The Reforms That Cost Nothing

The easiest way to dismantle a constitutional settlement is to say you support it. Since taking office in February, Bangladesh's BNP has done exactly that with the July National Charter, praising its mandate while systematically declining to be bound by it. Voters endorsed the Charter in a referendum on the same day they gave the BNP a two-thirds majority, and the party has since used the second mandate to hollow out the first. The result is less a story of broken promises than of a government discovering which ones it can afford to keep.

AsiaRashi SinghOctober 21, 2026bangladesh, constitutional reform, south asia, july national charter

Consequences of a War It Never Joined: How Laos Continues to Reel from the Vietnam War 50 Years Later

The Vietnam War is remembered as one of the Cold War's most defining conflicts. Yet its devastating impact on neighboring Laos is often overlooked. More than 50 years later, unexploded bombs from the war continue to threaten Lao communities and hinder development. How did a formally neutral country become a central battlefield in a war it never joined?

Bridging The Gaps: Will The New Prime Minister Be Able to Tackle Mongolia’s Political Turmoil?

New Mongolian Prime Minister Uchral Nyam-Osor is the third to hold the title in two years. The first several months of his term have shown promise; however, he will have to continue an aggressive pursuit of reform in order to prove more successful than his predecessors.

AsiaNathan LeeOctober 7, 2026Mongolia, Prime Minister, Corruption, Russia, China, North Asia, East Asia

Collective Memory and Ethnic Nationalism’s Impact on Japanese Foreign Policy

Facing increasing threats, Japan and Korea share significant interests. Yet, the two countries rarely cooperate with each other, with tense diplomatic relations at a stalemate. Many scholars have attributed this to the rocky history between Japan and Korea, specifically during the colonial period and World War II. Through the examination of Japanese nationalism focused on identity and collective memory, this paper argues that the failures to resolve the historical problems as a result of the humiliation to the Japanese identity impedes East Asian state cooperation, which eventually leads to perpetual reliance on the United States and attempts at rearming.

AsiaOwen WuMay 21, 2026Nationalism, Historic Recollection, Japan, China, Korea, Ethnic Identity

Costly Coal or Novelty Nuclear: How are States in South and Southeast Asia Responding to the Conflict in the Middle East?

States in South and Southeast Asia have found themselves increasingly dependent on oil traded through the Strait of Hormuz. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, energy shortages and reliance on coal have become the new trend. In an effort to rapidly secure energy for their people and to keep their economies up and running, these states are forced to turn to alternatives to oil and liquified natural gas, pushing the region into a new era of energy use.

Corporate Governance in Japan: Evolution from Stakeholder to Shareholder

Japan’s longstanding emphasis of stakeholders in business decision making has shifted into one that is focused on pleasing shareholders through profitability. However, what are the legal mechanisms of doing so? This article analyzes the origins of the shift in corporate governance from stakeholder-oriented to shareholder oriented in response to increased global competition, as well as explores legal reforms indicative of such shift.

AsiaOwen WuMay 21, 2026orporate Law, Shareholder rights, Corporate Governance, Board Structures

Built for Tomorrow: Inside China’s Ghost Cities

Skyscrapers without residents, malls without shoppers—China’s “ghost cities” feel like urban mysteries frozen in time. Yet behind the silence lies a complex story of ambition, speculation, and long-term planning. Are these empty landscapes cautionary tales of overbuilding, or bold investments in a future population that has yet to arrive?

Cricket Diplomacy: The Modern-Day Battlefield

Cricket Diplomacy, once a metaphorical olive branch, has grown to become a physical manifestation of geopolitical fractures in South Asia. The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup demonstrates how sports stadiums become extensions of political conflict. Decisions surrounding player safety, match boycotts, and tournament logistics, revealed that Cricket is no longer just a game.

AsiaNandini CherukuApril 28, 2026South Asia, Sports, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cricket, Diplomacy, Bilateral Relations, T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka, ICC, IPL, PCB, BCB, Asia Cup

Measuring What Matters: Bhutan and the Politics of Happiness

What if national success were measured not in dollars or military strength, but in the well-being of ordinary people? High in the Himalayas, Bhutan has built its governance model around Gross National Happiness, embedding psychological health, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship into public policy. In doing so, the small kingdom has transformed happiness from a philosophical ideal into a measurable political framework—quietly challenging the global dominance of GDP and redefining what power can look like in the modern world.

Historical and Legal Basis of Japan’s Territorial Disputes

Although Japan’s imperial expansion concluded at the end of World War II, its colonial legacy continues to fuel regional instability. Critically, unresolved disputes between Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan over the Takeshima and Senkaku islands remain at a stalemate. Rooted in Japan’s annexation of the islands in the late 1890s to 1910s, the legal conflict over rightful ownership has evolved from territorial disagreements into significant threats to regional security.

AsiaOwen WuMarch 17, 2026Island, Territorial Dispute, Japan, China, Korea, Sovereignty

The Mother of all Deals: What the EU-India Free Trade Agreement Means for Trade, Security, and Strategic Autonomy

After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the EU have finalized their landmark Free Trade Agreement, designed to deepen economic and strategic ties. Expected to slash tariffs by 99 percent on both sides, this FTA also strengthens cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, and maritime security, reducing India’s dependence on the U.S., Russia, and China. Positioning both parties as counterweights to growing Chinese regional influence, the FTA can reshape Asia’s trade landscape and set a new framework for emerging markets.

