Center for East Asia Policy Studies

A demonstrator shows the three-finger salute during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, February 21, 2021. REUTERS

Don’t give up on Myanmar

Thursday, December 16, 2021

China Premier Li Keqiang attends Southeast Asian leaders virtual summit Tuesday October 26, 2021 without Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing after its top general failure of Myanmar's army to adhere to a peace road map it had agreed with the southeast Asian bloc following the coup in February. The exclusion of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was an embarrassment for Myanmar's military and the harshest rebuke by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and took over the government on February 1. During the meeting on Tuesday Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said he welcomed the inclusion of Britain as the first new dialogue partner of ASEAN in over two decades. There were three separate meetings between the ASEAN leaders and leaders of the United States, China, and South Korea.

ASEAN running out of time to recast role as buffer in US-China great power competition

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Display of books published by Brookings Foreign Policy in 2021.

20 Brookings Foreign Policy books for 2021

Ted Reinert and McCall Mintzer

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Democracy protesters in Thailand in 2020

Will Asia buy into the Summit for Democracy?

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at a democracy-themed event for the Double-Tenth National Day, at an airforce base, following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vow to unify Taiwan by peaceful means, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, 9 October 2021. The self ruled island has been facing intensifying military threats from China including record number of fighter jets cruising around Taiwan, whilst building better relations with the US, Australia, Japan and European countries including Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic. (Photo by Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto)

The Biden administration is right to include Taiwan in the Summit for Democracy

Richard C. Bush and Ryan Hass

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Handout photo dated December 30, 2020 of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) conducts routine underway operations in support of stability and security for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Two U.S. warships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Thursday drawing protest from Beijing, the second such mission this month and coming almost two weeks after a Chinese aircraft carrier group used the same waterway. The U.S. Navy said the guided missile destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur had "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Dec. 31 in accordance with international law". U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda via ABACAPRESS.COM

The status quo in the Taiwan Strait is edging toward conflict. Here’s how to stop it.

Steven M. Goldstein

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits Samjiyon City, North Korea in this undated photo released on November 16, 2021 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA.

North Korea is addressing the pandemic in its ‘style.’ That means leaving a lot of people hungry.

Monday, November 22, 2021

A bevy of smooth coated otters swim towards the city skyline at Marina Bay on November 17, 2021 in Singapore. Wild otters are making a comeback to the urban city state with the increasing numbers of the sea animals sparking concerns about overpopulation. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto)

Biden’s Summit for Democracy should focus on rights, not economics and geopolitics

Thomas Pepinsky

Monday, November 22, 2021

Soldiers take part in a parade during the National Day Celebration, following Chinese President Xi Jinpings vow to unify Taiwan by peaceful means, in Taipei, Taiwan, 10 October 2021. The self ruled island has been facing intensifying military threats from China including record number of fighter jets cruising around Taiwan, whilst building better relations with the US, Australia, Japan and European countries including Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic. (Photo by Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE

Taiwan’s leaders need to coalesce around a defense concept

Monday, November 1, 2021

The first meeting of Japan-Taiwan-U.S. Strategic Dialogue is held online at the National Diet Building in Tokyo on July 29, 2021. ( The Yomiuri Shimbun )

How should Taiwan, Japan, and the United States cooperate better on defense of Taiwan?

Wednesday, October 27, 2021