Author : East Asia Forum

As 2015 draws to a close, the Indonesian government is trying to convince the jury on two counts — first, that it has turned the corner towards more constructive...

The year in Indonesian politics began with a novice president in Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who, while struggling with day-to-day politics, still inspired hope that he would pursue the unfinished...

Since Kim Jong-un inherited the throne from his father in 2011, there has been widespread debate over the possibility of North Korean economic reform. A 2015 report on the...

Investment in Indonesia’s extractive sectors has languished for years, hurt by regulatory confusion, low commodity prices and endemic corruption. With hydrocarbon and mineral industries, constituting over 40 percent of...

hans engbers / Shutterstock.com hans engbers / Shutterstock.com Strong trade growth has traditionally driven strong growth in the Pacific Rim region, but trade growth has disappointed over the last...

In 2015, China outbid Japan for the first high-speed rail project in Indonesia, reflecting Beijing’s eagerness to realise its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. So what does this...

The cat is finally out of the bag. The IMF has confirmed that the Chinese yuan will be included in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of reserve currencies....

Discussions of sex in Japan typically spotlight the extremes of the social landscape: from the hypersexualised (2D girlfriends, hug cafes, erotic manga) to the sexless. Gender is skimmed with...

China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative is an incredibly ambitious undertaking — and perhaps Beijing is only starting to realise just how ambitious. China’s One Belt One Road...

The 21st century will be one of ageing populations in all Asian countries — driven by the spectacular falls in fertility and mortality rates in the second half of...