
Asia & the Pacific
List of Asia & the Pacific articles

Is Nepal Ready for Marriage Equality?
Same-sex marriage has been on the cards for years, but progress has been slow.

The Battle for Eurasia
China, Russia, and their autocratic friends are leading another epic clash over the world’s largest landmass.

The Bomb Was Horrifying. The Alternatives Would Have Been Worse.
Historical records show that dropping atomic bombs was the least bad option.

The U.S. Needs to Get Out of the Way on China
Washington should start letting other countries take the lead.

Taiwan Faces No Trade-Offs With Ukraine
But Taipei is also getting tired of supply chain issues.

What Thailand’s Election Means for Myanmar
A progressive-led government in Bangkok could take a new approach to the crisis next door.

Mongolia’s Paper Fleet Is Helping Russia Dodge Sanctions
A landlocked country is offering flags of convenience at sea.

America Is Winning Against China in Oceania
There is less to Beijing’s security gains in the Pacific than meets the eye.

India Is Stuck in a New World Disorder
New Delhi wants to be friends with both Moscow and Washington, but the war in Ukraine has underscored the contradictions in its global vision.

The U.S. Ups the Ante in Bangladesh
A coercive visa policy aims to bolster democracy ahead of the country’s elections next January.

K-Culture Is Here to Stay
South Korea’s unique conditions make it an entertainment giant.

The Indo-Pacific Has Already Chosen Door No. 3
So-called fence-sitters are rejecting zero-sum geopolitical binaries in favor of multi-alignment.

The Stans Can’t Play Both Sides Anymore
As Russia and China grow closer, Central Asian leaders don’t have as much leverage—or independence—as they once did.

Putin Wants You to Think He’s an Anti-Woke Crusader
By pitching himself as a hero to the U.S. right, he’s taking a page from the 1960s North Vietnamese playbook to undermine support for Ukraine.

Chinese Courts Want Abused Women to Shut Up
Personal and political violence are intermixed in authoritarian societies.

Modi Visits Papua New Guinea as Biden Skips
Amid a flurry of diplomacy, the trip gave India a chance to advance key foreign-policy goals.

China Is Turning a Crushed Xinjiang Into a Tourist Trap
After years of human rights abuses, Beijing wants Han visitors in the region.

Decoupling Is Already Happening—Under the Sea
U.S.-China rivalry has led to the rerouting of crucial subsea internet cables, which could have major geopolitical consequences.

ASEAN and the Quad Inch Closer Together
Southeast Asian skepticism toward the foursome is softening.

Thailand’s Military Has No Good Options
The generals could subvert last week’s opposition victory, but it would guarantee a political crisis.

4 Ways U.S. Support for Ukraine Helps Defend Taiwan
From deterrence to military readiness, Ukraine aid is a major boost to Pacific security.

Is China Replacing Russia in Central Asia?
Beijing may be an appealing partner, but that doesn’t mean the region is breaking with Moscow.

It’s Time To Recognize the Taliban
The absence of a U.S. diplomatic presence leaves Washington powerless and strengthens the extremists in Kabul.

School Is in for the Taliban’s New Model Army
Extremist curriculum is teaching children how to hate, not how to think.

Thai Vote Spells Danger for Junta and Monarchy
A landslide opposition victory signals an irrepressible urge for change.

In Jakarta, Political Kingmaking Starts Now
Indonesia’s presidential election is less than a year away, and the race to replace Jokowi has begun.

Modi Wants to Bring Tourists Back to Kashmir
India’s government wants to turn the war-torn region into a renewed tourist hot spot.

Sugar as Modern Capitalism’s Original Sin
A new book shows its history as anything but sweet.

Domestic Division Is Dragging Down U.S. Indo-Pacific Policy
U.S. allies are feeling neglected thanks to chaos in Washington.

How Kyiv Is Wooing the Global South
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on convincing the rest of the world to stand on the right side of history.

The Paradox of Hiroshima
This weekend’s G-7 summit is not the first time the city’s national context has complicated its status as a global peace symbol.

It’s Time for the Generals to Let Go in Pakistan
Imran Khan’s arrest is cycling the country through crisis yet again.

Pakistan’s Military Goes Full Throttle Against Imran Khan
The crisis spurred by the opposition leader’s arrest shows no signs of de-escalation.

Chinese Graduates Are Asking Where All the Good Jobs Went
Record youth unemployment is causing a rethink of education’s value.

