Programs & Projects

The North Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program

The China and East Asia Program conducts research on the politics and foreign policy of China and its immediate neighbours in Northeast Asia: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and the Korean peninsula. The program is renowned for its particular focus on China’s domestic politics and how this helps to shape its external behaviour. From 2020, the Institute’s extensive research on Southeast Asia – including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Myanmar – is now incorporated in a dedicated Southeast Asia Program. Each Program also commissions work by other scholars on the broader region. To complement their written research, Lowy Institute experts hold a robust series of dialogues and events on the politics of the region, independently and in partnership with other organisations.

Photo: Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/Getty Images

Experts
Latest publications
News and media
China links: Revisionism, emu on the loose, China Lobby, Pyongyang marathon and more
This is a great headline: Emu on the loose in Shanxi forest, now hunted by drones. The phantom province in last year's GDP figures has disappeared as GDP statistics at the…
Southern Thailand: From conflict to negotiations, and back to conflict?
The news on Tuesday that General Paradorn Pattanatabut has been replaced by Thawil Pliensri as secretary general of Thailand's National Security Council (NSC) sounded alarm bells…
China links: Relevant Organs, emigration, Obama in Asia, China's wealth and more
The Chairman of one of China's largest asset management firms says the business environment this year has been 'grim and complicated'. Similarly, Reuters reports that a network…
China links: Obama in Asia, Malacca Strait, Sunflower Movement, East China Sea and more
Reuters reports that Xi Jinping plans to promote about 200 progressive officials from the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, where he served as party boss from 2002 to 2007…
Inequality in Hong Kong: The divorce factor
Hong Kong is famously unequal. The measured Gini coefficient is among the world's highest. It is praised for 'economic freedom' yet also criticised for 'crony capitalism.'  It's…
Southern Thailand: From Conflict to Negotiations?
Analyses
Southern Thailand: From Conflict to Negotiations?
In this Analysis, University of Leeds professor Duncan McCargo argues that the recent Malaysian-backed Southern Thai peace initiative has now run into some serious problems. He…
Obama in Asia: Let the spin begin
Later today US President Barack Obama will begin a short tour through Asia, to Japan and South Korea in the north, and to Malaysia and the Philippines in the south. The punditry…
Is Indonesia shifting its South China Sea policy?
A Jakarta think-tank intellectual was once asked whether Beijing listens when Jakarta speaks. He responded emphatically: 'Oh yes! The problem is we don't say enough'. In the post…
China links: Red oligarchs, desalination, Africa, currency wars, nationalism and more
China is not full of raging nationalists. Shenyang is changing its rating system for officials, lowering the scores for economic development and GDP growth while adding points…
Mekong Summit Declaration dodges reference to Lao dams
As previewed last Friday, the Second Mekong Summit, held in Ho Chi Minh City on 5 April, concluded with a Declaration that did not directly address the contentious issue of the…