
Housing three of the world’s largest economies and most influential nations — China, Japan, and South Korea — as well as Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, and Taiwan — East Asia is a vital center of gravity in the Asia-Pacific. East Asia’s economic development has transformed the economic and strategic dynamic beyond Asia as well, boosting growth and trade across the globe. At the same time, festering historical disagreements, long-standing instability on the Korean Peninsula, enduring maritime disputes, and China’s growing military power raise a number of security concerns for the region and the world.
ASPI’s work on East Asia focuses on enhancing cooperation and dialogue within the region and between its countries and the United States. It also aims to develop mechanisms to enhance regional security, prosperity, and sustainability. For instance, ASPI is working to create a roadmap for linking carbon markets in China, Japan, and the South Korea to facilitate trilateral cooperation and their emissions reduction efforts. It is also engaged in a major initiative to decrease misperceptions and increase cooperation and trust between the U.S. and China. Through public events and expert commentary, ASPI also furthers understanding of the region in the rest of the world.
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Commentary
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articleThe approval of a massive dam in China swells geopolitical crosscurrents, writes Farwa Aamer in an op-ed for Nikkei Asia.
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paperPatrick Beyrer analyzes the political and regulatory challenges to U.S.-China collaboration and provides policy recommendations for how to expedite the harmonization of cancer clinical trials.
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articleBy all measures, China seems like the perfect target for Donald Trump’s tariff hikes, writes Wendy Cutler in an op-ed for The New York Times.
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articleLauri Myllyvirta analyzes the record surge of clean energy in 2024 and how it halts China’s CO2 rise.
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paperLyle Morris writes about how China's view that a crisis can be “controlled” and escalation “managed” could make the country's leaders overconfident in their ability to prevail in a conflict, thereby increasing the risk of escalation.
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articleJing Qian and Brendan Kelly write about how the renewal of U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) may help stabilize a turbulent relationship.
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reportDiana Choyleva explores the Petrodollar system’s future, focusing on China’s strategic efforts, Gulf states’ push to transform their economies, and breakthrough innovations in cross-border payment technologies.
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articleThe COP29 negotiations underscored the potential for China and India to act as critical players in facilitating global climate progress, yet the lack of meaningful results highlighted the accompanying challenges, writes Betty Wang.
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articleThe next Trump administration presents China with the opportunity to grow its global influence in climate action, but there is work to be done internationally and domestically, writes Taylah Bland in an op-ed for CNA.
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articleJohn Osburg explores how members of China’s urban middle class are turning to religion and spirituality in greater numbers.
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reportChina 2025: What to Watch is CCA's annual flagship report, forecasting China’s prospects and highlighting the most important developments to watch in the coming year.
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articleLynette H. Ong examines the exodus of people and capital from China and why its citizens are increasingly pessimistic about the future.
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Global Public Opinion on China (GPOC) aggregates worldwide polling data to better inform public debates and support China-related decision-making among the world’s governments and policy communities, including in China itself.
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paperA newly compiled dataset sheds new light on what is driving the East China Sea dispute.
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articleSungmin Cho writes about the dynamic China-North Korea relations and the seeming friction between the two countries today.