https://www.cfr.org/ CFR fellows and other experts assess the latest issues emerging in Asia today. en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:06:13 -0400 https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-elections-begin-laughable-their-face-deadly-serious-their-impact On December 28, Myanmar held the first of three phases of planned voting in a parliamentary elect Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Elections and Voting Myanmar Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-elections-begin-laughable-their-face-deadly-serious-their-impact Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:14:11 EST Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-strikes-venezuela-will-not-embolden-china-invade-taiwan President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Venezuela and capture president Nicolás Maduro ignite David Sacks Asia Unbound U.S.-China Relations Asia Program China Post Taiwan Indo-Pacific Taiwan Strait https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-strikes-venezuela-will-not-embolden-china-invade-taiwan Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:39:39 EST Asia Unbound David Sacks https://www.cfr.org/blog/white-house-transformed-asia-2025-expect-much-more-2026 In the days following the January 2025 inauguration of U.S. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post ASEAN Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/white-house-transformed-asia-2025-expect-much-more-2026 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:49:16 EST Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-next-taiwan-crisis-will-be-different Taiwan is the most dangerous flashpoint in the world. David Sacks Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative U.S.-China Relations Asia Program China Post Taiwan Indo-Pacific Taiwan Strait https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-next-taiwan-crisis-will-be-different Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:58:44 EST Asia Unbound David Sacks https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmar-worlds-indifference-authoritarianism-full-display When Myanmar held relatively free and fair elections in 2020, dominated by Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nat Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Elections and Voting Wars and Conflict Myanmar Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmar-worlds-indifference-authoritarianism-full-display Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:25:56 EST Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-and-cambodia-head-back-battle-presaging-possible-war Cambodia and Thailand are back at battle. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Cambodia Wars and Conflict Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-and-cambodia-head-back-battle-presaging-possible-war Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:38:21 EST Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/crises-may-now-drive-japans-relations-china Crises are not new to the Japan-China relationship, but their impact only grows. Sheila A. Smith Asia Unbound Asia Program China Japan Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/crises-may-now-drive-japans-relations-china Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:44:11 EST Asia Unbound Sheila A. Smith https://www.cfr.org/blog/beyond-thailand-transnational-repression-spreads-globally In a recent Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program China Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/beyond-thailand-transnational-repression-spreads-globally Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:37:05 EST Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-and-xi-turn-back-clock-while-china-flexes-its-muscles During a hundred-minute meeting, President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to u David Sacks Asia Unbound U.S.-China Relations Asia Program China United States Trade Post Donald Trump Trade War Xi Jinping https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-and-xi-turn-back-clock-while-china-flexes-its-muscles Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:04:21 EDT Asia Unbound David Sacks https://www.cfr.org/blog/asean-trump-pushes-deals-while-china-seeks-free-trade As President Donald Trump appeared at the annual ASEAN leaders summit, held this year i Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program China Trade Malaysia Post ASEAN Thailand Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/asean-trump-pushes-deals-while-china-seeks-free-trade Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:48:33 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/article/potential-impact-takaichi-sanae-japans-first-female-prime-minister-conversation-dr-sheila How did Takaichi Sanae overcome barriers to become prime minister? Linda Robinson Article Asia Unbound Women Around the World Asia Program Elections and Voting Japan Inequality Women and Foreign Policy Program Trump in Asia Women's Political Leadership https://www.cfr.org/article/potential-impact-takaichi-sanae-japans-first-female-prime-minister-conversation-dr-sheila Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:05:19 EDT Asia Unbound Linda Robinson https://www.cfr.org/blog/prime-minister-takaichi-sanae-takes-charge October 21, 2025, marked a historic first for Japan. Sheila A. Smith Asia Unbound Asia Program Elections and Voting Japan Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/prime-minister-takaichi-sanae-takes-charge Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:45:02 EDT Asia Unbound Sheila A. Smith https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-junta-forces-are-gaining-back-ground-presaging-long-term-quagmire In the years since the Myanmar military Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Myanmar Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-junta-forces-are-gaining-back-ground-presaging-long-term-quagmire Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:59:38 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-has-become-southeast-asias-hub-transnational-repression On September 29, Murray Hunter, a retired Australian researcher, was arrested in Bangkok. