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.
Featured Initiatives
Reports
Featured Countries
Commentary
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articleMeera Gopal and Betty Wang analyze Asia's climate pledges at COP28 and explore the implications of these commitments for global climate action and policy.
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articleRead Lynette Ong's article on where China is now, one year after the "White Paper" protests.
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articleNeil Thomas writes about the annual Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) and what it signals about Xi Jinping's strategy and priorities for the Chinese economy in the year ahead.
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articleLi Shuo analyzes China's performance at COP28 and what it means for U.S.-China climate engagement.
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articleEmma Whitmyer writes in East Asia Forum about the likely reasons behind North Korea's decision to close many of its foreign diplomatic missions in 2023.
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reportIn this groundbreaking report, Evan Medeiros writes about the domestic political dynamics in the United States and China and how these forces have had an increasingly negative impact on U.S.-China relations.
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articleRory Gates writes about China's effort to increase its diplomatic, economic, and cultural influence in the Pacific Island Islands and whether the effort has had any real impact.
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articleIn this op-ed for The Diplomat, ASPI Schwarzman Fellow Daria Kurushina examines China-Russia relations at COP28.
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articleYi Chen and Alistair Ritchie write about how potential synergies between carbon market development and power market reform would accelerate China’s green transition in Nikkei Asia.
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articleIn a Foreign Affairs op-ed, Jessica Chen Weiss, along with Bonnie S. Glaser and Thomas J. Christensen, discusses the true sources of deterrence to China regarding Taiwan.
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articleASPI Vice President Wendy Cutler analyzes the accomplishments made at November's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Nikkei Asia.
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reportA new report on priorities for Asia to close its climate finance gap and steer towards net zero emissions by mid-century.
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articleJing Qian decodes President Xi Jinping's speech at a welcome dinner following the Woodside bilateral summit with President Joe Biden on November 15, 2023.
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Professional development program for Japanese early career female trade experts.
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articleIncoming Director of ASPI's China Climate Hub Li Shuo writes about the recent U.S.-China Sunnylands Statement.