As new leaders assume power in Japan, China, and South Korea, what domestic and foreign policy challenges do these countries face? In this Asia Policy roundtable, experts from NBR’s conference “Northeast Asia in Transition: New Leadership, New Dynamics” assess the implications of recent leadership transitions.

In this new NBR Special Report, Chin-Hao Huang (University of Southern California) analyzes the strategic, economic, and political dimensions of China’s projection of soft power in East Asia and draws implications for U.S. policy in the region.

As the new government of Shinzo Abe shapes its energy policy, Japan tries to answer the challenges of meeting the country's energy demands. NBR spoke with Risaburo Nezu of Fujitsu Research Institute about the outlook for Japan's energy supply mix and the potential economic impact of the recent changes in its energy policies.

In an effort to better understand the PLA's ability to employ its developing capabilities in a variety of potential scenarios, Learning by Doing: The PLA Trains at Home and Abroad (November 2012) provides a timely and critical look at how the PLA has sought to gain practical knowledge from exercises and noncombat operations. Read the full volume or the Executive Summary Digest.

As the U.S. Congress wrestles with difficult budgetary issues, it faces a series of critical decisions on the future U.S. military force and posture that will be tasked with carrying out the rebalance to Asia. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa emphasizes the need to carefully consider how choices made now will define the future.

Linda Jakobson (Lowy Institute) argues that the United States can both protect its interests in the Arctic and support permanent observer status for China, Japan, and South Korea. By backing their applications, Washington would give up little in the way of direct influence on Arctic matters, while benefiting from discussions with these countries.

In addressing the 2012 Pyle Center Conference, which examined the political, economic, and social issues affecting Northeast Asia amid these transitions, Dr. Michael K. Young (President, University of Washington) asked whether any of these transitions will bring about consequential change, and what that means for both the region and the world.

As part of its ongoing work on security and alliance partnerships in Northeast Asia, NBR, in partnership with the Korea Institute for National Unification, convened a conference in Seattle to discuss the implications of Korean reunification for the U.S.-ROK alliance and the Asia-Pacific region.

Ashley J. Tellis, co-editor of the recently released Strategic Asia 2012–13: China’s Military Challenge discusses key findings of the book and argues that China’s increasingly sophisticated military capabilities hold the potential to fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the Asia-Pacific region.

Audio from the 2012 Energy Security Report launch event "Oil and Gas for Asia: Geopolitical Implications of Asia’s Rising Demand" features Under Secretary of State Robert D. Hormats, Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., and a panel of experts. The discussion took place on September 20 in Washington, D.C.