This week we look ahead to President Xi’s visit to the United States and the state of U.S.-China relations with CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies Christopher Johnson. Then we discuss the size of China’s economy with Daniel Rosen and Beibei…
By Derwin Pereira Fourteen years after al-Qaeda redrew the religious map of the world, it has receded from the global frontlines. However, it has been replaced by a stronger subversive entity, the Islamic State (IS), proving how hard it is…
Who is he? Don Pramudwinai is a veteran Thai diplomat and the new foreign minister of Thailand. He was previously a deputy foreign minister, and has served as the Thai ambassador to United States and permanent representative to the United…
By Frank L. Albert When Laos becomes chair of ASEAN and hosts President Barack Obama and other leaders at the East Asian Summit (EAS) in 2016, it will step into the world’s spotlight. If Obama comes to Vientiane for the…
Who is he? Somkid Jatusripitak was most recently an economic adviser to Thailand’s governing National Council for Peace and Order. He previously served as deputy prime minister and commerce minister from 2001 to 2006 under the government of ousted prime…
By James Wallar The U.S. administration’s rebalance toward Asia is fundamental to U.S. economic, commercial, and security interests and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the fulcrum for the economic pivot. Although facing headwinds typical in the end game of trade…
By James Wallar The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will celebrate the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at their November summit. ASEAN has reason to be proud of its accomplishments. Virtually non-existent tariffs, measures to ease…
By Desmond Walton The horrific bombing in central Bangkok on August 17 was the worst attack ever suffered by the Thais and will likely have a 9/11-type impact on the country’s internal security policies. The attack is a huge setback,…
In this episode we discuss the challenges in balancing the U.S.-Thai security relationship with continued concerns over the Thai military’s intervention in domestic politics and civil liberties following the May 2014 coup. Desmond Walton, the U.S. military attaché to Bangkok from…
This week we cover the challenges that Myanmar faces maintaining public health and fighting disease, specifically malaria. In this segment you’ll hear briefly from CSIS’s Dr. Stephen Morrison, and then Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Health, Ms. Thein Thein Htay, then…