105},"-KuqUIOmZo3LkABs1C3A","

Detained activists have two choices: vanish or confess.

","China’s War on Dissent",{"_24":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-KuqUIOooWYQoQmLFAx3","

A look at three paths for Chinese education reform.

","Can Test-Obsessed China Change?",{"_24":111,"_53":112,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":113},"-KuqUIOpM78WC0rdjCtT","

Zhang Anle and his solution for the cross-strait dilemma.

","The White Wolf of Taiwan",{"_24":115,"_53":116,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":117},"-KuqUIOrDfDbgvJtEafS","

Policy stability will be a key focus of both China’s government and central bank ahead of the 19th National Congress.

","Politics to Rule Economics at China’s ‘Game Of Thrones’",{"_24":119,"_46":120,"_26":121,"_49":122},"NEA",5,"Northeast Asia",[123,127,131,135,139],{"_24":124,"_53":125,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":126},"-KuqUIOs3wBUdG-GNd1r","

In late September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he would dissolve the Diet.

","Japan is Set for Another Election",{"_24":128,"_53":129,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":130},"-KuqUIOuvGeiaq6xghzg","

The possible deployment of tactical nukes is a hot topic for the opposition in Seoul.

","South Korea's Heated Debate Over the Possibility of Tactical Nukes",{"_24":132,"_53":133,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":134},"-KuqUIOvAFk4KhtRZCvT","

Conventional wisdom on the effectiveness of oil embargoes is mistaken.

","Sorry, an Oil Embargo Won’t Lead to North Korea’s Capitulation",{"_24":136,"_53":137,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":138},"-KuqUIOw2apSBtKjXp9l","

Accusations of political bias run rampant, with two broadcasting unions going on strike.

","Strife in South Korea Over Politics in Public Broadcasting",{"_24":140,"_53":141,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":142},"-KuqUIOxehgPPMr2OjKx","

Reflections on bilateral relations and an outlook for the future

","45 Years of Normalized Sino-Japanese Diplomacy",{"_24":144,"_46":145,"_26":146,"_49":147},"SOA",6,"South Asia",[148,152,156,160,164],{"_24":149,"_53":150,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":151},"-KuqUIOy0VbTwN-Vb7mU","

History is complex; the boundaries between Bengal and Rakhine have always been changing.

","Myanmar and Migrations",{"_24":153,"_53":154,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":155},"-KuqUIOzjhzWMREvovCj","

By hunkering down, the U.S. and Afghan governments hope to eventually bring the Taliban to the table.

","Afghanistan: A Civil War State of Mind",{"_24":157,"_53":158,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":159},"-KuqUIP0_4gDQuIEvkTM","

Pakistan needs an alternative vision of the state to implement a new regional security policy.

","Is a Paradigm Shift in Pakistan's Regional Policy Possible?",{"_24":161,"_53":162,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":163},"-KuqUIP1zq8XSIknAhtj","

Colombo’s attempt to balance India and China has proved futile.

","Sri Lanka: Sovereignty Compromised",{"_24":165,"_53":166,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":167},"-KuqUIP22SQSSMdmfAfm","

Data released by the Reserve Bank of India indicates that demonetization has failed to flush out black money.

","Is India's Demonetization a Failure?",{"_24":169,"_46":170,"_26":171,"_49":172},"SEA",7,"Southeast Asia",[173,177,181,185,189],{"_24":174,"_53":175,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":176},"-KuqUIP3md99dhf-Drd4","

The commemoration of a key anniversary saw both symbolic celebration as well as substantive progress in bilateral ties.

","Indonesia and Singapore Celebrate 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations",{"_24":178,"_53":179,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":180},"-KuqUIP4Wtob_hq8iENK","

A year after Duterte promised to bring change in the country, there’s a bloody war on drugs and martial law.

","Is Duterte Already a Dictator?",{"_24":182,"_53":183,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":184},"-KuqUIP6R3uGz-o8OqbY","

As democracy is dismantled, will Cambodians return to the streets?

","Cambodia’s Crumbling Democracy",{"_24":186,"_53":187,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":188},"-KuqUIP7qtD5ypgGPhfg","

A closer look at the paths ahead for the Mekong River Commission.

","The Future Shape of Mekong Cooperation",{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-KuqUIP8d2XAQncsFx6i","

A single word; the most heinous of crimes.

","Are the Rohingya Facing Genocide?",{"_24":194,"_46":195,"_26":196,"_49":197},"CEA",8,"Central Asia",[198,202,206,210,214],{"_24":199,"_53":200,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":201},"-KuqUIPAZssvgFYNxuXv","

Central Asia’s most contentious border — between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan — is opening at last.