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-has-become-southeast-asias-hub-transnational-repression Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:53:32 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/change-ldp-will-it Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s announcement that he would step down has prompted yet another rac Sheila A. Smith Asia Unbound Asia Program Elections and Voting Japan Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/change-ldp-will-it Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:40:41 EDT Asia Unbound Sheila A. Smith https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-america-can-win-space-protect-taiwan-and-beyond If China were to move toward attacking Taiwan, the first blows might not come from the sea or the Andrew Hanna Asia Unbound United States Space Force Asia Program China Space Post https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-america-can-win-space-protect-taiwan-and-beyond Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:05:57 EDT Asia Unbound Andrew Hanna https://www.cfr.org/blog/thai-politics-poised-meltdown-or-massive-breakthrough After twenty-five years of turmoil between the military-royalist establishment and parties led by Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thai-politics-poised-meltdown-or-massive-breakthrough Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:44:41 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/china-becoming-military-power-southeast-asia-more-ways-people-think Over the past fifteen years, China has increasingly become the dominant military power in Southea Joshua Kurlantzick Arms Industries and Trade Asia Unbound Asia Program China Post South Asia Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/china-becoming-military-power-southeast-asia-more-ways-people-think Mon, 15 Sep 2025 15:50:53 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/white-houses-trade-policy-alienates-australia-and-new-zealand Australia and—to a lesser extent—New Zealand are central to U.S. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Australia Tariffs Asia Program New Zealand Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/white-houses-trade-policy-alienates-australia-and-new-zealand Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:32:18 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/amidst-indonesian-protests-prabowo-stays-true-form For several weeks now, protests have roiled many parts of Indonesia. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Indonesia Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/amidst-indonesian-protests-prabowo-stays-true-form Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:50:36 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/coup-coming-paetongtarn-shinawatra-removed-office-thailand-chaos On Friday, former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/coup-coming-paetongtarn-shinawatra-removed-office-thailand-chaos Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:17:14 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/why-thaksin-was-acquitted-lese-majeste Only months ago, many rivals of Thai political power broker Thaksin Shinawatra, analysts of his i Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Thailand https://www.cfr.org/blog/why-thaksin-was-acquitted-lese-majeste Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:06:04 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-tariffs-could-decimate-asias-smallest-economies-and-weaken-us-influence-0 In recent weeks, White House economic policy has focused on making deals, keeping truces, or in s Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/trumps-tariffs-could-decimate-asias-smallest-economies-and-weaken-us-influence-0 Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:34:44 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/can-brunei-copy-gulf-states-and-reform-while-it-still-has-chance With its oil reserves—the country’s largest source of revenue—set to run out in Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Brunei Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/can-brunei-copy-gulf-states-and-reform-while-it-still-has-chance Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:15:23 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/cancelling-president-lais-transit-mistake-will-embolden-china According to David Sacks Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative Inside China U.S.-China Relations Asia Program Post Taiwan Taiwan Strait https://www.cfr.org/blog/cancelling-president-lais-transit-mistake-will-embolden-china Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:03:18 EDT Asia Unbound David Sacks https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-failed-recall-taiwan-means-us-taiwan-and-cross-strait-relations On Saturday, July 26, all 24 legislators from Taiwan’s Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) who were u David Sacks Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative Inside China U.S.-China Relations Asia Program China Post Taiwan Taiwan Strait https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-failed-recall-taiwan-means-us-taiwan-and-cross-strait-relations Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:16:41 EDT Asia Unbound David Sacks https://www.cfr.org/blog/thai-cambodian-border-clashes-help-revive-hun-sens-power Although he stepped down as prime minister and de facto dictator in 2023, after more than Mike Rattanasengchanh Asia Unbound Asia Program Cambodia Post Hun Sen Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thai-cambodian-border-clashes-help-revive-hun-sens-power Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:34:54 EDT Asia Unbound Mike Rattanasengchanh https://www.cfr.org/blog/real-reasons-thai-cambodia-conflict In recent weeks, the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia had ramped up dramatically, un Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Cambodia Wars and Conflict Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/real-reasons-thai-cambodia-conflict Sun, 27 Jul 2025 14:27:03 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-makes-some-apparent-trade-deals-asia-could-be-poisoning-waters-long-term Amidst electoral turmoil in Japan and an upcoming summit between top leaders from the EU and Chin Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program Post Southeast Asia Trump in Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/trump-makes-some-apparent-trade-deals-asia-could-be-poisoning-waters-long-term Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:48:46 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/whats-next-japanese-voters-hand-ldp-yet-another-loss Japan’s voters dealt Prime Minister Sheila A. Smith Asia Unbound Asia Program Elections and Voting Japan Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/whats-next-japanese-voters-hand-ldp-yet-another-loss Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:35:42 EDT Asia Unbound Sheila A. Smith https://www.cfr.org/blog/us-japan-trade-impasse-ishiba-faces-another-election The stakes are unusually high in Sunday’s Upper House election. Chris Baylor Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program Elections and Voting Japan Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/us-japan-trade-impasse-ishiba-faces-another-election Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:27:09 EDT Asia Unbound Chris Baylor https://www.cfr.org/blog/will-southeast-asia-help-trump-build-wall-against-chinese-exports President Donald Trump has vowed to enlist a wide range of partner countries to isolate China by Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound China 360 China Strategy Initiative Tariffs Asia Program Post Southeast Asia Trump in Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/will-southeast-asia-help-trump-build-wall-against-chinese-exports Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:29:52 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/last-days-thailands-shinawatra-dynasty The political turbulence currently engulfing Thailand’s Pheu Thai-led coalition government now