Unpacking Martial Law in Mindanao
Even by Philippine standards, the past week has been a tumultuous one. Militants linked to Islamic State fought security forces in the Islamic City of Marawi, President Duterte cut short…
May 2017
Korea’s ‘N-Po’ Generation Looks to New Administration for Jobs
Less than a month into his new presidency, South Korea’s new leader, Moon Jae-in, already faces a multitude of challenges, foremost of which are heightened tensions on the Peninsula over…
Mongolia’s Capital Copes with Rapid Urbanization
In the Mongolian capital city of Ulaanbaatar, urbanization has become one of the country’s most critical development issues. The days when construction cranes filled Ulaanbaatar’s skyline and buildings would appear…
APEC’s Most Talented App Developers Tackle Business Challenges at Trade Meeting
As trade ministers prepared to gather for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade meeting in Hanoi last week, a group of the region’s most talented developers were in a nearby…
Airport Congestion in the Philippines Sees Improvements
One month from now, Rodrigo Duterte will mark his first year as president of the Philippines. While other more controversial aspects of his policies have captured international headlines during his…
A Conversation with Gordon Hein on The Asia Foundation in a Changing Asia
Asia’s rise has been dramatic, with unprecedented economic growth and investment, expanding access to information, and millions lifted out of poverty. But new obstacles are emerging in some parts of…
Korea Election: A Litmus Test of the System
On May 9, after more than six months of massive political demonstrations, public turmoil, and an impeachment, Koreans elected Democratic Party candidate Moon Jae-in as their new president. While the…
ASEAN’s Legal Architecture Critical to Addressing Transboundary Challenges
With the geopolitics of Southeast Asia and changing rapidly and substantially, an opportunity presents for a timely and thoughtful deliberation on the role ASEAN can play in the region. This…
Aid and Recovery in Post-Earthquake Nepal – Part 2
The Independent Impacts and Recovery Monitoring (IRM) project, led by The Asia Foundation and funded by the UK Department for International Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation,…
From Subjects to Citizens: Reconnecting Nepalis with a Democratic Political Process
Next week, Nepalis will vote in local elections for the first time in 20 years. The first phase of elections will be held on May 14 in federal provinces 3,…
Photo Blog: Election Day in South Korea
On May 9, South Koreans voted in a snap presidential election, with Democratic Party leader Moon Jae-in emerging as the winner, in a victory that is said to be bolstered…
The Promising Future of Inland Waterway Trade in South Asia
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s four-day state visit to India last month, her first in seven years, was productive by any measure. Twenty-two agreements, spanning defense cooperation, nuclear energy, and…