Foreign Policy Blogs

Asia & Pacific

Post-impeachment Consensus Calls for a New Political System in South Korea

Post-impeachment Consensus Calls for a New Political System in South Korea

In the aftermath of the Candlelight Revolution, the Korean people’s demands for constitutionally restructuring the post-1987 presidency have heightened.

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On the South China Sea, Tillerson Suggests Going All In on a Losing Hand

On the South China Sea, Tillerson Suggests Going All In on a Losing Hand

What makes Tillerson’s bellicosity even more absurd is that the U.S. position in the South China Sea has never been weaker.

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North Korea’s ICBM Threat and the Trump Administration

North Korea’s ICBM Threat and the Trump Administration

Pyongyang could decide to conduct a new ballistic test in the early weeks of the new administration to gauge President Trump’s response.

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China Tightens Censorship As Trump Takes Office

China Tightens Censorship As Trump Takes Office

News outlets in China were ordered to “downplay” the U.S. inauguration, and to publish only reports from central state media.

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Pro-China Groups Protest Taiwan President’s U.S. Visit

Pro-China Groups Protest Taiwan President’s U.S. Visit

The protest received little attention in the U.S. but was widely reported in China as evidence of “overseas Chinese” support for Beijing’s “one-China” policy.

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Vietnam Hedging by Dredging in the South China Sea

Vietnam Hedging by Dredging in the South China Sea

Hanoi has been actively fortifying its key holdings in the Spratlys, including the construction of a runway, tunnels and bunkers to defend its territory against China.

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Taiwan’s President and Pro-China Opposition Leader both Plan U.S. Visits

Taiwan’s President and Pro-China Opposition Leader both Plan U.S. Visits

Tensions between Taiwan and mainland China will come to the U.S. this month, just in time for Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States.

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Japan Outpaces U.S. in Race to Enlist Russia to Balance China

Japan Outpaces U.S. in Race to Enlist Russia to Balance China

U.S.-Russian hostilities have decreased U.S. strategic options with respect to China, enabling Shinzo Abe’s own Russian diplomacy to be more fruitful.

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Japan’s Defense Minister Visits ‘War Crimes Shrine’ Following Pearl Harbor Trip

Japan’s Defense Minister Visits ‘War Crimes Shrine’ Following Pearl Harbor Trip

The visit sparked anger among the country’s neighbors—particularly China and South Korea—that suffered under Japanese occupation during World War II.

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‘Eastward Ho’ for India-led South Asia?

‘Eastward Ho’ for India-led South Asia?

Trade blocs are often instruments of geopolitics. India’s cooperation with the South Asian nations east of Pakistan plays witness to this age-old truism.

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Beijing’s ‘One-China Policy’ is an Authoritarian Absurdity

Beijing’s ‘One-China Policy’ is an Authoritarian Absurdity

Let’s get real: Taiwan has never been a part of the People’s Republic of China. Nor do most of its citizens have any interest in being part of the PRC.

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Chinese Censorship Comes to Miss World Pageant

Chinese Censorship Comes to Miss World Pageant

Lin was banned from participating in the 2015 pageant held in China and has now been barred from speaking on human rights at this year’s contest in the U.S.

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Mad Dog Mattis on China

Mad Dog Mattis on China

Many are wondering how the nomination of General James “Mad Dog” Mattis as the new Secretary of Defense will influence future U.S.-China relations.

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Junaid Jamshed: Pakistan’s Bridge

Junaid Jamshed: Pakistan’s Bridge

Junaid Jamshed was simultaneously a modern 20-something, bringing music to the youth in Pakistan, and a preacher speaking to the religiously fervent.

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Crazy, or Crazy Enough to Work? India’s Financial Shakeup

Crazy, or Crazy Enough to Work? India’s Financial Shakeup

Narendra Modi turned his country’s economy upside down by banning its two most common bank notes in an effort to combat the proliferation of “black money”.

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