Deeper Look

50 years after man first landed on the Moon, US space agency NASA plans to establish a hub for sustainable human presence on and around the Moon with commercial and international partners and launch other missions to Mars and beyond. But with growing competition from the Chinese program, a global space race is on. With cooperation from Japan and Europe, can the US maintain its leadership role in space? NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shares his outlook on the future of space exploration.

In response to mass public protest, the Chinese government has eased its strict zero-COVID policy and reopened its borders. What impact will China's reopening have on its economic growth, and what are the implications for Asia and the global economy? Brookings Senior Fellow and leading expert on China's economy and US-China relations, David Dollar, shares his insights.

In 2021 Islamic group, the Taliban, returned to power in Afghanistan. Since then, women's right have deteriorated, limiting education for girls, and barring most women from work, causing despair among young people in the country. Despite being stripped of their rights, facing threats of violence, and becoming prisoners in their homes, women in Afghanistan are quietly fighting back. Exiled Afghan journalist Zahra Joya offers insights.

Triggered by the death of an Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was in custody after her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly, protests erupted across Iran, especially among women and girls, while long-standing grievances have added to a wave of public anger against the Islamic regime. What is different about these current protests, and could they bring about a meaningful change in the future? Iran watcher Negar Mortazavi discusses the situation.

In March US regulators abruptly shut down Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, becoming the most significant bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis. What caused the two banks' sudden collapse, and what impact could this have on the global banking sector? Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at Brookings Institution, Aaron Klein, weighs in on the matter.

The popular video-sharing app TikTok is causing concerns around the world. Some US lawmen want to ban TikTok outright, citing that its 150 million US users could become powerful espionage tools for the Chinese government. How much of a threat is TikTok, and what can the US and other countries do to secure data and information on social media apps? Information security expert James Lewis offers his insights.

US-China tensions are rising in the lead-up to Taiwan's January 2024 presidential election. While the US reaffirmed its strong ties to Taiwan with President Tsai's visit to the US, China continues to try to gain influence over Taiwan from its side. Where do US-China relations stand now, and what can the US and its allies do to keep peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait? Ryan Hass, former National Security Council director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, joins the conversation.

At this year's G7 Hiroshima Summit, one topic leaders will discuss is nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. But with Russia's nuclear threats in the conflict with Ukraine, North Korea's ballistic missile tests, and China's increasing nuclear arsenal, these goals have become challenging to achieve. How can we rein in proliferation and create global cooperation toward nuclear disarmament at this critical time? Former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Rose Gottemoeller offers her insights.

Among the many issues on the table at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine will be one of the most critical. What kind of message can we expect the G7 leaders to send to Russia? And what role can NATO members and other countries play to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine and bring stability to Europe? Former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Rose Gottemoeller, joins the discussion.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving and already impacting our lives. Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT have become widely used, and AI has helped improve processes and efficiency in many industries. But with these advances are serious concerns. Are we moving too fast in adopting AI without understanding the ramifications of this new technology, and what are the implications for society? Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Chairman of Google, offers his insights.

While advances in AI have created many societal benefits, some experts warn that AI's unchecked power could threaten human existence. And with the costs of AI innovation being so high, there are concerns that control of this technology will be in the hands of a few. What guardrails do we need to secure the future of AI, and how will it shape geopolitical competition? Former CEO and Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt, weighs in on the discussion.

While China's military carried out "aggressive" maneuvers in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, the US and China engaged in "candid and constructive" high-level meetings at events in Asia. Recent actions by China have many asking when will tensions between the two global powers thaw. Where are US-China relations headed, and how will this impact Japan and other US allies in the Indo-Pacific? Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, shares his opinion.

The Indo-Pacific has become a focal point of the US and China's geopolitical interests as both global powers ramp up economic investment, strategic influence and security measures in the region. While the US, Japan, Australia and India formed the Quad, many Indo-Pacific nations are opting for a multi-alignment approach. What is the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, and how will it achieve its goals? Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, joins the discussion.

As Ukraine began its counter-offensive against the Russian forces, the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, marched towards Moscow in a short mutiny that shocked the world. Meanwhile, NATO leaders and their allies gathered for their annual summit and pledged long-term support for Ukraine. Where do things currently stand in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? And what are the implications for the world, especially Asia? Eurasia Group's Ian Bremmer offers his insights.

While the 2024 US presidential election is still more than a year away, campaigning is already heating up. At this point, Joe Biden is expected to be the Democratic Party nominee, and despite legal troubles, Donald Trump is the current front-runner for the Republicans. How will the two political parties' campaigning affect US policymaking and influence US relations with Asia? Eurasia Group President and political scientist Ian Bremmer shares his analysis.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed his latest intercontinental ballistic missiles in a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. Meanwhile, the US and South Korea renewed their alliance and will strengthen trilateral cooperation with Japan. How concerned should we be about North Korea's recent nuclear developments, and is it possible to negotiate with the Kim regime? North Korea analyst Jenny Town joins the discussion.

Leaders of the US, Japan and South Korea met at a first stand-alone summit where measures for tackling security concerns over China and North Korea were addressed. How will this trilateral cooperation contribute to regional stability, and what is needed to implement policies and ensure the framework lasts? Christopher Johnstone, Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, provides insights.

Recognizing that some of its most important economic partnerships and national security interests are rooted in the Indo-Pacific, the Biden administration is focusing more on the region. How is the US strengthening its relationship with India and other Indo-Pacific countries, and what role can Japan play in shaping the future of the region? Former Director for East Asia, US National Security Council, Christopher Johnstone, joins the discussion.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a rare summit where they reportedly discussed expanding cooperation on military technologies. What did Kim seek to gain from the summit, what was achieved, and what are the implications for neighboring Asian countries, the US and the rest of the world? Senior Adviser and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Sydney Seiler offers his analyses.

Preceded by the launch of a "tactical nuclear attack submarine," North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un attended a paramilitary parade with his daughter this September to mark the 75th anniversary of the country's founding. Since taking over from his father in 2011, how firm is Kim Jong Un's grip on power, and how should the US and its Asian allies respond to his accelerating nuclear program? Former US National Intelligence Officer for North Korea, Sydney Seiler, offers his opinion.

Following Hamas's attack on October 7, Israel has expanded their ground operations in the Gaza Strip despite increased calls for a pause in fighting to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians. What are the geopolitical implications of the Israel-Hamas conflict? How does it affect the US, a strong supporter of Israel, and what influence does it have on Asia and the world? Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer offers his analysis.

In an effort to ease rising tensions between the two superpowers, the US and China's leaders, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met at a recent face-to-face summit. While the meeting achieved some goals, such as resuming military communications, concerns over issues including export controls are not yet resolved. What is the future of US-China economic relations? Former US Trade Representative, Michael Froman joins the discussion.

To counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific, 14 countries, including the US and Japan, gathered on the sidelines of the 2023 APEC meeting to negotiate the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. While agreements on trade are yet to be concluded, consensus was reached on "clean" and "fair" economy. How will the US-led initiative affect countries in the region? Michael Froman, former US Trade Representative, shares his insights.