The State of Democracy in Asia
Table of Contents
India has a very long journey on the road to self-reliance before it can expect to substantially reduce dependence on China.
Vietnam made the best of a difficult situation in carrying out its ASEAN chairmanship amid a pandemic.
The government of Sadyr Japarov will have an opportunity to prove itself by confronting the problems that made the October 4 elections such a disaster.
Trump is widely panned by activists in the U.S., so why does he appeal to veterans of the fight for human rights and democracy in China?
China’s latest shift into a leadership role on climate issues is driven by a combination of factors, as much domestic as international.
China’s foreign policy reflects short or medium term planning, far from the myth of generational or centennial timelines.
China has finally announced its membership in the WHO’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution alliance. What took so long?
The stage is set for the expansion of India-Taiwan relations, but how far can ties develop?
The United States and South Korea need to explore new ways to cooperate in the 2020s.
Suga had a busy diplomatic schedule in his first weeks in office, but it’s his domestic initiatives that really stand out.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has heavily leaned on government spending to drive growth. But overall debt remains relatively low.
Can Japan’s new PM get the economy back on track in a nation facing a global pandemic, mounting debt and adverse demographics?
No South Korean president in the last 38 years has trodden outside the elite blueprint for interacting with North Korea.
Parsing the why, what, when, and who of theoretical India-Pakistan talks.
When it comes to popular street politics, no one is an automatic favorite for the Pakistani military. The opposition knows that and is coming prepared.
Dhaka’s formal decision would come as a relief to New Delhi.
The Taliban’s insistence on the supremacy of Sunni Hanafism has alarmed Afghan Shias who have long been marginalized.
Kathmandu will have to balance Beijing, New Delhi, and Washington as it seeks a new way forward to advance national interest.
The move only casts into stark relief the profound ways in which Western imperialism shaped the modern nations of Southeast Asia.
The Philippines is resisting calls to prioritize hiring Filipinos to work on big-ticket construction projects funded by China.
Wang Yi riffed on a number of familiar tunes, from China’s role in post-COVID-19 recovery to the shibboleth of “non-interference.”
Vietnam’s campaign against COVID-19 is infused with military imagery, playing into existing strands of national identity.
Social media has played an important role in attracting international attention to the movement’s struggle for reform.
Leaders in Nur-Sultan, Tashkent, Dushanbe, and Ashgabat hope their own citizens don’t pay much attention to Kyrgyzstan beyond believing it a total mess.
What was at stake in Tajikistan’s election wasn’t the presidency, but what comes next.
Tashkent’s quick move to partner with China on poverty reduction indicates that Beijing is now the model for such efforts.
If the past sets any precedent, we can expect an overwhelming win for Nur-Otan – the ruling party headed by First President Nursultan Nazarbayev
The pandemic has managed to do what the Uzbek government hasn’t been able to: temper lavish wedding practices. But will moderation last?
The 9th Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) is scheduled to be held in 2021 in the Japanese city of Shima.
From COVID-19 to climate change, the most pressing global issues – and those of most concern to Pacific states – are best served by collective action.
The move is overdue, as public entities and state governments have proven unable to fully vet their agreements with China.
A looming north-south split in the Pacific Islands Forum poses both challenges and opportunities to the rival superpowers.
What role will the Quad play in the long-term U.S. approach to Asia?
President Trump’s COVID-19 infection threw a wrench into U.S. Asia diplomacy.
Beijing’s threats against U.S. citizens in China seemingly ignore the central place that “hostage diplomacy” has played in American history.
U.S. Defense Secretary Esper says “Battle Force 2045” is needed to counter China at sea.
The lack of a breakthrough in the implementation of global cyber norms highlights the need to focus efforts at the regional level.
Five Eyes consultations are becoming more frequent. But is that necessarily a good thing?
Instead, China’s military bravado represents the end state of a failed strategy.
While across India population growth is a mounting issue, a part of Uttarakhand state is facing decline. It may become a security challenge.
Nigel Ng’s viral comedy sketches, featuring his middle-aged Malaysian “uncle” alter-ego, have resonated with fans both in Asia and the West.
The BRI has led to a dramatic uptick in Silk Road heritage projects in China.