A Nation at the Water’s Edge

From turquoise lagoons to luxury resorts, the Maldives has long sold an image of untouched paradise. Yet rising seas, mounting debt, and global power imbalances now threaten the nation’s survival. Climate change reshapes coastlines and communities alike, while dependence on foreign investment and tourism forces difficult trade-offs. A nation celebrated for its beauty must now confront difficult choices about who controls its future and how it will endure.

Cultural Couture: How Asian Fashion Projects Power and Identity

South Korea and Thailand are turning fashion into a diplomatic language– one spoken through K-pop runways, artisanal textiles, and global storytelling. South Korea’s state-driven, celebrity-powered machine broadcasts an image of sleek modernity, while Thailand’s heritage-rooted entrepreneurship transforms tradition into contemporary allure. Together, they reveal how fashion can rewrite stereotypes, cultivate national pride, and pull global audiences closer, one strategically crafted garment at a time.

AsiaRashi SinghDecember 11, 2025asian fashion, cultural diplomacy, globalization, pop culture

Japan’s New Prime Minister: Who Is Sanae Takaichi?

On October 21, 2025 Japan elected Sanae Takaichi as prime minister. She heralds a milestone achievement as Japan’s first female prime minister, especially given the severe underrepresentation of women in Japanese politics, with the country ranking 118 out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Index. However, she also signals the rise of far-right nationalism all over the world, and her election could send shockwaves throughout East Asia.

AsiaAndrew LayDecember 11, 2025Japan, politics, feminism, Italy, immigrants, economic policy, North Macedonia, conservatism

The Looming Threat of The Big One

On September 29, 2025, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Cebu region of the Philippines at 10:00 p.m. local time, killing 72 people and making it the deadliest earthquake in the region since 2013. The Philippines is no stranger to earthquakes; located above the tectonic Ring of Fire, the island nation has experienced more than 2,400 earthquakes within the last two weeks, from September 25th to October 9th. Yet this earthquake begs the question: what went wrong in this particular instance, and can the Philippines prevent similar catastrophes from occurring?

AsiaAndrew LayNovember 12, 2025Philippines, Indonesia, earthquake, climate change, humanitarian aid

The Taste of Influence: Southeast Asia’s Culinary Diplomacy and Tourism Appeal

From Bangkok’s bustling street stalls to Hanoi’s hidden pho shops, food has become Asia’s newest form of diplomacy. Thailand’s state-backed “Global Thai” campaign turned its cuisine into a world brand, while Vietnam’s street-food fame has grown more organically through social media. Together, they show how taste can shape tourism, strengthen national identity, and transform local dishes into tools of global influence.

AsiaRashi SinghNovember 9, 2025Food Diplomacy, Vietnam, Thailand, Tourism, Culinary Influence

Shaping Cyberspace: The Influence of China’s Digital Silk Road

China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) extends beyond economic infrastructure, functioning as a tool of digital statecraft that shapes connectivity and norms. By linking investments in 5G, cloud computing, and standards with political narratives, Beijing fosters dependencies and promotes a model of cyber sovereignty. Responses from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia reveal both the appeal and risks of the DSR, highlighting the contested and strategic nature of cyberspace today.

AsiaRashi SinghOctober 23, 2025Cybersecurity, Digital Economy, 5G Networks, Smart Cities

China's Strides In ‘Green Energy’ Play A Vital Role in Climate Change Cooperation Amid Renewable Energy Slowdown in the United States

This article will examine the relationship between competing renewable energy markets in the United States and China. China’s advancements in “green” energy technology, most notably, EV battery development has given China unique leverage in orchestrating multilateral clean energy deals, excluding the U.S.. Seemingly, China’s progress is unmatched, as U.S. policy continues to backslide renewable energy development and policy, shifting to traditional fuel sources instead. With oil on the rise in the U.S., and China implementing solar and wind energy projects for global partners, it is clear a “green” future of climate cooperation is uncertain.

Recent Legal Developments Regarding Queer Rights in Hong Kong

A number of court rulings have expanded the rights of queer Hong Kong citizens, such as QT vs Director of Immigration (2018), which granted same-sex partners access to spousal visas, while another ruling in 2018 permitted same-sex couples to file joint tax returns. While these developments may paint the region as progressive, the laws remain relatively conservative, as Hong Kong still does not recognize gay marriage.

AsiaAndrew LayOctober 10, 2025Hong Kong, China, LGBTQ, human rights, visas, marriage

China, Japan, South Korea Seek Unity Amid Global Uncertainty

In a meeting held in Tokyo on March 22, foreign ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea discussed strengthening trilateral cooperation amid rising global tensions. They focused on shared challenges such as aging populations, declining birthrates, the green economy, and economic collaboration in the face of geopolitical uncertainty. However, divisions remain, particularly regarding China’s support of North Korea, its military activities around Taiwan, and its ties with Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.