In The News

The Economist: The Calculations of Muhammad bin Salman

June 22, 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman proceeds in stifling political dissent in exchange for the loosening of social restrictions. While the holy month of Ramadan had once been a time for pardons and royal amnesties in Saudi Arabia, the tide has turned. Instead, bin Salman adds to the 2,000 or so political prisoners detained since September. Over the past month, 17 activists were arrested: “Nine...

Korea Times: Guarantee the US Guarantee

Charles Park June 11, 2018
All parties who care about the Asia Pacific region should hope for a successful summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. Expectations should not run high. “If the past is any indicator, the chances are high that the summit will be a failure,” explains researcher Charles Park for the Korea Times. “There may be no deal, or else it will be a short-lived one like all the previous nuclear deals...

Chatham House: Britain Stands Up to China Over Freedom of Navigation

Bill Hayton June 8, 2018
British naval ships traversed the South China Sea to demonstrate support for freedom of navigation despite China’s claims to most of the major waterway. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed by China and the UK, gives countries control over 12 nautical miles from their coasts – foreign military and other ships have the right to traverse such waters as long as they do not “threaten ‘...

Korea Herald: Speculations Rise Over Denuclearization Cost

Choi He-suk June 4, 2018
The cost of disabling nuclear weapons may be small compared to the costs of production, maintenance and upgrades, but that is still high. The process of disarmament could take a decade, according to Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation. Only skilled teams can oversee the process. Security along with political and economic stabilization is required to prevent...

Time: False Promises of Protectionism

Dambisa Moyo May 24, 2018
Critics of globalization insist its policies benefit only a few. Yet “full globalization” may not have been given a fair chance as governments embrace weak models. International economist and author Dambisa Moyo points to three consequences of isolationist trends: First, businesses pursue local models, and relevance of global financial centers will decline, with reduced access to global capital...

The Guardian: UN Human Rights Body Meets on Gaza

Peter Beaumont May 24, 2018
The UN’s human rights council held a special meeting in the wake of mass killings by Israeli troops at border protests on May 14, the same day that the United States relocated its Israel embassy to Jerusalem. As of May 16, 60 Palestinians had been killed. The Palestinian foreign ministry has recalled its ambassadors to Romania, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic – four nations that broke...

Vox: Taking Trump’s Korea Diplomacy Seriously

Matthew Yglesias May 18, 2018
Diplomacy and building good relations with other nations requires trust over the long term with policies based on firm values and principles. The Trump administration instead engages in abrupt policy shifts that puzzle allies and foes alike while leaving a trail of broken promises. Matthew Yglesias of Vox does not expect the United States and North Korea to reach a deal for ending the latter’s...