Why Xi Is Ghosting Biden
Beijing’s refusal to talk to Washington is part of a war of attrition against U.S. influence.

How Beijing Forces Uyghurs to Pick Cotton
Coercive labor is getting less visible, but more intense.

Taiwan’s Trump Wants to Make Nice With Beijing
Foxconn founder Terry Gou will be hoping his pro-China message finds more takers than it did in 2020.

Portugal Left a Mark on India
They got food, fado, and sossegado. Also, the Inquisition.

U.S.-Thai Relations Have An Alliance Problem
Regardless of election results, Bangkok will keep leaning toward China.

Taiwan Is Competing for Arms With the Middle East, Not Ukraine
The United States should pause deliveries to partners such as Saudi Arabia to free up weapons for Taipei.

India and the Gulf Are Getting Cozy—to Counter China
A new project aims to link New Delhi to the Middle East through roads, rails, and seaports.

The Islamic State Has a New Target: Russia
The group’s Afghanistan branch is capitalizing on the Russia-Ukraine war to recruit, fundraise, and incite violence.

Biden Hopes for Vietnam Breakthrough
Washington and Hanoi have been inching closer, but it’s a complicated dance.

Taiwan Needs Business Help to Harden Its Economy Against China
Beijing is looking for ways to harm its neighbor other than invasion.

Why Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Is Visiting India
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is in Goa to meet regional counterparts—not to patch up bilateral ties.

Can Thailand’s Opposition Prevail?
Political scion Paetongtarn Shinawatra aims for a landslide victory on May 14—if the conservative establishment will accept it.

The Taliban Aim to Divide and Conquer
The U.N. meets this week to decide whether to play by Taliban rules or pull out. Both are bad.

Conspiracy Theories Swirl Around Sikh Separatist Amritpal Singh Sandhu
The now-detained radical's actions may herald a new age of militancy.

Republican Hopefuls Flock to Asia to Burnish Anti-China Creds
China hawks spread their wings ahead of the 2024 election season.

Population Control Is Back in India
India now has the world’s largest population—and is trying to find ways not to.

Why Biden and Yoon’s Agreement Is a Big Deal
Reassuring allies prevents nuclear proliferation and is a win for Team USA.

America’s Ironclad Alliance With South Korea Is a Touch Rusty
Nuclear assurances contribute to a dangerous cycle of anxiety.

The U.S. Needs to Talk to North Korea Any Way It Can
Pushing Seoul into engagement with Pyongyang is hard but vital.

Will South Korea Export Its Military Might to Ukraine?
The question looms large over a meeting between Biden and the South Korean leader this week.

A Nuclear South Korea Is a Dangerous Miscalculation
At their upcoming summit, Biden needs to let Yoon know there would be consequences for breaking Seoul’s nonproliferation promises.

China’s Got Afghan Fever, Again
Nothing says forever like the promise of Afghanistan’s mineral riches.

Taiwan Isn’t Playing Dollar Diplomacy Anymore
Taipei can’t outspend Beijing to win friends. But it’s got other things going for it.

Heatstroke Is India’s Latest Climate Calamity
South Asia is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and its deadly knock-on effects.

Modi’s Marketing Muscle
The prime minister has turned India’s G-20 leadership into a nonstop advertisement for its growing clout.

Why Does Taiwan Matter to the U.S.?
The Pentagon’s top policymaker, Colin Kahl, details why the island is consequential to U.S. national security strategy.

The Taliban Are Throwing Pakistan a Googly
Extremism, more than all the other crises, challenges Pakistan’s very survival.

How North Korea’s Hackers Bankroll Its Quest for the Bomb
Cybercrime is a windfall for Kim Jong Un’s nuclear ambitions.

China Has Sewn Up a Critical Metals Market
U.S. companies are seeking Chinese partners for Indonesian nickel.

India Projects Image of Normalcy From Kashmir
The region will host a G-20 meeting next month, but repression persists since New Delhi revoked its semi-autonomy in 2019.

Apple Takes a Bite Out of India
The world’s biggest company is hedging its dependence on China.

For Japan, ‘Ukraine is the Future of Asia’
Tokyo has abandoned decades of passivity and become a global strategic actor.

Why China Should Worry About Asia’s Reaction to AUKUS
Even some non-aligned countries have cautiously signaled support.

What Happened to the Taliban’s Pledge to Fight Terrorism?
Washington withdrew from a 20-year fight against terrorism, vowing to maintain over-the-horizon capability. It’s still squinting.

