In The News

The New York Times: China’s Ambitious New “Port” in Landlocked Kazakhstan

Andrew Higgins January 15, 2018
The China Ocean Shipping Company, the country’s biggest, state-owned shipping company, invested billions in the Khorgos Gateway, located in the arid terrain of Kazakhstan. “The gamble is not only reshuffling global transport routes, but also shaking up Kazakh and global politics as China inserts itself deeper into a region that Russia considers squarely within its area of influence,” writes...

USA Today: Pressure on Pakistan Is Test of New US Strategy to End War in Afghanistan

Jim Michaels January 5, 2018
The war in Afghanistan has been fought for more than 16 years by three US presidential administrations. The Trump administration is trying a new strategy that involves less reliance on neighboring Pakistan, and the United States has announced suspension of security assistance and military aid to that country. The administration also added Pakistan to a watch list of countries that violate...

The Guardian: United by Blood: Afghan Artists Come Together for Iran Exhibition

Saeed Kamali Dehghan November 16, 2017
An exhibition in Tehran showcasing Afghani artwork has shed light on a deep-seated problem in the country: the marginalization of Afghani peoples. Saeed Kamali Dehghan, writing for the Guardian, describes Elyas Alavi’s performance piece: He “invites participants to give blood. Samples are taken by a professional nurse and splashed on the wall next to each other.” Alavi was inspired “after his...

The Diplomat: Kyrgyz Election Brings High Expectations, Mixed Results

Abhi Goyal October 17, 2017
Kyrgyz citizens voted in the first competitive elections for a peaceful transfer of power in Central Asia since 1991 and the end of the Soviet Union. Sooronbai Jeenbekov, with the incumbent Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan and who had served as prime minister, won the presidency with more than 50 percent of the vote. “Kyrgyz voters are well aware of the gravity of the event—their recent...

International Business Times: Trump Reveals Afghanistan Plan

Ishani Roy August 22, 2017
The United States has been at war with extremists in Afghanistan since 2001, and President Donald Trump will send more troops to the country. In a speech, he expressed recognition that the long-running war is a divisive issue for Americans, many impatient with costs and progress, that rapid exit would leave a power vacuum. He declined to offer specifics, but said goals include “winning,” putting...

WorldPost: These Days, All Roads Lead to Beijing

Peter Frankopan August 1, 2017
China’s President Xi Jinping has made developing good ties in Central Asia and beyond a foreign policy priority. He anticipates the Silk Road Economic Belt to enhance economic ties, communications and trade across three continents, explains Peter Frankopan for WorldPost in an essay that examines old and recent history. China, positioning itself as a leader, pumps billions into the Silk Road Fund...

The Asia-Pacific Journal, Japan Focus: Will China’s New Silk Road Contribute to Export of Black Fossil-Fueled Economy?

John A. Mathews and Hao Tan June 19, 2017
Former US President Barack Obama imposed controls on fossil fuels to protect the planet and position the United States as a leader in the development of alternative fuels. Donald Trump has reversed course on such policies, and this could put China and other countries in charge of green energy. John A. Mathews and Hao Tan examine whether China might instead simply outsource the most polluting...