Author: Aileen S P Baviera, University of the Philippines

Departing from the previous government’s opposition to Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has downplayed maritime disputes in favour of pursuing close economic and political ties with China.  Read more…

Author: David Chapman, UQ

There are approximately 3000 children born in Japan each year that are bureaucratically, administratively and legally invisible. Many of these invisible children grow up to be invisible adults and spend their lives on the periphery of Japanese society, unable to participate as full citizens. Referred to as mukosekisha, the ‘unregistered’ are not recorded on the household registry. Read more…

Author: Sacha Cody, Kantar

Ten years ago, then-Chinese president Hu Jintao announced that China needed to develop its soft power. Progress is not good. The percentage of people around the world who hold a favourable perception of China declined from 48 per cent in 2007 when Hu made his announcement to 40 per cent in 2016. Read more…

Author: Brian Christopher Jones, University of Dundee

If you only follow the good news out of Taiwan, you may be forgiven for thinking that things have been rosy of late — the first female president in the country’s history and the recognition of same-sex marriage have provided for some positive press. But some troubling signs are emerging. Recent events have brought to light questions regarding Taiwan’s status in international law and have highlighted the failing aims and enforceability of such law. Read more…

Author: Sharad K. Soni, Jawaharlal Nehru University

The inauguration on 10 July 2017 of Democratic Party (DP) candidate Khaltmaa Battulga as Mongolia’s new president was important for maintaining political balance in a parliament dominated by the opposing Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). Battulga ran masterful anti-China rhetoric during his campaign to defeat his rival Miyegombo Enkhbold, the leader of the ruling MPP. Read more…

Author: Farooq Yousaf, University of Newcastle

On 28 July, the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified the now former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from public office. Sharif and his family have been embroiled in a legal battle since their names appeared in the infamous Panama Papers in April 2016. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi — also a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party — has now been elected as Sharif’s successor. Read more…

Author: Shankaran Nambiar, Malaysian Institute of Economic Research

Global trade policy is in a state of great uncertainty. It is not at all clear how it will sort itself out.

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has set in motion a total re-think of trade policy in Malaysia. Read more…