[{"_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","2018-09","path","/2018-09","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-LKdoDHKWNgBOn8NySPz","title","The Belt and Road in Europe: 5 Years Later","description","Welcome to the September 2018 issue of The Diplomat. This month, we trace the Belt and Road’s bumpy progress in Europe, analyze President Duterte’s remake of Philippine foreign policy, wrestle with Pakistan’s looming air pollution crisis, and look at the fight for LGBTI rights in Timor-Leste. 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 Franz-Stefan Gady
\n Prashanth Parameswaran\n

\n Contributing Editors\nPriyanka Borpujari
\nKerry Brown
\nErin Cook
\nRobert Farley
\nAnthony Fensom
\nKyle Ferrier
\nJenna Gibson
\nBonnie Girard
\nUmida Hashimova
\nLuke Hunt
\nDaniel Hurst
\nUmair Jamal
\nHyunmin Michael Kang
\nTae-jun Kang
\nMercy A. Kuo
\nMong Palatino
\nHarsh V. Pant
\nAkhilesh Pillalamarri
\nPaolo Sorbello
\nTroy Stangarone
\nSteven Stashwick
\nThisanka Siripala
\nYuki Tatsumi
\nAman Thakker
\nColleen Wood
\nClint Work\n

\n Technical & Design\n Stefan Yanku\n

","number",46,"date","September 2018","month",9,"year",2018,"status","rdy","toc",[44,60,67,84,93,118,143,168,193,218,238,255,276],{"_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},"-LKdoEGkwrMtx7ajH2OH","lead","

In Asia, as around the world, the best laid plans often go awry when met with real-world complexity.

","model","story","preview",1,"Letter From the Editors",{"_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},"-LKdoEGsvZKRYkx7zkNX","

Europe is essential for the BRI as initially envisioned by Beijing. But what do European countries think about the initiative, five years after its launch?

",{"_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},"-LKdoEGuhkyiLVb4kUfq","

How far can Duterte’s rebalance away from the United States (and toward China) progress?

","Fire and Fury: Duterte’s Revolutionary Foreign Policy",{"_24":77,"_53":78,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":79},"-LKdoEGvG-9xbXPkZkOy","

As Pakistan’s air gets worse and society demands action, how will the new government respond?

","Pakistan’s Rising Air Pollution Crisis",{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-LKdoEGwCWwnnPa0AX13","

Timor-Leste is seen as a bright spot when it comes to LGBTI rights in Southeast Asia, but many challenges remain.

","A Luta Continua: The Movement for LGBTI Rights in Timor-Leste",{"_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},"-LKdoEGy-TD_DKVgicoy","

“We are witnessing an extraordinary moment in modern Chinese history… Growing numbers of women are angry about the misogyny and injustice in their lives.”

","Leta Hong Fincher",{"_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},"-LKdoEH-ZvWtOQZpxR-5","

China’s increased stakes in countries plagued by ethnic unrest could mean more involvement in anti-terrorism abroad. Based on the government’s methods in Xinjiang, that should be extremely concerning to the world.

","Will the ‘Xinjiang Model’ Go Global?",{"_24":103,"_53":104,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":105},"-LKdoEH00v5DDPyLHaQz","

The Chinese government’s credibility was severely hurt by the revelation of tainted vaccines, despite attempts at damage control.

","China’s Vaccine Scandal: The Worst Social Crisis in a Decade",{"_24":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-LKdoEH29MvjYl4CbuvN","

The Chinese Communist Party’s intellectual colonization of universities may prove to be a costly endeavor.

","How Xi Jinping is Shaping China’s Universities",{"_24":111,"_53":112,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":113},"-LKdoEH29MvjYl4CbuvO","

Despite potential quality problems, China’s diplomatic corps has a key advantage: a strong focus on regional experience.

","Chinese Experts Challenge Western Generalists in Diplomacy",{"_24":115,"_53":116,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":117},"-LKdoEH4UWSha5pqF2fN","

The CCP rebrands China’s political party system for external propaganda.

