ISDP Voices

On September 1, Japan’s opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a leadership election pitting former Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara against former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano. Although Maehara won, setbacks in the first weeks along with long-term challenges on politics and on policy indicate that much more than a new leader is likely needed […]

As the international community stands again on the brink of nuclear crisis, some have speculated whether an Iran-style “solution” is possible in the case of North Korea. While Pyongyang has accelerated its nuclearization, Tehran struck a deal in 2015 to relinquish its nuclear weapons ambitions. Closer analysis of the two countries’ programs and differences, however, […]

Last month’s joint military training exercise between Russia and China in the Baltic prompted much discussion on the nature of Sino-Russian relations in the post-Crimea annexation era. Moreover, it also marked the first time the Chinese navy, the PLA-N, has deployed in the Baltic Sea. The presence of Chinese warships was looked upon with a […]

Invest in Europe This month, the European Commission began to draft a proposal designed to constrain Chinese investment in Europe. This comes at a time when the EU is playing a major role in the future of the Chinese economy. The EU is now the principal recipient of Chinese foreign investment. In 2015, China’s investment […]

On August 3, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe reshuffled his Cabinet for the third time since winning reelection in 2014. The changes came after a series of scandals this year which have damaged approval ratings and culminated in a landslide election loss in Tokyo. 14 out of 20 ministers are new, and key positions to […]

On June 23, election campaigns started for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly – the city’s local legislature. The elections, which take place on July 2, are seen as a referendum on Governor Yuriko Koike’s mandate to “clean up Tokyo’s politics”, but also, as a test for Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) which has experienced declining […]

Over recent years, Japan’s constitution has been hotly debated. In large part dictated by the allied authorities at the end of World War Two, it is sometimes called the “Peace Constitution,” since its Article 9 stipulates that, “the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of […]

With exit polls strongly indicating that Democratic Party candidate, Moon Jae-in will become South Korea’s next president, here’s our round-up of his policy platform. North Korea A permanent and peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue is one of Moon’s top priorities. Accordingly, he has vowed to develop south Korea’s defense capabilities to counter threats from […]

On May 9, South Koreans head to the polls in arguably the country’s most important presidential election for decades. With former President Park Geun-hye impeached in a corruption scandal which saw her removed from office on March 10, parties have had just two months to appoint candidates and outline policy platforms. The challenges awaiting the […]

On May 9, South Koreans go to the polls to elect a new president to replace impeached former leader Park Geun-hye. Five candidates have put forward their policy priorities and agendas should they be elected. Whoever wins faces stiff challenges, both domestic and foreign, as Sangsoo Lee outlines below. Tackling Inequality and Population Greying South […]