","Let Open the Borders",{"_24":203,"_53":204,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":205},"-KuqUIPBfLiDdrjBxtbk","

Russia’s incoherent strategy at home and abroad continues to undercut its Asian-facing initiatives such as the Eastern Economic Forum.

","Schrodinger’s Pivot: The Emptiness of the Eastern Economic Forum",{"_24":207,"_53":208,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":209},"-KuqUIPChe8YilBAPJDV","

Social tensions boiled in Kazakhstan as three died in a coal mine and hundreds of workers and locals fought in Astana.

","Working Conditions and Ethnic Relations Ignored in Kazakhstan",{"_24":211,"_53":212,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":213},"-KuqUIPDsfEd1KzQhPa5","

Sliding out of crisis, how are regional central banks handling their monetary realities?

","Central Asian Central Banks Play with Rates to Boost Growth",{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-KuqUIPDsfEd1KzQhPa6","

Can a multi-billion dollar sporting event prove Turkmenistan’s modernity despite the country’s reputation for corruption?

","Bread and Circuses in Ashgabat",{"_24":219,"_46":220,"_26":221,"_49":222},"OCE",9,"Oceania",[223,227,231,235],{"_24":224,"_53":225,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":226},"-KuqUIQ3eEr7s9rbI4yY","

Jakarta aims to mute criticism from some Pacific Island states by building better ties in the region.

","Indonesia Turns Its Attention to Samoa",{"_24":228,"_53":229,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":230},"-KuqUIQ4sQMFYOKZLAPd","

If Asia’s future is to be led by China, Australia may need to balance out its U.S.-centric foreign policy.

","Is It Time Australia Pursued An ‘Independent’ Foreign Policy?",{"_24":232,"_53":233,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":234},"-KuqUIQ7TW6mBR1ALYpm","

Had the suit gone to court, it would have aired allegations of abuse at Australia’s PNG-based detention facility.

","Australia Settles $70 Million Suit with Detained Asylum Seekers",{"_24":236,"_53":237,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":238},"-KuqUIQ8nd55kJs-7atQ","

The islands need to carefully weigh the benefits of Chinese investment with the potential risks.

","French Polynesia at the Chinese Crossroads",{"_24":240,"_46":37,"_26":241,"_49":242},"USA","US in Asia",[243,247,251],{"_24":244,"_53":245,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":246},"-KuqUIQAdgpJqQ7JEKDS","

The Trump administration takes ownership of the war in Afghanistan, with no viable end-state in sight.

","The Longest War Gets Longer",{"_24":248,"_53":249,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":250},"-KuqUIQBo2h8XeULUoP1","

Truman’s successes ought to be weighed against his significant policy setbacks and outright failures in Asia.

","Why Does Harry Truman’s Asia Legacy Matter?",{"_24":252,"_53":253,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":254},"-KuqUIQCqktPX76ws5Ge","

What’s behind the recent national security-driven decision to block a Chinese acquisition of a U.S. firm?

","Trump Blocks His First Chinese Acquisition of an American Company",{"_24":256,"_46":257,"_26":258,"_49":259},"SCR",11,"Security",[260,264,268,272],{"_24":261,"_53":262,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":263},"-KuqUIQFg8EC8TMrEI4y","

North Korea will continue to get away with its ballistic missile launches. Missile defense isn't ready and the costs of preemption are unacceptably high.

","Who Can Stop North Korea's Ballistic Missile Launches?",{"_24":265,"_53":266,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":267},"-KuqUIQGuR88U5D0iD0Q","

Rather than underscoring the enduring logic of nuclear deterrence, the case of North Korea highlights its flimsiness.

","What North Korea Means – and Doesn’t – for Nuclear Deterrence",{"_24":269,"_53":270,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":271},"-KuqUIQHXMe9QzOqlocn","

Japan-based ships lack same training and readiness standards as U.S.-based.

","Is the US Seventh Fleet Unprepared to Operate at Sea?",{"_24":273,"_53":274,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":275},"-KuqUIQIz5KZ3OaBeBkK","

The enhanced system represents a step forward for regional cooperation.

","ASEAN’s New Police Database Takes Shape Amid Terror Fears",{"_24":277,"_46":278,"_26":279,"_49":280},"ASL",12,"Asia Life",[281,285,289],{"_24":282,"_53":283,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":284},"-KuqUIQLGpoIs-wCpWEt","

A single time zone is burdensome for some of the inhabitants of both China and India.

","The Politics of Time in India and China",{"_24":286,"_53":287,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":288},"-KuqUIQMXKmSQFhJK2Xx","

One of the last American tourists to visit North Korea hopes to showcase the country’s complex nature.

","One Last Lens on North Korea",{"_24":290,"_53":291,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":292},"-KuqUIQNBFg-_hfFH-Ag","

China has its own take on Rambo.

","Analysts Take Note: Wolf Warrior Is the New Chinese Rambo","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]