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Asia Unbound

CFR fellows and other experts assess the latest issues emerging in Asia today.

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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the North Portico for an official State Dinner at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the North Portico for an official State Dinner at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Prime Minister Kishida’s Tour de Force

The highlights from Kishida Fumio's busy week in Washington. Read More

United States
The U.S.-Japan-Philippines Trilateral Was a Success, but Other Southeast Asian States Are Unlikely to Follow
The success of the U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit underscored the Joe Biden administration’s dedication to building partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, but Southeast Asian nations are less interested.
Myanmar
Myanmar’s Military is Facing Defeat Amid Civil War
Myanmar’s military faced a significant loss in the town of Myawaddy, bordering Thailand, this week.
Vietnam
Vietnamese Politics Tries to Pretend its Placid—But It’s Not
The Vietnamese government tries to project an air of stability and competency, but recent corruption scandals and a looming succession crisis have tarnished the leadership’s image.
  • Supply Chains
    U.S.-South Korea Policy Coordination on Supply Chain Resiliency
    On November 28, 2023, the Council on Foreign Relations’ program on U.S.-Korea Policy held an in-person workshop on U.S.-South Korea policy coordination toward China on supply chain resiliency. 
  • China
    Is a TikTok Ban Coming?
    American lawmakers look increasingly willing to ban the popular app TikTok due to its parent company’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
  • Indonesia
    Four More Things to Expect From a Prabowo Presidency
    An anticipated Prabowo presidency poses many questions about Indonesia’s democratic future and global role.
  • Supply Chains
    Coordinating U.S.-South Korean Approaches Toward Supply Chain Resiliency
    The fifth workshop for the project on Bolstering U.S.-South Korean Cooperation to Meet the China Challenge examined how the United States and South Korea should strengthen policy coordination on supply chain resiliency. 
  • Indonesia
    Five Things to Expect from a Prabowo Presidency
    Prabowo Subianto was named the winner of the Indonesian presidential election. But it is unclear which version of Prabowo—the more moderate candidate from the campaign trail or the self-styled strongman—will govern Indonesia.
  • China
    China’s Marriage Rate Bounces Back After Covid—But Only Temporarily
    An uptick in the number of new marriages in 2023 is likely a only temporary blip rather than a long-term change from China's steady transition to a rapidly aging society.
  • South Korea
    The U.S. Election and South Korean Anxieties
    Today is my last day at CFR, which marks the conclusion of over fifteen years of contributions to Asia Unbound. My publications and contributions to CFR remain in archives on the website.