FEATURED

Sri Lanka: Tension Between Religions and Government

The subtle yet significant space between fidelity to local culture and adherence to universal values for Catholicism in Asia. The case of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is primarily Buddhist, with over 70% of the population identifying as such. The remaining 30% belongs to religious minorities, three of which are legally recognized by the State: Christianity, […]

FEATURED

Thailand: Catholic Bishops and the European Union on the Upcoming Election

Thai bishops during a celebration in Bangkok Cathedral (Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP).

FEATURED

A Process of Peace

On the eve of controversial elections in war-torn Myanmar (to start on December 28) and as Thailand and Cambodia seem unable to stop clashes and regional tensions escalate, it’s worth noting what it took to achieve peace in Cambodia between the late 1980s and early 1990s. Pansak Vinyaratn was one of the architects of the […]

FEATURED

The US-China fire-sale of Asia?

Marco Mayer discusses it with Francesco Sisci. (adapted from Starmag Italian version) It’s the aftermath of a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that both sides described as positive, and the night before a bilateral meeting scheduled for October that is expected to yield some results for both. In […]

FEATURED

Back to ChIndia

The ghost of a new, strong China-India relationship is looming, threatening to weigh on the whole Asian balance of power and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The US may have lost a battle. As US President Donald Trump met in Washington with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and a group of European leaders, China and […]

FEATURED

Peace as Policy: A Sustainable Path for Thai–Cambodian Relations

At a time when tensions along the Thai–Cambodian border continue to bring loss and hardship, it is worth revisiting a simple but powerful idea: peace is the most effective and least costly tool for preserving life. Peace should not be seen only as an ideal but as a pragmatic strategy. It requires fewer resources, delivers […]

FEATURED

A US Cavalier in Asia

Hegseth’s speech in Singapore about China may not have reassured but worried allies and adversaries in the region. Is something that is not quite right in America today? Washington should deeply rethink its steps. In his recent speech in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged to defend the region against Chinese aggression and […]