Asia

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most significant economic disruption to the international economy since the Great Depression. The IMF estimates that the global economy contracted by 3.5 percent last…

Today’s global economy is highly interconnected and interdependent. Supply chains across the world are finely tuned to deliver parts just when they are needed, so that companies and industries do…

Japan led, and was transformed, by the global supply chain revolution. Facing growing protectionism in industrialized markets and reeling from sharp yen appreciation in the aftermath of the 1985 Plaza…

The U.S.-China trade war and the pandemic have had a profound impact on cross-border supply chains. In the past few years of U.S.-China tensions, China has been accused of engaging…

In this episode of Korean Kontext, guest host Kyle Ferrier, KEI's director of academic affairs and research, sits down with Korea Society President Tom Byrne. Before joining the Korea Society…

Ever since Myanmar's political and economic opening several years ago, countries have been looking to get in on the ground floor to build ties with this emerging economy in Southeast…

Ever since last summer, when South Korea and the United States announced they would be deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to the peninsula, China…

Much has been discussed about the power of outside information to open the eyes of the North Korean people and convince them of the truth about the outside world. Some…

What Happened During recent talks, the Chinese FM raised the idea of joint dialogue to reach a political resolution between North and South Korea. China also voiced support for South Korea’s goals of peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The two foreign ministers discussed holding a future 2+2 meeting with diplomatic and security officials from…

What Happened On April 1, Seoul and Tokyo met to discuss historical issues, future bilateral meetings, and improving trilateral relations. The meeting came just after Japan’s Ministry of Education approved 30 high school social studies and history textbooks that showed the Dokdo islets as part of Japanese territory. Although South Korea called for the books to be corrected and for the…

What Happened On March 26, the South Korean Defense Minister met with his Indian counterpart to discuss mutual cooperation. Items discussed included increasing defense ties, arms sales, and foreign direct investment. Korean companies are interested in partnering with the Indian military to supply anti-aircraft defense systems and participate in shipbuilding projects. Implications: While Korea has not joined any formal coalitions aiming…

Thomas Bach, current Chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), published a lengthy opinion piece about the Olympic Games last October.  In a strong defense of the games as “an event that unites the world,” he unequivocally proclaimed that “the Olympic Games are not about politics.” While keeping politics out of the Olympic Games may…