Dec 29,2017 Special Forum

An Economic Perspective

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in November 2016 created shock waves across the Asian countries that had been the targets of his campaign rhetoric. Candidate Trump had accused China of “outrageous theft of intellectual property, … illegal product dumping, and … devastating currency manipulation,” characterized the South Korea-US free […]

William W. Grimes

BRI , CPTPP , Donald Trump , KORUS FTA , RCEP , TPP

Dec 29,2017 Special Forum

A Security Perspective

Despite much anticipation and concern, President Donald Trump wrapped up his East Asia trip without making unexpected moves. Although Trump realized economic gains by striking multiple business deals with Asian partners, he made little progress in achieving his primary objective of taking one step further toward resolving the North Korean nuclear problem. 1 As Trump […]

Shin Beomchul*

Donald Trump , Hwaseong 15 , Indo-Pacific strategy , Super 301 , UNSCR 2397 , US-ROK alliance

Dec 29,2017 Special Forum

A Civilizational Perspective

Donald Trump is pressing his idea of “America First,” which could have deep civilizational implications, undercutting “universal values” and adding momentum to recent assertiveness about distinctive civilizations by the leaders of the other great power players in Northeast Asia. Putting the emphasis on Abe Shinzo, this article considers the impact of what each leader is […]

Kazuhiko Togo

America First , China Dream , Donald Trump , Gosudarstvennost , Shinzo Abe , Take Back Japan

Nov 04,2017 Special Forum

Introduction

To better understand China’s foreign policy in this turbulent era, this collection of three articles traces the trajectory of its evolution, delves into the way discourse is tweaked even when it deceptively duplicates that used elsewhere, and probes the record to date of megaprojects to bring the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to fruition. The […]

Editorial Staff

19th Party Congress , BRI , Donald Trump , Xi Jinping

Oct 26,2017 National Commentaries

A South Korean Perspective

As surreal as the current talks of war between the two angry leaders are, many outsiders often wonder about the calmness of South Koreans, even while facing a belligerent northern neighbor that fires missiles, tests nuclear bombs, and repeatedly threatens a war of annihilation. It is true that Koreans have grown inured to perennial threats […]

Joon-hyung Kim

Donald Trump , Moon Jae-in , Resolution 2375 , THAAD , US-South Korea-Japan

Oct 26,2017 National Commentaries

A Chinese Perspective

President Trump had a bad start in his governance in the United States, embroiled in bitter disputes with all kinds of people and suffering repeated frustration in promoting his agenda, but Trump has found a silver lining in dealing with North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. First, he has effectively replaced the previous administration’s “strategic […]

Cheng Xiaohe*

19th Party Congress , Donald Trump , Security Council , Xi Jinping

Oct 26,2017 National Commentaries

A Japanese Perspective

Whether he admits it or not, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s debt of gratitude to DPRK chairman Kim Jong-un is far-reaching—regarding Japanese domestic politics, relations with the United States, relations with South Korea, and perhaps even the future of Japan’s Constitution. First, both the timing and results of the 48th Japanese House of Representatives election of […]

Glen S. Fukushima

Abe Shinzo , Constitution , Diet , Donald Trump , Komeito , Liberal Democratic Party

Sep 05,2017 National Commentaries

A US Perspective

Polarization is a state of international relations familiar from the Cold War era. Even through there was an early non-aligned movement and some states insisted on their strategic autonomy, the process of polarization continued. China spent almost a decade denouncing both camps before it reversed its position and joined one of them. Is polarization reviving […]

Gilbert Rozman

ARF , Donald Trump , THAAD , TPP

Aug 30,2017 Open Forum

Giving a New Jolt to Strategic Triangle Analysis

In 2017, the US response to Sino-Russian relations has again risen to center stage. Donald Trump has sought to tilt US policy toward Russia, while at times warning strongly against China. In contrast, Congress and many alarmed by the way Russia interfered in the US presidential elections have sought to harden policy against it, while […]

Gilbert Rozman

alliance building , axis of convenience , Donald Trump , national identities , Strategic Triangle , Vladmir Putin , Xi Jinping

Aug 30,2017 Country Reports

Country Report: Japan (August 2017)

Trump’s shadow hung heavily over summer developments in East Asia, as covered in Japan’s media. There was talk of US isolation, retreat in leadership, and failure in managing North Korea. Yomiuri on July 31 cited press accounts abroad without any heartening news for the Japanese public; explanations ranged beyond Trump to the broader US society—inequality, […]

Editorial Staff

ARF , comfort women , Donald Trump , history war , Kono Taro , Senkaku Islands , South China Sea