Japan’s Defense Plans Are Big, Popular, and Expensive
Tokyo wants to double its military budget within five years.

Why Does the U.S. Care More About Taiwan’s Democracy Than India’s?
The West’s urge to counter China shouldn’t mean ignoring democratic erosion among its own coalition members.

Modi’s Party Deals Its Main Opposition a Final Blow
Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion from Parliament leaves the Indian National Congress party little time to recover ahead of next year’s national elections.

Okinawa Is in the Crosshairs of China’s Ambitions
Okinawans continue to pay the price for being caught between great powers.

With Supreme Court Ruling, Pakistan’s Political Crisis Flares Again
Rescheduled provincial elections mark a win for Imran Khan, but the government seems determined to thwart him.

The Many Trials of Imran Khan
The ousted Pakistani leader and his party face dozens of charges he says are politicized—but he hasn’t been arrested yet.

The Taliban Are Back in the Hostage Business
Left in the cold, the extremists are falling back on an old trick of swapping foreigners for favors.

Violent Sikh Separatism Is Repeating as Farce
How India became captivated by a hapless fugitive Sikh separatist.

Why India Downplays China’s Border Threat
Responding to Beijing’s aggression is more than a military question.

India’s Defense Plans Fall Victim to Putin’s War
Russian weapons dominate India’s arsenal, but Moscow can no longer deliver.

Afghanistan’s Ambassadors Fly the Flag Against the Taliban
A dispirited diplomatic corps is the last remnant of a fallen government.

Bangladesh Tilts Toward the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific
Dhaka’s recent moves suggest it is testing the limits of its nonalignment in the region.

Russians Flock to Bali to Avoid War as Locals Grumble
An influx of newcomers is disturbing Indonesia’s tourist economy.

Taiwan’s Diplomatic Dance
The best lines from Ryan Hass, Zongyuan Zoe Liu, and James Palmer on the latest China-focused FP Live.

The Solution to India’s Sikh Protests Lies Abroad
To stop the return of separatist violence, New Delhi needs help from Western partners with powerful diaspora communities.

The South Korea-Japan Forced Labor Deal Is a Shambles
Washington should stop trying to force Seoul and Tokyo together.

AUKUS Gets Awkward Down Under
A controversy threatens to blow the alliance’s nuclear submarine deal out of the water.

How Dangerous Is the Islamic State-Khorasan?
As a top U.S. military official warns of a growing transnational threat, the group is already wreaking havoc in Taliban-led Afghanistan.

Keep Talking to the Taliban
Shaming and shunning won’t make life better for Afghans.

Politics Are Holding Pakistan’s Economy Hostage
Drama around former Prime Minister Imran Khan leaves Pakistan’s finances in the lurch.

The U.S. Has a Troublesome Asian Ally Against China
The Philippines is using U.S. military infrastructure to commit human rights violations.

It’s a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.

A Coup Would Put Pakistan Squarely in China’s Bloc
An isolated junta would be cripplingly dependent on Beijing.

Japan Has Raised Inflation but Can’t Shake Stagnation
Top banking chief Haruhiko Kuroda is leaving with his work half done.

How Modi and Bibi Built a Military Alliance
India and Israel have strengthened their defense ties in recent years—but a new book makes the relationship sound more sinister than it is.

What the China-Brokered Saudi-Iran Deal Means for South Asia
India and Pakistan have a strong interest in seeing the accord succeed.

South Korea Could Get Away With the Bomb
The global norm against nuclear proliferation is strong, but Seoul’s political and economic ties are stronger.

A Solution for Japan’s Military Mismatch
Given that Japan’s primary threats are maritime, why has it invested so heavily in a land-based force?

India’s Global Blockbusters Paint an Incomplete Picture
Online streaming is more representative of the country’s diversity but is becoming a double-edged sword.

Democracy Isn’t Just About Voting
Precolonial kingdoms challenge our beliefs about people power and monarchies.

Biden’s AUKUS Point Man to Exit
With the big sub deal in hand, it’s no longer Miller time.

Bangladesh Refugee Camp Fire Compounds Rohingya’s Hardships
The tragedy is just the latest to strike the community, underscoring Dhaka’s challenge in hosting so many refugees.

U.S. Coast Guard Is Helping Southeast Asians Protect Their Seas
Regional aid needs manpower more than boats.

Japan Needs a Defense Industrial Revolution
If Tokyo is serious about protecting itself, it needs to kick-start its military manufacturing sector.

