North Korea is one of the greatest security threats to the peace and stability of Asia and one of the United States' most vexing security challenges. It is also one of the greatest policy failures of the past two decades. This year marks the 20th anniversary since the United States and North Korea signed the Agreed Framework, which called on North Korea to freeze operation and construction of nuclear reactors suspected of being part of a covert nuclear weapons program. While this agreement framed our relations for about 8 years, from North Korea's vantage point it was a ruse, as the entire...

For 2 months, the people of Hong Kong have come together to protest Beijing's decision to deny the city's 7.2 million people the right to directly elect their Chief Executive, putting the future of democracy in Hong Kong at great risk. The demise of the "One Country, Two System" framework of governance is a stark reminder that Beijing's promises can be revoked at the drop of a hat. What we see in Hong Kong today, however, is not an isolated event. It is the latest chapter in the story of an increasingly aggressive China that began 2 years ago when President Xi Jinping assumed power. Under...

India is a nation of 1.2 billion people, and sometime in the very near future will, in all likelihood, be the most populous nation on earth, replacing China. It has also been called an indispensable partner of the United States. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership, launched on January 2004 by President Bush. Over the last 10 years, we have seen this bilateral relationship evolve, and today, India is the 18th largest export market for the United States and U.S. direct investment in India has grown over 300 percent during that time. In April and May,...

The nature of the United States' relationship with the People's Republic of China has arguably entered a new era. Since President Xi Jinping assumed the leadership role in China, U.S.-China affairs have steadily undergone a fundamental transformation. In this new era, the PRC is more assertive and, indeed, aggressive on an entire range of issues covering the political, security, and socioeconomic spectrums. The U.S.-China relationship is one of our most important given what is at stake. And when we discuss what exactly is at stake-such as peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and...

Since President Obama announced his administration's rebalance to Asia several years ago, the United States has struggled to maintain its priorities to the region. While recognizing the significance of the Asia-Pacific, fiscal austerity at home, and instability and conflict in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have diverted U.S. attention away, and the United States struggles to convince our allies and security partners of our commitment to the region. Two thousand fifteen will be a pivotal year for U.S. engagement in Asia, presenting numerous economic, political, and security challenges....

The scale of the United States' economic ties with Asia is vast. Three of seven of our top trading partners are in Asia. Three of our top six holders of U.S. Treasury bonds are in Asia, where their combined ownership exceeds $2.5 trillion. Increased U.S. presence in the Asia Pacific region through the Trans-Pacific Partnership would greatly improve the American economy as well as provide considerable diplomatic and strategic benefits. We live in a globalized world. It is only right for the United States to take advantage of the opportunities that globalization can afford us, especially as it...

$5 trillion of trade goes through the South China Sea. The vast majority of that is going into Chinese ports or coming out of Chinese ports. China, which claims virtually the entirety of the South China Sea, has been the most aggressive and notorious of all South China Sea claimants. Why should these rocks and any resources that might be under them matter to the United States? The region is flush with trade routes, fishing areas, and untold potential natural and energy resources. Protecting the freedom of the seas for commerce and passage while also protecting smaller states and U.S. allies...

We can hardly discuss any major foreign policy issue without China coming up. Indeed, questions about China are on the top of everyone's minds. How stable is the Communist Party regime? How does China's land reclamation in the South China Sea affect prospects for peace or conflict? How can we deter China from hacking into our networks and stealing vital national security and economic information? Does China's activity reflect its growing global ambition or is it driven by domestic concerns for stability and security? What are the consequences of a slowdown of the Chinese economic machine on...