East-West Center expertise and research findings are published by the East-West Center and by presses and collaborating organizations throughout the region and the world. Publications address a range of critical issues in the Asia Pacific region.
Search for East-West Center publications from the past 10 years, plus a few older titles. Download free PDF files, when available.
Robert Sutter, Professor of Practice of International Affairs at George Washington University, explains that “The National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, while it had scattered provisions dealing with China, had little of the priority and...
Within the Indo-Pacific region, the United States and Pakistan have sharply divergent strategic objectives. While American objectives have changed over time, focusing in recent years on rivalry with China, Pakistan’s strategic objective has remained...
This paper analyzes the changes in production and innovation networks in the automobile industry in China that have resulted from the transition to new-energy vehicles and digital driving technologies. This transformation is seen as a fundamental...
In an era of slowing economic growth, Asian countries face an imperative to boost productivity. One possible source of economic revitalization would be to make better use of women in the labor force. Although female representation in corporate...
Amy Namur, Young Professionals Program participant at the East-West Center in Washington, explains that “Often, China’s investments in coal-based infrastructure go against a country's national interest."
Additional titles in the Asia...
Ruji Auethavornpipat, former East-West Center in Washington visiting fellow, explains that “Washington suggests Thailand has not done enough to improve working conditions for both Thai and migrant workers despite numerous domestic reforms in...
Amitendu Palit, senior research fellow and research lead, National University of Singapore explains that “RCEP never enjoyed domestic support in India. It was viewed by most as an FTA with China."
Additional titles in the Asia Pacific...
Rising diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan are putting American security interests at risk. Yet the United States government appears detached, unable to facilitate a rapprochement between its two allies. This is a critical moment...
SUMMARY | Under the Obama administration’s Rebalance to Asia, Vietnam gradually gained importance in U.S. foreign policy as the two countries formed a “comprehensive partnership” in 2013. Despite the Trump administration’s...
Of all the earth's environments, alpine regions are arguably the most vulnerable to climate change. This is especially true for alpine areas on islands. In both Hawai'i and New Zealand, about 11 percent of the land area is above the tree line, the...
In recent years, questions have been raised about why Beijing provides billions of dollars in loans to debt-strapped nations under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for infrastructure projects of questionable commercial viability. Yet BRI projects...
Malcolm Cook, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, explains that “Not only did the United States become a larger destination for exports from each Southeast Asian economy, it became a more important one as well."...
With a population of 650 million and an annual GDP of $2.8 trillion, ASEAN is a key component of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. Two visitors to the East-West Center, Kavi Chongkittavorn and Anu Anwar, emphasized that the United States needs to take...
Ganeshan Wignaraja, executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, explains that “At least half of Sri Lanka’s borrowing in 2018 was from private capital markets, and nearly a...
A network of sustained assessment specialists created within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (NOAA RISA) program present five case studies of successful local responses to climate...
SUMMARY | Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and Cloud Computing (ABC) have generated unprecedented opportunities and challenges for economic competitiveness, national security, and law and order, as well as the future...
SUMMARY | The current trade war between China and the United States has drawn global attention to competition in U.S.-China relations. Such competition should not, however, obscure areas of mutual interest where cooperation...
Tiola, Senior Analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, explains that “despite the lack of obvious maneuvers, Jokowi has brought fairly significant impacts to Indonesia’s foreign policy, albeit with two strong...
Sujata Ashwarya, Asia Studies Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, explains that “While the increasing supply and demand are the obvious drivers of this upward trend in trade, the contours of energy ties have been fleshed out...
Additional titles in theAsia Matters for America series
The 4th edition of ASEAN Matters for America/America Matters for ASEAN covers US relations with the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Topics include:...
Taobao is the leading Chinese online shopping and e-commerce website, founded by the Alibaba Group. In 2018, there were 3,202 "Taobao villages" in 24 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of China. Taobao merchants sell clothing and...
Rebecca Strating, Asia Studies Visiting Fellow, explains that “China has significant economic levers it could deploy against Australia, particularly in commodity trade, tourism, and the higher education sector.”
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N. Janardhan, Senior Research Fellow, Gulf-Asia Programme, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, explains that “While the U.S-led [Marshall Plan] was valued at $13 billion in 1950 (equivalent of $176 billion as of 2015), BRI is estimated to be worth...
SUMMARY | India-China relations witnessed a new wave of optimism for a progressive and engaging partnership following the Wuhan Summit, the informal 2018 meeting between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping. Key to this has been...
Raymond Yamamoto, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University in Denmark, explains that “The fear of China gaining unrestricted control over other countries through BRI is unfounded when looking at Japan’s provisions of infrastructure through its...
Taking advantage of the opportunities and responding to the new challenges presented by the demographic transition require forward-looking policies that take account of population dynamics. Implementing policies to promote economic growth and...
Jakarta has faced chronic flooding for years, primarily because the land is sinking due to unsustainable groundwater extraction and excessive building and construction loads. A re-emerging development coalition that includes government officials,...
The Trump administration's Indo-Pacific regional economic governance strategy addresses trade, investment, and infrastructure development. Its reception by regional states varies by issue area, with infrastructure and investment being positively...
The largest U.S. military complex in an allied country occupies 15 percent of the 466-square-mile island of Okinawa. This is the only place in the world where continuing demonstrations occur against a U.S. base presence and where the presence of U.S...