Afghan Special Immigrant Visas Surge Amid Taliban Crackdown
The Biden administration is trying to cut red tape. But advocates worry the scissors are slow.

America Is Again Failing Afghanistan’s Women—and Itself
The deteriorating status of women under Taliban rule is a strategic disaster for Washington.

The Taliban Have Turned Afghanistan Into a Graveyard of Women’s Rights
The Taliban are marking International Women’s Day with an ever-worsening cascade of abuses against women.

China’s Ukraine Peace Plan Is Actually About Taiwan
Beijing’s phony proposal lays bare its conditions for winning an East Asian war.

What Does the Adani Crisis Mean for India’s Growth Story?
The scandal has cast doubt on whether Modi can ensure India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

When Pop Stars Make for Secret Weapons
From Elvis to BTS, militaries have long used celebrity soldiers for clout.

When Transitional Justice Falls Short
The abrupt end of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia and the ongoing proceedings in Colombia show how the process doesn’t always serve the victims.

The Deep Roots of Pakistan’s Terrorism Crisis
Considering some militants as instruments of regional influence while fighting others has had disastrous consequences.

Australians Can’t Agree on the Voice
Most of the country wants the government to do more for Indigenous Australians. So why is a proposal to achieve that so fraught?

Democratic Backsliding Hasn’t Stopped India’s Rise
New Delhi plays host to foreign officials this week, and its guests’ silence on the government’s crackdowns against critics is striking.

The U.S. Needs to Talk About the Risk of War With China
Washington’s commitment to Taiwan hasn’t been sold to the American public.

India Can Still Be a Bridge to the Global South
As G-20 president this year, New Delhi must secure greater climate financing and a debt restructuring plan for developing countries.

Gautam Adani and the New Indian Capitalism
The businessman has roots in Gujarat, but he resembles past Southeast Asian tycoons who formed monopolies through political patronage.

Rising Terrorism Stirs Protests in Pakistan
Long-suffering residents near the Afghan border are voicing their grievances with militancy—as well as the powers that be.

The Adani Crisis Is Exactly What India Needs
The scandal may rattle India’s elite just enough to jump-start long-neglected reforms.

China Is Practicing How to Sever Taiwan’s Internet
The cutoff of the Matsu Islands may be a dry run for further aggression.

The Philippines Is America’s New Star Ally in Asia
Manila’s geopolitical shift is more than the Biden administration could have hoped for.

Adam Tooze: How China and India Could Transform the Chocolate Business
A rise in worldwide consumption would test an industry built largely on exploitation.

Taipei Fears Washington Is Weakening Its Silicon Shield
New U.S. policies are eroding Taiwan’s dominance of the global chip industry. Will that jeopardize the island’s security?

Pakistan’s Climate Disconnect
The country’s growing leverage at U.N. negotiations has not resonated with much of its population.

Lithium Reserves Will Give India a Boost—Eventually
The find will help fuel Indian manufacturing and clean energy, but it could take years to pay dividends.

Modi Is Losing His War on Bollywood
Hindu nationalists have met their match in one of India’s most beloved movie stars.

Why Did Saudi Diplomats Leave Kabul?
As the Taliban start to crack, Afghanistan is once again the proxy battleground of terrorists and their backers.

Thailand Is a Global Capital of (Illegal) Sex Work
The country is struggling to legalize an industry at the center of its economy but the margins of its society.

Pakistan’s Government Is Choosing Extremist Islam Over Economic Stability
By curtailing free speech and doubling down on blasphemy laws, Islamabad is endangering its relationship with Europe and the United States.

When the Same North Korea Policy Fails Over and Over Again
A veteran negotiator explains how Washington’s attempts at nonproliferation floundered.

Have China and Pakistan Hit a Roadblock?
Beijing-funded infrastructure projects have slowed, but their longtime partnership remains inevitable.

It’s Time to Tie India to the West
India’s geopolitical shift is inexorable, and membership in the G-7 would help bridge north-south divides.

A Nobel Nominee’s Controversial Call for Engagement With the Taliban
Mahbouba Seraj, a rights activist and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, says there’s no choice now but to talk to Afghanistan’s new rulers.

Japan’s Long-Awaited Return to Geopolitics
Tokyo’s abandonment of its post-1945 security stance is another fallout from Russia’s war.

Pervez Musharraf Dragged His Country Down
The charismatic Pakistani general aimed to be a great national leader but failed by shredding the constitution and recklessly doing Washington’s bidding.

