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Opinion

Original perspectives and fresh thinking on issues of concern to Asia from around the region, plus editorials and letters to the editor. Please contact us if you would like to submit a letter to be considered for publication.

Severe air pollution in Bangkok: the cost of inaction among wealthy and LNG-producing countries will be a continued reliance on coal among fast-growing Southeast Asia nations.

Paul Everingham

Without gas, Asian nations will be forced to burn more coal

G-7 leaders should seek to increase supplies and reduce market volatility

Paul Everingham

A freight train near Almaty: New initiatives in Central Asia are deepening economic cooperation.

Alibek Kuantyrov

Better connectivity will unlock Central Asia's economic potential

Integration can return region to role as intercontinental trade hub

Alibek Kuantyrov

A Lockheed Martin missile is showcased at a U.S. Army expo in Huntsville, Alabama in March: While America still leads in many areas of technological innovation, it is not the sole source of cutting-edge advances.

Miah Hammond-Errey and Tom Corben

U.S. technology controls fail to account for Pacific allies

Shift from outdated mindset needed to support collective regional security

Miah Hammond-Errey and Tom Corben

The Delhi Queer Pride March on Jan. 8: With little support from other walks of society, India's queer community has had to fight its own battles.

Prathap Nair

Gay Indians should not have to fight for their rights alone

Momentum has been lost since 2018 decriminalization of homosexuality

Prathap Nair

The EU and Indo-Pacific economies account for more than two-thirds of global trade.

Josep Borrell Fontelles and Tobias Billstrom

EU seeks deeper partnerships to tackle Indo-Pacific challenges

Regions can work together on supply chains, trade, climate change and security

Josep Borrell Fontelles and Tobias Billstrom

Nancy Pelosi, then U.S. House speaker, center, gestures as she leaves parliament in Taipei on Aug. 3, 2022.

Kishore Mahbubani

Asians can think for themselves on Taiwan

Outspoken Western leaders are putting region's peace at risk

Kishore Mahbubani

The most exciting development in the final stretch of the Thai election campaign has been the rapid rise of the Move Forward Party and its leader, Pita Limchareonrat. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

Fuadi Pitsuwan

The real contest in Thailand is between opposition parties

Move Forward to face dilemma on compromising its goals for share of power

Fuadi Pitsuwan

COVID-19 themed mural on a street in Mumbai: India demonstrated a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach in its pandemic response and mitigation efforts.

Rajesh Bhushan

India is advancing global health goals with its G-20 presidency

Global North and South can work together on preparing for emergencies

Rajesh Bhushan

U.S. President Joe Biden with Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on May 1: The Biden administration's success with the Philippines is a rare bright spot.

Marco Rubio

U.S. needs more friends to counter Beijing's ambitions

Ideology must not get in the way of coalition building

Marco Rubio

A supporter of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan protests in Peshawar against his arrest on May 9: His detention will only add to the controversy surrounding the constitution and the Supreme Court.

Salman Rafi Sheikh

At age 50, Pakistan's constitution is having a midlife crisis

Political parties must come together to address role of judges and military

Salman Rafi Sheikh

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands at a joint press conference after their meeting in Seoul on May 7.

Nikkei Editorial

Japan, South Korea should boost ties through shuttle diplomacy

Frequent meetings will help neighbors navigate complex bilateral relationship

Nikkei Editorial

Local workers at a freshly opened Honda Motor factory in Malacca, Malaysia in 2003: The country's economy received a tremendous boost from Japanese foreign direct investment.

Liew Chin Tong

A new era of 'Look East' would boost both Japan and Malaysia

Two nations can build on legacy of historic foreign policy shift

Liew Chin Tong

Syed Munir Khasru

2023 climate talks can deliver better results with more preparation

UAE should aim to shift focus of U.N. process from negotiation to action

Syed Munir Khasru

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP has won 10 local and national elections since 1998 without facing a real contest thanks to electoral manipulation and its power to crush any opposition party enjoying popular support.

Sam Rainsy

International community must not accept Cambodia's 'election'

Hun Sen is presenting facade of democracy to preserve CPP power

Sam Rainsy

According to government figures, 90.2% of participants in the April 30 referendum voted in favor of revising the constitution.

Umida Niyazova

Uzbekistan's improved constitutional rights are meaningless

Law already guaranteed freedoms, no reason to expect implementation

Umida Niyazova

POSCO's Pohang factory: The steelmaker hopes to prove the commercial feasibility of hydrogen-based production and gradually replace its blast furnaces by 2049.

Seungwan Kim

POSCO needs to go green faster to keep up with global shifts

Government can help by expanding emissions trading and buying low-carbon steel

Seungwan Kim

Inside a tokamak: Plasma 10 times hotter than the center of the sun is confined to create fusion energy. (Courtesy Tokamak Energy)

Yuichi Takase

Japan can get the energy it needs from nuclear fusion

Breakthroughs are bringing emission-free clean power within reach

Yuichi Takase

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration has delivered devastating blows to the country's democracy.

Rizal Ramli

Indonesia has lost its way on corruption and freedom

Quest to turn nation into a modern democracy has failed

Rizal Ramli

A paramilitary police officer stands guard outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Lester Ross

China's espionage law updates undercut courting of investors

Amendments raise concerns on risks involved with data and information handling

Lester Ross

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Bali on Nov. 14, 2022.

Daniel L. Davis

Demonizing China gets the U.S. nowhere

Sanctions and tariffs have not changed Beijing's behavior

Daniel L. Davis

Children prepare to enter their classrooms in San Juan City, the Philippines on the first day of post-pandemic class in August 2022.

Laura Frigenti

Japan must lead G-7 to address global education crisis

Pandemic has devastated schooling for children in low-income countries

Laura Frigenti

Excavators pile coal at a power plant in Suralaya, Indonesia: Financing is a key issue for Asian countries shifting to clean energy.

Masyita Crystallin and Tomohiro Ishikawa

How to mobilize more financing for Asia's energy transition

Governments and development banks should bring down investment risks and costs

Masyita Crystallin and Tomohiro Ishikawa

China's National People's Congress passed the revisions to the counterespionage law on April 26. (Xinhua/Kyodo)

Nikkei Editorial

China's expanded espionage law only hastens foreign capital drain

Broader concept of national security further restricts citizens

Nikkei Editorial

President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022 pledging to reduce regulation, increase innovation and boost wages but has mostly leaned on the central bank to revive growth. (Pool via Reuters)

With omens improving, Yoon should get serious about reform

South Korea cannot just rely on central bank to propel growth

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of Turkey's main opposition alliance, addresses supporters in Izmir on April 30. (Handout via Reuters)

Seda Demiralp

Economic turmoil has created an opening for Turkey's opposition

Nation Alliance needs to convince voters it has better solutions than Erdogan

Seda Demiralp