[{"_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","2019-12","path","/2019-12","issue",{"_24":25,"_26":27,"_28":29,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43},"eid","-LulURInylDibWqHgwOj","title","Can China Become a Climate Change Hero?","description","Welcome to the December 2019 issue of The Diplomat. This month we illuminate the good, the bad, and the downright confusing aspects of China’s climate change response. We also expose the Chinese government’s influence operations in Taiwan ahead of the 2020 elections, trace Kazakhstan’s complicated journey to become a leading proponent of nuclear disarmament, and explore what the end of the INF Treaty means for the U.S.-Japan alliance. 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 200
\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 Editors\n Ankit Panda
\n Franz-Stefan Gady
\n Prashanth Parameswaran\n

\n Contributing Editors\nNick Aspinwall
\nErin Cook
\nRobert Farley
\nKyle Ferrier
\nCharlotte Gao
\nJenna Gibson
\nBonnie Girard
\nUmida Hashimova
\nLuke Hunt
\nDaniel Hurst
\nUmair Jamal
\nTae-jun Kang
\nMercy A. Kuo
\nMina Pollmann
\nMong Palatino
\nPaolo Sorbello
\nTroy Stangarone
\nSteven Stashwick
\nThisanka Siripala
\nYuki Tatsumi
\nAman Thakker
\nColleen Wood
\nGrant Wyeth
\n

\n Technical & Design\n Stefan Yanku\n

","number",61,"date","December 2019","month",12,"year",2019,"status","rdy","toc",[44,59,67,84,93,118,143,168,193,218,239,256,277],{"_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":48},"-LulU_RB3ZlWl0_TwCpr","lead","

Greatness can be a product of external factors, particularly in an increasingly interconnected world.

","model","story","preview",1,{"_24":60,"_46":58,"_26":61,"_49":62},"CVRS","Cover Story",[63],{"_24":64,"_53":65,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":66},"-LulU_RLoda3k_nntJrD","

Like Han Solo, China has been thrust into leading a fight it was not ready for. Can it succeed?

","Can China Lead the Fight on Climate Change?",{"_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},"-LulU_RjAr1XiWkkvX4l","

Will the Chinese Communist Party’s effort to influence Taiwanese democracy ahead of the upcoming elections succeed?

","CCP Influence Operations and Taiwan’s 2020 Elections",{"_24":77,"_53":78,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":79},"-LulU_Rl9z5WKgqTBD7v","

In August, Kazakhstan ratified the nuclear ban treaty. Does its hosting of Russian missile defense testing sites contradict that commitment?

","Kazakhstan and the Nuclear Ban Treaty: It’s Complicated",{"_24":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":83},"-LulU_Rok8Qn3GD-lLpJ","

After 32 years, the United States is once again free to develop ground-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Is that a game-changer for the U.S.-Japan alliance?

","The US and Japan After the INF Treaty",{"_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},"-LulU_Rp7W9f9coGiycB","

Assessing the outcomes of the 2019 ASEAN summits

","Termsak Chalermpalanupap",{"_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},"-LulU_Rr2E_6e4rui6N_","

The Chinese president's lackluster second trip to Brazil was a far cry from his 2014 state visit.

","Xi’s Brazil Redux",{"_24":103,"_53":104,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":105},"-LulU_Rsr8acLIkTeZ6-","

Questions of identity, forged by education, are at the heart of the current Hong Kong protests.

","Identity, Education, and Patriotism: The Hong Kong-China Divide",{"_24":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":109},"-LulU_RuhYVFo_nfcORs","

China has an impressively long-term space strategy mapped out. Here’s what to watch for in the coming years.

","China’s Future Space Ambitions: What’s Ahead?",{"_24":111,"_53":112,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":113},"-LulU_RvvOjejxPWJWJY","

China has successfully planted its narratives on topics like the Hong Kong protests into major news outlets across Central and Eastern Europe.

","How China Influences Media in Central and Eastern Europe",{"_24":115,"_53":116,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":117},"-LulU_RwbHIrPINZr_FV","

The huge triumph of the pro-democracy bloc in the District Council election will not bring democracy to Hong Kong immediately.

","The Pro-Democrats’ Landslide Victory in Hong Kong Is Just the Beginning",{"_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},"-LulU_RybY2yg9dd7NM0","

The North and South have been on very different trajectories in the 30 years since the end of the Cold War.

