East Asia

East Asia

For more than seventy years, East Asia has been the nexus of US presence and engagement in Asia. Today, the region is becoming a hotbed for the return of great power competition, with long-term US allies and partners like Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan next door to competitors and challengers including China, Russia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. While East Asia continues to navigate a number of longstanding traditional security issues, it must also address the rise of online disinformation, competition to pioneer emerging technologies, and more.

Explore
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New Atlanticist Mar 31, 2025

Dispatch from Hong Kong: How the ‘geoeconomic city’ is weathering global headwinds

By Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

From Chinese and US economic growth to stablecoin regulations, a recent visit to Hong Kong offered important insights for two Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center experts.
China Digital Currencies
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New Atlanticist Mar 25, 2025

Reading between the lines of Taiwan’s new Quadrennial Defense Review

By Kitsch Liao

The recently released Quadrennial Defense Review offers a window into the Taiwanese military’s issues with prioritization, operational readiness, and manpower retention.
China East Asia
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Report Mar 24, 2025

How Beijing uses inducements as a tool of economic statecraft

By William Piekos

As strategic competition between the United States and China intensifies, Washington and Beijing seek every possible advantage to gain an edge. In this environment, both countries are increasingly turning to economic statecraft—the use of economic coercion or inducement to pursue strategic goals—to advance their interests.
China Economy & Business

Programs

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative equips the transatlantic community to “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific and to position the Atlantic Council to serve as the essential link between high-level transatlantic and Asian leaders and thinkers

EXPLORE THE Initiative

Content

Econographics

May 8, 2023

<strong>Japan’s monetary trilemma is a warning to the world</strong>

By Mark Siegel

High inflation, high levels of debt, and uncertain financial stability - Washington, London, Brussels, Frankfurt and beyond have much to learn from Tokyo's experience.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2023

China’s support may not be ‘lethal aid,’ but it’s vital to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine

By Markus Garlauskas, Joseph Webster, Emma C. Verges

A close look at trade data shows that Beijing is already providing critical support for Moscow's war aims. Policymakers should not get hung up on the "lethal aid" red line.

China Conflict

In the News

May 7, 2023

Dakota Cary in Bloomberg as China tightens grip on information flows

On May 7th, 2023, Nonresident fellow Dakota Cary spoke to Bloomberg about Beijing's recent efforts to curtail overseas firms' access to Chinese data sources.

China Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

May 4, 2023

China Pathfinder: Q1 2023 update

By GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

Teams from the Atlantic Council and Rhodium Group take a dive into China’s economy to address a fundamental question: Is China becoming more or less like other open-market economies? 

China Economy & Business

In the News

May 3, 2023

<strong>Paruchabutr in <em>Axios</em></strong>

On May 2, IPSI Nonresident Senior Fellow Eddie Paruchabutr was quoted in Axios in a conversation on the significance of the Philippines’ location in any Taiwan crisis. Paruchabutr remarks that, “At the end of that day it’s about access.” Moreover, he states that, “Without the Philippines, we’d have a lot less options.”

Security & Defense Taiwan

In the News

May 3, 2023

<strong>Gilbert in <em>StarTribune</em></strong>

On May 2, Lauren Gilbert was featured in StarTribune, discussing President Yoon’s recent state visit to the United States, an evolving US-ROK alliance, and the Washington Declaration. Gilbert explained that the Declaration is “a way of saying that even if South Korea doesn’t have its own nuclear weapons, the U.S. is there and ready to […]

Indo-Pacific Korea

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2023

India is now the world’s most populous country. Can its economy keep up?

By Irfan Nooruddin

A failure to harness the energies of the world’s largest population will not just be a tremendous missed opportunity. It will also be a millstone weighing down India’s future.

China Economy & Business

In the News

May 2, 2023

Kroenig and Ashford debate responses to advancements in North Korean nuclear capabilities

On April 7, Foreign Policy published its biweekly "It's Debatable" column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs.

Arms Control Korea

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2023

The United States is leaving an economic-statecraft vacuum in the Middle East

By Lesley Chavkin

China is stepping in to fill the void—with ramifications for Washington's global AML/CFT and sanctions efforts.

China Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Issue Brief

May 1, 2023

US strategy and force posture for an era of nuclear tripolarity

By Keir Lieber, Daryl G. Press

Keir Lieber and Daryl Press lay out a vision for the future of US nuclear doctrine and strategy under the condition of nuclear tripolarity.

China Defense Policy
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Danial Abdul Rahman

Chief Executive Officer, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute

Millennium Leadership Program

East Asia Education

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Natasha Ahmed

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry

Fellow

Michael Allen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Cybersecurity

Fellow

Peter Arvo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China Human Rights

Staff

Rayhan Asat

Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, China Lead

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Central Asia China
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Events

Online Event Thu, October 29, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

Building collective cognitive resilience: A cross-strait and beyond seminar
Artificial Intelligence Disinformation Indo-Pacific Japan