ha Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Heads of State and Government Post Thailand Politics and Government Asia Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/last-days-thailands-shinawatra-dynasty Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:10:07 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-causing-havoc-southeast-asia-and-worries-another-thai-coup In recent weeks, Thailand and Cambodia, which at times have had close diplomatic and economic tie Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Cambodia Post Thailand Politics and Government Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-causing-havoc-southeast-asia-and-worries-another-thai-coup Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:35:55 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-civil-war-has-caused-anarchy-and-dangers-entire-world While a year ago, it appeared that Myanmar’s civil war, pitting the junta and its armed forces ag Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program China Transnational Crime Myanmar Post Politics and Government Fragile or Failed States Asia Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-civil-war-has-caused-anarchy-and-dangers-entire-world Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:44:45 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/philippines-dynasties-are-going-scorched-earth-each-other-how-will-country-fare Philippine politics have historically been dominated by a handful of political dynasties, making Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Philippines Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/philippines-dynasties-are-going-scorched-earth-each-other-how-will-country-fare Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:28:09 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/renowned-academic-paul-chambers-flees-thailand-does-bangkok-really-get-what-it-wants On May 29, renowned Thailand expert Paul Chambers, who had been charged with lèse-majesté in the Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy Asia Program Rule of Law Post Thailand Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/renowned-academic-paul-chambers-flees-thailand-does-bangkok-really-get-what-it-wants Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:01:36 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/chinas-industrial-policy-drives-boom-eldercare-robots Beijing is dramatically pushing eldercare robots as part of its national development plans to pro Carl Minzner Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative Inside China Robots and Robotics Asia Program China Post https://www.cfr.org/blog/chinas-industrial-policy-drives-boom-eldercare-robots Wed, 28 May 2025 10:27:44 EDT Asia Unbound Carl Minzner https://www.cfr.org/blog/india-losing-south-asia-china As the most populous and historically most economically and strategically powerful state in South Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound China 360 China Strategy Initiative Asia Program China India Post Asia South Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/india-losing-south-asia-china Wed, 28 May 2025 09:40:30 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/duty-calls-trumps-tariffs-and-stakes-koreas-snap-election Darcie Draudt-Véjares is a fellow for Korean studies in the Asia Program at the Carn Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program Elections and Voting South Korea Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/duty-calls-trumps-tariffs-and-stakes-koreas-snap-election Fri, 23 May 2025 15:09:04 EDT Asia Unbound https://www.cfr.org/blog/south-koreas-democracy-remains-vulnerable Duyeon Kim is an adjunct senior fellow with the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center f Asia Unbound Asia Program South Korea Rule of Law Post Indo-Pacific https://www.cfr.org/blog/south-koreas-democracy-remains-vulnerable Thu, 22 May 2025 16:36:11 EDT Asia Unbound https://www.cfr.org/article/philippines-election-duterte-wins-hague-marcos-hangs The Philippines held elections earlier this week for several seats in its upper house of parliame Joshua Kurlantzick Article Asia Unbound Asia Program Philippines Elections and Voting Asia Rodrigo Duterte https://www.cfr.org/article/philippines-election-duterte-wins-hague-marcos-hangs Fri, 16 May 2025 16:29:01 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-next-trump-effect-foreign-policy-and-foreign-elections As I noted in a prior post and Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Canada South Korea Japan Post ASEAN Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-next-trump-effect-foreign-policy-and-foreign-elections Wed, 14 May 2025 10:14:51 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/vietnams-tariff-trouble-just-gets-worse As I noted in a Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Vietnam Asia Trade War https://www.cfr.org/blog/vietnams-tariff-trouble-just-gets-worse Mon, 12 May 2025 16:45:22 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/digital-explanation-tariffs-impact-east-asia On U.S. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Tariffs Asia Program Post Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/digital-explanation-tariffs-impact-east-asia Fri, 02 May 2025 17:46:52 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-arrests-world-leading-expert-thailand-why Paul Chambers has lived and/or worked in Thailand for three decades. Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/thailand-arrests-world-leading-expert-thailand-why Fri, 02 May 2025 11:17:22 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-may-cause-china-blink Zongyuan Zoe Liu Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative RealEcon Tariffs Asia Program China Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies Post Trade War https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-may-cause-china-blink Thu, 01 May 2025 16:37:40 EDT Asia Unbound Zongyuan Zoe Liu https://www.cfr.org/blog/india-and-pakistan-brink-conflict-over-kashmir Following last week’s Steven Honig Asia Unbound Asia Program India Wars and Conflict Kashmir Pakistan Post Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/india-and-pakistan-brink-conflict-over-kashmir Wed, 30 Apr 2025 22:28:52 EDT Asia Unbound Steven Honig https://www.cfr.org/blog/beijing-tightens-its-grip-hong-kongs-democratic-party-dissolves-itself The Democratic Party, once the largest pan-democratic opposition party in Hong Kong, has begun th Carl Minzner Asia Unbound China Strategy Initiative Inside China Asia Program China Post https://www.cfr.org/blog/beijing-tightens-its-grip-hong-kongs-democratic-party-dissolves-itself Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:46:30 EDT Asia Unbound Carl Minzner https://www.cfr.org/blog/singapore-holds-election-amidst-world-trade-war Although Singapore’s long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) had until later this year to call a Joshua Kurlantzick Asia Unbound Asia Program Post ASEAN Singapore Asia Southeast Asia https://www.cfr.org/blog/singapore-holds-election-amidst-world-trade-war Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:23:55 EDT Asia Unbound Joshua Kurlantzick