","China’s ‘New Type of Party System’: A ‘Multiparty’ System for Foreign Consumption?",{"_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},"-LKdoEH5KNUSZMplsZow","

Shinzo Abe will want to secure his legacy as he enters his last three years in power, but domestic and foreign policy challenges are looming.

","Abe Eyes His Final Term as Japan’s Prime Minister",{"_24":128,"_53":129,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":130},"-LKdoEH6FFI97RPAxjzI","

Post Park Geun-hye, Koreans are pushing back against power abuse in the workplace

","Who Stands Up for the Little Guys in Korea?",{"_24":132,"_53":133,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":134},"-LKdoEH7SGdxPqutizm1","

Amid talk of a peace treaty, a look back at the arduous negotiation process behind the Korean Armistice Agreement.

","The Long Road to the Korean War Armistice",{"_24":136,"_53":137,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":138},"-LKdoEH9aa3sxVKVGhvF","

An internal probe reveals rampant score rigging on medical entrance exams to restrain the number of female doctors.

","Tokyo Medical University Admits To Capping Female Admissions",{"_24":140,"_53":141,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":142},"-LKdoEHBwPxkOKbWMwS9","

The governor’s race will have major ramifications for the long-stalled Futenma relocation project.

","What to Watch in the Okinawa Governor's Election",{"_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},"-LKdoEHCv5x4lgIO50b4","

Tensions are at an all time high over the latest effort to differentiate between “Indians” and “others” in Assam.

","India’s Northeastern Ethnic Tinderbox",{"_24":153,"_53":154,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":155},"-LKdoEHDtqa2nWOcg5Wh","

India’s renewed Cordon and Search Operations are proving a nightmare for Kashmir’s women.

","In Kashmir, Security Searches Lead to Sexual Abuse",{"_24":157,"_53":158,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":159},"-LKdoEHEt35iT3oZVnu5","

Islamabad’s need for an IMF bailout is set to create a “diplomatic predicament.”

","Pakistan’s Economic Crisis",{"_24":161,"_53":162,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":163},"-LKdoEHFUR7334ngKWFq","

Rouhani’s outreach to Ghani at the SCO summit this summer may herald an improvement in bilateral ties.

","Are Afghanistan-Iran Relations on the Mend?",{"_24":165,"_53":166,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":167},"-LKdoEHGfn-mmWLpH_wS","

Indian-built dams in Afghanistan are causing trouble with downstream states Iran and Pakistan.

","India’s Controversial Afghanistan Dams",{"_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},"-LKdoEHIN9zGB6At8SmX","

Both sides are exploring additional areas of collaboration to address the threat of terrorism.

","What’s Next for Indonesia-Philippines Counterterrorism Cooperation?",{"_24":178,"_53":179,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":180},"-LKdoEHKrJbfBMvDIs7t","

In the last two decades, there has been a sharp increase in the number of doctors and nurses migrating out of the Philippines.

","The Philippines Must Confront Its Healthcare Brain Drain Problem",{"_24":182,"_53":183,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":184},"-LKdoEHM29trkmBXTCx6","

The cost-cutting and lack of oversight that led to the dam’s collapse plague other hydropower projects across the country.

","Laos’ Dam Disaster May Not Be Its Last",{"_24":186,"_53":187,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":188},"-LKdoEHNJZgsENhjIXVP","

The choices provided an extraordinarily dramatic start to what will be a closely watched race.

","Indonesia’s 2019 Election Heats Up With Vice Presidential Picks",{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-LKdoEHPASS5Mv2JJn6R","

A closer look at the wider significance of Colonel Bui Tin’s death.

","Prominent North Vietnamese Communist Defector Dies",{"_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},"-LKdoEHQk2VcL-TLXhDu","

The James Giffen case illustrates the role of international players in Central Asian corruption.

","Bribes in the Name of National Security",{"_24":203,"_53":204,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":205},"-LKdoEHRF2IrMe8UTPz_","

How a 4-year-old child became a hostage in Tajikistan’s battles against the exiled opposition.

","Tajikistan’s Child Hostages",{"_24":207,"_53":208,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":209},"-LKdoEHSitOk5NhDI5ah","

The landmark agreement settles some Caspian Sea issues, but leaves others open for further discussion.

