Asia Pacific

Politics

From Abe to Suga: Japan’s Quest for Inspiring Leadership

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

While the longest-serving Japanese leader will rank high among the more memorable and effective of his predecessors, he tended to be more popular abroad than at home.

Education

Australia’s Loss, Britain’s Gain: How UK Universities Benefit from the Covid-19 Crisis

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

A stable relationship with China may serve the UK well, as its educational institutions could capitalize on a shift of Chinese students away from Australia.

Environment

Palm Oil: A Case for Conciliation over Confrontation

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Europe might have done better to conduct a more informal, consultative approach involving all stakeholders instead of a unilateral ban on palm oil imports.

Economy

Vulnerability and Resilience: Technology and Covid-19 Should Initiate Reskilling

Thursday, July 23, 2020

As Covid-19 grips the world, the Filipino workforce looks increasingly vulnerable, despite strong growth in recent years.

Economy

After Covid-19 Success: Vietnam’s Economic Opportunities and Challenges

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Vietnam will have to improve in a number of areas – including sustainability and infrastructure – to maintain any kind of post-pandemic economic momentum.

Inclusiveness

When a Disease Uncovers Digital Divides

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Educational and employment exclusions due to the digital divide have been exacerbated by the lockdowns caused by this unprecedented public-health crisis.

Geopolitics

How Not to Respond to China

Thursday, June 18, 2020

As China pursues a more assertive foreign policy, other countries should push back whenever Beijing over-reaches, writes former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans

Geopolitics

After the Nuclear Deal: China and Iran Tread Carefully

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Tehran and Beijing must tread carefully, given the numerous overlapping spheres of interest in a volatile area of the world, US pressure and the impact of Covid-19.

Economy

Sealing Borders Leads Only to a Pyrrhic Victory

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

While drastic actions may yield success in controlling the spread of the coronavirus, they will likely lead to severe damage to economies that may be felt for years

Environment

After the Covid-19 Pandemic, Asia Should Invest in the Environment

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Asian leaders should prioritize climate initiatives before environmental distress raises the costs of action and the prospects of political and economic crises.

Covid-19

Covid-19 and the Decade of Risk

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

A dangerous decade lies ahead for the global economy as well as for health and safety, and only a fundamental rethink about how nations can collaborate will be the cure.

Environment

Rising from the Ashes: How Australia Should Combat Climate Change

Thursday, March 5, 2020

The unprecedented Australian bushfire crisis has been a wake-up call on climate change, highlighting an underlying threat to the country: the lack of water resources.

Geopolitics

Crossing the Rubicon: Duterte Moves to End the Philippine-US Alliance

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Behind Duterte's façade of triviality and pettiness is a concerted plan to shift the Philippines away from the US and closer to China.

Security

Rethinking US Alliances and Partnerships as Insurance Contracts

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Alliances and partnerships with the US should be viewed as insurance contracts to hedge against the uncertainties of Beijing’s growing power and influence.

Environment

Will the Australian Wildfires Crisis Usher in a New Global Climate Security Paradigm?

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Governments worldwide will increasingly have to turn to their armed forces to deal with climate-related disasters, requiring new ways of thinking.

Geopolitics

Asia 2020: Learn the Lessons of 2019

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Vasuki Shastry, Associate Asia Fellow of Chatham House in London, offers lessons from the past year and considers what they may portend at the beginning of a new decade.

Geopolitics

Flawed Assumptions: Why the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is Defective

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Foreign ministers including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (4th from left) and China's Wang Yi (far right) demonstrate ASEAN centrality

Geopolitics

Australia’s Pacific “Step Up” Stumbles

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Australia must find its home in the region instead of looking like the uncomfortable colonial among strangers.