Walter Lohman is director of the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.
View all authorsInternationalCommentary
Early this week, it became clear that President Donald Trump had decided not to attend the East Asia Summit in the Philippines on Nov. 14…. Read More
EconomyCommentary
During his confirmation hearing in March, then-United States trade representative nominee Bob Lighthizer made the case that bi-lateral trade deficits are an issue in that… Read More
SecurityCommentary
For months, there have been reports of strong disagreements in the White House. There’s nothing wrong with that. In our view, that’s often the best… Read More
InternationalCommentary
As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sets out on his first official visit to Asia, expectations are high. As he visits key U.S. allies Japan… Read More
InternationalCommentary
The transition team has announced that President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen Friday. Not only is there nothing wrong with… Read More
InternationalNews
It was a crazy election. One of the candidates for president threw around wildly irresponsible ideas, perhaps for entertainment value, perhaps because he really meant… Read More
InternationalCommentary
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia, this week that claimed two innocent lives and left 20 injured. This is the… Read More
SecurityCommentary
Many politicians have recently voiced concern regarding Chinese activity in the South China Sea. With all the issues to be discussed, some might wonder why… Read More
InternationalCommentary
The king of Thailand is dying. The bluntness of this statement will win no friends in Thailand—as the New York Times was reminded last week when its printer… Read More
InternationalCommentary
The president of China, Xi Jinping, arrives in Washington tomorrow for a “state visit.” It is certainly appropriate for President Obama to meet with Xi… Read More
PoliticsCommentary
In response to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s criticism of his Iran policy, President Obama suggested that the presumed candidate for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination… Read More
InternationalCommentary
Henry Kissinger is often quoted lamenting what a pity it was that Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modern Singapore and long-serving leader, did not rule… Read More
SecurityCommentary
On Monday, Louisiana Gov. and likely 2016 presidential candidate Bobby Jindal will speak in London at the Henry Jackson Society about the treat of Islamist terrorism…. Read More
SecurityCommentary
When it comes to foreign policy, among the most powerful words in any Congressman’s vocabulary are “none of the funds appropriated by this Act…” Congress… Read More
EconomyCommentary
The leaders of the 21 countries represented at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings concluded their annual talks with the following declaration concerning a Free… Read More
SocietyCommentary
In the most recent edition of his book, A Mother’s Ordeal, Steven Mosher presents a riveting account of one woman’s journey through motherhood in China… Read More
Anson Chan, the final Chief Secretary of Hong Kong under British rule and the first after the turnover to the Chinese, is a model of… Read More
News
State of the Union addresses are generally expressions of hope. And yes, it would be nice if Asia was all economic opportunity and competition. Indeed,… Read More
At least 1,774 people have been confirmed dead after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines last Friday. Estimates suggest that many thousands are dead and at… Read More
In a discussion at Heritage last week examining U.S.–Burma military-to-military relations, former Senate Foreign Relations Committee professional staff Keith Luse laid out his personal opinion… Read More
The Australian Liberal Party—“liberal” in the good way, like Adam Smith—and its coalition partner, the National Party, won in a landslide election over the weekend…. Read More
News
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s swing through Southeast Asia last week was notable not for the headlines and handshake photos he generated but the ones generated… Read More
Burma’s president, Thein Sein, promised in London yesterday that all political prisoners in Burma would be released by year’s end. This is great news—if it… Read More
To achieve American aims in Burma, a policy is needed that clearly lays out the benchmarks of reform and consequences of Burma’s failure to meet… Read More
News
First, the House of Representatives moved to draw a line on American engagement with the Burmese military. Now, the Senate is beginning to stir. The… Read More
Late last night, the House Armed Services Committee drew a line on American military relations with Burma. The committee passed an amendment to the annual… Read More
President Obama’s meeting with Burma’s President Thein Sein at the White House today is a stark reminder of how far the Administration has come on… Read More
New leaders are emerging on Capitol Hill to draw a line on Congress’s acquiescence to the White House’s rush to lift comprehensive sanctions on Burma…. Read More
The Chinese continue to unite their neighbors against them. The most recent controversy is a map featured in new PRC passports that poses particular problems… Read More
News
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the midst of a 10-day tour of the Asia-Pacific. Certainly there are many things to be discussed over… Read More
