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The Debate
The Debate is our home for the best opinions from around Asia. Whether it is negotiating with Iran, responding to North Korean provocations, discussing Japan's looming demographic issues, or considering the new balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, some of the region's leading thinkers offer their take.
UNESCO Has Failed to Prevent Forced Evictions at Angkor Wat
By Sambath Reth
The rights group Amnesty International claims that thousands of families have been evicted from the world-famous temples over the past year.
A New Era of Japan-ASEAN Relations
By SUKEGAWA Seiya
‘Trust’ and ‘Mutual Benefit’ are the watchwords.
Setting the Record Straight: The KMT Defense Blueprint for Taiwan
By Howard Shen
If elected, Hou Yu-ih plans to publish Taiwan’s first National Security Strategy within the first ten months of the presidency.
How the Global Refugee Forum Can Help End Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis
By M. Ashraf Haidari
Ultimately, restoring sustainable peace in Afghanistan is the only durable solution to the plight of its refugees. But there is much that can be done to work toward that goal and help people now.
Japan-South Korea Cooperation Rests on the Rule of Law
By Jason Morgan and Kenji Yoshida
South Korea’s erratic court rulings and disharmony in the justice system are jeopardizing its bilateral relations with Japan.
Remember the Uyghur Genocide on the 75th Anniversary of the 1948 Genocide Convention
By Omer Kanat
The pivot toward engagement with China by stalwart advocates of Uyghur rights like the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom is concerning.
Centering Human Rights at the Heart of Diplomatic Efforts for Intra-Afghan Dialogue
By Nazifa Haqpal
Afghanistan has became “ground-zero for human rights and a graveyard of international norms.”
A Year Behind Bars: Release Tajikistani Human Rights Defender Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov
By Alva Omarova
On December 9, 2022, after a closed-door trial, the lawyer and human rights defender was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment.
Forecasting Democratic Futures in Asia and the Pacific
By Michael Runey and Emma Kenny
What, if anything, can Asia's democrats do to reverse the reactionary trends of recent years?
Taiwan Strait Tensions: Don’t Blame the Victim
By Chieh-Ting Yeh
The rush to find a China-U.S. modus vivendi on Taiwan often involves intentionally overlooking the unequal nature of “provocations.”
Singapore’s Role as a Neutral Interpreter of China to the West
By Walter Woon
If the growing West-China division is to be bridged, the Western world needs a more nuanced interpretation of China. Singapore can play that role.
Some China Contacts With Henry Kissinger
By Jerome A. Cohen
Dr. Jerome Cohen offers his personal experiences interacting with Kissinger on China issues – with all the complexity that involved.