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Asia Unbound

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

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Pedestrians wait for a street signal on a sidewalk as an electronic billboard shows China's 2024 GDP growth in Shanghai, China January 21, 2025.
Pedestrians wait for a street signal on a sidewalk as an electronic billboard shows China's 2024 GDP growth in Shanghai, China January 21, 2025. Go Nakamura/Reuters
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Rebalancing China’s Economy: Stimulus, Confidence, and Self-Sufficiency

by Zongyuan Zoe Liu January 23, 2025

Despite President Trump’s threat of steep tariffs, the real challenge for Chinese policymakers lies at home.

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Singapore
Singapore’s Ruling PAP Faces Its Most Competitive Election Ever
Despite the People’s Action Party’s historical dominance in Singaporean elections, recent trends and internal challenges suggest the opposition may achieve unprecedented gains in the upcoming national election.
Article by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan January 23, 2025 Asia Unbound
Asia Program
Xi and Trump Speak Via Phone
General Secretary Xi Jinping and President-elect Donald Trump held a call in advance of Trump's inauguration which included discussion of substantive issues. 
Post by Carl Minzner January 17, 2025 Asia Unbound
Election 2024
What Do Trump’s Appointments Tell Us About His Asia Policy?
President-elect Donald Trump’s Asia policy emphasizes security concerns and a tougher stance on China while criticizing key regional partners and prioritizing trade imbalances.
Article by Joshua Kurlantzick January 17, 2025 Asia Unbound
  • China
    What Is the Chinese Pension System and Why Are Its Problems Hard to Fix?
    As the Chinese society ages, China not only loses its comparative advantage in labor but also faces a severe pension funding challenge. Chinese leaders have competing priorities but they do not have the resources to fund them all.
    Post by Zongyuan Zoe Liu January 13, 2025 Asia Unbound
  • Election 2024
    Vietnam Struggles to Avoid the Trump Administration’s Glare
    Vietnam’s rising trade surplus with the United States may threaten its close strategic and economic bilateral ties under the second Trump administration.
    Post by Joshua Kurlantzick January 7, 2025 Asia Unbound
  • Myanmar
    Could the Myanmar Junta Rapidly Collapse Like al-Assad?
    With the sudden collapse of the al-Assad regime in Syria, analysts and fighters in other long running civil wars are wondering whether their country could be next.
    Post by Joshua Kurlantzick December 26, 2024 Asia Unbound
  • China
    Six Takeaways From the Pentagon’s Report on China’s Military
    Despite ongoing and high-profile corruption issues, China’s military continues to rapidly modernize.
    Post by David Sacks December 20, 2024 Asia Unbound
  • Philippines
    The Philippines Bounces Between China and the United States—and Could Get Burnt by Both
    The Philippines risks losing strategically and economically by oscillating between the United States and China— without securing lasting benefits from either.
    Post by Joshua Kurlantzick and Abigail McGowan December 20, 2024 Asia Unbound
  • Asia Program
    Beijing Pivots Towards Private Pensions
    China expanded its two-year-old private pension project this week in an attempt to reduce financial strain on the current state pension system from the rapidly aging population.  
    Post by Carl Minzner December 16, 2024 Asia Unbound
  • India
    India Between Superpowers: Strategic Autonomy in the Shadow of a Pacific Conflict
    As tensions escalate between the United States and China, India’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy is increasingly under strain.
    Post by Davide Donald December 16, 2024 Asia Unbound