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Asia Unbound

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

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Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing arrives to deliver a speech during a ceremony to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2025.
Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing arrives to deliver a speech during a ceremony to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2025. STR/AFP via Getty Images

Will the Earthquake Affect Politics and War in Myanmar?

The massive earthquake in Myanmar has exacerbated the country’s existing crises, and will likely worsen instability rather than lead to peace.

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China
Beijing's Pro-Natalist Push Continues to Strengthen
Chinese authorities are steadily pivoting in the direction of actively promoting births. The 2025 government work report issued at the national legislative session in March witnessed a further evolution of Beijing's pro-natalist policies.
Myanmar
Just When Things Couldn’t Possibly Get Worse in Myanmar, They Do
Myanmar, already devastated by political turmoil and humanitarian crises, faces further catastrophic consequences from a massive earthquake, exacerbating its status as a failed state.
India
How India Is Responding to Trump: Five Takeaways from a Trip to New Delhi
India believes it is well-positioned to navigate a second Trump administration and that U.S.-India relations will continue to deepen.
  • Asia
    Already Collapsing in Asia, Democracy Could Be Wiped Out by the New World Order
    Democracy in Asia is rapidly deteriorating—accelerated by waning international support and democratic backsliding even in the region’s most established systems.
  • Cambodia
    As in Europe, Authoritarians in Asia Are Emboldened
    Authoritarian leaders in Europe and Asia are emboldened by the White House’s signals of disinterest in condemning their actions, leading to increased repression and human rights abuses.
  • Indonesia
    Prabowo’s Rocky First Months as Indonesia’s President
    Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto entered office with bold promises and ambitions for global leadership, but his first months have been marked by domestic unrest, inconsistent foreign policy, and growing concerns over governance.
  • Tibet
    The Dalai Lama’s Testament
    In the Dalai Lama’s new memoir, Voice for the Voiceless, the spiritual leader directly addresses Tibet’s struggle for autonomy.
  • Philippines
    Duterte Arrested and Appears at the ICC—His Aura is Broken
    Given his previously untouchable status, the arrest and potential prosecution of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a surprising development.
  • Taiwan
    Unpacking TSMC’s $100 Billion Investment in the United States
    TSMC’s $100 billion will significantly boost America’s semiconductor manufacturing industry but how it will shape US-Taiwan relations is an open question.
  • Southeast Asia
    Trump’s Cuts to Democracy Promotion Like the NED Already Hit Asian Organizations Hard
    The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign assistance for democracy promotion,  weakening critical support structures in regions like Southeast Asia.