The Asia-Pacific in 2020: What to Expect
Table of Contents
The final conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership was a landmark achievement for ASEAN.
2019 may go down as the year China’s massive Belt and Road project lost its shine for South Asian partners.
Tales of the CNRP’s demise have so far been greatly exaggerated, but the clock is ticking.
Arguably the biggest China story of 2019, the massive protests in Hong Kong will continue to reverberate in the new year.
Until passage and implementation the Uyghur Human Rights Act is just a reproach. But it’s an important signal.
How Hong Kong’s rising “Yellow Economy” sustains its pro-democracy movement.
Taipei prosecutors have raided multiple travel agencies for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of Chinese government officials into Taiwan.
Is China scrambling to stem a manufacturing exodus as the trade war continues?
North Korea’s recent moves are far from what South Korean President Moon Jae-in led his people to expect.
During World War II, common interests resulted in an odd partnership and some odder decision-making.
The future of RCEP depends on how the Japanese government will approach India’s withdrawal.
Three high-profile deaths in Korea reignite discussions around privacy, prosecution, and mental health.
Two recent changes highlight the multifaceted role the JCG will continue to play in Japan’s defenses.
A new book examines the historical development and present state of civil-military relations in India.
Daily newspaper Etilaat Roz makes an impact in the chaotic Afghan democracy.
As the climate emergency brings rising seas, Gwadar’s Ganz village is losing the battle after centuries of existence.
The Saudi push to spread Wahhabism is contributing to the Maldives’ startling radicalization.
Religious nationalism influenced Sri Lanka’s election results — and that influence is not going away anytime soon.
While the ruling party has dominated the country since its independence, there continues to be speculation about how it will fare in the next polls.
Another shift in the Philippine president’s position has once again put the peace process in the spotlight.
Vietnam’s new cybersecurity law suggests that the government is attempting to follow China’s model of internet control.
What to make of Kuala Lumpur’s new claim to an extended continental shelf in the South China Sea.
Thanathorn’s removal foreshadows a sinister dismantling of opposition using a façade of checks and balances.
What is the state of work on the 1,800-kilometer pipeline as the decade comes to a close?
Despite its regional outreach, Kazakhstan’s diplomatic priority will remain Russia, China, and Europe.
Some voters in Tashkent have high hopes while others are more cynical that the flashy election will result in a new kind of politics.
Individuals implicated in massive corruption exposed in a recent joint investigation by RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyk, OCCRP, and Kloop have hit back with a lawsuit.
The second consultative meeting of Central Asian leaders sidestepped regional issues, but annual meetings are assured to continue.
Pacific nations score well in media freedom indexes, but journalists in the region face intimidation, blackmail, and assault.
An Australian state government has launched a comprehensive strategy for engagement with Asian nations.
Being able to identify areas of mutual interest and find ways to cooperate with Indonesia has been a long-standing hope for Australia.
As Bougainville edges nearer to independence, Australia and China play a familiar game.
The Trump administration’s fictions around diplomacy with North Korea are quickly crumbling.
If the Trump administration is going to insist on putting a dollar value on the costs of the alliance, it should also consider the gains in monetary terms.
Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the BJP appear to be all-in on implementing several controversial domestic measures. Should that matter for the U.S.-India relationship?
The U.S. Navy is working on a transition to more unmanned vessels. First up: an anti-submarine drone ship that will be capable of autonomously tracking Chinese submarines.
China and many African countries have converging interests in ensuring a stable, secure, and peaceful Africa.
Japan has a responsibility to spearhead discussions on the legal regulation of lethal autonomous weapons systems.
Under Duterte, the Philippine Coast Guard has taken on a new prominence. But don’t assume Manila is resorting to gray zone tactics.
The popularity of a fake new story shows what kinds of religious imagery are readily embraced by the Indian public.
Filmmaker Kazuhiro Soda broke from mainstream documentary production to give his viewers the power of observation.
After coming out from the shadow of security concerns, Pakistan’s musicians face a more mundane challenge: money.