Author: Frédéric Grare, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

In an interview on 3 May 2017, former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai strongly attacked US policy in Afghanistan and, once again, asked India to do more in his country. Read more…

Author: Moon Chung-in, Seoul

Nearly two weeks into South Korea’s new administration, the dark clouds of impeachment have cleared. President Moon Jae-in‘s inauguration speech was full of common sense, and genuinely communicated with the people. Read more…

Author: James Batley, ANU

On 30 June this year, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) will come to an end after 14 years. RAMSI was deployed in mid-2003 at the invitation of a desperate Solomon Islands government following several years of conflict between armed militant groups, a collapse in law and order and in the state’s capacity to deliver services Read more…

Author: Su Mon Thazin Aung, Institute for Strategy and Policy

Myanmar’s second 21st Century Panglong Conference, which will begin on the 24 May, comes with mixed expectations. Many are cautiously welcoming the event as a step towards amending the 2008 military-drafted constitution. But there are also those concerned that the conference will only serve as a showcase event for the Myanmar government. Read more…

Author: Dániel Balázs, Tongji University

China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) sets the bar high. It strives to connect Asia, Africa and Europe with the aim of achieving mutual development. Sri Lanka, with its valuable geographic position in the heart of the Indian Ocean, is a crucial participant in Beijing’s newest endeavor. Read more…

Author: Gi-Wook Shin, Stanford University and Rennie J. Moon, Yonsei University

As expected, Moon Jae-in has been elected as South Korea’s 19th president. In a five-way contest, Moon garnered 41.1 per cent of the vote, with strong support from those in their 20s to 50s, winning most of the regions in the country.  Read more…

Author: Dong Dong Zhang, ANU

The US–China trade deal announced on 12 May is another clear sign of warming official relations between the United States and China. The deal is an early harvest of the 100 day plan that Xi proposed to Trump to help the United States expand its exports to China. Read more…