","Caspian Sea Dispute Settled on the Surface",{"_24":211,"_53":212,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":213},"-LKdoEHVBPq0kHlR2v8f","

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is shaking up local governance structure.

","Hokim Hubbub: Making Sense of Local Government Shuffles in Uzbekistan",{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-LKdoEHXtpk_lQ54VHHa","

A group of ethnic Kyrgyz who moved to Kyrgyzstan last year from Afghanistan have returned to the Pamirs — why?

","Back to Wakhan: Kyrgyz Returnees Head Back to Afghanistan",{"_24":219,"_46":37,"_26":220,"_49":221},"OCE","Oceania",[222,226,230,234],{"_24":223,"_53":224,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":225},"-LKdoEHZIAJBGTkkFaV6","

How China utilizes its increasing reach into the Pacific will be a test of its burgeoning power.

","Pacific Debt Pushback",{"_24":227,"_53":228,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":229},"-LKdoEH_-DEQJXwvOfVD","

Jakarta is courting Pacific Island states, hoping to change regional positions on the West Papua issue.

","What Drives Indonesia's Pacific Island Strategy?",{"_24":231,"_53":232,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":233},"-LKdoEHakXYON58yDsUI","

As global focus turns increasingly to the Indo-Pacific, it’s no time for Australia to retreat into fearful, baseless timidity.

","Why Is Peaceful, Prosperous Australia Anxious?",{"_24":235,"_53":236,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":237},"-LKdoEHbRIktt3ypM5Lh","

As counterfeit goods proliferate, sales of legitimate Australian wine have decreased in China.

","The ‘Benfords’ Debacle: Counterfeit Australian Wine Floods China",{"_24":239,"_46":240,"_26":241,"_49":242},"USA",10,"US in Asia",[243,247,251],{"_24":244,"_53":245,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":246},"-LKdoEHd_2meaFhkZJBy","

The core bargain at the center of the 2015 Iran deal is no more, but Asia may be able to move on with Iran.

","The Future of the JCPOA in Asia",{"_24":248,"_53":249,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":250},"-LKdoEHfSwkAehPx1YdO","

What Trump’s decision to ban Pakistan from military training programs means for the U.S. military.

","The Consequences of Shifting US-Pakistan Military Ties",{"_24":252,"_53":253,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":254},"-LKdoEHgEkVDSPUv6lNy","

Both countries have advantages in Southeast Asia, and the competition will be a long game.

","Can the US Compete With China in Southeast Asia?",{"_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},"-LKdoEHjtD11cAtVdKcc","

China wasn’t at RIMPAC this year, but a lot of RIMPAC was about China

","The Specter of China at RIMPAC",{"_24":265,"_53":266,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":267},"-LKdoEHkgtYJx_VMi2Vs","

Abe’s potential constitutional revision is likely to be underwhelming for the JSDF.

","Constitutional Revision: A (Tiny) Step Forward for Japan's Self-Defense Forces",{"_24":269,"_53":270,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":271},"-LKdoEHm6p6r1rrXlakH","

5 major Chinese naval projects likely to emerge within the next five years.

","5 PLA Navy Projects to Watch in the Next 5 Years",{"_24":273,"_53":274,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":275},"-LKdoEHm6p6r1rrXlakI","

There are plenty of reasons to seriously examine Russia’s role in Afghanistan, but what do many analysts miss?

","Making Sense of Russia’s Involvement in Afghanistan",{"_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},"-LKdoEHpo_Z6aJfA8O1R","

On V.S. Naipaul and the art of giving people their own voice.

","Naipaul and India: A Million Stories Now",{"_24":286,"_53":287,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":288},"-LKdoEHpo_Z6aJfA8O1S","

Both Mowgli and Kim represent Kipling as a child, raised at the intersection of two civilizations.

","Kipling as Mowgli: One View of The Jungle Book",{"_24":290,"_53":291,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":292},"-LKdoEHsATyJtL93r75r","

How China, India, and South Korea are closing the gap with the United States.

","Charting Asia’s Research Ascendancy","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]