How India’s Domestic Politics Impede Its Foreign Policy
A new book shows that New Delhi’s own obstacles could slow its ambitions on the global stage.

Adam Tooze: What the Adani Group’s Plunge Says About the Indian Economy
Fraud allegations caused $100 billion in losses for the conglomerate.

Why the United States Is Courting Nepal
Beijing’s growing influence in Kathmandu has prompted high-level diplomacy from Washington.

Biden’s Risky Bet on the Philippines to Counter China
Washington hopes the Bongbong Marcos government will allow it to use runways in the Philippines in the case of an armed conflict with China.

How the Taliban’s ‘War on Drugs’ Could Backfire
The purported ban on opium and ephedra devastates poor farmers, enriches the Taliban, and has done nothing to curb addiction.

In Myanmar, Resistance Forces Pursue Home Rule
Two years after the military coup, many communities are providing their own public services and making the case for federalism.

To Help Afghanistan, Engage Its Political Opposition
The Taliban’s rule isn’t inevitable or forever.

South Korea Could Sweep Up Europe’s Tank Market
Germany’s self-inflicted wound has left defense partners looking for alternatives.

How India’s New Bridge to Kashmir Divided a Region
Kashmiris fear an expensive infrastructure project will mean more military domination and demographic change.

Can Kazakhstan Bury Its Nuclear Past?
Forgetting the site where Russia became a nuclear power comes with its own risks.

Modi Is Muzzling Big Tech
Silicon Valley has spent years courting India, but its companies face an increasingly tricky censorship minefield in the world’s largest democracy.

On Republic Day, India Looks to Deepen Middle East Ties
New Delhi hosted the Egyptian president as a guest of honor, reflecting growing strategic interests in the region.

U.N. Rapporteur: Myanmar Crisis ‘Has Been Forgotten’
Two years after the coup, the world has moved on, but many Burmese can’t.

The Gender Hunger Gap Is Real—and Getting Worse
Under climate change, women will increasingly be forced to eat less than men.

Why India Banned the BBC’s Modi Documentary
The program revisits a dark episode for the prime minister. New Delhi’s move has only brought more attention to it.

Why ‘Economic Security’ Became Magic Words in Japan
In confronting China, Japan is thinking beyond its military. The United States should follow suit.

Taliban ‘Men-Only’ Aid Edict Divides Charity Community
The World Food Program seems poised to carry on, driving NGOs to call it quits on aid.

China Has Become India’s Greatest Threat
A new poll reveals shifting perspectives as Beijing challenges New Delhi on several fronts.

‘Strategic Ambiguity’ Has the U.S. and Taiwan Trapped
Washington’s long-held policy has outlived its usefulness.

Is Geopolitics Damaging Industry?
FP convenes a discussion with four top global executives at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Modi’s China Policy Is a Failure
The Indian government has tread carefully—and invited trouble.

Washington Might Let South Korea Have the Bomb
North Korean nuclearization makes a once-taboo option thinkable.

Taiwan’s Outlying Islands Are at Risk
Chinese domestic instability could encourage the CCP to attack the Taiwanese archipelagos of Kinmen and Matsu.

How China’s COVID-19 Surge Shapes Trade With India
Labor shortages and supply chain problems could hamper Chinese exports, but New Delhi also has strategic opportunities.

Ukraine Shows What Unity on Human Rights Can Achieve
Governments must not limit their moral outrage to situations that serve their short-term interests.

The Philippines Is Losing Its ‘War on Drugs’
New President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has promised a more compassionate approach, but that’s not what it looks like in the slums of Manila.

Biden’s Half-Hearted Policy Towards Southeast Asia
Washington has stepped up its game in the region but is constrained by its unwillingness to do trade deals.

The Taliban Are Losing Some of Their Cash Cows
The U.S. and U.N. are halting aid as the Taliban ratchet up their atrocities.

Taiwan’s Government Has a Messaging Crisis on China
Electoral shock showed that voters have other worries than Beijing’s threat.

Japan Bets Big on Bringing Semiconductor Manufacturing Home
An ambitious state-backed industrial plan targets both growth and China.

Trysts With Sri Lanka’s Ghosts
In the Booker Prize-winning “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida,” the past haunts a country racked by unresolved death.

In Australia, Pro-Democracy Students Aren’t Safe From China’s Reach
To evade surveillance and reporting by nationalist members of the diaspora, anti-CCP protesters get creative.

Bangladesh Becomes U.S.-Russia Battleground
A surprising war of words over U.S. actions in the country highlights Dhaka’s tricky balancing act.

