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
Here’s what the new NDAA means for missile defense

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
Here’s what the new NDAA means for missile defense

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
Here’s what the new NDAA means for missile defense

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

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2017

Here’s what the new NDAA means for missile defense

By Matthew Kroenig

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the US Congress in November prioritizes investments in homeland missile defense. US President Donald J. Trump has called for a “state-of-the-art” missile defense system and this new defense budget begins to take steps in that direction. The bill authorizes a $12.3-billion-dollar topline budget for the Missile Defense […]

Korea Missile Defense

In the News

Dec 4, 2017

Manning in Korea Joongang Daily: Is Trump talking himself into war?

By Robert Manning

Read the full article here.

Korea

In the News

Dec 3, 2017

Rosenblum in The Hill: There is No Military Option to Take out North Korean Nuclear Program

By Todd Rosenblum

Read the full article here.

Korea

In the News

Nov 30, 2017

Manning in The Hill: Trump Appears to be Talking Himself into War with North Korea

By Robert Manning

Read the full article here.

Korea

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2017

Could North Korea Hit the United States with a Missile? Perhaps. Or, Maybe Not?

While it does not confirm any specifics regarding Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, North Korea’s latest test of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) indicates it may be able to strike the continental United States. According to the Pentagon’s initial assessment, the missile travelled approximately 1,000 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. It flew higher and […]

Korea

Issue Brief

Nov 29, 2017

Northeast Asian futures

By Robert A. Manning

The great Asian paradox is that a region steadily becoming more economically integrated is filled with distrust, competing nationalisms, and territorial disputes in the security realm. This is epitomized by Northeast Asia and the North Pacific: the region features the world’s three largest economies; three of the largest militaries; three of the five declared nuclear […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Nov 28, 2017

Metzl Joins CNN to Discuss North Korea’s Missile Launch

By Jamie Metzl

Watch the full discussion here.

Korea

Ask the General

Nov 28, 2017

Hawaii Reinstates Cold War-Era Nuclear Sirens

By North Korea Watch

As tensions between the United States and North Korea continue to simmer, Hawaii is preparing to resume a statewide test on Friday, November 24, of a Cold War-era early warning system designed to inform its residents of an impending nuclear attack. Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly responds: 

Korea

In the News

Nov 28, 2017

Manning Quoted in VOA on Recent North Korea Missile Test

By Robert Manning

Read the full article here.

Korea

Issue Brief

Nov 27, 2017

Western options in a multipolar world

By Mathew J. Burrows

This paper examines both the possible scenarios for how the emerging multipolar world order could evolve and transatlantic options. It makes the case that, depending on how the West plays its cards, traditional Western values could end up enduring even if an exclusively Western-led order does not.

China Politics & Diplomacy
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Experts

Fellow

Dakota Cary

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Cybersecurity

Fellow

Sungmin Cho

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Fellow

Julie Chon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China

Fellow

Victoria Chonn-Ching

Nonresident Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Americas China

Fellow

Chung-Yu Chou

Former Visiting Military Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

Claire Chu

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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Events

Public Event Wed, March 25, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

How the UN can respond to the arbitrary detention and repression of Uyghurs
China Human Rights