","The Korean Peninsula Three Decades after the Fall of the Berlin Wall",{"_24":128,"_53":129,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":130},"-LulU_Rz0SEImlYDQUva","

The two countries managed to avoid the expiration of GSOMIA, but their relationship is still far from fixed.

","Japan-South Korea Intelligence-Sharing Pact Gets Last-Minute Reprieve",{"_24":132,"_53":133,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":134},"-LulU_S-ZufzMCYAP5L-","

Moon has laid the groundwork of his ambitious policy agenda, yet plenty of work still lies ahead.

","Moon Jae-in at the Halfway Mark",{"_24":136,"_53":137,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":138},"-LulU_S188WsjrP6PhRD","

The aging crisis will have major impacts on Japan’s economy. What can the Abe government do to mitigate the damage?

","How Does Japan’s Aging Society Affect Its Economy?",{"_24":140,"_53":141,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":142},"-LulU_S3k5bl0e_BlzbI","

The media in Japan show great enthusiasm in covering their country’s dispute with South Korea – but not all reports are credible.

","Japan and South Korea: Headaches and Headlines",{"_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},"-LulU_S5XucEWM0ccY5A","

What will it take for the trade relationship to get back on track?

","US-India Trade Relations at a Crossroads",{"_24":153,"_53":154,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":155},"-LulU_S7Ev8F4aju8rgw","

The present situation in Kashmir cannot continue. It’s time for daring steps to forge lasting peace.

","Kashmir: The Key to a Grand Bargain",{"_24":157,"_53":158,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":159},"-LulU_S8nNsxQ677e3cA","

The results are still being debated and turnout was low. But Afghanistan’s democracy remains the lone source of hope for the country.

","Prolonged Patience: Elections in Afghanistan",{"_24":161,"_53":162,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":163},"-LulU_SAx3wqfuyB8JYa","

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former defense secretary in his brother Mahinda’s government, promises a strong hand as he takes over the presidency.

","Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksas Are Back in Power",{"_24":165,"_53":166,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":167},"-LulU_SBF22JhHuReExR","

Can the Kartarpur Corridor lead to the greater connectivity between the two South Asian neighbors?

","The Kartarpur Corridor and India-Pakistan Economic Linkages",{"_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},"-LulU_SDB26LjErryypg","

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s comments at the UN on Kashmir touched off a small diplomatic row.

","The Kashmir Hiccup in Malaysia-India Relations",{"_24":178,"_53":179,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":180},"-LulU_SFs1R-L5QWai9E","

With a rich history of opposition politics, the current quiet is disconcerting.

","The Philippines’ (Too) Quiet Opposition",{"_24":182,"_53":183,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":184},"-LulU_SGyRXZCn7EqZVD","

The tragic deaths of 39 Vietnamese in the U.K. shine a harsh light on Vietnam’s longstanding problem of human trafficking.

","Vietnam’s Human Trafficking Problem Is Too Big to Ignore",{"_24":186,"_53":187,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":188},"-LulU_SIuPsApaES_BWo","

Migrant workers in Malaysia risk forced labor making gloves for American healthcare giants.

","Clean Gloves, Dirty Practices: Debt Bondage in Malaysia’s Rubber Glove Industry",{"_24":190,"_53":191,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":192},"-LulU_SKZPGADQYuL-Y0","

A closer look at Southeast Asia’s evolving approach to noninterference and the cross-border impacts of Cambodia’s recent opposition dynamics.

","ASEAN and Noninterference: What Do Cambodia’s Evolving Opposition Dynamics Reveal?",{"_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},"-LulU_SMmia1zVlmx2dw","

The real problem is Nur-Sultan’s inability to accept that opposition is not a monolithic beast.

","Kazakhstan’s Protest Problem",{"_24":203,"_53":204,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":205},"-LulU_SN67z8Xfk1RiNC","

Mongolia’s rangers work hard, in sometimes difficult conditions, to protect the country’s natural landscapes and wildlife.

","Drones and Beavers: A Watershed Moment for Mongolia’s Park Rangers",{"_24":207,"_53":208,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":209},"-LulU_SOiScrEsr16sz1","

There are considerable differences with regard to forced labor in Uzbekistan and Xinjiang, but there is an underlying corporate responsibility to not engage in human rights abuses.

","Cotton and Corporate Responsibility: Fighting Forced Labor in Xinjiang and Uzbekistan",{"_24":211,"_53":212,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":213},"-LulU_SQb4-k3CSw9lH6","

A Kyrgyzstani lawyer won a prestigious UN award for his contributions to combating statelessness in his country, but will his efforts stick?