Southeast Asia Is Getting Squeezed by America’s Embrace
Forcing states to choose between Washington and Beijing is a strategic mistake.

The Other Jan. 6
One year on, events in Kazakhstan that cemented its president’s grip on power remain shrouded in mystery.

Après Twitter, the Deluge?
The social network is global, but what comes next may not be.

Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.

Myanmar’s Junta Has No Limits
Harsh sanctions can cut off the dictatorship’s Russian and Chinese support.

It’s Time for South Korea to Acknowledge Its Atrocities in Vietnam
Seoul and Hanoi can no longer ignore a fraught part of their history.

The Taliban Are Abusing Western Aid
Misogyny gets headlines. The pillaging of international aid money goes unnoticed.

Trends to Watch in South Asia Next Year
From India’s G-20 presidency to brewing public discontent elsewhere in the region, 2023 could be another up-and-down year.

How Would a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Play Out?
War-gamers plan for Taiwan’s D-Day.

How Much Time Does Taiwan Have?
Recent negotiations and elections may put off Chinese aggression.

India and China’s Latest Border Clash Is Not a One-Off
The skirmish in Arunachal Pradesh reflects Beijing’s confidence—and New Delhi’s diminished deterrence.

South Asia’s Year of Change
Four stories stood out in a tumultuous 2022, from Sri Lanka’s economic crisis to Modi’s pushback against Putin.

Pakistan’s Year of Turmoil
In 2022, the country has seen a dramatic change in power, record-high inflation, and catastrophic floods. What could happen in 2023?

India’s Free Press Just Became Less Free
The country’s richest man has bought its last independent television channel—and made an enemy of its biggest star.

Pakistan’s Climate Migrants Face Tough Odds
People displaced by climate disasters remain vulnerable, as this year’s floods show.

A Year in Brinkmanship on the Korean Peninsula
Kim Jong Un’s attention-grabbing missile testing frenzy belies a much more interesting dynamic developing among neighbors.

Bill That Would Provide Lifeline to Afghan Refugees Blocked in Congress
The Afghan Adjustment Act didn’t make it into the final major spending bill, leaving refugees in limbo.

The Taliban Can’t Win Friends or Influence People
Fights with neighbors, terrorism attacks on the group’s few patrons, and concerns over Taliban defections darken Afghanistan’s future.

Taiwanese Flock to Civil Defense Training Ahead of Potential Chinese Invasion
“We have no right to ask others to help us if we are not prepared to defend ourselves,” Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said.

What’s Behind Bangladesh’s Protests?
Poor economic headwinds have given government opponents a long-awaited opportunity.

Bangladeshis Have Had Enough
The country is meant to go to the polls next year. It might erupt first.

Is India Losing Its Claim to Being a Democracy?
Historian Ramachandra Guha explains how Narendra Modi is eroding real people power.

Qatar’s World Cup Legacy Is Stranded Worker Widows
The World Cup is ending, but trouble is far from over for the families of guest workers.

Hong Kong Activists Are Taking Note of Chinese Protest Successes
Beijing is still making an example of a rebel city.

Why the India-Pakistan Rivalry Endures
A recent book emphasizes domestic politics in the conflict but doesn’t account for the depth of the impasse.

India’s Maddening Russia Policy Isn’t as Bad as Washington Thinks
India upholds the rules-based, Western-led international order—but in its own way.

Can India’s BJP Sustain Its Popularity?
A historic victory and a narrow loss in state elections shows the ruling party remains indisputably dominant, but it still has some vulnerabilities.

North Korea’s Tactical Nuclear Threshold Is Frighteningly Low
Pyongyang imagines it could win a limited conflict.

Anwar Ibrahim Finally Won Malaysia’s Worst Job
The new prime minister has a grueling task ahead of him.

Nepal’s Ruling Coalition Has the Edge in Elections
The Nepali Congress party looks set to hang onto power when final results come in next week.

China Has India Trapped on Their Disputed Border
Beijing’s military and infrastructure advantage has transformed the crisis and left New Delhi on the defensive.

U.N. Calls Ambassadors for Meeting With Taliban in Kandahar
It’s not recognition yet—just resignation.

Australia’s World Cup Hopes Depend on Its Refugee Stars
Canberra has spent decades ostracizing asylum-seekers and detaining Africans and Asians fleeing war. Now, the national team needs them on the field.

How to Compete With China in the South Pacific
The case for a global forecasting unit led by the United States and Australia.