","Kyrgyzstan Eradicates Statelessness, Challenges Remain",{"_24":215,"_53":216,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":95,"_40":41,"_26":217},"-LulU_SRnBQwyz5g8EN9","

The two powers’ approaches to Central Asia may be a good indicator of their current partnership and future relations.

","Cooperation, Co-existence, or Clash? China and Russia’s Ambitions in Central Asia",{"_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},"-LulU_SS6QwJyO4tWKyg","

The vote represents is a pivotal moment for the island and its neighbors, but the end of voting will likely only mark the start of a larger process.

","Why Does the Bougainville Referendum Matter?",{"_24":228,"_53":229,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":230},"-LulU_SUL4VXrJWWKFMO","

New Zealand cements itself as leader in the Pacific on climate issues as Australia abdicates.

","New Zealand Takes the Lead on Climate Change",{"_24":232,"_53":233,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":234},"-LulU_SWgonYbD0ptl85","

While leaders prevaricate on climate issues, the toll is growing – this time in the form of devastating bushfires.

","Fiddling While Australia Burns",{"_24":236,"_53":237,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":238},"-LulU_SXfyG1pntYtLGS","

With no agreement at the federal level, why has China pursued 2 BRI deals with Victoria state?

","The Curious Strategy Behind Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative MoU With Victoria",{"_24":240,"_46":241,"_26":242,"_49":243},"USA",10,"US in Asia",[244,248,252],{"_24":245,"_53":246,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":247},"-LulU_S_WxDUSaDsbNKr","

This is how alliances fray, bend, and, eventually, break.

","The Great Allied Shakedown",{"_24":249,"_53":250,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":251},"-LulU_S_WxDUSaDsbNKs","

A closer look at the current state and future evolution of U.S. and European collaboration on China.

","The Transatlantic Alliance and the China Challenge: Current Trends and Future Developments",{"_24":253,"_53":254,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":255},"-LulU_Sbu3-_Ouqoc7Yb","

The Act is unlikely to achieve its stated goal of expanding Taiwan’s diplomatic space.

","The TAIPEI Act Is an Act of Wishful Thinking",{"_24":257,"_46":258,"_26":259,"_49":260},"SCR",11,"Security",[261,265,269,273],{"_24":262,"_53":263,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":264},"-LulU_ShCISmMLY73Unc","

The service tested its new integrated battlegroup concept for the first time this year.

","The Indian Army’s Integrated Battlegroup Concept",{"_24":266,"_53":267,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":268},"-LulU_SirV_kWsZbRBwE","

Western analysts might be fundamentally misreading North Korea’s strategic thought, with huge implications for any future conflict.

","North Korea’s Strategic Approach, Under the Auspices of Big Brother",{"_24":270,"_53":271,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":272},"-LulU_SjwCCMfzqG0rZi","

South Asia is witnessing the emergence of a new brand of terrorism, one that can outlive any single leader.

","Islamic State Is Alive and Well in South Asia",{"_24":274,"_53":275,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":86,"_40":41,"_26":276},"-LulU_SkS4bK5wRusqcj","

Assessing Hanoi’s strategy after the Vanguard Bank standoff with China.

","Vietnam Needs to ‘Struggle’ More in the South China Sea",{"_24":278,"_46":37,"_26":279,"_49":280},"ASL","Asia Life",[281,285,289],{"_24":282,"_53":283,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_46":47,"_40":41,"_26":284},"-LulU_Tuc7yKgPUdw48c","

A recent controversy reminds us about the continuous debate on secularism in India.

","Of Coconuts and Jets: A Question of Worship and Secularism",{"_24":286,"_53":287,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":58,"_40":41,"_26":288},"-LulU_Tv3fvKA0oi0etk","

A broad collection of initiatives in Bamiyan and across the country aim to harness the potential of sports to develop community and resilience.

","Young Afghans Look to Mountain Biking as a Means to Transcend Conflict",{"_24":290,"_53":291,"_55":56,"_57":47,"_46":69,"_40":41,"_26":292},"-LulU_TxtM4lbHZCUx1S","

Parasite is praised as a “foreign” film; but does it have to be?

","Parasite: Moving Beyond ‘Foreign’","routes/$issue.cover",{"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":23},"actionData","errors"]